The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-03-02

prayer for her husband, her children,
and one other, whom even to mention
in her prayers che prayed might not be
sin =!
God grant it. If intercession for
those We love (rightfully or wrongfully)
is to be counted up against us, Why
were our hearts added to our souls, or
feeling to our nature :?
To write her letter in private, Eu.
genia found easy enough; but to con-
vey it to the post unnoticed was far
more difficult matter. The post-of6ce
was at Fairmead, three miles distant
from Ash Grove, and the correspond
ence of the household was generally
conveyed thither by the man who
brought the letters. The next morn
ing was damp and ungenial-a most
untavorable occasion for a walk; and
yet Mrs. Elliot met Eugenia in the hall
the first thing after breakfast, fully
equipped in her outdoor attire, and ev-
identity bent On constitutional.
my dear Engenia you are surely
not going to take the little ones out to-
day its far too damp"
81 was not thinking Of it; I am 60
ing out on a little business of my own."
"But it is not morning for you,
any more than for them; remember
how easy you take cold"
"Oh, shall not hurt myself. I
must have walk I feel it will do me
good p
"What is your business ? anything
particular 7"
'Various wants at FaJmead; post
ing letters among Others"
"But the postman will do that
Give your letters to me; he always
takes ours, and is quite to be depended
upon."
But Eugenia held back.
IL would rather post them myself,
thank you they are Of consequence
for Heuryv
"The Indian mail doesn't 60 out for
three days." shouted Mrs. Lennox,
from the open dining room door. She
had pricked up her ears at the conver.
sation going on in the hall, and swal.
lowed every word Of it.
"There-Eugenia you see there is
no hurry" demonstrated her sister Ma
rion ; "and it will save you some dis
tauce, for the post-of6ce il quite At the
other end of Fairmead. You had bet-
ter let me have your letters"
~ prefer to post them myself-I
make rule Of doing so," persisted Mrs.
Archer. which struck Mrs. Lennox as
being so forcibly like one Of her own
objections to any interference, that she
Jumped up, in the most lively and af.
fectionate manner, and told her sister
that if she would wait two minutes
she would walk with her to Fairmead.
At this offer Eugenia was quite ta-
ken abaok, but she had no Legitimate
reason to urge against this proposal ;
and short time later, therefore, saw
her pacing thoughtfully along the coun.
try road, by the side of her elder sister.
OF course, Mrs. Lennox did not let the
conversation flag she seldom did that,
wherever she was. She discoursed
glibly of her house, her children, and
her husband, and alluded to her afeo-
tion for them with an affection that
seemed almost natural. She limited at,
rather than openly mentioned, the ad-
miration she zcited in the other sex,
and spoke as though she wondered at
their folly for bestowing it; but, at the
same time, she ended each story which
bore upon the subject with an appeal
to Eugenia, whether it was their fault
(meauiog her sisters and her own) il
men chose to make such fools of them
selves? Mrs. Archer did not like thit
coupling IF her name with that Of thu
woman beside her. She longed te
speak out openly, and tell Antoinett,
that she knew little Of the sort Of lifi
she spoke Of, aud cared less; but eacl
, time that the words were trembling OF
her tongue, something's shadow 0,
her conscience-rose up in her heart
and seemed to stay their uttersnce.-
! And SO she walked on moodily, hatiol
q the conversation to which she va
D obliged to listen, yet without tho cour
b age to put stop to il; and before the!
had reached Fairmead, she had hear.
!. the list of all Antionette's grievance
, and gayeties for twelve months past. :
On arriving at tie town, Eugeni.
walked directly to the post Office. Sh'
had forgotten the hesitation she ha,
evinced about her letter while talking
f In the hall with Marion !; she though
nothing could appear more natural thai
, she should drop 1t in the box herself
, she was not even suspicious that Mra
Lennox would watch her while she di.
so. Yet Antoinette was close at he
8 elbow as che took the letter from hel
pocket, and the lynx-eyes were rivite.
upon the box in which she placed it
aud, quick and nervous as tho actio,
was, it was very possible for bystaod
er to see that the address was in initials
Anyway, Mrs. Lennox saw it; and
speedy as = flash Of lightning, forme'
her own plan for findinp ont where !