St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1864-11-10

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Ten, fifteen minutes! The first tea.
bell reused her, and brought her back
to q sense Of present necessities. Nc
longer time for grief could she allow
herself then ! She must dress and de,
scend to the table where the doors oi
her heart would close, and shut ont the
sparkle aud .brilliance Of the fires burn,
ing there. ,. :s*,'s -.-..:e -.
In moment . broad glare Of ligh,
filed the room, aud she stood up before
the glass to dress tn" glossy hair with
rapid fingers The rich mass was twist
ed into rolls and wound round the head
in a graceful coil, fastened with jewel
led pins. This done, she hastily don,
ned = white muslin dress, knotted .
blue ribbon At the waist and suffered
the ends to float with the siry folds o.
the skirt; little bow at the throat o.
the same color, finished the simple toi
let, and without stopping 70 think o.
anything else, she glided down tht
stairs just as the bell tioklcd a second
time. 5><, :
Mrs. Heartily generally had tc. rath
er late for the country, and before the,
we're through with it, company was au
nouneed. A sickeoing sensation crep
into Astrea's heart at the thought o.
sitting down there to entertain stran
gers; but they we're her MOTHER
,riends-the friends Of the dear bus
band who was far. away 6ght;ng th,
battles Of his country, and she tool
hold Of the duty ,csolutely, smotherin}
the sigh ere it escaped her lips. He'
light step was steady as she entered til,
parlor, and her greeting graceful ant
seKposscssed when introduced to tn,
visitors. No one would have dreamed
of the aching heart hidden beneath tn,
pure drapefy.
A little later other visitors came, ant
throughout the entire evening, unit
'cleve" O'Clock, she entertained them
The flow Of her conversation that nigh
waa~perfectly BRILLIANT. She spoke o
various things that had come under hc
observation while sharing the danger
Of the field with her husband, and helt
her listeners spe'l-bound with interest
sometimes winning tribute Of tears t
those Of the "early fallen" Of whom sh.
spoke. Then she was Called upon t
sing, aud in complying, selected sin,
pie ballad. 1t was the first she laid
her haud upon when she took her sea,
at the piano, aud tor the first time
tears came to her eyes rs she began thu
song:-
I'VE shall meet but We shall miss him,
There will be one vacant chair
The overwhelming sense Of desolatiou
and loss would not be driven back, and
though the tear.wet cheeks were hid.
den as she sat with her face from the
company, the trembling, passionate
tones betrayed depth Of feeling tha,
thrilled her hearers. She knew wha,
she had dons when the last lines qu,v.
cred upon her lips, and made desper'
ate effort to sweep the impression aside
With little dash, she went into the
extreme opposite Of the sentiment, and
sang comic air with such exquisite
and consumnate grace as to set the
whole group to laughing heartily
Coming back to her scat at the close
with glowing checks and brilliant eyes
she was greeted with shower Of com
pliments upon hex musical powers
which she answered only by bow and
smile. 1t was not for that she had Ia
bored! Twas only to keep the door.
Of her heart closed from the gaze oI
others. Poor child, how vainly sh.
struggled to hide ths lights blazing up
on the hearts affairs. AT that momen,
they were flashing through her eyes
until those who gased into their depth.
were daxzled. II .r....x ....,. .....
AT last the visitors withdrew with
evident reluctance, and she was free e
retire to her own room. The terrible
strain upon nerve and brain was over
for a brief period At least, and now she
could give way to the tide of feeling
that had threatened all the while e
break bounds and submerge her. n#@ 3
: Oh, that weary night! The pale
moon looked calmly through the win.
dow at a. bowed form, and the quie.
stars saw trembling hand clasp min.
iature, upon which sad eyes dwelt Will,
anguish in Their depths; !; and out upon
the stiffness Of the lonely hours, sighs
aoated up to heaven, bearing prayers