The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-11-04
THREE LOVERSAT ONCE
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By MRS. MARGARET HOsMER.

| ",l T.. - ''Es5
| By MRS. MARGARET HosMER.
PART FOURTH.
| Day after day went by with the SANE
programme. The Lodcrs had entirely
out-done the Fenleys in oivility to thu
Cubaus, and it was in Arch street thu
brother and sister passed the create,
portion of their time. Frank had neve,
behaved 50 oddly before but he gave
no explanation Of his conduct to Esthe,
beyond the strieteat avoidance, and the
most unsatisfactory conversation when
they came in contact. Mr.. Barretto
talked and laughed With Carrie, and
watched and listened TO- Esther, and
Tom and his.motherv were lockers on
With very different views on the scene
under their observation. One thing
rather bothered Mrs: Loder, and about
it she consulted her elder son.
"Frank," she said, "'will you tell me
why you think they do not speak Of
your uaclo Woodieigh 7 They seem to
avoid the subject, and I really cannot
account for the strange redcence."
"Oh, pray, mother, don't allow your
fussy ways to get us into trouble. Tom
Fenley< told me that they are peculiarly
situated in regard to him. That he
holds their property as guardian, and
rather disagrees with them on the
grounds Of their inhsriting all their
mothers property without regard to his
interest" -. .~-..
"Bot, my dear Frank, they don't
seem to know onything about him, ex-
cept his name."
"Now, mother. I must beg that you
will restrain your absurd qualms Of
doubt they have fallen in our way,
| and We must not be foolish enough to
lose an apportunity-"
"But Esther" }" suggested his mother,
still doubtful. '..:;-" ~:
Her'hopefdl son: paasd, aud = feel
ing Of compunctiop held him silent tor
a moment, the nearest ppIarIoaeh to con-
science with which he vi evet visited,
and changed bis color . shade, giving
his eyes mean1y conv5ted look.
"Esther," he said, cla airing his voice;
"Esther is a girl who his will Of her
own, and she has evidptly made up
her mind to refuse me. am glad of
it. We mover could r. ee aud she is
provided for by uncle v oodleigh."
~ think it more th:7probable that
your uncle Wooldeigh will walk in
some day and surprise pu as he did
before. I hope you wilnot be taken
at a disadvantage"
~ shall speak to-nigt," said Frank,
decidedly, and his colo'chaoged again
With thu force If his. i1hrmination.
That evening was i occasion for
which the preparations I the last week
had been made. TIL drawing-room
was all perfect, and so nproved by its
renovation, that the vile family were
disposed to do Tom plan justice
for the first time. [nvitations had
been issued for seleq party, not "a
crush"' like aunt Fenty 70, and every
thing that could contts4e to the pleas
ure Of tho evening ws &vised:
| Esther had bornc I'D changed con-.
duct Of her lover quik|, but not uu-
obssrvautly. She odj paused before
its intricacy ; he Meth rejected nor
received her, but simP avoided, and
apparently almost fea d her. There
was so much hustle sp hurry that this
could be partially acc o|nted for, but
Esther made IN effortb fathom its &C.
cret meaning. She 'oted confused
, and astonished-not actly. uxhappy,
but BY no means cbefal.
1t takes a strong oobinatiou Of cir
cumstances to work o. lady's mind
sufficiently to make ! forget her toi-
= lctte, and notwithstan Jog the unrest Of
1 Esther's, she dressed srself in exquis-
Q ito taste on the ocean of the great
party, and Appealed the beautiful
Il drawiug-room lookinp entirely lovely
t that Carrie became aPyed with her
self and her own atti INSTANTLY. Tom
J.. had regarded the pole idea with
: strong disfavor fromb fret, aud it
vas scarcely expected hat he would
d form one Of the ssso1y; but after the
:. company had gather and: the music
70 aud merry making " at their height,
h, slipped quietly Place near his
- cousin Est6er, and watching his
il" brother and the yod lady from Cuba.
Z n7a There Wds sometk else that soon
= drew - away y, bis .tteun d aud made his
+, face aush painfully ID tie conscious
'' =, ness Of one, one Of his o}Aesh and blood
Z. appearing to disa4tage. This was
a,7 the evident art an Determination Of
-. ll,is; sister 5Caroliae,| young lady he
had hitherto cousidd guiltleas Of ths
II ability to design o1 1ecute a plan d
any kind. Mr.. Bjtto was tho IN.
mistakable object her iasoinations
- and it was to win entirely to her
10 sa]f she steove by h and look. Bu!