The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1875-10-07

| "oAA AouOAud tuuI lib present. laQy-
love was in appearance precisely his
opposite, having large night-black
eyes and raven hair, colorless cheeks,
dark shades under the eyes, sad,
dreamy expression, &c.,, &c. In
short, the lover drew very interest
ing and poetic picture of his lady ;
and concluded by assuring US that
her attachment to himself, however
unmerited, approached to alteration.
AS tor the engagement, he certain
ly showed us next day a paper writ
ten by his beloved, which the con-
slant youth wore (in small velvet
case like a needle-book) next his
heart.
1t was to the following effect. writ
ten upon pencil lines, one half rub
bed out, and was evidently one Of he
earliest efforts st penmanship:-
"This is to give notis that I have
promessed to be your true-love and
when groe up I will marry you il
you like and to be your Dutiful wife
till death and if not I would rather
go to my mother J:
"You believe me,
"Dear sir,
"Yours truly,
ELEANOR W1LroH"
We thought the conclusion rather
stiff, considering the frankness of the
foregoing portion; but Madonna ex-
planned that it was to be regarded
rather in the light of a formal instru-
| ment than as q warm expression of
| feeling.
Certainly if seed cakes, mince and
other pies, and macaroons, speak the
language of love, Madonna's account
of his lady's devotion was fully cor
roborated. Every week parcels were
arriving, containing such articles as
the aforesaid, and covered with the
strictest and most earnest invocations
to the railway authorities concerning
their safe and punctual delivery.
How the little lady provided these
testimonials was q mystery to Madon-
na,-assuredlY it was not through her
guardians; and the most plausible
theory was that she had won over the
housekeeper,-as we'll she might, the
little darling ?-to forward these
proofs Of attachment to her chosen
lord.
But change was destined to come
over Madonna.
One fatal halfholiday itso happen
ed that, in returning home from
playing cricket on the neighboring
downs, we met the establishment of
Pallas House in full procession. The
usual fle-fre Of glances was exchang-
ed as the two trains swept past each
other on opposite sides Of the road,
but only one casualty occurred; and
who should that be, but the love-
wasted, used-up Madonna.
Tripping at the governess's side
was a new pupil, the most exquisite
little fairy you can conceive. Don't
! think / am romancing, when I de-
clare to you, that in all my life-and
I've seen something, knocking about
the world-two more beautiful human
creatures than Madonna Bright and
Augusta Grosvenor (for that we soon
learned was the new girls name) I
never beheld. She had a perfect cat
aract Of rich, brown, silky hair, eyes
that glittered like stars, and she
walked with the air of q little prin-
cess.
Poppy" faltered Madonna, who
was walking with Purcell, catching
his companions arm, "I've seen my
| fate"
"Hold up, my pipin |" replied the
more philosophic Poppy. "Have a
brandy.ball7 7"
Madonna answered Gin substance)
that no amount Of lollipops could
minister efectually to a mind diseas-
ed that it was, in fact, all over with
him; that he never loved before !;
and, finally, that he could be content
to perish in the course of that after
noon, if his doing so might afford
even a momentary qualification to the
object Of his unquenchable passion.
On being reminded of his engage
ment to Eleanor Wilton, Madonna
replied, with some warmth, that he
was tired of her childish homage, and
should take an early opportunity of
pointing out to that young lady some
more eligible Investment for her af.
fections and finding, on arriving at
home, plum.cake of unusual dimen-
sions, he divided it among us with a
sort Of disdainful pity, not reserving
a crumb for himself:
Perhaps, if he had known it would
be the last love-otfering, save one. he
| was ever to receive from that source,
might have been less generous.
CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK.
"A sweet little boy, only eight
| x,ooro o11 Ill.,.