The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-02-16


once if Aunt Marion we're sick Or tired,
siuce she neither played nor laughed
with them as she had done before.
But with the afternoon came the ex-
pected visitor, and Mrs. Elliot found
that she required all her wits about her
to pa ry the thrusts and refute the in
slnuations which Mrs. Lenuox made
upon the absence of her younger sister
"a task in which she received no as
slstance from her mother, who, far from
venturing to differ from any thing her
eldest daughter said, sat opposite to
her with admiriDg eyes, drinking in her
inuuendoes, as though they bad been
prophecy.
Mrs. Lennox had arrived alone (sbe
usually Travelled by herself, the company
Of her husband interfering too much
with ter pleasures, and that of her
children being voted great bore, and
on first appearance her looks and bear
ing seemed to justify her mothers
pride in her for she was a fine woman,
and always dressed in the extreme Of
the fashion. But nearer inspection
proving that most of her charms were
artificial, tho golden-tinted hair, pink
cheeks, and coral lips, lost their at
fractions and in their stead there re-
mained but clever passe woman Of
fve-aud- thirty, who was too much dis.
gusted with the truth (Which. she could
not conceal from herself) to- have any
charity to spare for those who were
younger or more admired.
| "Aud SO Eugenia has gone to Lon.
don 7" was the first greeting she offered
her sister Marion. II think she nigh,
have delayed her journey few hours,
in compliment to myself: Where are
the children?". .
! "Do you wish to see them z" inquir.
ed Mrs. Elliot, who: knew her eide,
sisters hearty dislite to all children
her own included.
"Of course Why, what do you take
me for p"
But when the little ones appeared.
a very cursory inspection was sufficient
to satisfy the craving affection Of theil
Aunt Antoinette. She stared well
through her double eyeglass at Tiny
who bore the scrutiny manfully, and at
poor little NOISY, who hid his face in
Susan Williams bosom, and showed
noth ing but his crop of curls; and then
she said "That will do-you can take
them both away" and the visit Of cere.
mony. was concluded.
| "What remarkably plain children p
she exclaimed, before tho little one.
were even out Of hearing. "And VIII
on earth are they like ? Not Eugenla
I am sure and certainly not her hus
baud, whom I remember we'll as short
dark man."
~ think Tiny is very like her moth
er when she smiles," remarked Mrs
Elliot, who was indignant at this slight
ing notice of Eugsnia's da,lings; "ane
as for little Claude, he has been so il
that it is impossible to tell what he will
turn out. He has beautiful hair p
"What is the use of hair to bog
my dear? Is his name Claude 2"
"Claudc Geofrey," replied Marion
curtly.
! Mrs. Leunox elevated her eyebrows
"Geofrey ?"
"Yes-why not ?"
"lt's an uncommon name-they ar
both OF them uncommon names," re
marked the other, carelessly. "The,
don't run in our family, aud I don't be
Geve they do in his"
"Do you know any one Of that name
then, my dear ?" demanded Mrs Beale
curiously.
Mrs. Lennox shrugged her shoulders
II have heard it, she answered !; "bu1
that is nothing to the purpose. Wha
took Eugenia off to town in such an uu
expected manoer?"
"She has gone to dismiss her nativ'
servant" replied Marion, (which sh'
cannot do without procuring him anoth
er situation. The man made himsel
very disagreeable among the maids
and mamma was anxious to be quit 0
him. 1 believe Eugenia did it entirel
for our sakes her own wish was to kee)
him a little longer"
'But it really was quite unpardon
able, my dear !" interposed the. ,ol,
lady and thereupon Mrs. Lenuox wa
treated to the whole story Of the out
rage which "Do Nun" had committeo
on Mary Ann, at which she laughed al
though it had been the best fun in th'
world.
"And you really mean to tell me-
she said, addressing Marion, as soon a
the recital was concluded, "that Eugen
ia has rushed off to London, at mo
ment's notice, just to conduct thi.
naughty old nigger up by the train
and see him safely to his destination
My dear, I'm sorry to say that 7 DOM
believe word of itw and Mrs. Len
nox pulled up her rimson-quilted pet.
ticoat, so as to display the high. .heeled
rosetted shoe she placed upon the fen.
der-stoo. to the best advantage: =. -
"What reason can you have for not
believing it?" replied Mrs. Elliot,
sharply: Knowing the false life lived
by the woman before her-knowing
=