The St. Cloud journal., 1873-07-17
ST. CLOUD MINNESOTA THURSDAY

.as ISs3st +: ss.a usoe.. ...:.
@ Then the distorted lips, the paralyxed
tongue made another effort, and after j.
minute; wrenohed ont in broken, gut.
tural sounds, the word "Now p" >..>
did not understand, and looked at
Ross. he seemed little puzzled him
self. ~ @-5>-
=. "NowT' he repeated. Then-as he
seemed to catch the drift of some in.
articulate sounds the helpless man was
making-he added, quickly: "Do you
mean to ask Beryl if she is willing to
be married now :"
.,' The eyes frightened and the head
nodded. Evidently this was what be
did mean.
"That is for Beryl to answer" said
Ross, turning to me With a sudden
flush on his cheeks, and sudden light
in his dark eyes. II am ready, sir. II
Beryl says yes" .~
But 1 seemed"to choke. I tore my
hand suddenly from him, and turned
away-I say yes? How could I, oh,
how could I? It was not. the shyness
Of tlmld maiden which made me
shrink from those tender, p.ssionat.
eyes, that olose:o :ol.sping, eager hand
God knows I might have been four
score for Ill I thought Of maiden shy
ness then. It was ! sudden, herribl,
sense of the deceit that 'enveloped me
| it was the memory of tho dead woman
and the sleeping child in sylvy's cab
h!9I 1 was willing to do any thing tha
the princsly fortune, which that poo
wreck on the bed had soraped and toll
ed and denied himself even the luxur
:ies Of life to amass, might come 70 Ros
-villiDg even to hold my tongue IN,
let the sinful soul pass away wlthou
one opportunity to say, "Lord, forgiv'
me ISL have forgiven g'--but ill sud
denly I felt ttthat my soul was staine,
by this silence, and that my hand va
not worthy to touch the one whiol
Ross held out to me; '',4' .- 80 =
I turned sway, and, walking blindl..
across the room, dropped down upon
window seat: Thither, in a minute
Ross followed me.
"Beryl," he said, in tone in. whlc1
pain and surprise seemed struggling to
gether, "what is the matter? Are 20,
angry with me? I know it is hard 70
you to come 50 suddenly and SO irrevo
cably to one whom you know 90 littl
land I should not have dared to as
lit. But he. is dying-the old ma
Jonder-and you remember he said, o
that first evening, that. he wished
see US married before he made hi
~iH:,'~ .~: ~:
At these words, I raised my face.
came to me like 4 flash, that eve,
: thing hinged on the marriage. Unit
that took place, the will would not I
signed which would make Ross mast,
Of Kendall, Hooked up with startle
eyes into the face looking down upo
me. j"
"Don't you think Uncle Kenda
would defer the marriage, Ross ?"
asked. "Don't you think he migl
sign the will without-without that
"He might" said Ross, Though
should not like to ask it Of him-but
am not thinking of the will. I Al
thinking of you, Bsryl. Why do 20
hesitate 2-why will you not trust me
Is it because you have not learned
love me yet? Is it because you We,
mistaken-out there on the hill th
afternoon r. :c>.i'@ :. -...; j..
"Mistaken r" Ah, if he could ha,
read my heart! 80 Ross, Ross"
cried, q I!love you better than anybod
ibut You inimy whole life. 1 would d
for you, If I could :; but Lob, I "a,
not marry you!">' .i:,s- :":a 49,
"Do you mean never, Beryl7 7" aske
The, growing pale.
+ Mo-oh no.: answered I, with #
'verish 'eagerness. II meauaI cannot 4
it itnov-to-night.' - E1'&'I7i'17>::---
"Why not, if you love me as you s,
Iyou do.?'':: .. %Ago7 =. !: IL :, .'..,
"Bscause ---ah, because I am NJ
worthy Of, you, Ress.''' s:*" !, s7o!
s:"Not5 worthy l" Hee smiled as5 I
took my hands. any pretty, FOOLS
darling, ia,that all r.: :s:a@::. = Il
Il All! Ifhe could have known VIII
;: that "all'"' comprised / Ilooked at hin
I. and wondered he did not zee it IN N
face-surely not the face Of ri
shrinking only, because she loved. ,. 7
:: ""You aaM this afternoon that SON
; one---some other xoman-deoeived yq
once" I said, nervoualy. ,a 80 sRosI
I may be doing the, same, for. all 20
know <.-a.. .,.~.E IT,. -. :
""You y he repeated, inoreaulousl
"You-with that ehild-face, those =,
gel.eyes : IF you swore it,, Beryl,
should not believe it,
"Not you, then ]; but-but some OF
else" .I:> .,,......, - >.....,, =.
i my darling, this is nonsense r. b
said, gr.vely. y.,.. "You are tormentin
yourself about some childish fancy :,
lsczuple-7but there is not time for .sqe
things now, ,Beryl., Death will not :va