The St. Cloud journal., 1871-02-09

to 90 with the change of feeling expe-
rlepced by his countr7men for hers
That was all she intended to insinuatc
when she asked her sister what power
her servant possessed over her. But
the others conscience caused her to in.
terpret the expression as meaning more
than in reality it did.
"What power? How do YOU mean.
Marion? What power could he have !?
tie is but what he seems-a poor Ben
galee. How could he hurt me, or COM
mand me? Why are you at all talking
in such riddles? l cannot understand
what you or Tiny would have me do or
say" And, overcome by the difficult
ty Of the situation, Mrs. Archer COM
menced to weep anew.
"Aud yet he has the power to make
you cry, Eugeuia" said Marion, earn
estIy. Chow does he dare do it
by dlsobedience, or by threatening?"
"oh, no-no by neither indeed,
you mustn't think SO. 1 am 50
weak and foolish, very little thing
WILL make me cry. But I have been
talking to 'Du Mum of what we spoke
about, and"
"Of his leaving Ash Grove, you
mean and have you told Lim he is to
go, Eugcnia?"
The native had turned down the
shrubbery in another direction when
the sisters met each other, and so they
were free to speak Of him as they chose.
"Have you told him of your wishes ?''
repeated Mrs. Elliot, firmly, for she saw
that cher sisters state required firm
ness.
SWELL" commenced Eugenia, in wa.
vering manner, 'tyou see, Marion, it is
not exactly the usual thing to do; and
I've only been at home fortnight, as
it is; and-and-"
"And, in fact, you've said nothing
to him at ALL" interrupted her sister
in tone of vexation.
"Oh, yes, I have-indeed I have ;
and about that other business also
that affair of Mary Ann, and I don't
think it will happen again-at least,
hope not. Will you tell mamma so p
"He should not be allowed the op.
portunity,' replied Mrs. Elliot. ''Eu-
genia what has occurred to alter your
discrimination l thought, this morn
ing, you seemed so resolved that LIE
must leave you"
eyes, so I was-and so I am, in
deed; only I thought mamma said she
didn't wish me to hurry his departure
on her account, and-it's very early
days, you see, Marion-and Do Mum
is very much attached to the ch ! lren''
(at this assertion Mrs. Elliot made .
gesture Of disbelief); "and being such
an old servant of my husband, thought
Henry would not-at least that he
and, at this point, abandoning the un.
welcome subterfuge, and showing he,
true nature, Eugenia flung herslf into
her sisters arms, in burst of tears
"Don't look coldly on me, dearest Ma
rion !-don't think me weaker or more
foolish than you can help; but oh you
don't know how difficult it is for me to
decide on what is best to be said OF
DONE"
It was not likely that Mrs. Elliot
would not succumb to such conGdenc,
as this. She loved her sister too fond
" to be proof against her caresses ano
her tears; and as sh, warmly returned
her embrace, she inwardly:: resolved tha
Eugenia should no longer be worried by
tales against her native servant, since
it was evident that it was fear of caus
ing vcxation to her absent husban,
which had made her unwillingly decld
to keep him on little while longer a
!, Ash Grove.
She carried the same resolution int
the house with her, and talked Mrs
Beale so efec:ually over to her view Q
the matter, that, by the time the
met at the nner.table, the old lad
had almost forgotten her annoyance Q
the morning, and enquircd tcnderly a
, to the reason of Eugepia's swollen eye
lids and want Of appetite. And, be
fore the day was over, she had received
letter which threw her into such
state of pleasing excitement and agita
,ion that she had no time left to re
member anything but the news con
= veyed to her.
Clancy, my dears !" she said, exult
iugly, as they assembled for the even
ing; ~ have just Tad letter-it
but few lines-trom my dear Anton
cite, to say that she will be here to-mo'
. row afternoon, by the three o'cloc
traln."
"Antoinet:c p exclaimed Mrs. Ellio
, with face Of dismay; "what on cart
should bring her here !-and at thi
time too?" She had no wish that Et
genia, in her present state of health an
failing spirits, should be set up as
lay figure for their half.sister to con
: ment on and criticise.
Mrs. Archer had also been startle
by the intelligence, but not for tt
. sams reason. She was thinking VIII;
her husband would say to it, and ho
: the new arrival might affect his move
ments.