The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-07-28

Miss Dcnison, without removing be,
eyes, laughed a little. "Of course
but then ho is not brother. He is
like, who was it? who had "a childly
way with Children But I suppose you
would not know, you have not time to
read romanccs."
"Oh, I know Leolin Avcrill very
well,' said Josephine, SIMPLY.
'You do find time for mauces,
then 2"
eyes, a good many" answered Josie,
lightly.
"You seem such a child," said Aga
tha, gently laying hand on her shoul-
der, 'that I can hardly fancy you out
Of the schooiroom."
II think I ought to be in it, in
deed" Josie said earnestly. II know
nothing-to be nearly eighteen "
On their way home Agatha repeated
this little speech to Noel, laughing
merrily.
"Her not having been taught more
is no pity at ALL" said Noel, gravely,
''she teaches all the better"
'Noel," SAID Agatha, gravely, too,
"did it strike you, to-day, what con-
trsst We two girls were ?"
"Why should that strike me ?" he
answered, rather hastily.
~ don't know Why, but I think it
did; tell me how"
~ do not think it strnck me at all.
DEAR" he said, very gently, "but I
will tell you something that did, though
you will, Of course, hardly understand
it. The change there is in that ohild's
face since the day I first saw her, stand
ing where she stood with you today"
"What change, Noel?" she asked,
looking straight along the road in front
o. them.
"That I do not know; I cannot nm.
derstaud it myself, I only see it."
"The change from child to wo-
man, perhaps 7" asked Agatha in . low
voice, "which comes upon US sometimes
unawares."
"It may be SO; but she has had sor-
TOW and anxiety enough to change any
one, has not she ? quite enough to
complete the contrast you spoke Of be-
tween her and yourself. Agatha DEAR"
Agatha pondered this little in her
mind, feeling, with woman's wisdom,
that this could not do it alone.
From that day Agatha Deuison took
it into her head-or into her heart,
perhaps-to find her way to the Naples
very often indeed, lightly taking Josie's
excuse that Freddy could not spare her
to return these perpetual calls.
One bright Saturday afternoon far on
IN May, they persuaded Josie to drive
with them, and che had sat beside Noel
(for the last time, she said to herself,
knowing he was going away with Aga
tba on the MondayJ with Freddy ly-
ing beside her among the cushions and
Agatha cheerily talking to them from
the back seat; then they had come to
the Naples to spend their last evening
together. Mr.. Kennard had reused him
self to talk to Agatha, who was a
pleasant intelligent companion ; then
Noel had wheeled his chair to the foot
Of the stairs where Donald and Will
waited to carry it up; and Josie held
up little Freddy to receive his kisses.
"Good.night, dcar," sail Noel, ten
derly, az the child's face nestled 4
moment beside his own. "These little
cheeks will be round and red when I
come back, and these lazy little feet
running everywhere, but you won't for
get poor Noel?"
"No; I'll never forget you, Noel"
said Freddy, softly, and Josie turned
her head awoy little wearily.
"Of course you will forget me-" said
Agatha, with an odd shakiness in her
gay Voice; "but if you do, it shall be
Noeps fault"
"You'll see how I'll remember" aud
the tiny hand touched Agatha's bright
cheek. "Is this tear Z"
She laughed, giving him into his
sisters arms.
"Mythical ideas children get some
times" she eaid, lightly. "Now, Josie,
you wont be long away, be surs,' I
would sing that until you come back,
only Noel dislikes it, I fancy"
"You would only have time for one
verse;" said Josie, as she went. "Will
you try2
But no sound of music followed her,
and il she had re-entered suddenly, she
would have been astonished to see how
two people, betrothed, and on the eve
of marriage, amused themselves when
left alone. Agatha, lying back in her
low easy chair, her hands idle in her
lap-looked out over the silent, restful
landscape with sad and thoughtful eyes
that never turned or dropped,
Noel-hls arms folded and his eyes
bent on the carpet-walked SLOWLY
backwards and forwards, from end t.
end of the little room, as silent as sh<
was. Presently Donald came in, viii
the bright, bonny face Of old, bu
otherwise changed indescribably. Th.
aohhv and romn,oo nf ono n;oh< and