The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-07-02

and lii the fire; tea was broueht:
everything became bright aud cosey.
George came down, with brilliant,
fevesish eyes, and red flush On each
cheek. She talked, laughed, made
tea and when at last Jack Eversle3
said, "And where hays yoa hid
Frank p she looked amazed, and said,
C Frank was he not with you! I haya
not seen him!''
Frank had gone back as soon as hs
had found she was not with the other
ladies.
They all looked at each other, and
Mr.. Eve1sley broke the silence by say.
ing he must have como in; he nust
have fallen asleep in his room, and
went up to look for him.
The daylight, dim already, died at
last altogether; no rain fell, but the
air was damp and thick. Frank did
not come home had not been seen.
He had been shooting capitally Ill the
morning.; little nervous, perhaps,
but in excellent form sltogether,-in
such spirits both before lunch, and Al
lunch, that they told him he was
"Fay." He had eaten nothing, but
had drank champagne, to return thanks
for his health that had been proposed.
He had thrown away his ghn, and
had laughed at the .shivering Of the
glass, as it fell on the rocks, and then
they had said, "Frank, you are Gay r"
He had not gone away at once, but af.
ter drinking the champagne, had de-
clared he must go home and console
Miss Filmer tor her headache; and he
had set off by himself. Perhaps the
mist had made him lese his way. "Had
he bis gun 2" one asked. Yes, he had
his gun. And Miss Gort said, "Don's
you remember We heard him shoss
just afterwards; and you said, Nj.
Bertie, that Frank was having . phi
vate chase of his own p
Miss Blake was trightfully pale:
Her lips were 80 dry and parched, poor
child, that she could hardly form h.1
words ; but she managed to say to MI.
Bsrtie, "Something must have happen.
ed; do 90 and look for himv'
Of course she had but given words
to what each one Was thinking, but
there was a chorus of declaration that
nething could have happened. 1T Wa
the mist;' che was At the keepers,"-
anything you please. But Jack Evers-
ley got up, and left the room quietly;
and then the Berties went, and tho
General found himself assailed BY all
the ladies', and obliged to invent rea-
sons for his non-appe.rance, and soothe
their fears. George said nothing, and
sat close to the fire, holding Blanohs's
hand, while the little lady declared al
teruately that che was dying of fright,
and felt quite faint, aud that he would
walk IN, dressed for dinner, When tho
gong rang.
But the gong did not ring, end only
a shutting and opening Of the hall-door
was heard after some half.hour or SOS
nervous listening.
George got up quietly, walked to
the door of the boudoir, and opening
it, looked out and listened. A step
was coming along the passage, and old
Sandy. deadly pale, came up to her.
"What is it, Sandy2" asked Miss
Filmer, steadily.
He only moved his head, aud seemed
unable to speak; she pushed him aside,
and went down the passage iute The
hall. Hearing her speak, and seeing
her leave the room, all the other ladies
had a sense of fear and coming evil.
Blanche shrleked and rushed after her.
Lucy Blake caught hold Of her mother,
and shook all over, and even Miss Gort
ran on tiptoe to the door. The Gsner.
al followed her.
All was dark and quiet in the hall.
The front door was sjar, and George
opened it aud stood there listening.
The dall tramp of mems feet came
nearer and nearer the General aud
both the ladies whispered together in
the hall.
"Can you not be quiet 7" Georgie
! said, turning round suddenly on them.
Then she made out on to the gravel,
and net those whose steps were now
| close to her. A hand took hens in tie
| darkness, and Arthur Berthe said,
"You had better 90 in" aud led hsl
into the house. "You had better "a
In" he repeated to the group that had
rushed up to him with eager exolsma'
tions and struck with horror At thej
knew not what dread, they all rstres,et
except George, who stood back in ss>
shadow of the doorway.
III am alone now" she said, hal1
aloud II am alone, aud may stend d
myself" and yet she scarcely knss
what she meant by her words. Sh'
saw them carry in their burden, ent
lay it gently down on the great sson'
slab in the ball, and she saw in tn
gray pallor of the faces round hs
what had happened. Scarcely . wo.'
was spoken, but when four Of thsu
made movement to take up the bod
and carry it elsewhere, she csm
up and said, "Let me see him." en-
they fell back without . word sld le
her look.
i He was quite dead with the sti1