The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-01-19

viii you not bid me welcome ?'" And
then .he stopped short, and regarded
them wildly, huugrily in the face.
To ssy that the ladies of Ash Grove
were astonished is to say the very least
Of it. Until that moment they had
quite believed that their daughter and
sister was at the other side Of the
world ; and, 1t this sudden announce
ment Of her immediate presence, they
seemed rooted to the ground on which
they stood. For an instant death like
silence prevailed among the three, and
it was not until it was broken by vail
ing sigh from Mrs. Archer, tha. her
hearers seemed capable Of speaking to
her.
"Mother-mother r. then exclaimed
the younger lady of the two; ut is
Eugenis herself-it is our own Eugen.
IL come home to Us ~ and With a CRY
Of JOY she dartea forward, and clasped
! the new arrival t., her arms.
"Oh, my sister! my darling sister y'
she said, while she shoHerei !,::-s., on
the wan thin face. "Thank God that
[ hold u here once more! But you
are changed, Eugeria-you are sadly
sorely changed; it is no wonder that
for the moment, We did not recognize
you"
The mother was not SO enthusiast
in her welcome. She loved her daugh
ter, At ter. her fashion Of loving, 'bu
she could not recover the shock of he,
unexpected appearance so easily as th'
younger woman; and, when she had re
covered it, she was little disposed t.
resent that it had been forced upon her
"My dearest Eugcnia p she said, Al
she advanced to greet her In her turn
"you have taken US 50 completely b,
surprise that I hardly know what t,
say to you."
She was fine looking aud well
preserved old lady, with but a degree
Of pomposity and affectation about he,
visible even in these moments Of agl.
tation-which sat badly on woman O.
her years.
"Oh, mother yes! I know all thai
you would tell me-" pleaded Mrs. Arch
or. II should have written first, to say
that I was coming, but it was quite
impossible; I started at almost an mo-
ment's notice. My health-the chil
dren's" with a faltering voice and
dropping head) "needed immediate
change, and [ had no time to write to
any one. It has all been very unfor.
tunate-"
"And Willoughby-is he not With
you, then ?,'> demanded Mrs. Beale, in
surprise.
"Henry-my husband ?" said Eu
genls,. missing \ face of crimson. "Oh
no. How could he come ?-it would
have been impossible. He will follow
US perhaps. I and the children"
"Oh where are the children ?" in.
terrupted her sister, Mrs. Elliot. care
the dear little creatures alone in til.
fly all this time? Do let me fetct
them" aud she few out of the room
for the purpose.
"They are not alone," replied Eu
genia, in husky voice: II have
servant with me-"
"Not one of those nasty black wome1
1 trust, my doar," said Mrs. Beale
quickly; "they do create so much con
fusion in household"
! Mrs. Archer looked distressed.
"He is 4 native bearer, mamma 70
know We use them for nurses, just 2
often as women, in Bepsal; but I hop
you Will find h:a very 1nofensiv'
and -"
} "a man ! my dear-a 1zack mon
exclaimed tue old lady, with uplifte
hands but her expressions Of horrc
were cut short by the return of Mr.
Elliot, each arm burdened with a chill,
crying for its mother.
"Oh, mamma! why did you leave u
20 long 10 tho dark with "Do Nun
We are cold and We are hungry, an
when We cried he slapped Us I" whine
poor Tyny, whose patience and philo
, ophy were alike exhausted.
The color arose to Mrs. Archerls fac
At this announcement, but he1 only a,
swer was "aush p as she Leld o,
her arms to receive the weary child.
"Mauma~-mamma! vailed littl
Mepsy, as be, TOO, struggled to re,c
tho haven Of her breast. "Let me 3
to mammal
Aud soon both the children ver
nestled in her embrace.
$50 this is Tiny?" said Mrs. Elliot
as she gazed into the weared face of tn
elder child. "She seems very tall 70
Eve years old, Eugenia! Poor littl
things how tired aad hungry the
must be! Let Us order tea to be lai,
for them at once, mamma"
''They will be glad of something t
eat," said their mother, with q sickl
smile but still her eyes kept restlessl
turning toward the door, as though il
search Of somebody.
"Whom arc you looking for Eugenia2
said her sister.
"Only for my servant-for 'Du Nun;
replied the other, nervously. "Has h
left tho ay-is he in the house?