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

stretched before him, fair, smiling, and
and deceptive; the peaceful village
was at his feet; above him, on the
rocks, wasperched the oldpicturesque
house which had been his home, and
where he had spent his happiest days;
and the bright cloudless sky was over
all. Gazing mournfully toward the
house In the distance, he fancied
that he could see the dim figure of
the student pass and repass the win
dow Of his "Nest," and he shrugged
his shoulders, as if in pity for the
last craze which had taken Abel
from honest work and sober care for
his ward.
He waited long and patiently for
Grace Edmonds, thinking of his fu.
ture, and wondering if, in the far dis
tance, hers would cross it, and food
his life with light. The sun sank
lower in the sky-it was almost time
to think Of going away, and still he
sat there dreaming. Only one
man passed him while he waited
for there was no cross-cut to a
second village above him, but &
roundabout and dangerous cliff path
which no one followed, save an ad
venturous tourist or artist OCCASION
ally, in the long summer days which
were upon them.
Honest Robert Trustworth hac
marched by in hot haste, with his
iron.looking hat pulled over hi:
brows but Victor had not noticed
him, so deeply we're bis thoughts en-
crossing him. Trustworth had scowl
ed at Victor, and gone on to Wray
ford's house; had returned, and re
warded him with a second scowl
blacker than the first ; but the darl
looks Of the master-fsherman hat
been lost upon the Frenchman. Vic
tor was waiting for Grace-thinkin|
only Of Grace, who came at last to
ward him, looking almost as gray
and thoughtful as he, until aware 0
his presence.
"Oh! Mr.. Victor" she said, as sh
came UP with him, "have you teel
waiting for me?"
eyes, I have been waiting" h
repeated, sadly.
She cast a quick, shy glance in hi
direction as the words escaped hin
and the doleful ring of them sugges
ed all the truth.
"You have told him, then ?-h
does not suspect that +"
He interrupted her hastily.
"That you have asked me to leav
, Cornwall, and have told me Of h
trouble" he said-"no, he gives n
credit for having discovered tn:
myself: AS if I could have believe
in his masking his distress so we'll, {
had eyes for any thing save-save m
own sel6shness," he added, after
T short pause, during which Grace lool
ed down and crimsoned very much.
They went slowly together alon
the upward path, both silent for
while. Victor was the first to speal
Il am going away tonight" /
said, with a suddenness that startle
her.
"To-night!" !" she exclaimed, in he
surprise. "Is there-is there an
5 occasion for this precipitation %
/ "Yes-he is poor," he answered.
"But-"
"And I feel that I have, in n
r ignorance-my blindness" he erie
, passionately, "added so much to h
} poverty by my presence that I ca
: not 60 away too soon."
\ "Have you told him that 81
: eyes, and he was not greatly q
2 tonished. I think in my heart tn
it was relief to him, and saved h
| pride little"
i "When-when shall we see ye
e again ?" she asked, family. "Yc
f will return to France, and forg
r us"
us forgetfulness possible? Oh
' Grace" he said, more passionate
l still, IL think you know that that
/ beyond me, though I have said not
! ing-though my honor has kept 4
! silent until though I have tri'
! very hard, if very vainly, to hide n
;, secret in my own breast. But the
!, are times when one must speak ou
J and this is one of them"
t "Oh! say nothing to me now!" 81
8 said, imploringly-"no matter VIII
q is in your thoughts, remember tn
s my dear old Abel is in trouble, al
that I am troubled also.'
"He has given me permission
speak to you, Grace, before I
away"
"Indeed
Her cheeks flushed, and she veile
: her blue eyes from him once MOI
f after a little wondering stare into h
/ face. Her heart beat very rapid
b with suspense, even with joy: for 81
+ ard this handsome young Frenchm:
q by her side had been thrown so mu,
t together that he had become the he
l. Of her little world, and in her hea
: she was assured that there was no O
r like her Victor. Still she did u
g betray her pleasure, only her CO
1 fusion little, and she said, m
t ment afterward, with great innocen
q of expression,
9 "But what can you possibly wa