The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-03-16
extended that hand Of welcome. "Why
what . coincidence that l should have

S~s~SA~V&NV
met You here! Have you just come
up?-are you going to make any stay
in London! How was Archer when
you last heard from him y? This is quite |
an unlooked-for pleasure !"
She could not but mnrmur q few |
polite words Of grati6catlon at the en-
counter, for she had seen . good deal
Of Captain Oswald in Calcutta, and
liked his company ; but she wished him
any thing than at the Waterloo station |
at that moment, as her eyes roved up
aud down the platform in search Of the
person who was to be sent to meet her.
How was she to account for his appear
ance to the mao beside her what his.
tory to give of her destination or her
plans?
eyes !! it is most unexpected" she
answered, ~ith a feeble attempt at a
smile, her eyes meanwhile keeping up
their anxious search. "But I won't
detaiu you, Captain Os~ald-another
time perhaps-but just now am very
hurried and in great distress, going to
what may prove the desth-bed Of very
dear friend-1 cannot stop to speak to
you"
"Indeed 1 am most concerned to
lear it," said Captain Oswald, with
whom Eueenia had always been a fa-
vorite. "But you will at least permit
me to help you as far as lies in my pow
er. Have you any luggage ?-shall 1
got you = cab ?"
II have only osrpet.bsg ; I started
in great hurry" she said, confusedly
''But never mind it, Captain Oswald
l can see after that myself-besides, L
have some one coming to meet me
here"
"Oh, indeed! A gentleman or SER
want! You must let me inquire about
him for you, for the platform seems
clearing to me. Are you certain you
were to be met by this train 7"
"They said so," she answered, faint
ly; but her heart sunk as she looked
up and down the platform, aud saw that
every one there was occupied with his
own business, and on the lookout for no
one. What if Henry had forgotten
her, or the messenger had proved faith
less-whsre could she go to, or by what
means find out his new address she
t'ls paralyzed at the mere idea. And,
meanwhile, here was Captain Oswald,
who had known her in all her prosper
ity, waiting for an answer to his pointed
inquiries.
"There is scarcely any one left here
now but tho officials" he said present.
~, as tho last cab, full Of luggage, clat-
tered through the station gates. III
really thiaA you had better give up
your FREUD as bad job, Mrs. Archer,
and allow me to put you in fly. 1t
will be by far the best plan you might
stand about he1e for hours"
| She saw no other alternative herself,
and therefore she permitted him to d.
as he proposed, and took her sea. half
dumb with fear and anguish, and dis
trcssed pe'plexity.
'The carpet bag is on the box where
shall tell him to drive to Z" demand
ed Captain Oswald, thrusting his head
into the cub window.
"To-to the Strand ?" stammered
Eusenia, not knowing what to say in
her confused condition.
"To the Strand? ? repeated Captain
Oswald, smiling; "but to what part of
the Strand? 1t is Of no inconsiderable
length, you must remember. What is
the name of the street 7"
II don't know-I cannot recall it at
: this moment" she replied, With increas-
!, ing isdistinctuess "but shall remem .
Der it as I drive along. No, Captain
Oswald; pray don't come With me; my
f:iend is very i'll; I would rather 60
alone; ouly tell the man to drive toward
the Strand" snd, waving him from her
in an .gitated manner, Eugenia turned
her burning face the other way, and
kept it 50 until the cab was clear Of
Waterloo Station.
/ "By Jove r exclaimed Captain Os.
, wald, Us he replaced his hat on his
, head and prepared to leave the platform
II wonder what lark that little wom.u'e
r up to! Hope she's not going t. the
, bad, for she's deuced uice-looking, and
Archer ought to be able to keep her
like swell. All !-with q profound
I sigh over the Immortality of human
nature-"l suppose its the old story
And now for Mrs. Antoinette. won
der what particular interest she can
. have in her sisters proceedings; hardly
> going to try aud reform her, should
hardly think I've half = mind to put
her on tho wrong scent; but, after al
r Why should l? Mrs. Archer's journey
to town must have been fair and above
board, and as for her destination, ]
3 know nothing Of it, so I may as well
t keep in the good graces Of my fail
, friend at Southmere."
3 Upon which Captain Oswald's half
mind resolved itself into the transcript
ton Of letter to Mrs. Lennox, part oI
t which Was as follows:
, "You have won your bet (if you eve,
, made bet upon the subject, which ]
don't believe.) l was At the station, a.
You desired me, and your sister ,rr,vec