The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-06-25

DAY, JUNE 25, 1874.
why should she be tempted, she VA
tired Of resisting and losing. That be
had ceased to care for hsr, that only
his complete indifference prevented bid
hating or despisiug her, che never told
herself; it made no matter to her that
he had never addressed one word "a
her, never seemed conscious Of her very
presence since they had met again.
She Was not used 70 defeat, she did
not even contemplate it.
If she had no appetite, no more had
Frank; he had OWNED, a. those do
who love, that some cloud had come
between bis love and him, that some
subtle influence WAS working to her
disquiet. Uneasy, half jealous, hs
was ready to put his neck under foot
if she would but step on it.
He lowered about till he found .
chair close to her, in the window of
the boudoir, aud while her eyes sought
the tall figure that paced up and down
outside, he murmured his uuhsppiness
At her evident avoidance Of him. "Hsd
be offended her 7" She turned her
eyes on bis: hs did not read that visit
full look srlGht it served only to drown
his senses. Pressing his forehead with
his two hot hands hs posssd forth fool.
ish words from h,s ,ery heart,
lncoherent, mad words Of love
and Of entreaty. He scarcely
knew what he said or whether she n.
Piled;
ut is only the fancy Of tho nomsnt," {"
che said, slowly, and in . voice that
sounded strange to herssf: eYou
would not grant me one boon, ono lit
tie thing, if I were to ask il Of you,
and yet you say you could die for me.
Men are so," she pursued, drsamily,
not needing his vehement denial,
"They would love Us, and hold Us
fully paid for giving our whole selves
for their fancy. To test the hold on
their love one has but to feign . caprice
and it is enough to shake IT,
"You want my heart, my life, al my
love-"
She turned her face to him, and his
color went and came under tho Wild
mystery of her eyes. Her hand drop
ped from her lap and her fingers
touched his palm.
"Try me, try me; ask anything you
like" he said. v.inly trying to control
his voice. "If you could guess, if I
could show you how I would give my
lite, It that would win your love, tell
me it BY any means I can prove ny
words"
She looked another moment in his
face, and with complete change Of
tone said, ''Y our aunt Wa 10 irats this
morniog, imagining that you vesld
listen to me instead Of to what she
called common sense, herself she
meant, most likely. I believe she fan.
oied I meant to arrogate to myself On
due power to make myself mistress.
We had been talking about that doom.
ed chamber. I believe she VA
quite right; though how suoh
superstition should come under tho
name Of common sense I hardly know ;
but she was 90 emphatic and fierce that
it almost made me believe my own
power"
$50 you are mistress. By George,
she is past bearing ; she shall never On.
ter the house again. Did she fancy I
should listen to her sooner than to
you, idiot that she is7 If you bid me,
I would open the room against the will
Of twenty such as she r
"Would you do it1 I can zee her
dismsy: That would b proof indeed,
if you would do such q thing At my 70.
quest
She stopped. "What 4 fool 1 am to
fancy til"
eff you wish it, it shall bs done
only say, say"-his voice shook n
that he could scarcely TORN the words
-''tell me, if it is done, will you give
me the answer 1 asked for. Shall !
win you Z" He held her hand oonyul.
! sively.
~ may fairly say y.s," shs replied,
"for you will never do it." Frank
rose; he was deadly pale, and stumbled
in bis agitation, half falling a. hs left
tho room.
Outside,.i the misty rain, Simon
n
Fraser paced up and down. George
waited till Franks step died away in
the passage, and then she went into tn.
hall, opened the door, and stood there
Colonel Fraser had turned to come in
he Was close to her. She stood hall
in, half ont Of the doorway holding
the handle in her left hand, she put oul
the right to touch his arm. Simon had
been looking straight before him % b.
walked, and when hs perceived Who
stood there, no change passed over biz
expression. Perfectly cold and impas.
sive his face was making no sign, save
that careful step that courtesy demand
ed, lest his damp plaid should come in
contact with her dress. .
1mploringly her eye sought his !; sh<
nfkavad h;s mama softlv h,,A l.. a:l "a,