The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-06-12


hall table. Sunday before last he sat
in the great square pew, where he could
look me full in the face; but after the
first never glanced up, and last Sum
day didn't 90 to church. Yet I see
he is troubled and pale; perhaps he is
to marry Miss Maybe in spite of his
aversion, and it worries him. All, that
is shameful. would not have thought
it of one like hiln-so perfect as he is,
as he is! To-day Mrs. Whyte casually
remarked to Miss Julia that she
thought Gervais would go to Europe if
he married Miss Mayne. "He speaks
all the modern languages, said she.
"That is an advantage" said L; 'sfor
his future wife cannot even speak En-
glish." ....--
81 am glad" said Miss Julia, after
ward, that there's some one beside
me not afraid of Mrs. Whyte. Not
that I'm not afraid of her; I often feel
like covering and whimpering when
she opens the door. But I call up all
my nerves instead, and snap at herr
cit isn't right" 1 said; "and I'm
sorry am so ill-natured. But who
could help it?''
Nobody. my child. And you're
not ill-natured- you're perfection"
| And l think she really believes it.
But, as 1 said, we were sitting in the
moonlight, listening to the singing,
when saw a shadow in the door, and
Mr.. Gervais came in and shut it be-
hind him.
SHOW you've shut out the music"
said Miss Julia.
"Do you call that music?" he asked.
"Antoine here can sing thousand
times better, anyway" said she. can
tome, sing me that German song
again" =
Sing for Mr.. Gervais! And who had
never asked me!
"You are dreaming, Miss julia" 1
said.
"Let me dream, too, Miss Antoine"
said Mr.. Gervais. won't you sing
the song?'
Thought had better sing than make
scene. So l did. sang Adelaide"
don't know why it moved me so; but
it did. 1t did, although was so angry
with myself. felt as if l were finger
ing beside my grave, and saying those
passionate things to my lover, and, to
save me. couldn't hinder the tears
rolling over my cheeks; and when l
looked up there were tears in his eyes,
too; saw them shine in the moon
light. 1T is divine!' said he, coming
and taking my hand. "Good heavens!
your hand is cold as deathr'
81 have been singing death-song,"
1 said.
And then he turned abruptly and
went out of the room. 1 suppose he
cannot help himself now-he is pledged;
but, oh! why did l ever come here?
why did l ever come here?
You were singing death-song,
and your voice sounded like an an
GELS" said Miss Julia. 81 wish YOU
could have seen yourself. with your
black hair and your blue eyes, and the
tears falling in the moonshine, and the
purple shadow of the room about you.
l think Gervais is in love with you,
Antoine"
"Cousin julia" cried harsh voice,
as the Duchess of Mangel-W
sailed in, 81 will be obliged to you to
cease such childish talk. You may as
we'll understand, once for all, that Ger
vais is to marry very different
Hoity-toityr' cried Cousin Julia
81 will be obliged to you to leave my
room" And if the Duchess of Mangel-
Wurzel had not obeyed at once,
smart tap of the crutch would have
hurried her. She went, without doubt,
to tell Gervais what we were talking of.
"That surprises you," said Miss
Julia. "Did you think this is Mrs.
Whyte's house? Well, it's not. It's
my house while live, and then it's the
Alton Bay Lock Insurance Company's."
| Cousin Julia's mind doesn't wander as
it did when she was alone so much.
8" know all about it," said L.
"That's good" said she. l wanted
you to be informed there was no for
tune to be had from me.''
"And, Miss julia" said 1, shave
you ever told them about me and Care
cross?''
"Not one word" said she. Dear
little Miss Julia! l couldn't have be-
lieved would care about her so.
The next day was st. Valentines.
The mail was late, and the young Ia
dies focked into the hall when the bag
came, and they had handfuls of bilLets-
dour. l was looking for my weekly
letter from Carecross, and leaning over
the balustrade. "Why don't you have
some valentines, Miss Purcell?" cried
Miss Mayne, holding up her pack.
Just then James put my letter into my
hand, and went back. But it wasn't
my Carecross letter. 1t was letter
from Mr.. Gervais-I knew his peculiar
hand. What could he have to say to
me? Nothing! l slipped it unopened
into another envelope, directed it to
him and mailed it. He has taken his
choice. 1 should despise myself
l-oh, to think, to think that l.
March zO.-Poor Miss Julia's heart
disease, that has kept her in her chair
for thirty years, gave her release this
morning. She died at sunrise. Last
night q cry awoke me, and hand on
my shoulder, and a voice far off cry
ing, "Follow mer' l threw on my
wrapper in the thick smoke, and ran to
Miss Julia, the whole world in red
glare about me. She was not in her
room; and then I suppose tainted, for
knew no more till watt of cold
air was blowing over me, and was
lying in Mr.. Gervais' arms under the fir
trees. "Oh, thank Godr' hesaid. "You
are alive; you breathe; you are not dead!
Oh. my darling! my darlingr' And he
was kissing my forehead, my cheeks,
my lips, and l couldn't help myself. I
struggled to be free, but Twas SO weak.
1t is wicked" managed to say, land
Miss Mayne -
why do you speak of her?" he
cried.
"You know why" I exclaimed.
because you are going to marry
her."
els that why you drop my violets,
and send back my love-letters?'' he
murmured. 81 shall never marry any
body but you, Antoine. I never meant
to since the day read your mind at
dinner. Tell ME, tell me-" he whis-
pered, as he held me- tell me if
may!' And it's no matter about the
rest.
As soon as could went to Miss Ju-
liza. They had the fire under before