St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-03-12
'Tkere is my address-please send i


Captain Mays sitting-room in the great
Philadelphia hotel was about as snug a
little den as man need wish for, with it's
carved marble mantles, bright. patterned
carpet, and luxurious sofas aud lounging-
chairs, aud Captain May himself, as lie
looked smilingly up from the perusal of a
heap of papers, to greet the entrance Of a
companion, was no unfair specimen Of a
handsome young naval officer.
"Well, charley p
"Well, May-upon my word, if you're
not up to your ea,s in those old navigation
charts again. It's enough to make lazy
man ache, to see you work !"
"It's time to work. said May, good
humoredly. Il expect sailing orders in
about a fortnight-and glad I shall be
when they come"
"Glad!' calculated Charles Monroe,
throwing himself into a chair, and biting
at the end of one of his friends quill
pens. "May, you're perfect problem to
meas uneasy ou dry land as fish. l
can't understand it. hanged if I can y!
"Perbaps you could" said May, calmly
''if you had no home ties-nothing to
look forward to-nothing to make life
pleasanter in one spot than another, since
Minnie died"
He stopped abruptly. Monroe leaned
over with frank sympathy, to grasp his
friends hand.
"Pardon ME Raymond I'm a stupid,
bluadering fellow, know, but I don't
mean to hurt you by my careless words
Still, there is your child left you"
dear little Harry" said May, half
smiling, "but year old baby isn't much
company for man Of thirty, you must al
nit. Besides, he is tar better off under
the loving care of my sisters than he
could be with me-"
"True," said Monroe, twisting the quill
found aud round his fingers. "Who's
that knocking? Letters, eh? Don't
mind me, open your correspondence =" ~
May complied, tearing open the envel-
opes and glancing carclessly over their en-
closures, until he came to the last one -
AS his eye fell on it he uttered an excla-
nation Of astonishment.
"What beauty" calculated Monroe,
who, with the privileged impertinence of
long established friendship, caught up the
letter as it fell from Raymond's hands -
"Well> I'd just like to know what this
means, you sly scamp"
"Upon my word-upen my honor,
Charley" calculated the astonishcd young
man, II never saw the picture before! l
cannot imagine v no she is, nor how the
picture came here -
"No message with it?'
"Not a word But the direction is GER
tainly plain enough-'Captain Raymond
May, Philadelphia"
"Well, l can only recommend to you to
wait patiently for time to solve the ques-
ton" said Monroe, rising. "Come, do
look up y moment from the enhancing
photograph, and give fellow little at
tention-I want to know if you are 60
ing to Mrs. Leatord's Thursday night?"
"Yes-no-I don't know. / haven't
made up my mind" -5
CAN right; I'll call for you at nine to
moment"
Away went Monroe, leaving Raymond
May still bending over the fair countc-
nance, which seemed to enchant him like
a dream! ......
The exotics IN Mrs. Leaford's bay-win-
dows were in full blossom and brightness !;
the fire, which one or two bleak days had
rendered far from disagreeable, even in
April, glowed cheerfully in tho CRATE, and
half dozen young guests, matronized by
their pretty hostess and Mrs. Walter from
New York, were busy, some reading, some
chatting, and some engaged in the grace
full mysteries OF embroidery and crochet.
"By the way, where is Virginia " ask
ed Mrs. Lcaford, glanciug around.
"She will be down presently" answer
ed her sister, ''she took her letters up
stairs to read"
That very instant Miss Lynne's light
touch fell on the door knob, and she came
into the room, looking prettier than ever,
in white cashmere morning wrapper, re-
lieved by the futter of blue ribbons.
"Lizzy," she said, coming to her sisters s
side, II have had the strangest adventure
this mornlng!' -... ~............
"What do you mean ?" asked Mrs.
Walter. s..'s 3@-' 10 ~.'
CAS- I opened one Of my letters" she
said, laughing in half pleased, half puz-
zled manner, "out fell photograph! OF
course, | supposed it was one Of those !
had taken of myself just before I left New
York - e# -
/ :Well," CALCULATED the eager chorus Of
listeners, 1'and it was" .s Il .-.......
.The prettiest baby you ever saw" ex'
claimed Virginia, holding up the pictured
representation Of our old acquaintance
"baby Harry" and her auditors pounced
ecstatically upon it, uttering various fem
mine adjectiyes Of delight and admiration
Thursday night arrived, move propi
tiously, With keen Wind and brillian
starlight, and Mrs. Leaford's spaciou'
rooms were soon filled. Mr.. Monroe anc