The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1868-02-27
ADRIAN A.
, cHAPrIR XVII.
DY JEAN DoNoGuR.

- ~ AO - AA ~ IL
ny JEAN DoNoGuR.
j.. Z, cHAprrR XVII.
Adriana scarcely spoke during the
long drive home, for home she felt il
was; the stray lamb was returning tc
the fold IS good Mrs. Davis had sug.
gested, humbled and partly penitent,
despite the flash Of pride that had made
her so'scornful but that very morning,
Indeed, pondering over that morsiug
on; her dreary journey, she had seen
reason to disbelieve that strong asser.
ton she had made, aud to feel that nos.
sibly Of the halfbrothers she had lat.
terly taken more interest in observing
the movements Of Mr.. Etheredge than
of Mr.. Braddick.
As they drew near to the old home
stead the steady old horse quickened
bis pace, we'll knowing that he was
vending towards comfortable quarters.
'They'll be glad to see you, Adrie,'' p
said Mr.. Davis "the mistress has been
fretting over you more than once, I can
tell you, though it was none of her
fault that you fitted from Silverdale.
There's some one over and above the
old rarty there now" continued he,
"but I'm not to tell secrets"
"Have you visitors ?" asked Adri-
ana, half annoyed at the prospect Of
having to meet strangers.
eyes aud no." replied Mr.. Davis,
mysteziously; "there's only one, and
; he's not exactly visitor, and yet he is
but, dear, dear, what am I talking
about? I shall be lettiug out every.
thing before the time, so don't ask me
anything more. It's sowe one you
wont mind in the least, so you must
be satisfied with that"
And On they drove in silence, through
the snow. with, the wintry wind whist
ling sadly through the leaaess branch
es, aud the moon giving just light
enough to shape the snowheaps into
ghastly forms that seemed to nod and
nod IS the old-fashioned gig logged by.
"Ho, Dobbin, lad, on, on-it's only
the old milestone; never be afraid of
an old friend, though to be sure it's
something Of new face upon it," said
Mr.. Davis, as Dobbiu showed symptoms
Of refusing to pass a tall white column
that stood where he had never seen a
white column standing before. "The
boys have been giving it a new hat,
that's all, you foolish beast ; see, there's
the house. How jolly the light shines
out through tho windows! They We
not put the shutters to yet. Ab, it's
not bad thing On a cold, raw night
like this, to know that at your journev's
end there's blazing fire awaiting you.
I can almost hear it crackle. And
there's Katy auttering past the win
dow,-did you see her? They hear
the wheels. Wo, Dobbin lad, wo |!
what's come over you tonight? New.
er fear the light" said Mr.. Davis, as
The door opened, and the light stream
ID far out into tho darkness, and fell in
softened rays upon the great snow-cov-
cred laurel bushes aud the snow-fr1np-
ed frs.:
"Has she come ?" cried out Mrs. Da-
Wis and Katy together. "My poor
child, how cold you must be-" and kind
Mrs. Davis drew Adriana into the COM
Portable summer-parlor, doubly comfort
able now for the great splintering spark
ling logs, that spluttersd up showers Of
fiery sparks, and sent ruddy glow
over the chintz covers, and added an
additional lustre to the beads in Re-
bekah's presents, thereby making: them
'eem al the more magnificent. "Draw
The curtains, Katy, and ring for tea;
there's nothing 80 comfortable after
Journey ~ 4 good cup Of tea; it sets
one right At once. But, oh, child, how
hin and pale you are! My mind mis-
gave me when you went away, and you
look .s if you had been in sore trouble"
"Don't say anything now, MOTHER"
Katy. "Come, Adrie, and
take of your bonnet" And the two
vent up the wide staircase, aud through
the narrow passage 10 Katy's bedroom.
opening out OF it, was prepar-
ed for Adriana. She sat down By the
Gre, and suffered Katy to divest her of
her5wrappings.
Katy proceeded with her task in 81.
lence.
) ,"Who il staying here :" asked Adri.
ana abruptly.
"No one" returned Katy, looking up
in surprise.
"No one r repeated Adrlapa, some.
what astouished. "What did your faith
er meant He told me I should find
some one who was stranger and who
vas not"
"Oh," said Katy, becoming deeply
absorbed With !. refractory button, II
suppose he meant Arth-Mr. Clinton.
our eurate; I dare say he did," ... 4
"Nsver mind the button, I can un-
fasten It without half 20 much trouble !:
vos, a~a nn;fn rad nth ~n,,. a~.,%:on.