The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-05-07

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[1NNESOTA,, THURS
be i'll or in trouble, or 10 some position
that prevented his writing to her, Then
hissp.rtiog from her hsdsEisen up in
erf+mind with cold .chill upon it. II
he had written, she oouldhave forgiven
him; if he had come back like q man,
and said, "K.te, 1 am still poor, but
love you will you share my poor for.
tune :" shea would have said, "Yes,
With all my heart r. But. how had he
come back -? Why had hs loft, in the
first place That story which the angry
father had told her the day before had
almost opened her eyes to the true
character Of her lover; but last night,
when she saw him playing. the black
sooundrelly part which the farmer had
described when she saw him, not as
the returned prodigal, but as the re'
turned thief, she feared him. Her own
pure noble nature shruok at the thought
Of loving such q man and yet the di.
.yino spark VAS not altogathez. stamped
vqt, 1but she feared him. He. heart 1.l-
moss stopped A. the ,thoagbts that shp
might, have tbsen this am.nasswite.s-..
Then the ,dne manly, figure of: the
squire rose up ia her mind, and, graaa-
ally eolipsed the DEPRIVED face Of the
uo6lial son, the -untaithfal lover, the
foreer. and thief. 1t WAS. like chang
ing = slide in . magic: lantern, The
squire, with his frank round tace,, his
manly form, elldsqq o'y.ses ''.es the other fig
uFe, and stood there fq!l qlll4ap 4apd ole,ta il ip
her thoughts. And 4 she. :5eould have
been this other, man's wife ; this gentle.
man who had w.td he'd ever her, who
had taken care that hef father, should
not be trsmpled upon, who had accept,
ed her rejection Of him as humblY as if
he were laborer, instead Of a lord Of
the soil, and who, ,ratber than trouble
her by his presence 10 the district, had
gone away, submitting to the inconven.
ience Of !. long absence from home.
She felt ungratefnl and cruel that she
had stood in the aquire's way; and tho
bells, how merrily they ruug! It made
her heart beat to hear them. Was he
cured of his folly? No doubt he was,
she thought; or there was that other
contlngency-perhaps he had brought
wife home with hlm who could tell
Woman was q puzzle from tho first. It
was not to be expected that Kate
Meadows should offer any exception to
the rule. She hoped he still loved
her; nay, she expected it from him
she was Jealous lest some one had taken
him from her. Did she love him her.
self I: She did not know. In her. own
way, she came to the conclusion that
Tom North; xas no longer an obstacle
to the squire's woodag. Al the bells
rang out, peal upon peal, she could moi
help feeling, in her own secret heart, a
sensation Of pride at the remembrance
that the returned traveller, the maste,
of the manor, the magistrate and
squire, had asked her to be: his wife,
aud had not responded to her rebnka
With scorn.
"l'm ~ g GLAD you are up,''' said the far.
mer, when Kate presented herself in
the room below. 81 was just going out,
and. the missus has been asking for
you. I hope you alept.''
"Yes, thank ~you," said Kate ); "and
Mrs. North, how is she 7"
"Bstter this morning, decidedly bet.
ter"
"Does she know what occurred last
night7"
"Not word," said the farmer.
"Is there any news?" continued
Kate, with as much calmness as she
could assume.
eyes, l think We shall find him.
"Whom :" asked Kate.
"The burglar r. said the farmer.
"1ndeed !" was al Kate could say.
"1t distresses yoa, this horried bust.
ness" said North ; "better soy no more
about it."
"Better move no more in it, Mr..
North, if you value peace and you,
wifs's health" said Kate, with mark.
ed solemnlty.
81 value both, and I an anxious te
show you how much I think of your
kindness In being here but one owe:
something to ones country, SAID the
farmer, warmly "we oil have a duty
to society and to our neighbor."
"In this case you might pass owe,
considerations Of that kind,v said Kate
growing bolder.
"You saw that man last night" ex,
claimed the farmer, suddenly taking
her. hand. "Be frank and trust me-
who was he p
Kate trembled at this earnest attack
"Trust me With your secret, and b.
sure I will do the right thing"
"Release my hand," said Kate, with
drawing herself to another part of tn
room ; "and for your own sake, fo
mine, Tor Mrs. North's, ask me no NOR
questions"
"Forgive me, Miss Meadows, if
have been too earnest my wife is ex
pecting you. Thank you for all you
kindness to her and to me-"
| The next moment tho farmer wa
/ anna. AL u .k> aAnol H. A.. IL