The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-03-09

- Aos IT,.
more was said that morolug on the SUBJ
jeot Of the Indian letter.
The following day was that fixed for
the departure of Autoinette from Ash
Grove, aud Eugenia could not but hail
the event with the keenest relief. She
never felt safe with Mrs. Lennox not
withstanding her plausible tongue and
professions of attachment, Mrs. Archer
knew that her eyes were always watch
ing, her ears constantly on the alert,
and that, unless she were exceedingly
guarded-more so than it was in her
nature to be-her secret was liable at
any moment to become the property of
her elder sister. To Marion-except
for her husbands prohibition, and her
great fears of danger which was the
more terrible because it was underlined
-Eugenia would gladly have told all
her griets but there was something in
the sneering, hsartless nature of Mrs.
Lennox "a nature which laughed at all
piety as pretence, and d,sbelieved IN
the purity of any ones intentions)
whick would at any time have forbid
den her reposing confidence in her, and
at the present made her an object Of
Aversion and positive dread. It was
pleasure to exchange her fashionable
presence for that of the simple and
lieht-hearted Amy Elliot, and, instead
of the mockiug litter and suspicious
glancas of Antoinette, to meet the frank
regard and hear tho genial laugh Of
Marion's step-daughter And 1t had
not been without design that the return
of the younger lady had been delayed
until the hour for the departure tor the
elder had been agreed upon. Mrs.
Elliot, as has been shown, had VIZ
tuous horror Of the ways and manners
Of her haf.slster; she considered Mrs.
Lennox to be about one Of tn" most
dangerous woman ever let loose upon
society, and thought her general ,convsr-
sation as unit for the ears of young
girls as her sentiments we're for their
adoption. And she looked apou Amy
as most precious charge left by her
beloved Misunderstanding which
she was to guard and watch over, aud
present to him (oa their reuniou) as
pure as when he left it to her care
and, therefore, she generally contrived
to send her out Of the way directly
there way any mention of Mrs. Leunox
paying visit to her mother, which, as
Amy was q favorite neither with. Mrs.
Beale nor her elder daughter, vas a
fact seldom even commented upon.
She had been, on this occasion, to pay
tornight's visit to some Of her fathers
relations; and it vas good to see tia
delight with which, on her return, she
ran into her step-mether's arms, ind
hugeed and kissed her as if she had
been away year.
"My own mother! my own dear
mamma I am so glad-so happy-to
come back to you again ! How bave you
| managed to live without me, mamma !?
Wasn't it very dull and very stupid !?
| Oh, I'm sure it was and I have missed
you every day of the week."
Eugenia, happy in the kpowled &c
that her sister had such a consolation
as this to help her through her widow
ed life, stood by and watched the meet
ing, and almost forget her own troubles
in the contemplation Of their mutual
pleasure. But the next moment Marion
had turned toward her, holding Amy
by the hand.
"Eugenia, darling this is my Amy
this is my dear girl, whom you must
love almost as we'll as l do.-You saucy
puss do you think I have had any
time to miss you and your nonsense,
when I have had my own dear sister to
welcome and look after?"
"Oh, I forgot ~ cried Amy, blush.
ing, and then Eugenia told her what
al three knew was true) that sho had
little c,use to be jealous, 70, it was no
secret who came first in Mrs E liot's
heart. And Marion whispered, almost
apologetically, "For her dear fathers
sake;" and the girl turned round, and
saw the tears which had sprung to the
dark eyes Of her step-mother, ind flew
into her arms once more. She had q
sweet face, this Amy Elliot; not strict
ly pretty, but very fair and trank-look.
lug, and quite justifying all the praises
which Marion had sung behind bel
back. Aud she was quick and cleve,
also and, without usurping the conver.
sation, managed to keep them all alive
that evening with her light, girlish
chatter, so that sunbeam seemed to
have come into the house with her.
"What sad thing this is about the
Sultana, mammal" she remarked, as
she sat on a stool by Marion's knee,
playing with the hands so fondly laid
about her.
s'To what do sou allude, my love P
was the reply.
"Haven't you heard? ,? Why, what a
stupid old place this Fairmead is ! The
Farrers have been talking Of nothing
else since the telegram came ; but then
they expected to receive a photograph
of Fred by this mail-so, Of course.
thev wera disannointed"