The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-01-22

ceptible. Fortunately, my terror died
away when I saw this. The humsu
sound and actiou, that were like what
'e'erybody does, brought me back At
once out of sll supernatural dread. I.
was woman, and she was unhappy.
dismissed the other thought-or, rath.
er, it lett me. uuawares. -.
This gave me a great deal of o,ur.
age. l repeated my question; and
then, as there was no answer, went up
and touched her softly The T6gure
rosa with = spring 10 q moment, before
could think what she was going to
do She put out her hands, and push
ed me of. ... T.:
"Ah !! have I brought you ont 1t
last Z: she cried wildly and then
stopped short and started At me while
started too, feeling, whoever it might
be she had expected, that I was not
the person. Her movement was 50
sudden, that l shrank back in terror,
tearing once more l could not tell what.
She was very tall, slight woman,
with shawl tightly wrapped about ber.
1n the confusion of the moment I could
remark nothing more
faro you ill?" 1 said falter,ne.
my good woman, IL don't want to
harm you; heard you moaning, and
1-th9ught you were ill.,"
She seized me by the arm, making
my very teeth chatter. The grasp was
bony and hard like the band OF skele.
ton. '.: -; -~ 49,
o"Are you from that house 7 ore you
from him 7" she cried,. pointing be.
hind her with ber other; hand. IBID
h'm come out to me himself bid him
come out and 60 down or his kuees be.
fore I'll give in to enter his door. Oh
I've not come here for nought-I've
not come bere'fes~ ~noueht I've com.
with oil my wrongs that he's done me
Tell him to come out himself; It is bis
part.'' - H." .>:,>,,
Her voice grew hoarse with the pas
sion thst was in it, and yet it was a
voice that had been sweet.
put up my hand, pleading with
her, trying to get a hearing, but she
held me fast by the arm.
Il have not come from that house."
I said. "You frighten me. III live
close BY. I was passing, and heard a
moan. Is there anything the matter ?
Can l be-of any use?"
I said this very doubtfally, for 1 was
afraid Of the strange figure, and the pas.
sionate speech.
Then she let 90 her hold all at once.
She looked at me, aud then all round,
There was not another creature visible
except, behind me, suppose, the open
door and lights of the 'Bar!eymo~ y
She might have done almost what she
would to me had she been 50 disposed
at least, at. the moment that was how
l felt. "
! "You live close by p she said, put,
ting her hand upon her heart, which
was painting and heaving With her pas
sion.
eyes. Are you-staying in the
neiehborbood ? Have you-lost you,
| way"
said this in my bewilderment, not
knowing what tho words were which
came from my lips. Then. the poor
creature leaned back upon the wall
and gasped and sobbed I could not
make out at frat whether it was emotion
or want Of breath.
eyes, I've lost my way" she said
"not here, but in life I've lost my way
in life, and I'll never find it again
Oh /! I'm i'll, Pm very ill. If you are
a good Christian, as you seem, take me
in somewhere, and let me lie down till
the spasm's past; l feel it comiog on
now"
"What is it?" I asked.
She put her hand upon her heart
and painted and gasped for breath.
Poor wretch !! Al that mvment 1 hear'd
behind me the locking of the door a,
the "Barleynow" 1 know l ought {,
have called out to them to wait, but
had not my wits about mo as one ought
to have.
"Have you no home 7" l asked
"nowhere to go to? You must live
somewhere. I will go with you, and
take you home.''
"Home !" she cried. ut is here or
10 the ohurohyard, nowhere else,-
here or in the ohurohyard. Take me
to ono or the other, good woman, 70,
Christ's sake, I don't care whioh-te
| my husbands house or to the church.
ysrd-tor Christ's sake"
For Christ's sake! You may blame
me, but what could do? Could any
of you refuse it you were asked in that
name ? You may say any one can use
~ords,-any vag.bond, any wretoh,-
and, Of course, it is true bat could you
resist the plea,-you who are neither q
wretch nor vaeabond?-I know you
could not, any more than I.
"Leau upon me-" I i.id :; "take ny
arm try if you can walk. Oh l don't
know who you are or what you are, bu,
whom you ask for 4Christ's sake, you
know, He sees into your heart. If you
have any place that can take you to,
| tell me; you must kuow it is difficult
to take a stranger into ones house like