The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-08-25

! AUGUST 2 6 +. q, 1870. l';;|'
It was the Doctors own fault that he
had read tho letter. Joanna simply
broke offip her answer. to his inquiries
and said, "Perhaps you would like to
see for yourself what Lady Crevillon
says"
What he hae seen might not, at an
other time, have taken 90 strong an ef.
feet upon him, though he could hardly
have disregarded it altogether; but now
it tell upon that confused heap of que
ries and doubts which Mrs. Lescar had
helped to pile up in his mind and it
fell also upon a paragraph which he
had read in that mornings newspaper,
aud had called "Liea, like most other
reports" The paragraph ran thus -
"A marriage is on the tapis between
Lord Frederic Page and Miss .Crevil-
lon, daughter Of the late Colonel Gre
villon, and ward Of Sir Francis Cre-
villon, Of Dykeham."' ass, :. .s.,,-.. p.
/ And1in Lady Crevillion's letter he
read, "Lord Frederic is very at
tentive, and I am quite sure Amy likes
him in her heart. But she seems anx-
ious and unhappy; end unless there
was some promise ungenerously ex-
torted from her before she left home,
which she, poor child, thinks it would
be dishonorable to break, 1 cannot un-
dersta"d her. She evidently liked.
him SO much at first, and now she is
shy,-has taken to blushing; and
once after he had been here I saw her
crying"
DR.. Seeker sat for some time very
quiet, but the movement of Mrs. Les
cars long needle and the flying about
Of a piece Of crimson wool tortured him.
He. got up aud walked about the
room trying with all his might to find
out what he ought to do, and do it,
or, at any rate, resolve to do it. Lady
Crevillons words were offensive
enough the more SO because he knew
now that report had not lied when it
called Amy an heiress. Everything
was against him. Mrs. Lescar knew
we'll enough what he was thinking
about, but she had no intention of ar
guing the matter with him: She did
not mean to give herself any trouble.
or stir in the affair at all .vehemently
If he asked her opinion he should
have it, as indeed he always did have
it.
"Freddy Page" said Mrs., Lescar,
meditatively.
"Why, he was lite boy In pima
fores when I first knew him! To be
sure that must be fifteen years ago.
I suppose he is about Amy's age. As
q boy he was very handsome; but
good-look1ng boys don't always develop
into handsome men," y = - s
E.Ali this vas gall and wormwood to.
the doctor, fre:ting him intolerably.
What possible interest did she suppose
he would take in hearing about the
good looks of Lord Frederic Pago
"Do you Think" said Carl at last,
weakly yielding to his pain, perplexity,
and bitter longing that some one
should throw little discredit on the
statement ,-"do you think it is true
that-that Amy" ..
He turned back without finishing the
speech to his walk up and down the
room.
"Dr. Seeker" said Joanna, "believe
me when I ssy !! am very sorry for
yon."
So she was. The calmest hearts dis
like to witness suffering; aud suffering
was so very palpab|e IN the Doctors
tone and manner that she could not
telp seeing it.
every sorry" she repeated. But I
always give my opinion frankly when it
is asked and I always did think th.t
this affair was unfortunate; never like.
ly to lead to anything but pain for you,
possibly for Amy also. Opposition
was a thing she would not tolerate the
very thought OF it only made her more
determined and rebellious. But tber
she was very young, and had been 81
long an invalid, that very great allow
aucc must be made for her" al
The doctor, touched by the un.
wouted energy Of that every sorry
walked up,to her AID said, putting his
hands together, as be did when he wa.
agitated, - ...'.-. . E
"Then you think, Mrs. Lescar,-f
I know you heard that promise O
Amy's,-you think I ought to releas,
her from it?" - ~ .~s'
II think" said joanna, .'that you
would be acting the part Of q wise and
generous man if you did so.'
The doctor stood to all appearance
calmly looking down upon the wool
work, and streaks Of crimson and gold
crossed each other in intricate confu
sion before his eyes. This. was th,
hardest thing he had ever been called
upon to do in his whole life. He VA
not yet sure that he could do it.
Diff "a for har hann,noaa h