The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-02-03

DyaH TINS brllI'ancy, genera}ly kel
Essrsfulfy out Of the way; but on tn
particular evening, after the five o,:cloc
tee at the studio, she had been baunte
by : vague curiosity and excitement
and she felt as if she must come dow
-as if it would be horrible to sit Al
alone and silent in the schoolroom, on
Of reach, ont OF knowledge, out Of sight
while below, 10 the more favored draw
iog-room, the people were all alive will
interest, and expectation, and hppiness
Just before dinner she had met Mad
aue de Tracy on the stairs, fastenip;
her bracelets and ruani:g down in
| great hurry. Catharine looked up q
her asd smiled rs she made way, an,
the elder lady, who was brimming owe
with excitement and discretion, ant
longing to talk to every one on the sub
Jeyt which absorbed her, said.. =
"Ab Miss George, I see you found
out our secret this afternoon-pot .
word to the children. MIR. Beamish !;
coming tonight after dinner to speak
to my brother. Hush! some one is on
the stairs" ''.'
Miss George was not the only person
in; the establishment who surmised that
something was going on. Madame dc
Tracy's vehement undertones had
reused tho buffers curiosity ; he had
heard the master ofthe house eonfessine
that he wus not totally unprepared ;
while Mrs, Buler was late for dinner.
an unprecedented event, and had been
seen embracing her daughter With more
than usual effusion in her room up
stairs Mrs: Butler was one of those
motherly women entirely devoted, to
their husban3s and children, and who
do not care very much for any body
else in all the world, except so far as
they are conductive to the happiness of
their own family. She worked,
thought, hustled, wrote notes, arranged
and contrived for her husband and
children. Her davenport Was a sort of
handmill, at which she ground down
paper, pens, monograms, stamps regrets,
delights, into notes, and turned them
out ky the dozen. Her standard was
not a very high one in this world or in
the next, but she acted industriously
up to it, such as it was, and although
her maternal heart vas stirred with
sympathy, she vas able to attend to
her guests and make small talk as usual.
| do no. think that one Of them, from
her manner, could have guessed how
she longed secretly to be rid of them
all.
Cathar'ne George, who was only the
little governess aad looker-on, felt her
heart stirred too as she dressed in her
little room up stairs to come down af.
ter dinncr;i unconsciously she took
more than Usual pains with her self she
peered into her looking-slass, and plum
ed and smoothed out her feathers like
q bird by the side OF pool.
She thought her common gown shah
and crumpled, and she pulled out for
the first time one Of th,se which had
been lying by ever since she had left
her own home. This was soft India
muslin, prettily made up with lace anl
blue ribbons. Time had ycllowcd: 1t a
little, but it was none the worse for
that, andif the colors Of the blue rib
bons bad faded somewhat, they were
all softer and more harmonious. With
her rough dark hair piled up in knot,
she looked like little Sir Joshua lady
when she had ii ID the bead necklace
that encircled her round little throat,
aud then she came down. and waited
for Augusta in the empty drawing
room. Catharine was one Of those
people who grow suddenly beautiful at
times, as there are others who become
amiable all at once, or who have flashes
of:wit or good spirits; Catharine'sa aodd,
sudden loveliness vas like an inspira.
ton, and I don't think she knew of it
The little thing was in strange state
ef sympathy and excitement. She
tried to think Of other things, bat her
thoughts reverted again and again ia
the sunny studio, tho river rushing by,
the music, the kind young men, and
the beautiful, happy Cathariue, leaning
back in the old carved chair, with bel
bright eyes shining as she listened t.
Beamish' long story. The san had
set since be hsd told it, and a starlight
night now reigned overhead. Th'
drawiug7room windows were open, lei.
ting in glimmer of tho: stars and
faint incense from Catharine Buffers
flowers outside on the balcony. Little
Miss George took up her place in q
quiet corner, and glanced again and
again from the dull drawiny-room walls
to the great dazzling vault without, uu'
til the stars were hidden from her by
tho hand Of the butler, who came in t
pull down the blinds aud light the ex
ira candles, aud to place the chair
against the wall. While he was thu
engaged i'd making the room comforta
BILE, be remarked, that "tbe ladies
would not be up for ten minutes Of