The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-05-20

more nafural capacity for the profe
sion. hr. Winston was noted for ell
tqusnce At the bar, but xas indole1
about research, and vhen hs feund til,
she could prepare b1ief On which /
could rely, be was glad Of the opportu
nifty to escape that species of labo,
Thus the commencement Of the thlr
year saw her full partner though pub
hciy silent one, of the most prosper
GUS law firm in the city. The proceed
from the sale of the little New Eng
LAID homestead had been invested il
} lots, and it was not long until she oould
begin to make Improvements, and until
her mother aud herself had each ,
house to rent.
She adhered strictly to her Quaker
costume as the one most suitable tc her
office and business llfe.1 She no longer
required it as q matter Of economy, but
felt that . woman who embraces the
opportunities Of an Office, store or sny
business intercourse With the public
TO display her personal charms is guilty
Of an indelicacy which proves her ur.
-ate to herself or Others. When 70
took the position of copylst, it was on
condition that 10 the Office she would
wear only grave co'ored dresses, made
IN the simplest style, and devoid Of or
nament. Elsewhere she could con-
suit her own taste, and the customs of
girls OF her own age; but in places of
business and business hours, she must
wear plain, business dress. From
Judge Kendon she heard at intervals
through Mr.. Winston. He had recei,s
ed an appointment as Secretary to a
Foreign Legation, and occasionally
wrote interesting accounts Of kingly
and court life, Or scenery and customs
diverse from ours, but gave no 1ntim6-
ton Of returning.
He had been gone two years when
Mr.. Winston Informed her that, as his
counsel, he had applied tor divorce.
der instincts rebelled against this
measure as harsh-nay as dreadful. A
week elapsed bofore she could raise res-
Dlution to see Mrs.. Kcndon, and the
effect upon her was even more crush
ing than she had feared She sat With
|o'aed hands, ike one benumbed, but
uttered no complaint. =. As Margaret
sat by her in silent sympathy, she be-
gan with mechanical coldness to talk
# herself as one ight of an indifer-
ent person. Her hopes were "a gone;
for even unknown to herself, she had
hoped for forgiveness. The man for
whom she had sacrificed SO much had
proved such contrast to him whom
she had sacrificed, that her. love had
turned to contempt and q species of
terror. It was known that he had e.
capped to France with the large sums Of
which he had robbed his wife, his friend
md her for whom he had professed such
1nbounded and undying devotion.
Long had she expected news from him,
md an invitation to join him; but
none came. She now informed Marga-
ret that he had triumphed over her
honor, and degraded and forsaken Of
him, she telt that she had no defense
to make against her husbands suit.
Before leaving on that fatal night, she
had written to him making confession
IF her guilt, but little dreaming of be-
ns left pensioner on his bounty. Her
great sorrow weighed Margaret's spirit
lown with sympathy With her, but she
her husband from all shad-
w of blame. On returning from. this
Interview, that vacant chair, or rather
IS .hadowy occupant absorbed all her
attention. The benevolent calm which
rested on his face in that first meeting
vas contrasted with the furrowed brow
'he had afterward seen resting on Fred
ay's curls; and all effort to make this
ess than the center figure in her inner
life, was as beating the wind to turn its
course. AS sleep sealed her senses this
.ure was the last vision shut out. On
.wsking it was there and she did moth
iag without asking herself what could
be his wish. She measured all subjects
,nd questions by his opinion. By some
strange arrangement he filed the world,
md while there was plenty Of breath
ing room for myriads of creatures, he
vas everywhere.
Months grew into years. The sea-
sons came and went. People were
born and died children were growing
out Of knowledge Minerv.'s boy tod
dlcd at her side; 70 was a ve1tab!s
young lady,. gay ard willtul With every
one but that: capital old BACH, Who
ONE how always: put !. restraint upon
her, and who in turn had a habit Of
blunderiug when she was near. Jean.
ME aud Mary went to school, and Julia
and Fanny talked Of graduating: Fred
dy developed slowly, aud his sixth year
could not speak plainly, but was ~ over
grown baby boy. Independence, nay
wealth had csme to Margaret in an IN
come of two thousand . year; but no
matter how much her. attention, VS.
contracted on any one, "his heirs and
assigns" or any piece Of property, and
is "hereditaments," another conscious
ness, within her, Was concentrated on
on the ever present presence. 49,.
(TO BE CONTINUED.0