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

CHAPTER X.
1.-THE light upon her yellow hair
But not within her eyes:
The light still there upon her hair
The death upon her eyes,"
WHAT THE AUTHOR SAYS.
"How much better you are Looking y
In his own mind he has been prac-
tlclng this little speech-practicing it
with the proper iDtonation of half-sur.
prlsed cheerfulness; when he comes to
pronounce it really, it is a failure
There is strained gayety in his tone
that would hardly deceive baby.
"Moro perjuries," she says, with a
laoguid smile, looking up at him half.
compassionately from her couch. II will
dispense you from telling any moro
stories ; you told a great many the
other day, but do not think they will
come much against you in the last &C.
count-but still-be on the safe side
tell no more Of them"
"1-I said nothing but what I
thought" he begins, with stanmering
haste, but her great clear eyes looking
steadily, though net unkindly through
him, make his voice decline into silence
IL have done crying for myself now,' u
she says. with a sort of smile "do not
you think have had plenty of time to
| do that in, during these last long, end
less mig hts ? I could not have believed
summer night could be so long.
have been sorrier for myself than I ev
er was for anybody else-but-but-I
am getting used to it, kick and
scream no longer. Where is the use p
What has become of the stiff smile
into which be had so carefully trained
his features? He has taken possession
OF one of her pale bands; he seems tt
be very welcome to it; she does not care
whether he has it or has it not; he has
stopped and laid his bronzed cheek up
on it to hide his face.
As flies to wanton boys, so we to the gods;
Ihey kill us for their sport
she says, dreomily repeating this coup
let out Of ''KiDg Lear" II suppose
they are killing ,.c for their sport!
"You are not to talk. Jemima say:
so," he says, raising his head and speak
Ing with tone Of shocked distress.
"Bah" she answers, sIightingly, eff
am silent forever, will it save me? Do
you think that, il I thought there wa
the remotest chance OF that, I would
once open my lips? But what is tht
use Of setting up ones little bit of life
like an end of candle on save-all, tt
make it burn few moments longer p
A little dumb pause "You are cry.
'ng," she says, presently, with ono ol
her old quick and irritable movements
which contrasts oddly aud painfully
with her changed and almost extir
guished voice, II hate to see mar
cry 1t is acknowledgements
always makes me inclined to laugh"
"For Gods sake, laugh if you fee
disposed! p he says, 6ercely, dashins
away his tears, as if ashamed and angry
at them. II have been your butt al
ways, Lcnore! I am willing to be 81
still"
care you going to quarrel with me p
she asks, querulously. II suppose so
sooner Or later every body does"
"Do they ?" (speakiug softly, auo
again STOPPING his head, to kiss he1
fngers).
"lou blame me tor talking" sh'
says, presently, with a sort Of wear,
pcttishness, "and then you do not vol
uu,eer a word yourself. Some ont
must speak we cannot both sit dum|
-mumchance."
"You are right" he says making
great effort to speak easily and lightly
Il am more than ordinarily stupid to
day-head.achy, I think-cobwebby
cat least, do not look so woe-begone,
she says, stariog at him with discon
tented, tired eyes "you make it wors
for me-harder. I have been tryins
to persuade myself that what happen
to evry one cannot be So very bad bu
you-your face upsets me y
"How can mend 1t 2" he says, hun
bly, and tondly. "I will try"
"After all, it is no such great catas
trophe,' she says, with little bite
laugh "nobody is much to be pitie
but me-nobody cares much excep
myself, and perhaps, you. Jemim
thinks she is enormously greived ; sh
pulls long face, but it is easy to Sc
that it will not be the death Of her
that she will survive many long an
happy years to talk about "poor dea
Lenore."
He silently c,resses her hand, bu
does not trust hln. self to embark on an
speech.
SHOW strong you are T. she says, he
eyes wandering steadily and coldly
With sort OF envy, over his facs AM
figure.
"Certainly there are hands and hands
(again taking possession OF her own
and laying it beside his to oompar
them). IF you do not play trick
with yourself-if you arc mod eratel,
steady-what long life you will prob
ably have, full of action and pleasure
and pleasant business o my God 2
|-(breaking out into the passionate AM
so-absolute|y-useless upbraidiDgs tha