The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-08-21


my letter. 1t was deep July day; 4
gold sky, an ardent atmosphere, and
balmy breaths Of summer were all about
me as I read:
"DEAR ,KATE:-You know how i'm.
perative is the necessity Of my leaving
yoa st this moment, or you will know
whom you awake to consciousness. I
leave you free to act. to live as you
think ct. Mr. Calvin will be yeur
business man until my return. Choose
your own plaee Of residence, your own
companions. Mr.. Calvin viii assist
you faithfully, ,ad sequsint you with
the extent Of your income. Good-by,
and God bless you.
"THoRBuRN AYR1."
ltwas IN odd note, I thought, for
sueh long good.by; bat then it Va.
writton in the brief interval that in.
tervened between tho excitement Of my
sudden illness and the sailing Of the
steamer. 1glowed with gratitude At
the wild sense Of freedom it: conveyed.
as was very kind, certainly; and: 30
absorbed was I in the vista that opea-
ed before me l forgot the reserve and
brevity that conveyed 1t, and ceased to
wonder why he had not mentioned his
probable time Of return.
Consulting with Mr.. Calvin, I found
my means far exceeded my widest ex-
pootations. The arrangements that en-.
sued seemed like . fairy.tale to me. I
was to live in the old Lsngdon man.
sion on the hill that lay between Ex.
ham and Rawley. Rawley was then
famous for its beaches, and was the re-
sort Of the summer. In winter it was
the link between town and city, lying
between Exham and New York. =.
I formed my establishment with con.
siderablss fa@sthoushs for . girl Of sigh.
teen: My grandmothsr's prudence had
been effective With me. So I wisely
chose for = chaperon = middie-aged
aunt who was in impoverished oircum.
stances, for my grandmother at once
declined nv invitation for her to be
with me. Her pride was too strong
for her to give up the independence Of
her own home. however poor and scant.
But I took Liz, as I had promised IN
jest long ago.
It was September before We were
fairly settled in our new home but the
season was not yet over in Rawley,
and very soon found myself making
many new acquaintances through the
Carows and the Desrhams, who held
high festival for three months at Raw.
ley beach every summer. There I re-.
ne~ed my old friendship with Johnny
Carew, and there Ashford Lang and
his three brothers, such brilliant, ele.
giant men as I had rarely met, sought
our society.
"When does MI. Ayre return, Mrs.
Ayrer" asked Stuart Lang one day, az
We stood resting from bowling in the
alley. "When :"
How could I tell Then it first oc.
CURED to me that in his few letters nv
husband did not mention the subject.
I never had thought to ask. Iput the
question aside somehow, and the
thought With it.
"You will not think Of remaining
here oil winter?" Ashford took up, Il
he bent h,s supple figure. "You will
come 70 New York, and know ny sister
and mother. They will. be baok from
Europe in month" d !
II don't know !; I am 50 young, and
Mr.. Ayrs away-perhaps-'' !:
Ashford smiled. !
"Do you fancy there are such special
dangers abroad in New York that you
can not escape them-roaring lions 60
ing about seeking whom they msy de-
YOUR 7" -
He lifted his eyebrows, and bis smile
deepeoed in amusement as he oonolud.
ed, felt foolish and afflicted with
gaucherie at his words-his manner.
In moment my dress felt ill.nade, my
hat Was unbeooming, my gloves out Of
place. How stupid I must seem !! How
little I knew of the world |! In books I
wss we'll educated !; but in the million
local topics that are the current coin Of
I'll general society, which keep it at
brilliant high. pressure, ! know nothing.
Always ambitious Of knowledge, Of oil
conversational power which places one
person e~ rapport With another, I ielt
defeated, and unsphersd as il were.
Before the next day had decided to
spend my winter in New York. I
looked upon it as I necessary part Of
my education. !, must find myself equal
with the world. ~sz=e u
Nv grandmother made no objection,
~ I faneied she would !; she evidently
had perfect faith in me, either through
her faith 10 her own training, Or IN my
natural caution and worldGuess. She
seemed 70 have relinqulshed me entire
ly. ! ms no more 70 her than some dis
|tant Ielat1ys.