The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1872-01-04

& 8$F s4 tEs%tzss
.~.:s: NO. 25. j.
hosse"i'es, ch.ttering past ia those
snr'li, sereeohy voices that God has
given to Ffenchvomen alone, as they
step out stoutly in their short, heavy.
and trim black-stuff stockings. 10y
~ 1Now 1'have told you the state Of
things With me-" say. Frederick, with
> nervous laugh, "perh.ps you Gao
guess: what is the favor I am going to
ask Of you" & .:." 80 F@>f.
p III" says le Mesurier, giving p.
great start, and looking thoroughly
puzzlep. ,@ .5.s5
''Guess."
"Not1. Perhaps" (with . brilliant
fash of intaition) "it is to ask me to be
be It man: on]y that Is no great favor,
and it IS rather premature-is not it ?''
..g Frederick jumps up suddenly.
1T you are going to make jest
he says, With hurt intona ton.
"My good fellow" cries Paul, euer.
getica|ly, laying his hand upon his
shoulder, u give. you my word of hon.
or that l know no more than the dead
what yousare driving At. I never was
good at guessing I never found ont a
riddle 10 all my life. l give 1t up"
West looks at him dist' ustfully but,
seeiug no mirth, only boundless bewild-
erment, in his friends ugly face, he
continues, speaking with difficulty,
looking looking down, and kicking about some
stray cherrystones that . former oecu-
pant Of the bench has loft streved on
the ground: <
~ do not know Why it is, Il am sure
cannot make out-but you have Ger
tainly more Influence with Miss Lepore
than any one else has,
"Have I p says Paul, shortly, turn
ing away his head.
= "She will do for you what she will
not do for either her sister or me-"
"WAi shel" atill more shortly, while
q slight dattered flush rises to bis fore
head. ~ really have not discovered
il"
"And, such being the case" contin-
ues West, with increasing hesitation,
stammeriog, aouuderiug, and reddening
ever more and more, 81 thought that
perhaps you might
~ might 'ohat" asks Paul, still
staring stupidity at his friend.
II thought" says West, plunglsg
desperately in medals res, seeing that
he is not likely to get much help from
bis companions intelligence, "that you
might perhaps-say something about
me to her-sound her feelings with re-
gard to me, to a certain extent"
I'LL! !" says Paul, turning sharp
round, the mysti6ed expression of his
face giving place to one Of enormous
astonishmert. I'LL my dear West !
Are you. quite cracked :" :.@.' =.
:; "She would, at al levents, give you .
hearing" says Frederick, downcast, but
partinacious.
"Would che ?" cries the other, laugh
ing violently. II very much doubt it.
She would be more likely to bang the
door in my face, and tear out my few
remaining hairs, and quite right, too"
"Perhaps it is because you saved her
life," pursues West, ruefully, keeping
on his own tack.
"Saved her life /" breaks in Paul,
no~ really angry. "My good fellow,
for Gods sake, do not talk like a fool,
whatever you do! To upset a woman
into a ditch, and then pull her out, can
hardly be termed Saving her life,' even
in these days, when every little thing is
called by some big name."
Silence. The little yellow lights
glanciDg and flashing up and down
about their hats and coats. -
s., "West," says Paul, abruptly, rising
from his seat, thrustiug his hands down
to the very bottom of his pockets, in
his favorite attitude, aud looking full
and keenly into his companiou'e down.
cast ! face, "surpose: you: got Miss Le'
more, what on earth would you DO With
her 7"'= .-ae :,: II
"Do with her? repeats West, star
ing. "What do you mean p, f.
: <"Cau you fancy that girl = parson'.
wife 2" says LIE NJ .surier, beginning to
laugh, while with inner: vision he sees
again that daredevil smile, those lovely
hall; lowered eyes, that had kindled
such unwilling FIRE 10 bis own cold
veins. "Do not be angry with me,
West; I could notstop laughing now if
you we're TO- kill mo. / think I see
her holding forth at = mothers' meet
ing. or teaching 1t : suudaysohool
Poor little swretches would not she
cuff them - -. . eq@..&= g
"she is SO young" says Frederick,
deprecatingly. 81 should hope that one
might be able to mould her i
"Moula her :" echoes Paul, derisive-
ly. "My dear boy, it would take you
oil: your time. She would comb your
:hair with = three-legged stool. '1s;ss'
GA; pause:s ID soa o>s'"T.- '..s,25@5 !.
81 am to understand, then; ssys
-. -,- .s,-e- -s=5.. - ~
Frederick, trying to speak stifly, but
with suspicion Of tears in his voice,