The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1875-08-05

spirits had not undergone abatement
he was trife more serious occasion
ally; that was all. He spoke very
hopefully, though he might not ex-
actly see his way; and Grace noticed
with a sigh that he was fuller of ex-
pertinent than ever, and that the light
in the upstairs room-Wrayford's
Nest, rs it was called by the towns
folk-burned far into the night.
Things were stepped very much in
shadow when the summer weather
came round, and all was brightness
outofdoors and across the blue sea
beyond the windows of their room.
The books and much of the chemical
apparatus had been sold quietly by
Wrayford, not to cover the rent, but
to pay poor shop-keepers who were
pressing with their claims from Grey
moor. Trustworth was rich man,
and would give them time; the lane
ecas very long, but they must be close
upon a turning.
Abel Wrayferd was surprised one
day-a fortnight after quarter-day-
by young Dufoy. He was writing
in the summer-house-a favorite
haunt of his in summer, that he had
built himself of lattice-work, over
which Grace had trained a hundred
roses-and deep in calculation, fight
ing his way through an army of fig
ures which required grave and ear
nest study, for. they were figures Of
quantity, and affected the life and
death of an old craze which had come
suddenly upon him again in his mis-
fortune-like a hope that would not
be set aside-when Victor Dufoy's
presence suddenly robbed him Of a
little light.
"Ah, Victorw he said, looking up,
"where have you been all the
week p -.
II have been to Launceston, fo1
one place."
"That's not attending to work" he
said beginning to triae with his pen.
"But there was no work here ready
to the hand, Sir"
"Ah! that's true," replied Wray'
ford ;. "and, by.the-way-God bless
me! there is money owing you too
and you must live, pay for your
apartments down in Greymoor, and
all that, as we'll as other people
How forgetful I am! How much cal
you do with for a week or two?
And Abel felt in his pockets, ane
found few halfpence there, which
he jingled together dismally.
Il was not thinkingof money, Sir
said Victor, proudly. Il am forever
in your debt, not you in mine. Blu
I have been thinking" he added, a
his voice changed, and even faltered
"of leaving Greymoor for time"
"Indeed! Are you thinking Of 1t
| Belle France, or of the cousin Of whom
you told me once?'
| "The cousin, Sir p
eyes, the ta'ecee-why, Victor, yo'
| have not forgotten your engage
| ment ?"
ut was not an engagement-sim
ply a wish of my mothers; and tn
cousin got married some time since
| against eyerybody's desire save he
| own-and mine. I thought that
| had told you"
! ."Not q word. Well" he said
little testify, "where are you going
why do you wish to go9"
| Il wish to 60 for the reason that
feel that I ain of no, further use t.
my benefactor-rather an incum
brance."
"What makes you think that?"
Wrayford was a proud man, an
had carefully concealed his dificu]
| ties from his assistant. He woul'
have struggled on with him a littl
longer, trusting still to turn in hi
favor, rather than have contesse'
that he was not able to keep him
And now this sharp eyed Frenchma1
had guessed the secret, unless Grey
moor folk had been talking too mucl
among themselves.
II can see, Sir, that affairs are nc
going so straight with you as [ coul
wish-that, in fact, I am, for time
a little in the way. I am sure, if
go, it will be the better 'r us ALL"
SWELL" said WrayEord, thought
fully, ':perhaps pou are right, Victor
I thank you for your consideration
Luck has been dead against me lat
ly, and, until there's a rift in th
clouds to let the sunshine through
it may be as well to part. But
shall be sorry to lose you"
"Oh, Sir, how sorry shall I be! I
you and your kind ward I owe all th
; happiness Of my life"
Il don't see much happiness
working Oh here. You may do be
ter in London. I will run over a
| my correspondents presently, and Sc
, if any of them are worth giving 20
a letter of introduction to. I nevt
dreamed of your going away, vi
!, tor"