The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1872-09-05

to give it him myself. You know"
she said to the old doctor, taking bis
hand with weak smile. "Pm not Ike
Kitty mo other Gao comfort me for
him"
And Dr.. Irving, seeing her calmness,
and with certain stern wish that Fitz.
patrick should behold his own
work, went and did her bidding.
1t was startling thing to be snatch
ed suddenly from the. sunny.scented
boudoir, where his lady-love sat sing
ing bright little French songs to him !;
to stand beside the death-bed of another,
loving and true, whom he lad done to
through her too tender to trust, stand
in the still, darkened room, with no
sound save her last hbored breathings,
alone with his victim. Though, as he
followed the doctor through the famil-
lar gate, this thought troubled him, the
remembrance Of Jiuny's blind adora-
ton rendered it less terrible. She
would either adore him still, he be-
lieved, or else reproach and rave at
him in way that should do much to
justify his desertion. Yet bis light step
was sober, as he paused at her door, his
bright eyes wavering and troubled, for
Fitzpatrick's heart and conscience were
not dead.
"Jinny," said Irving, "will you see
him now 2"
"1s he come" said jimmy. 30
please"
Fitzpatrick entered gently, prepared
to comfort, soothe, feign his old love, if
need be; for she might die happier if
so deceived. But the instant his gaze
fell upon the bed, his hopes, his visions
Of keeping still the old superior posi-.
ton vanished. jimmy was grown =
woman, was hia first thought, and A.
most beautiful, could not love HIM
humbly now, as she used to do, nor
trouble him with over-praise. She
was white, and thin, and plainly dying;
her mouth was drawn, and wore asweet
smile Of conquered pain her big eyes
locked bigger than ever, and had
steady, peaceful shining, an almost
divine radiance that frightened all her
face. The very faint movements of
her hands strange significance and
dignity, Jimmy wonld never more
bede or shy,-awkward, silly, hoydeR-
ish, little foolish jimmy would never
more believe and be betrayed, trust and
bo forsaken, cry, OF trouble, OF wait and
weary, again. That was all over. It
was Fitzpatrick now who had 70 words,
who was awed, almost frightened, who
needed her sweet welcoming gesture
before he could venture to approach.
Once his slave,-a queen was more ap.
proachable once his toy,-now almost
an angel Of God ; once praying pardon
so piteously for small errors OF none,-
now, Why, her very love, if love it wa.
that made her summon him, seemed
only the tar-off pity aud pardon of q
glo1i6ed saint. He hesitated, dark
red flush covered his face, his eyes
fell as he came near her, he dared
not even ask if she forgave, but broke
down and sobbed at the first word.
go, don't cry like that" said jimmy,
stroking his hand with both hers very
tenderly. "Never mind you are sorry;
you did not know what you were do
ing, did you, dear? 1t was my fault:
I w1ote I could Mt live without you
and I am dying, you see. But indeed,
I don't care. I am quite, quite hap
Ipy."
| 20, by Jove !" cried Fitzpatrick
the tears running down his cheeks now
"Sorry I should think so! Yor
make me feel what a scoundrel Pvt
sooner you shot me than be so sweet
aud, talk in this way"
"But I must" jimmy murmured il
her weak voice. II could MT be cros'
the last, last time" Then she pointed
to a chair by tho bedside; and Fitz
patrick sat down silently, humbled, re-
pentaut, self.hatlng, as he had never
in the course Of his easy life been be-
fore.
jimmy spoke again presently, with I
little sigh "You are going to be mar
ried, aren't you, to that young lady i,
pink and blue 2"
eyes, I believe so," answered Fitz
|'patrick, hanging his head he had al
most added, in the depth of his re-
morse, ."not unless you like it,
"Ahw said jimmy, sighiug again, &c.
hope you will be happy; but, my dea
captain, you won't make any one els
think you love them, and then leav
them, will you2'
"Never again." answered Fitzpat
rick, under his breath ;"I shall neve
forget this, nor yoa.
Poor jimmy, she was past blushing
but she smiled a little, and her din
eyes frightened in the old tond feolis|
way at his words.
Then she sank into silence ane
quiet, holding his hand, and lookin
dreamily at the fading sunset red be
yond the window,-an early sunset
like her own. Fitzpatrick rebelle
against it !; he could not bear to see hs
lying there with a weak smile Of p,
tient fondness Pickering across he