St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1864-07-14

'ou"u "uu A"uAu viz Welkln. All tne
earth was quiet; heavily, sultrily still,
and at rest. Eternal ridges Of mountains
prisoned it between purple walls. A dull
fever throbbed in its veins, but there was
no effort, no varied action. Elsie had
heard of the .'busy world" and often won
dercd what it must be to behold the works
Of men, to be one in crowd, to have va
riety in ones days, to see new faces, to
make new friends, ut is so STILL" she
murmured; $50 etcrnally, intolerably
STILL. Nothing changing, nothing renew
ing nothing passing away. Nature going
through her slow, monotonous courses ;
time making US older and still the same
dull, dull, quiet life Oh that had a pai,
Of w'rgs to fly over yonder mountain, with
its smiling, denying face, half amused at,
and half pitying my restlessness, or that
could paddle boat right over that golden
line, out so far, where the ships lass like
ghosts There arc p'enty Of paths to cloud
land streaming down the air in colored
labyrinths ending in golden .vistas.;, and
they are crowded with travellers, fancies,
and wishes, and hopes, coming and going
but on that one weary, drowsy, yellow road
that leads out into the world where men
and women live and work there is never a
shadow, never speck! -Bab's longs -
she repeated, smiling to herself 81 wish
some one-man, woman or child-would
come and rouse US u little, before we
die of stagnation. Heigho! Mamma says
she had plenty Of friends once but nobody
minds us now. Well don't care; only
one does tire of baking bread, and gather
ing tlowers, and going ou. for walks. And
l wish had not read that novel. 1t was a
delightful treat, but I don't think it was
good for me-"
She smiled again as she came near the
house, and looked up at the windows.
"Now, if ! were in earnest with all this
g:utnblihg,". she sail chow wicked I
should be! For it is blessed thing to
have such Il pleasant little home to come
to, and dear, patient mother wa ting for
her tea -
:, At this moment Bah appeared on the
threshold gesticulating wildly and mystic
riously.
"Why, what is the matter ?" cried Elsie
t5aSS h5aaes sHa%s W.T., FaFFgesa BIB while her
.''Who'' asked Elsie, opening her eyes
wide.
THE Stranger. tie came up the, road a
bill ago, rs tall and asigrand as you please.
And he asks, Is this Mrs. Leonard's
house?' And l don't know what come
over me that said YES Or l might have
sent him about his business , Bat he's in
the parlor; and oh Miss Elsie, dear. hur-
ry in and get him out of This as fast as
you can''
Bah opened tke parlor door, and Elsie
adv 'nced to 1t, mechanically, quite bewi:-
dered, and only half understanding the
old servant, only half prepared to see a
real stranger in the room with her mother.
She walked in. fresh and bright after her
ramblc, with her curly hair, somewhat
tossed, straying in picturesque rings and
tendrils from under her sloached hat, and
with her basket of inosses on her arm. A
gentleman was sitting by her mother s
couch, and rs he rose up at her entrance
| the girl almost sank into the earth with
shyness. She heard her mother say. Gel
sic, this is MIR. Eorth, the son Of your faith
er's friend who went to India. lie has
only been short time in England, and
has kindly come to sec u.s.
Elsie, having nothing to say, gave him
her hand, and then sat down. Too shy
to look, she sat gazing at the fire and lis.
tening to the pleasant bass voice which was
so unheard Of novelty in that small par:
lor: She fell into reverie of pleased
wonder at the strange, new sensation o
having u friend. Where had he com,
from? Had he really travelled that speck
less yellow road; or had he landed with .
feet in the bay, or strobe across the hills
! "You are not perhaps aware said Ell
sizes mother, ''that there is no hotel fol
very many miles from here. If you viii
accept such mountain hospitality us w
have to offer it will be given most gladly
The pale lady said this with pink ausl
on her white cheek, whilst there hovere,
about her an echo of that sweet, stately dig
nifty which in past years had so we'll be
come the mistress of s.Thc House." j.,
And then the stranger, having gladl,
accepted the invitation, went into the hal
to look after his gun; and Elsie, trying t
shake off her bewildermAnt, went upstair
to lay aside her hat. She brushed bacl
her curls, and shook out her dress, an
tied q blue ribbon under her collar, an,
then her toilet was complete for Elsie ii
summer time, except on Sundays, neve
thought Of wearing anything better than
gingham gown. AS she came down stair
the stranger stood 1T the open hall-door
and Elsie, having conquered her first i'm
pulse to turn and fly up again, came SO
berly down, and saw him plainly for til
first time; for before he had only been t.
her vague, kindly presence. He wa