The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1868-02-27

down, and murmurcd something abou
"the rector being unable to do all th'
duly Of the parish himself"
II don't want to hear about the rec
tor, Katy, I want to know all about Mr.
Clinton, and how it is that he il n,
stranger. Have you known him long p
Give months today" answered
truthful Katy.
"What an exact account you have
kept. Aud when are you gong to bt
married p
"Adrie = exclaimed katy, in aston
ishment, "who told you?"
"Yourself, my dear little cousin. I'm
very, very glad," said Adriana, throw.
ing her arms round Katy, and giving
the blushing cheek a long, cougratula.
tory kiss. "What a good little wife
you will be-"
"Oh' returned Katy, "we've only
been engaged three weeks, aud 1 am
not half good enough"
''Nonsense! I believe you are great
deal too good"
"You have not seen Mr.. Clinton p
said Katy protest,ngly.
mo, but I am going to see him, and
shall doubtless find him of my opinion.
Is he down stairs? I must hasten nv
toilet, for We are keeping tea waiting. !"
II think he has just come; I. heard
the door OPEN" -
"Quick ears, Katy! Well, then,
have quick feet also, and will follow
you in minute"
And, when Katy had left the room,
Adrlaua flung eff her remaining wraps,
She did not look into the glass as she
smoothed her hair.
~ am past all vanities now," she
said; chow old I feel; Katy seems
like a daughter to me-" And she went
dewn into the cozy parlor where Nr.
Clinton was already seated.
He rose at her entrance; a grave
earnest look, certainly ten years older
than herself, quiet in manner, but very
selfpossessed. Quite different from the
picture that Adriana had drawn of a
young curate fresh from college, boy
ishly attempting an extra display Of
dignity, and boyishly failing in the At.
tempt. His dress tended to carry out
the impression he produced. His coat
was cut after the manner Of q Roman
Catholic priest, his waistcoat, buttoned
close up to his throat, left but narrow
white margin that passed for collar.
His dark hair was cropped as close as
1t could be without incurring the charge
OF Disagreement, and not a particle of
whisker relieved his sallow cheek. His
features were we'll formed, and the slight
contraction perceptible in the strongly
marked eyebrows was strangely coun-
terbalanced by the peculiarly sweet
smile that from time to time played
round his mouth. There was some-
thing decidedly striking about his whole
appearance, and the question rose in
Adriaua's mind, "How came such a
man to fancy my simple little cousin ?"
followed by another question, "How
came joyous-hearted little Katy to fan
cy such a man ?"
Very much perplexed too was Adri-
ana at the perfect case with which he
inspired the Silverdale family. Good
Mrs. Davis talked as naturally as ever,
and Mr.. Clinton not merely listened,
but appeared amused and interested.
Mr.. Davis spoke of his crops and of .g.
ricultural matters, and MI. Clinton IN.
swered with intelligence. Perhaps he
did it to please Katy. But here was
another perplexity; change had come
over Katy also, she was as light-heart-
ed and joyous as ever, but half-un-
conscious sense Of responsibility had
stolen over, and given certain amount
Of dignity to the young girl that was
very far from unbecoming. In fact, in
that homely parlor and amongst those
three unpretending persous there was a
degree of refined politeness that would
have done no disgrace to any society.
Adriaua overlooked several native el-
ements which would have gone far to
dispel her perplex;ty. They were all
three natural and unsel6sh, there was
no selfconsciousuess and no pretensioo
about them j.; moreover, they were thor.
oughly in earnest in all they said or
did. With them a kind word sprang
from kind thought, and there were no
honeyed phrases and set conventional
ties when the heart was far away. But
Adriana overlooked all this, and so she
wondered.
Was there anything Jesuitical about
Mr.. Clinton ? Perhaps he half diviu-
ed her thoughts, for he looked at her
half intcrrogatively, and Adriana felt
that she had been taking too copious
notes of him.
II suppose the snow was lying all
along the lines, Adrie r. said Mr.. Da-
Wis.
Eyes, I've seen nothing but snow
since daylight this morning"
"You have had long journey then,
Miss Linden ?" said Mr.. Clinton.
''From near Winsford," answered
Adriana,