The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1872-04-25

AAASA AAs"A>VVASs
CHAPTER x. Continued.
~ know that your soul was out of
my reach," be continues, sadly; "that
I should get only your body, aud even
that shrank away from me. Shall I
ever forget those first two kisses that
you gave me-that I made you give
me? They were colder than ice."
A little pause. The fire flame quiv.
ers and talks to itself; the pug plucks
up heart again. aud returning, lies
down, with his nose resting on his bow
ed forelegs.
81 suppose it is oil for tho best"
says Bcrope, presently, with = forced
smile; Eat least, it is As we'll to soy so,
is not it? l was 30 idiotica'ly fond Of
you that, if you had been decently civ.
il to me, I suppose I should have been
happier than any man can be and
live."
No answer.
"Do you know" be resumes, in a
tone Of deep aod sombre excitement,
"what has kept mo up all this month,
what has hiulered me from cutting my
own throat OF vours-it was a toss-up
which-what has made me smile and
seem pleased at words that bit and
looks that stung? Well, l will tell
you-listen, and laugh if it amuses
you ; it is true, all the same. I knew
(ifting his hands from her shoulders
framing her dropped face with them)-
~ knew that if once I could get you
oil to myself, I could make you love
me; you ~ould do your best to thwar'
and hinder me, but could make you
lenore I know it still.
"Do your" she says, sadly. II wish
you could i; but I doubt it."
"Tell me-" cries the young fellow
emboldeued by her gentleuess to take
her once more in bis arms, as if she
were his own-''it will do me no good
to hear-be tantaliziog, rathel-bu'
still I think it would ease my pain .
little-tell me, if you had not met hin
6rst-met me before you came acros!
him-do you think you could have lik'
ed me little then? Say 'yes,' if yot
osn, Lenoro" with suffering accen'
Of eutreaty.
"How do / know" sho says sharply
for once not shrinking from his con
tact-not struggling in his embrace
but rather coldly taxing it for granted
"Wh.t is the good of looking back
It seems to me now that if I had no
met him, I should have gone on Away
as I had gone on before, laughing .u'
amusing myself, and being happy il
my own way, and not loving anybod.
much. / never was one to fall in low
essily-never!" drawing herself u
with movement Of pride.)
"You fell in love with him easll,
enough" says Scrope, roughly.
eyes" she answers, almost humbly
though hor face flames, "you are right
50 I did; it was a boast that / had d
right to make"
"What on earth made you do it,"
Chow can 1 tell p! Perversity, I this /
always WAS perverse from = child
they said I should pay for it sooner o,
later. l think have now, have not l =
(smiling drearily.) A moments pause
''Otber people cared for me Of thei'
own accord" she continues, sigbing
''as for him, almost every word I said
grated upon him; had to fight and
battle even for his toleration."
"And that pleased you?"
"Does one ever care for the things
that one can stretch out ones hand and
take :" she asks, bitterly. ~ do not,
neither do you-that is evident, or you
would not BE- here" After 4 little
pause "He thought very mea My Of
me from the frst-very. He almcsl
told me 50 in so many words, and II
-vell-l only meant to make him al
tor bis mind ; that vas how it began.
Bah r. (breaking off suddenly, With a
tempest of angry pain in her voice),
"wbat does it matter how it began? Is
it not enough that it did begin, that it
weat on, aud that now it is endedr'
At the last word her raised voice
sinks down, and dies in 4 sob. His
hold upon her grows lax, he give, a
long sigh Of astoni'hsd, indignant
grief.
"Jf that was tho way to your heart, -
he says With sort Of scorn, ono Won.
der 1 missed it."
Silence.
''Meroitul Heavens !" iesths young
man, smitiog bis hands together in .
sort Of wondering frenzy, Ibid one ev'
Or hear the like! Must one hold you
eheap, and have the III manners to tel