The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1875-07-01
aother called her, though not quite

mother called her, though not quite
thirty.
All this time Major Thorne came
and went as before; he had purchas-
ed the estate of bis dead friend, and
there had been some talk of his mar
rying the widow, Of which, however,
he had never heard. Mrs. Devon was
fond of him, and Mrs. Harry was
fond Of him and Mrs. Harry was
fond society, while Laura listened
to him we'll pleased, made him happy
with her commissions in the city, al
lowed him sometimes to read in her
stead, sometimes sang to him little.
He was always about her, asLaurence
had been, but he never pressed him.
self upon her, never recurred to that
great epoch of his but she knew that
he loved her well, saw it shining in
his eyes and trembling on his lips,
heard it in each tone Of his voice, a
steadfast love that knew no eclipse,
"Fain to earn, with long essay,
What the winners hand threw BY
lied Breeze, who had brought the
news Of Captain Laurence's marriage
so many autumns ago, came down to
talk over old times again with Har-
ry; and Harry and wife had agreed
to ride over to the Cliffs with him to
see the Mores, who were relatives of
his. But when the appointed day ar
rived Mrs. Harry had a headache and
a dress-maker, and Laura was unwil-
lingly pressed into the service, and
mounted upon Arrow, horse that
had but lately found its way into
Harry's stables; but she went over
the ground safely enough indeed, a
half hour in the saddle revived her
old pleasure in the exercise, famed a
color into her cheeks, and made her
almost gay. Then the Mores were so
cordial, had so much to say, so many
improvements on the place to show,
so many new songs to trill and last
words to chirrup, that it was far into
twilight when they turned their
horses heads homeward; and even
then Harry must 60 round by Crane
neck Hill to leave note at the Gil
berts and bring away a recipe for
gooseberry wine, with which his wife
had commissioned him, with earnest
emphasis, not to forget it, and blue
ribbon knotted about his little finger
as reminder.
1t was an ugly road, rough and
rocky between the Mores and Gil
berts, but to Ned. Breeze, who had
ridden through torturous canons o1
South America and along the rude
fanks of California mountains, it was
like lawn, and his flow of words
faltered no more than his horses feet
"Do you think" said he, at last, 81
met Laurence last weekw
Laurence? All, how was he look
ing? I haven't seen him these six o,
seven Years-which is it. Laura?
"Why, you see," Ned resumed
''he's been very unfortunate, and ht
looked so seedy and wretched that
almost passed him before I could set
tie if it was himself"
Laurence seedy!" cried Harry
"that's new character for the Cap
tain"
"'Tis indeed; he used to be the best
dressed man in the city. But he raj
through with his wife's money befor'
you could say Jack Robinson;' and
to be even with him, only last fall
she ran away with a sort of sporting
fellow, whom he had invited to hi
house number of times. It told up
on him sadly, though they led a cat
and-dog's life together-she always re
preaching him with marrying he'
for her fortune and squandering it
and he retorting that nothing but he,
fortune could have reduced him tt
such an extremity; but"
There was noise just behind then
like the stumble of a horse, a littl'
moan, and then Arrow shot past then
with an empty saddle and galloped in
to the darkness. He had started a
} something in the road, when Laura
who had dropped behind a step alb
sorbed in listening, drew the bridl
a little sharply, and he reared ant
threw her.
A young moon hung over the cres
, of the distant wood and made sort o
glorifed twilight in the place, Will
they improvised an ambulance of fall
en- boughs and rails from the neares
fence, cushioned and pillowed wit
their coats, upon which they laid Lau
; ra and bore her home, leading thei
horses with one arm passed throug]
the bride, hardly conscious whethe
she were alive or no-a ghastly rel
inue.
There was a great stir at Devo
Place that night-domestics runnin
hither and yon, Mrs. Harry in hyste1
les, the children waking up in terro
. at the confusion, neighbors whisper
ing together in hall and chamber
Mrs. Devon wringing her hands, an
Ned Breeze and Harry galloping al
ter the doctors; but when the morr
ing sun filtered in through the Ven'
tian blinds Laura opened her eye
wearily, and seemed to look for som
one, asking with difficulty, if the Ma
Q jor had come in; then she droppe
into dull, heavy stupor again, an
:, the doctors shook their heads ovt