The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1868-01-23
bring back the old woman to the broken

bring back the old woman to the broken
train Of thought she had BEEN pursu-
ing. It's four o'clock. Mrs. Brsddick
WI want to know how Charley is; she
has not been in since eleven"
"Ah, and Mrs. Braddick too. How
Gays go by; it was long engagement,
from .hildren almost, for Miss M.rea-
iet was >ere more than at her own
nome !; ane 1ars. Cunningham's heart
was fixed upon T.. It's seldom that
people have things happen just as they
wish but it turned out inst to her
mind, and every one was 50 pleased
ana there was not soul but thought
it was just as was best, and things don't
often happen 80 that no one finds fault
with them, and no one did With that
Wedding"
If the old nurse could have looked
into her companion's heart at that mo-
ment her ramblings would have been
cut short by very establishment but
sho saw nothing but . very pale face,
With dark attentive eyes that seemed
to invite her to go on. There is some
thing fascinating in being listened to,
and 50 the old woman evidently felt;
she poked the fire eompheently, slipped
the cup Of tea Adrian. had poured out
tor her, then, slowly stirring the spoon
round and round, she resumed:
"Mr. Charles was away for long
together before his marriage; I don't
know that he was i'll when he was
away or what, but he used to come
home looking sad and sorro~ful, and
the more company Mrs. Cunningham
used to get together to cheer him up,
the worse it seemed to make him.
Adriaaa's heart was beating half tri-
umphantly. "And 50 at last" contin-
ued the nurse, ut came to be 80 dull
whenever he came, that Mrs. Canning
ham thought it must be that his mar
rlagge was as far off as ever; for you
see, Miss Linden, he had not much Of
his own, it was all the mistress's; and
SO she said he should not have to wait,
she would make it all over to him, and
he must allow her SO much year out
Of it, for he was her favorite son, and
she did. not mind what she gave up for
him. And ike enough it was that he
should be sorrowful, for Miss Margaret
was handsome young lady; there
were few like her in the country. MI.
Charles said he could wait, aud begged
his mother not to do anything, but she
knew him better than he knew himself;
and so she had the lawyers, and it was
al settled, aud so there vas no reason
Why they should not be married then"
Adriana hid her face, and gave = half
groan. Nurse Alison looked up in
surprise and half alarm. "You are i'll,
I know you are, Miss Linden do lie
down."
"Not to-nig ght; the danger will be
over tonight. See, Charley's restless;
and the doctor said everything depend
ed oa quiet Sleep"
The child tossed his arms about,
moaning incessantly; his breathing was
hurried, his cheeks were burning, he
would not lie still in any position.-
Adriana lifted him up out Of the cot,
threw a shawl round him, and took him
in her arms. She rocked him gently,
and rung in- = soft low voice, and be-
fore long he was quietly asleep again.
"Put him into his cot, Miss Linden;
you'll be wearied enough before he
wakes"
"No, no, it will rouse him up if
move; just put something round me,
for it is very cold"
The nurse folded q dark plaid care
fully round Adriaua, and placed pill
low behind her head.
"You're as white as a ghost, Miss
Linden, and not much more substance
either" said she, As she sat down on
her own side Of the fire again. Adri-
ana closed her eyes, but not to sleep;
she was only shutting out the present
aud driving back her thoughts into the
long past. "Sad and sorrowful, sad
and sorrowful," the words rang through
her heart. It was a Wild mournful ca
dence at first, rousing up bitter feel
ines but as it went on, 'tsad and sor-
rowfa', sad and sorrowful," the words
ran into 4 soothing melody, like the
gentle r;pping Of stream, aud calmed
down the bitterness, and her heart was
softened. He too mis- ght have had so--
row, regret perhaps, even rcmorse.-
"God forgive me p burst from her
lips. 1t was first prayer she had ut
tered for many day.
"Miss Linden, DEAR" said the old
nurse Adriana open her eyes, and
gazed dreamily at her.
<"Oh, dear?' said the old. woman,
"she's wandering. Miss Linden :"
"Did I say anything, nurse ?" asked
Adriana. =
"Forgive -" began Nurse Alison.
"Ah," said Adriaua, ''forgive why
should I foqkive? I have no one to
forgive the music was very pleasant."
"Dear, Dear! I knew this would be
the end Of it," said the nurse. "Miss
Linden, dear, you're dreaming; try to
n