The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1872-01-25

.:'n. h=r,eif d,wo, discousol4tely,
u The grass.
II koe" nothing Of tho k,nd," -.
"er' Paul, pulling bis uustaohe, and
ook'"s very much embarrassed sif,
indeed, you had been any other woman,
might have been eoneeited enough to
ancy from your manner that you did
lot dislike me, but as you are not in
he least like any woman 1 ever s.v in
ny life, I could not possibly argue from
heir manners and customs to youn."
"You are very kind" she answers,
shaking her head, "trying to put
ne in good-humor With myself, but you
cannot: I have been . lame hare-s
lame hare r.
"Do not call my wife ugly names !"
cries Paul, plsyfally, yet distressed, ST.
ting down beside her; ''it is very bsd
maoners."
elf you had been less sure of me,
you would have valued me a hundred
times more," says the girl, nth bitter
modification, fixing her solemn, tragic
eyes on his face.
"Do not get into the habit of talking
such nonsense p retorts he. brusquely;
all the more brusquely perh.ps from .
latent consciousness thai there IL
grain of truth in her self-sccusstion.
''Hov many times must 1 tell you that
| was not sure of you that I did not
know but that you might give NE my
coup de grace with as little remorse %
you did Mr.. West?''
How Mr.. LIE Mesurier resonciles this
astounding fib to bis conscience, I must
leave the reader to determine.
Another ]ittlo silence; the bilber-
ry childrea have disappeared in
the wood; the long-legged flies
are still promenadiug on the stream
the sleepy mellowness Of afternoon Is
upon every thing.
"Paul," says Louore, again presently,
not in the least convinced BY her lovers
pcrjuries, and liftiuga charming, quiv-
ering face to his-"e.n you svea, to
me that you did not ask mo because I
looked grieved At the news Of your 60
ing ? Can you swear to me that you
like me al'0ays! Not only ~ov, here,
but al'oays, oil day aud ill night -
even when you are away from me-"
"Even when I .m .~;y from you,
strange to saw" he replies, heartily,
drawing her fo"dly toward him.
II know" she coati"ues, not yield
iog to his csresses but rather resisting
them, "that while I an With you, I
phase you, as any man is pleased with
the company of 4 young. good-looking
womao, who has evident delight in his
society but when you are away from
me-aloue, in your own room at night,
quietly thinking over things-do yon
like ne then DO you approve of ne
then :"
he looks little panied at FIRST by
this puzzling catechism !; then putting
an arm of fond and resolute ownership
round her, answers gravely, but with
out hesitation;
"Lenore, since you are bent on tor
mcntins yourself aud me with these
ridiculous doubts and questionings, I
will tell you the gerry truth I would not
have loved you if I could have helped
it; for the last three weeks l have been
trying honestly to dislike you. I have
told myself over and over again-yes, I
have even told West too, that I did not
admire you ; I have pretended to hold
you cheap;I have said you wers tast
that I could see ecu had 4 temper
that you were bad form-that you werc
MT even pretty God forgive me fox
such a lie !" breaking eff suddenly, to
smooth her rufled hair.
"Well ; 20 oo," she says, CURLY. i'm
patient Of the interruption, while her
cheeks wear as deep dye - the strewn
pet'ls of red rose.
II fclt-well, to tell truth, I feel
no""Qaashiug), "that you were no.
woman that man would have au easy
time with. Lenore, I shall be frsntical-
ly jealous of you"
"There !" cries Lenore With spirit,
Eve shall be quits ; for l never stayed
in the house with any one for fort
night in my life, without quarrelling a
outrance with them"
"You are" continues Paul, still smil-
ing, "as unlike as it is possible to be to
the patient Grizzle ; TIE amiable fond
drudge, that I have always imagined
trudgingihumbly through life beside mo.
I canuot fancy you trudgiog humbly
beside any one; you would be more
likely to stalk on in front Of them, With
you: head up-but yet-but yet Lsuore
look me in the lace for % long q you
please-the longer the better-I defy
even go" to 6n1 any fslsehood thers-
l would no change yoa now for al tho
Gnzzels in Christendon."
"Would not you7" she says, softly
laying her bead c.ressingly down on
his shoulder, 81 am glad
"Poor darling |" he says, With pas-
siouate pang Of sslfreproach, II wish I
was better worth being glad off,
Neither speaks for few moments,
aud both arc happy. Lenore, woman
=