The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-01-26


to maintain Eugenia as gentlewoman
therefore no reason able objection could
be made to the match, and they were
married-since which time Mrs. Arch
or had had none but postal commune
cation with her own people.
The births of Tiny aud Mopsy had
been duly announced, and congratula-
ted upon; the death of one tiny infant,
whose little body mouldered in Indian
earth, while his memory aourished
greenIy 10 his mothers heart, duly
sympathized with ; but letters convey
but a t,the of the writer's soul, even
when peuned with that intention, and,
beyond the relation Of mere facts, Mrs.
Archer had never been very commune
cative in hers. OF her husband she
wrote little, and whether she was hap
py or unhappy in her married life, even
her sister Marion had never been able
to determine, aud, occupied with her own
trouble (for she had been left widow
three years before, with step-daugh-
ter to look after and provide forD had
left off even trying to discover.
But now that she saw Eugenia again,
looking so i'll aud pale and displrited,
Marion felt sure that at all was not as
it should be, and thirsted for the mo-
ment when her sister should repcse the
same confidence in her as Of yore.
Peeping cautiously into the bedroom
where they had carried Mrs. Arche,
after her fainting-6t, and left her, a,
they thought, to repose, Mrs. Elliot
was surprised to see her sister sitting
on the hearth-rug, with hands clasped
about her knees as she stared, in a
vague and melancholy manner, in the
fire.
my darling! exclaimed the elder
woman, regardless of the slumbering
children on the bed, "why have you
got up again? I hoped that you were
fast asleep: You are weak and ill, and
overtired; Eugenia; you need long
rest to make you like yourself again.
"a long rest !" Eugenia echoed
brokenly-''a very long rest, dear Mar
ion But I cannot take it now. have
been waiting and watching for you,
footstep for the last half-hour; I knew
that you would coms again to see me
Talk to me Of home, and Of all thai
concerns me here. It is such pleasure
to listen to your voice again p
81 wish l could say it was as muci
pleasure to look at you, my darling |!
said Mrs. Elliot, with Sigh, "althougl
it is more than happiness to have 20.
here. Why, what has become of al
the hair, Eugenia, which I used to taxi
such pride in dressing? And where
are the dimpled cheeks and the round
ed shoulders with which you left US
Mamma says that, had she met you in
the street, she should not have recog
nized you"
Il think that is very likely, Marion
Where are they gone? To the SAM
place as my youth, I suppose; on
seems to lose every thing in India"
"Your youth, you goose VIII,
Eugenia, you are only four.and-twen
typ
"Four-and twenty in years, dear
four.and-tiity In feeling" rejoined th
other and then she quickly turned he
face away, as though to avoid her sit
ter's scrutiny.
They were both pretty women, a
though the younger had had much th
advantage in point Of looks. Mr.
Elliot was brunette, the damask glo,
upon whose cheeks trouble had nc
even had the power to wash out, an
whose dark eyes oftener shone wit
laughter than with tears.
Mrs. Archer, on the contrary, a
though her hair was of the same brow
, hue as her sisters, was very fair, an
had large, tender, blue eyes, which onl
: wanted sparkle Of happiness to max
them irresistible. In place Of that, ho,
: ever, illness or care had set darkrinl
7 about them, increasing their size, b.
a Diminishing their brilliau; and her ha
was thinned, aud her cheeks had falle
. in, and her whole figure was bowed au
+ contracted from weakness and attenu
: ton. She was, in effect, .hat is terme
!, "a wreck" of her former self aud, .
D Marion Elliot remembered tho bloou
ing creature who had left them, Il
e tears rose into her eyes, and made til
dropping figure before her dim.
"Four.and-ifty |" she exclaime'
cheerfully; "not quite that yet, Euge1
ia-or, at all events, you will feel vel
3 differently after you have been sho
4 time in dear Old England. And VIII
3 am I to tell you about, my darling I"
} "Every thing. First, Of yourse
. aud Amy. Why is she not here ?"
"Sho has gone on a visit to some (
t her fathers family, but We expect b
b back next week. shall be proud
0 show her to you, Eugeuia-such
!. sweet girl, so pretty and affectionat
: and so good to mv! She could not
t more dutitul were I really her mothe
Q She is the greatest blessing my; de'
1 husband could have lett me-"
r "Every one would not think 8
Marion, to see you encountered at min
Q and-twenty with daughter Of seve1