The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-10-28
THREE L0VERSAT ONCE
T.
BY MRS. MARGARET HosMER,
PART THIRD.

PART THIRD.
The sober looking, 'stupid Fenleys
were dressed in "a frantic manner" 8
Carrie Lcder averrcd afterwards, an
we're beaming with complacency o,
their guests when they appeared tha
evening.
| The Barettos had not yet arrived
and Mrs. Loder, whose son Franz
evlnced a strong filial tenderness aut
cluog to his parent, leaving Tom I,
escort his sister and: cousin, lookec
about her with nervous curiosity a,
every new announcement. Perplexed
as to the singularity Of her sons be.
haVlor, and not exactly at ease on the
subject Of this new family development
this elegantly dressed but unhappy lady
sat: beside her pretty daughter, whisper.
ing in her ear disjointed comments on
the scene around her, and anxiously
expecting these newly discovered con-
nectioos. Rather later than they were
expected, they at last arrived. A bril-.
ll'nt'y dressed, dark complexioned girl,
not very young, not at all pretty, and a
email, slender gentleman, with splendid
eyes and a grave but courteous man.
ncr: Mrs. Fenley met them with quite
rapturous welcome, considering her
usual phk e na'ic style, and the sister re-
sponded with graceful ease, the brother
with petite dignity.
''Thcy are very agreeable looking,
I'm sure,'' said Esther to Tom, who
stood near her as they approached. 81
think he isquite intelligent, too, and
she would be charming if she had not so
many 2colors about her."
"Humph," was the only remark that
Tom offered iu reply, but he looked at
the brother and sister narrowly, and ap-
peared by no means satisfied with the
result OF his examination.
Mrs. Fenley brought them over to
be introduced, and saying few words
about the family being SO intimate With
uncle Wcodleigh that their acquaint-
ance would be matter of cou1se, left
them to get along together. 1t then
appeared that Frank Loder had an ob-
ject in view in his peculiar behavior,
for detaching himself from his mother,
he Immediately presented himself, bow
ing low before Miss Bar1etto, aud OPEN
cd conversation by opining that she
had been so charmed in London and
Paris that their dull little Quaker city:
must seem rather bore in comparison.
Miss Isabel, with a sweet smile and
languid dropping Of the brows, admitted
that 'Fit was not so grand but then
she confessed "she had been used to
quiet places, having passed the greater
part of her lite in convent"
"Oh, what charming scclusion :"
and Mr.. Frank professed himself so
deeply interested in all such retreats
from the busy world, that the lady with
whose early life his tone bespoke SO
grea: sympathy was fam to indulge in a
retrospect of its joys and sorrows under
the care and tuition Of the Sisters Of
St. Agatha.
Meantime her brother, finding him.
self seated between Miss Carrie Loder
and her cousin Esther, divided his at.
tention between the two, and gave them
in pleasantly accented English ramb.
ling account Of his foreign tour.
Tom and his mother being left to
their own devices, exchanged word Of
two in an entirely different spirit and
then separated, Tom to wander abou,
the room, and bis mother to talk sym.
patheticalIy with Mrs. Fenley on the
subject Of entertaining society.
Mrs. >Loder had said to Tom:
~ do believe that Frsuk has disvov.
cred uncle Woodleish's plan he meant
to deceive him into believing Esther
his heiress, when in reality every thing
but the merest triae will 80 to these
people. Frank is entirely too wise to b.
so easily blinded, thank heaven p
"He is fool and a william, too, if h
acts Us he feels,' remarked his brother
and turned on his heel With flashing
eyes and scarlet face.
| To Esther the scene was curiou
one, and not beng in the least suspici
ous or Intriguing, she never suspected
any one else Of the like feeling. s.
sho watched Franks enraptured face a.
he followed the pretty little nothing
of the Cuban lady, and the vital inter
est he felt in the diluted episodes Of be
early life, and with difficulty restraine'
her laughter. She looked forward t
his amusing account Of it next day a
the breakfast table, aud although feel
ing conscious Of tiny twinge Of mis-
giving as to the right and propriety q
such a proceeding, she was apt to AZ
cept the actions Of others at their ow
value, and to think that what was don
with tho appearance of correctne'
should never be questioned. Suddeul
becoming aware of new trait develop
ing in hex cousin Carries demeepo