The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-07-22
A FEW DAYS.
PART /.

and tho cheerlcssness of the Octcbe,
afternoon, be came up to me quietly
and put book into my hand.
"The pages are turned, and I hav,
marked what you may read"
He went back to his writing. aud
leaned forward in my corner and open
ed the book ncrvously. 1twas a Diary
as I had guessed, filed with small del
icate handwriting. I tnrned to the
first leaf that vas doubled, and read il
the silent room:
Monday, July 2Srd.-Nat was de.
tained by some kind of a vestry-meet.
ing, and SO he asked me to go to the
station to meet his new pupil aud be.
cause 1t was such a lovely afternoon,
chose to walk through the fields, and
send joseph to meet me there with the
pony carriage, in case the boy should
be tired. Letitia was in her green.
house, rather cramped in her move
ments as usual, for it is only like a
swollen cucumber frame, and she has
grown quite portly since she came to
keep house for Nat. My dear old sis
ter-dear as if our mothers had been
onc-dear almost as Nat-how truly
love you, though l give you trouble
often She called me as I came out
to ask Why I had put on my best hat
to walk in the lanes.
II want to look fascinating, Lettie.
The statlon-master's wife, you know, is
a very stylish person."
"The people will think you very ex-
travagaut. They all know what Mats
living is worth, you may be sure"
''This hat cost very little except an
afternoons work." I answered, turning
it around on my hand j.; 'if they stare I
will tell them so"
"Put it on, Miss Madeleine give it
every advantage"
1 tried not to blush ; I tried to turn
unconccrned'y as Mr.. Cumberland came
out Of the little shrubbery walk.
''Do you like it? 2" I said, putting it
on and turning slowly and gravely
round to exhibit it.
His eyes danced With fun.
Ills it not rather gay for a clergy
mans sister ?"
''Shoula I be wiser or better, or do
more good, if I took this out 2" I said,
touching the little buff feather that
curled over the velvet in front; "or
would the parish love me more if it
we're black 7" =.
"They might" Mr.. Cumberland an
swered with his head on one side.
"The effect Of those great brown eyes
is If itself so discomposing that i,
might be wise to encourage sobricty Of
attire"
"Just what tell her," said Lettie
laughing; "but now you had better
start, May"
"Good-bye then," and I held out my
hand to Enrol Cumberland. He took
it, looking into my face with a strange
long look; then dropped it with ,
little smile.
~ will come, teo," he said. II fee
inclined for an early introduction tt
Master Carson. I'm sure he's thi,
/ and studious, and that Nat will worl
him into permanent grave"
And raising his hat to Lettie as b,
spoke, we passed through the gate ant
J into the fields.
$50 ny parisbioners are afraid of me
Mr.. Cumberland p asked, looking VI
al him.
II don't know them," he answered
coolly. "Nat's are."'
"Nlay I ask why?"
because, Miss Madeleine, you g
into quiet, orderly houses, and max
the children noisy ; because you 80 in
to sick rooms and talk when any on
else would be silent; because you ad
dress tipsy men when they ought to b
treated with silent soorn because 70,
take restless children out to play in tn
fields when it would be more advisabl
that they should view life from the loft
elevation of high-backcd chair b<
cause, in short, you do just the thing
no other girl would think Of doing"
"And l suppose it is As much as tn
gentleman at tho Towers can accom-
| pGsh to undo the mischief effected b
the Rector's sister" ,@~ -
"He cannot undo it; I assure 20
he cannot"
"But he generously tries, | have n
Doubt" I said, and thsn We quarrelle
Is We generally do,e half in jest an
halflni earnest, until We turned into th
; shady lane about d mile from the st.
tion. After 4 time, when he began
tall ma Of thinos ha vished .nd :,