The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-09-18

neither it nor any thing else afforded
him any satisfaction. He even rose q
little upon bis toes, 50 that be might
look over the head-board at the pillows,
on which the invalid's head rested.
He scrutiuized her hands, and the
orevices between the mattresses aud
the bedstead ; and, while looking, he
preserved bis balance by delicately
touching the head.board with his FORE
finger. His crsued neck, his open and
oavernous mouth. the intensity Of his
gaze, together with tho absolute silence
Of his movements, made him terrible.
he was disappointed. He sank
back again. Then he began to reflect
: second time j.; he appeared to decide
upon the use Of = little 1;nesse.
Another smile began gradually to
appear upon his visage; the corners of
his wide mouth drew up; two semicir-
eular folds appeared in either cheek,
and his eyes diminished. He advanced
coughing and shutting his feet.
:. The sister opened her eyes again.
"You haiu't .fursot the powder, hev
70 r asked the man, in 4 stertorous
whisper. "You said 1 might buy 4
pound, and it'll cost just forty cents.
And then, besides that, Id like to get a
little-a little
Tho man At this point gr,nned tre-
mendously, and, extemporizing bottle
with bis closed hand, he threw back
his head with gurg]e, and applied it
to his lips.
When his head regained its natural
position, his eyes encountered those of
bis sister. They were cool and pene.
tr.tiug. He was impelled by them to
explain little. lie cried, rapidly:
81 don't want much, sis; I only
want thimblefal or so. It's going to
be freezing cold over there, and the sun
doesn't get into those begs very handy ;
It's always damp and muddy, and I
shell hev vet breechee and. 4 heavy
gun, and like as not Z big bag of birds
10 lug round. Aud I'd like to take q
little sunthin'."
The sister, withouta 4 word, produced
from beneath hsr pillow 4 black wallet,
upon which the mans eyes fastened
themselves with great interest.
| She opened it, and produced, in cop.
per coin, quarter of the sum the man
had mentioned. She held it out to him
| saying:
"That will buy you all the powde,
you want. I cannot give you any
| more."
She dropped the money into his out
stretched hand aud then, with diff
Guilty, she replaced the wallet whence
she took it.
! for = moment the man looked fu
rious. He nodded his head violently
and::dxed his eyes significantly upon th'
PROSTATE woman. He tossed the pen
MES up and down SO that they chinket
together.
Then, with sudden apparent 70
vulsion toward virtue, he cried, with
laugh:
"You're bound for to keep me sobe,
ain'tye, old girl? You're down o,
liquor wus than ever. I admire ye,
do, 'Spose ye give me kiss7 I'm Of
fur the powder"
| With mock gallantry, he bent dow
| and presented his bristly face to hi
sister, and at the same time he dex
trouslY extracted the wallet from it
hiding-place. He covered it with hi
hand, and then arose and withdrew
gayly singly in q coarse aud uproariou
voice:
| ''He kissed and he kissed,
| And he kissed his sweet,
! - And she stole his heart 80 bold,
But hs cried, NY love,
| Mine own true love,
/ 1vsllee my heart for gold +"
The kiss awoke curious sensations il
tho sisters breast. They we're new
she had never felt them before.
blush sufused her face, and sigh stol
from her lips. She forgot that tn
salute was not gentle one she wa
occupied with considering the spirit ii
which it had been given. She bega
to upbraid herself that it had not ema
mated from her rather than from him
Suddenly, however, a disagreeabl
thought obtruded itself upon her. Sh
raised her head toward her pillow
then she hesitated, as if half ashamed
But the hesitation was only momen
tary she searched for her wallet. Sh
could not find it. She aroused herse]
still further, and felt about more pc,
fectly. She convinced herself that
! was gone.
Then she lay down again.
At this moment, perhaps prov,dent
> ally, a breeze began to pour down frol
the hills and to murmur about the sid
and roof Of tho little house. Its tor
l. was sad. It had the effect of impriso,
t ing the invalid, As it were, within he
0 self. II penetrated to her aching hear
I She closed her eyes and lips, and. Ii
. tened. Her pinched and homely fea
ures looked thrice pinohed an
|, homely in the severe light Of the I
+ ternoon, but through the lashes Of b
eyes there filtered two teas which