The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-06-23

gular. ] ma 40 oonnoisDeur in oaneo
and had never seen ono Of Clemel
t,ni,s; but | ssw that my features wei
delicately cut, my oonplezion elsa
my eyes well-set and 6ne. Iswas to
hopeless to tcel any throb Of natur,
womanly vanity; but I feltat least les
selEdiscontent than usual, and so
turned away from the glass, and wen
down to tea. All was smooth as yelve
there; the hostess ali warmth and If
liability; the guest quite at his care
and the beautiful Sylvia, IN her robe o
l'p'slazuli tissue, picture upon which
1t was . loxury to rest ones eyes
!, was goicg quietly up to my OWL
room after tea, when Mrs. Marples
) stopped me in the hall, aud said, coldly:
ave should be glad of some music this
evening, Miss Thorne. It is very pro.
voking, but Miss Marples is hoa,se, and
will not sing, and We shall have to make
out with your playing. will send fol
you when I want you"
every we'll" I said, and went up
into the schooLroom to await the sum-
mons. Another time I would have
coolIy disregarded her insolent hint not
to enter the drawing-room until l was
sent for; but tonight I was too indif-
ferent to be selfassertive. I sat down
IN a window-recess which overlooked
the garden, and watched wearily the
advancing and retreating forms Of Miss
Marples and her guest, as they strolled
uo and down the broad alleys in the
delicious sunset. I saw her gather .
rose and fasten it with her own fair
hands into his buttonho!e =; I saw him
return the courtesy with gallant grace,
by twining a spray Of clematis in her
waving golden hair. They made a
handsome couple, and they looked
youthful and smiling and happy, as
they sau4tered there to and fro among
those perfdmed walks. It was evident,
as they came in presently together,
looking each 50 bright and beautiful,
that there would be very little need
here Of Mrs. Marples's skill as sttact:-
clan. go Z
One Of the children came fof me by
and by, and 1 went down At once, walk
ed directly to the piano, and began to
play in the business-like manner Of one
who knows he Is hired for that purpose.
Mr. Darrow came forward Immediately
to turn over the leaves, but sad:
"Thank you, it int At al necessary.
I prefer to do it for myself" And he
smiled q little oddly, and went back to
bis seat by Sylvia's side.
Music was the only solace Of my life
the only voice in which my better
self evet found expression. I could
not play other than we'll; but I tried
This evening to play in as little subjec-
i've . way as possible. I chose a rath-
u long, loud, and elaborate piece, and
rendered it as if l were on concert
'tage. The piano stood out in the
room, and I could see Mr.. Darrow's
ACE. 1t wore a puzzled, an amused,
md yet an admiring look and I heard
him whisper presently to Miss Mar
oles: ;'11'
"Whst wonderful power in those lit
10 slender hands p
"You would think SO if you could
zee them box the children's ears some
imes," was the reply, uttered with
reacherous laugh. He gave her a
udden, curious look OF surprise and
lisgust, Which she answered by reiter-
ting shrug OF her beautiful shoulders,
nd an elevation of her arched eye
rows; aud played on, all the same,
trikiug out clashicg chords, and exc
uting marvellous tricks of trills and
rpeggios, disdaining quite to take any
lotice Of the malicious falsehood.
'Twould be pity, indeed, if I had
o resort to brute force in governing
hat little horde of well-dressed savages,
Ter brothers and sisters!
I played for an hour, and then I
ose, bowed quietly, and left the room.
How tired 1 was Of it ALT How glad to
Jet to bed! = .'.' '.->'tssEFsas, zgsJ
An hours hard thinking and
lights good rest restored my balance
entirely. T rose quite myself, cool,
and armed eap-a-p.. for my
laily warfare. To my amazement, and
! little to my amusement, when I de-
'cended to the dining-room, I found
both Mr.. Darrow and Miss Marples
there. -zs.
1t seemed that he was an early riser,
and had petitioned to be allowed to join
the ''railroad Breakfast, as the chill
dren called their fathers hurried morn
ing meal. !: So Sylvia had made 4
mighty effort in his honor, and appeared
likewise She looked 5lovely-that, Of
her morning-robe of Aceey
just = s9h haze Of. .sleepiness
wrapping her Is IN . transparent mist,
but I knew what . nsftyr she VAS, and
secretly enjoyed her soasringk
I paid for it With aopang Of envy IN
hour or two lister when, ~ L was mar
shallisg my scattered forces for tho
I saw her mounted for =
morning ride With Mr.. Dasrow:: Seat
od nnon her m;lk.vh;ke u>s,e ,h.p h.h;t