The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1872-06-20

its soft, dark oyes and sweet, childlike
mouth.
Watching this face with an intent
gaze was a man who leaned his folded
arms on geranium stand aid 1T od be.
tore the priestess-a tail, well built
handsome looking mso If twenty
eight or thirty, who, a. for as persona
appearance went, might have done TO,
the hero Of a popular novel. He made
very striking contrast to small, dark
plain George Semple passing outside in
the mellow sunshine; and, unfortunate
ly, it is quite as often in zeal life as
10 novels that muscles, and curling hair
and straight nose, carry every thing
before them.
In a moment Semple understood it all
though a suspicion Of this had neve,
come to him before. He had trusted
his betrothed, and trusted his friend
as only simple, loyal nature knows
how to trust and his eyes had been
blinded, not only by circumstances, bu'
by his singleness Of purpose and homes.
ty OF nature. Now, all of a sudden
they were opened. The October sun.
shine fell athwart that sweet idyllic
scene set in the framework of the
blooming greenhouse, and the man
standing outside saw everything-saw,
not only the present, but the past and
future. He gazed for moment in
startled, wistful, almost pitiful amaze,
gazed as one might who had been rude
~ walked from dreams to reality-theu
turned without a word, and slowly
walked away.
He was stunned into dumb quies.
cence. The blow was so sudden that
he did not realize it; and. though be
was careful to step lightly, so that nc
cracking leaf should betray his pres.
ence, yet after he had gone little way
he swung bis stick as he had done be.
to'e' and tried to whistle, only the
whistle broke down in something like a
gasp. The glory Of the golden after.
uon suddenly annoyed him, and he
pulled his hat down over his eyes, stri.
ding straight on, almost running owe,
Louey, who was playing a solitary game
of marbles at the gate.
With half apology, he passed out
went along the broad, sunlit road into
the shaded streets OF the quiet little
town, and forward, without pause OF
hesitation, until he found himself be.
fore his own Office door. There he
turned in and sat down. How blank
and empty the streets looked! How
still and liteless the air felt ! He
grasped his limbs, aud shook himsclf to
see if he was awake.
"It is all over, and it has not bur,
me-" he thought, with sort Of sur
prise. ''In fact, I don't feel it; I an
as we'll as ever"
Then he wondered a little at the
strange dullness Of his head, and, taking
up medical journal which lay on the
table, tried to read. Ina few moments
it dropped from his hand, and he was
gazing blankly out of the door at the
row Of FURNISHED elms in the street be.
yond.
"1t is all over" he kept on saying
but, say it as often as he would, he
could not make himself realize it.
He had been setting there several
hours, and the golden sunshine had
faded and given place to the frosty
purple dusk Of early autumn, when 9
ringing step on the pavement outside
made him start, and the next momen,
a tell, broad f cure darkened the doo]
way.
"Hello, Semplev' said a lamilia,
voice, "are you sitting here all in th'
dark ? My dear fellow, why don't 20,
strike light ? It is confoundedly chill
ly. Hasn't that scape.the-g -gallow
made fire YETI"
"1-is it chilly ?" said Semplc, roas
ing up suddenly. "Jin came, be
lieve, but sent him away. Take
seat, Barry, and I will have some fir
kindled at once.''
"Not on my account, I beg," sal,
Barry, subsiding into a seat. "Wh
didn't you::come out to Randolph's thi
afternoon?" he went on, abruptly. "
told them you were coming, and the
we're amazingly disappointed that yo'
failed to make your appearance. Th
colonel asked no end of questions abou
your new inheritance ; and Miss Mon
turned her pretty eyes towards tow
until they might have drawn you on
| by sheer magnatism."
Semple rose hastily and walked t
the window. Nobody could have toll
how Barry's light tone Jared upo
him, or how the sound of her nam
spoken in that way irked him almos
beyond endurance. He stood quit
still for minute, looking out at tn
gathering dusk and the gsslights ths
were flashing and cleaning from man
windows up and down the street The
he suddenly turn ed and came back.
~ did 60 out to the Randolph's" t.
said, as he sat down again, "but I wa
told that you and Miss Mona we're gon
to the conservatory as I remembere
some home business 10 town, I though