The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-02-17
T. H r. -. |
VILLAGE ON THE CLIFF.
BY MISS THACKERAY.


| CAAPTER V.-ooxr1xusD.
Cathariae was still presiding at he
little feast when the carriage came hom
with Charles Butler and tho two eide
ladies, who were surprised to hea
unusual shouts Of laughter n'cominI
from the school-room
tThcy all seem very merry,' sal
Mr.. Butler, stopping with he1 had o.
he lock.
II am certain I heard Richard
voice." said Madame de Tracy Il
Charles, who was toiliug up more slox.
ly; and ssMrs. Butler opened the door
to one person within It seemed as if al
the fun and the merriment, all til,
laughter and brightness, escaped with; ,
rush, and left the room quite empty.
"0h, mamma" said Lydia, sighing
from contentment, Eve have had such
fun !; Dick has been having tea with Us
out Of Algy's old mug"
$50 T perceive. said Madame de-
Tracy, With a glance At Catharine.
"Come in, come in, cried the chill
dren, Hospitality, "do come in too;"
ri think you may come up stairs to
u.s." said their mother, af:er = moment,
hesitation, "for our tea Is ready in the
drawing.ro ROOM" And then somehow
to Catharine-,t was like . dream ali
the gay little figures disappeared, danc-
ing of, chattering and talking still,
With Sandy barking after them. The
sunset was still shining in, but the
beautiful glowing eolors, had: changed
to glare. Dick had risen from bis
place when The two aunts entered, and
he seemed to vanish away quite natu-
rally with the rest. It was, indeed,
like waking up from q happy little
dream Of friends faces and brightness,
and with the music Of beloved voices
still ringing in ones ears, to find ones
eelf alone in the dark.
Catharine remained sitting at the
tea-table with the scraps and dregs, the
orumbled bits Of bread-Alg4's hail.
eaten slice-Lyda's cup overturned be-
fore her. She Sat quite still; no one
had noticed her even Dick had gone
of without saying good-by.. As on
that day at the studio, a swift rapg
came piercing through her. She felt
all alone--suddenly quite .lone-in .
great, cruel, terrible world 10 which
she was Of no account, in which ehs
was carried along against hsr~il', feel.
ing-ob, so strangely-helpless and
She did not know what
,he wanted, she did not know what
she feared, but she shrunk from her
OVID self with an aching impatience.
She jumped up and ran to the win
dow to shake her new terror of. She
looked down into the yard, where the
hard-working coachman was pumping
still, and couple of dogs were turning
over and over in play. Every thing
was ugly, sad, desolate, that had been
50 gay aud delightful a minute before.
Utterly depressed and bewildered, the
poor little thing sat down on the win
and leant Ter weary head
against the pane. Richard Butler,
coming down few minutes later; saw
her through the halt.open door still
sitting there, a dark little figure
againt the light.
"Gool-night, Miss George" he said,
with kind infection in his voice, COM
ing in and shaking her by the hand;
"snd thank you for your good tea"
Aud then he went away.
He had spoken kindly; he had said
something-nothing bat it vas moro
than enough to make her happy again.
As for Richard himself, he was yexed,
ehafed, disquieted. He had had = little
talk with his aunts up stairs, which had
made him indignant and angry. They
had taken him to task gently enough
but all that they said Jared upon him,
and stirred up secret springs Of which
they had no conception. He could
hardly conceal his irritation as the, tw<
went on, blandly pouring out their ID
vice from either side Of the tea-table
when he asked whether Miss Georg'
was not to be of the party.
Ono; I had not thought Of inviting
| Miss George" said Mrs. Butler, stifay
"It 10 always doubtful in these cases
..
"Not to speak Of the danger Of MIX
| in the different grades Of society,
said Hervey, who Vas present, cross
legged, and looking like the Solomo
who was to decide all difficulties.
"Daugcr, said Richard "what pos
sible danger can there be p
"You had better bring her," gruu
ed Charles. "She has got pair Of nj
common bright eyes aud I suppo'
there are strawberries enough for I
alp"
"Or We might take down bottle
purpose for Miss George Of An inferi
quality" Richard said. ~ do think
"a hard Ines that . nice little pret