The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-03-05
MY LAST LOVE.

w OOOAe
of him or from him, and vas surprised,
when, IN a month, : review I; came, and
before long another, and Afterwards .
box, by express, with .sduslJ kept bou-
quet, and, il mid.wintef, . little oil.
paiutiug,-a delicious bit Of landscape
for my sanotum, ~ be said in the note
that accompanied it. lheard from him
in this way al winter, although I never
sent word or message bast 7ailY sn1E
tried: to think Twas sorry ttss 6S d,d
not forget me, as had supposed he
would Of course I never thsaEbt OF
acknowledging to myself that it was
tossible for me to:love him. I was too
good a sopbist for that; aud, indeed,
] think that between : perfect friend.
ship and a2perfeot love {. fainter dis
tinotiou exists than many people i'm.
.gine. I have known ikingz to be
colored as roslly Is love, and seen what
called itself love as cold as the obilliest
liking.
One day, after spring had: Been soome
time come, I ~as returning from : walk
and saw that Mr.. .Amea,,-. house r.Swas
open, l could NOT see any psreon
there; but the door and windows we're
opened, and faint smoke crept out Of
the chimney. and up among the new
spring foliage. after the squirrels. I
had walked somas : distance, md III
tired, and che weather was not perfect ;
but l thought would go, .fousd that
way and see what vas going On. It
was one Of these charming ohild.days
in early May, laughing and crying oil
in one, the fine mist.dropa shining
down iu the suns rays like star.dust
from some new world in process Of
rasping up for use. l liked suoh days.
The showers we're as good for me as
for the trees. L grew and budded, un-
der them, and they filled my SOUPS soil
full of singing brooks.
When ! reached tho lawn before Tie
door; Mr.. Amesso.me out to sSe hey 1 I
90 glad 70 meet that lie held my dhihdS
aud dtew me 10, asking two or three
times how, was snd5if I were glad 10
sec him. He had called at the house
and seen Cousin Mary, ON bis xsl ossiI
heasaid,-for 10 vas hungering for
sight Of Us. he was not looking %
we'll as when he loft in the autupn.-
thinner, raler, and with = more >anx.
ious oppression when he was not speak
Jog; but. when I began 70 t%talklwith
hin, he frightened up, aud seemed like
his old selt:: He had two or three
vorkmen already tearing down portions
Of the finishing, and after ! fey mo.
ments asked me to go round and see
what Improvements he was to make.
We stopped At last At his chamber, !
room that looked through thss foliage
towards my house. J zz,: EE$
"This is my loupg,ng.plsoe," he said,
pointing 70 othe sofa beneath the win.
a .daov. !, i. /. shall sit here With my cigar
i ana ~.teh you.shis summer ), 70 be cir
eumspeet But are you sure that you
arsg.d ta,es nel"
hTo bezsare. DO you take NO tor .
hea,Esn ?" sEs.id.3 'tBut what are Iou
making suoh ., a,chsuge tor? Couldn't
the old house content you :"
at satisfies me we'll enough, but I
expect visitors this summer who are
quite tastidious, and this old worm. eat
leo woodwork wouldn't do for them.
What makes you look so dark? Don't
you like the notion Of my <lady.sisi.
tors p -. :. ,. ...:y.. s..z
~ dldn't know that they were 70 10
ladies until you told mo, - said :; esaud
IT'S none Of ny business whom You en-.
tertain, Mr.. Ames.'' I'LL .1~ i
"There wasn't much. of 1 welcome
for them in your face, u my rase,,'''s b,
.aswered. "Aud to: tell he ttnth, ]
am nut much pleased With tho arrssge-
ment myself. But they .ook I sseddsa
fancy for coming, and no amount O
persuasion could indues them'to chang,
their minds. IL hardly saa.bl,
place for ladies'; but Il thsy,s viii i sssaome
they must make lilo best If ,'s,.'?f ss. ! r,
"How came you ever to|ts ID 4 fanles!! y!
to this place I and what makes; s1o'
spend so much money on IT," .sk
ed. ~. 1 Il. &, .'5 =, 49, - ~*,-. " ' p i.aa c =
"You don't like 70 see = ,a. tbe BE- u none 2,
thrown sway he said -. .sllha.skhtllse 81
"The truth i, shatt I've egot3a.sksl.ston
like many another man, and I've bee!
trying these two years to get away ffoz
it, The first tine + stopped 10 +, e.
Il sar r.