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

J "Well, Bill" was his. remark to =
friend, as the glass windows were
drawn up, and the carriage took its
sober way in the direction Of Ash
Grove, chow ever lady born can sit
down in the same vehicle With nasty,
filthy black, like that ere, beats me al
together; and as she makes so much
OF him, tits to be hoped he'll dine
along of 'er, and not be allowed to pol.
Lutte tho .kitchen-table at Ash Grove =;
for, az sure as he do, I shall order my
Mary Ann to give warning. I'm not
a-goin' to have her sit along Of such as
he."
"Who be they?" demanded his col.
league.
"Blowed if I know! But I see the
name Of 'Aarchcr' on a bag as that
black brute carried in his hand and
I've heard tell as the old lady had a
daughter out in foreign parts, some.
where's, as went by that name. So per-
haps tits she, but never word of her
coming home have I had from Mary
Ann: However it be, though, 1 hope
she's not a,goin to stay at Ash Grove
long, for it's good place, and I DONE
want the girl to leave it; but III be
dashed If she shall live in the same
house with one Of them black creatures
They're no better than apes and ba-
boons, in my opinion, and no fit COM
pany' for Christian girls-le.stw.ys,
not for one as is to be my wife. Turn
in, and ave pipe, Bill; the next
down isn't due for twenty minutes,
and it's not night for dog to stand
about iu."
Meanwhile, the fly which was con.
veying Mrs. Archer (for the porter's
rough guess at the strangers identity
was correc0 back to her mothers home
was winding slowly-oh! terribly slow.
ly, it seemed to her-up tho steep hills,
and cautiously down the country slopes
which led to Ash Grove. The rain
was still descending pitileesly against
the closed windows, which were misty
with their united breath and it was in
total darkness, and almost in total 81
lence, that they took their way. Mopsy,
Graded on his mothers bosom, was
soon fast asleep, and she appeared most
anxious that Tiny should follow bis ex.
ample but that precocious individual,
who seemed to have been born never to
do any thing that was required Of her,
although warmly encircled by Mrs.
Archer's arm, and quiet through ex-
treme. fatigue, persisteutly remained
awake. For the first halt of their
journey the lady, except for q few
soothing promises addressed to her tired
children, Was completely silent, though
trembling with excitement and antici.
patton Of the meeting before her; but
when time, added to the few objects
her straining eyes could distinguish
through the blurred window-panes,
warned her that they were approach
ing Ash Grove, her feelings could not
be pent up any longer.
"There is old Browns cottage p she
exclaimed, almost hysterically; "aud
that is the house where first went to
school. Woodlands will come next, and
then there is but a quarter OF a mile
between that and Ash-Grove. Oh il
it possible that I havo been away 70,
six long years-that it is all that time
since I saw my mother, and dear, dea,
Marion! Oh, this fly will it never e.
faster? And supposiug they should
not be at home " clasp,ng her hands
in terror at the supposition. "suppos
ing any thing should have happened
OF it was impossible they could receive
US, returning in this strange manner
without line to say that We are com
ing! What should I do--whcre coule
we 60 to- Oh, Henry! why did yor
subject me to this :" and the claspet
hands were raised to hide the stream
ing eyes.
"Why do you call my pap,w de
manded Miss Tiny, in drowsy voice
Notwithstanding her previous obstiaacy
my papa is not here-he Is far ava,
in Calcutta; how can he rear you speak
mamma 7" And then NJ 8. Archie
was recalled to the knowledge that sh
had been betrsying some of her deepes
feelings before her child.
"Yes-yes, darling you are right,
she answered as she hastily dried be
eyes. "Poor papa is far away from u
all; it is because mamma wishes b,
wero here that she called upon BIZ
name. But, if Tiny is good girl, pa
pa has promised to come back to hel
some day, aud bring her = 6ne new
dolly"
II shall like to have the dolly" oh
served Miss Tiuny, sententisusly; ani
her remark 6ad the effect of silencine
her mother for tho brief time longer
she was destined to endure suspense
For at last "The George" hy reached
Ash Grove; At last it crawled through
the drive:gates, and ambled up the
gravelled road which led to the front
door Of tho old.fashioued oountry-houss
As it drew up before the hall door
Mrs. Areher's agitation became OK.
treme she trembled violently ia bro
ken, gsspiug sobs. But she had moi