The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1872-04-04

"God above!' he says in whis-
per Of intense excitement, is it posi-
bic, Lenore ?" Catching her roughly
by the handy. "Turn your face to the
light let me see your eyes-I do not
believe your a0ords it seems 80 unnat-
ural to hear any kind ones from your
lips. God when I think that it is
less than a week ago that I saw you
standing hero together, and you gizing
him such soft, kind looks, to get one
or which would have sacrificed twenty
years Of my life, and thought it a cheap
bargain-you, who never threw me any
thing but mocks, and jeers, and ugly
uames-1 cannot believe it. Say what
you will to me-swear it, assevcrate it
I cannot, I cannot !"
She does not answer: for the mo-
ment, think, she finds speech difficult;
she stands rigidly still, her face turned
toward the bitter winter landscape, with
lips tightly compressed, as one resolved
not to weep.
When l Think" continues the young
man, vehemently, "of how you smiled
of how happy you looked if he only
touched in passing the border of your
gowD, less than week ago-less than
week aegean l believe that such love
has oil gone !? Gone? Where can it
have gone to? Tell me that! Does
love disapper like morning mist ?"
"Rush - she says, hoarsely, putting
her fingers in hez ears. elbow many
times must I tell you not to drag him
in? If I ever cared fer him" (she
stops for a second, unable to manage
her voice), "If L ever cared for, that
was between him and me; you had no
concern in it; but now it is all over,
dead i; and, when things are dead, what
is there to do but to bury and forget
them? Take me or leave me, as you
chose, that is your business-l know
which you would do if yoa we're wise
but, for Gods sake, leave that old
story alone! 1t is my old story, not
yours, and IL have short memory"
(smi)ing fantly) Il am fast forgetting
it,"
"But ore," he clies, with painful
skepticism, hardly to be wondered at,
care you sure Of that? Are you sure
that, if you saw him coming in now,
this moment, ut, that dor, you wonld
not run to him, as you ran out into the
cold to meet him, that first night he
came, and leave me to cut the brilliant
figure l have always done, ever since
the unlucky day at Guingamp, where
l first saw you?"
At his word she shivers again, and
shrinks as if touched by a hot iron.
"What are you talking about p
she cries, passionately. "Why do ycu
persist in indulging in these idiotic
supporitions? lie will not come back,
I tellyou. Do dead people ever push
up their cofin-lids, and come walking
back again? If they do, l never saw
them. Well, they are more likely to
GENE back than he is-much more
likely. He is done eoith" Gpreading
out her hands); $50, for Gods sake,
try and help me to forget that there
ever was such person, instead of al.
ways throwing him in my teeth"
| At the last works she catches her
breath sobbingly, but resolutely forces
back the tears that come crowdine
thickly under tho hot lids. He stares
at her stupidity still.
"ae only liked me when l was on
my good behavior she continues, with
a hard won smile, 'and you know how
seldom that is. l had an idea that
yow would take me whether I be.
haved we'll or ill, or not at all and sc
and SOL sent for yon."
She stretches out her hand to him
smiling friendily; and he, catching il
between both his own broad once, GOV.
} ers it with silent kisses, then, after 6
while, speaks slowly and difidently
blushing like schoolgirl.
"And you-you can tolerate The
) idea Of being my wife? You-Eke
me little?
"Like you?' she says, carelessly,
With forced laugh. "Of course,
do. What question Have not ]
asked you to marry me? What bet.
ter proof could I give? Why should
I not like you? You are young, good.
looking, and a parti. OF course, l
like you"
Ho does not look very much salts fed
With this expression of faith.
"You do not believe me :" she says
iuterrogatively. "Well, I have al
ready given you proof; will give you
another. Ihave asked you to marry
me soon. I'm aware" (aughing) ";hat
it is net usual for snch a proposition tc
come from the lady but, as l have be.
gun by taking the initiative, I suppose
I must 60 on"
The look Of wild, incredulous aston
ishment intensifes on his face and in
his bold, bright eyes. Are his ear:
faithful carries of the words iotrusted
to them, or does his brain interpret
them untruly?
"Lenore," he says, impetuously,
throwing himself on his knees hps;de