The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-10-15

'As AN "ooAAA0u w AoSo Coct a Wo1SuC
Of care away, and accepted our CON
gratulations and good wishes with
something like a happy smile. The
wedding breakfast was late, and / did
not see much Of him before we all sat
down; but, when we did so, 1 Thought
Mr.. Forbes looked very excitable
bridegroom, and that even quiet little
Jane had very fitful spirits for a
bride. 1 drew no conclusions until
Jane entered the library, where I
stood alone, to bid me good by. We
had spent many pleasant hours in
that library, and'I did not wonder
that Jane showed some emotion on
finding me there. But when she came
up to me, and, instead of taking my
hand, threw her arms around nv
neck and laid her cold cheek to mine,
and burst into sobs and tears, I felt q
wonder verging no alarm.
"Jane, my dear girl, my darling,
what ails you ?" I said; anxiously.
81 am going away" she sobbed;
"oh, cousin William, L am going
away!"
She would say no more. She was
going away, but surely she hsd known
that all along; and surely it was: not
to go and leave US that could put her
in such a state Of despair as this. I
could get no explanation from her.
There was no time. The carriage
was waiting; they were looking for
her.
Il am coming, I am coming" she
cried. darting from me, and speaking
in light-hearted voice. I followed
her out. Mr.. Forbes handed her in
to the carriage, stepped in. after her,
and my little cousin Jane, now Mrs.
Forbes, was gone forever from
amongst us.
jane had not been long married
when my father died. Aunt Mary
was ordered to the south of France,
and remained alone with the house.
keeper. These were dreary days. I
wished now 1 had proposed to Jane,
and married her l fancied we should
have made a happier couple than Mr..
and Mrs. Forbes. She wrote now
and then; she never complained, but
she never once said, II am happy"
She praised Mr.. Forbes and his house,
and spoke Of her position and her
comfortss-of herself, never. The
| theme that most frequently required
in her letters was Arthur, Mr.. For
bes's little boy. She recorded his
sayings and doings with evident fond
ness and I began to think that q
young bride whose mind was IS smuchh
engrossed by her husbands child
could not be very happy one. I
had received general invitation to
Mr.. Forbes's house, and though Jane
did not once remind me of it, I resolv-
ed to visit the Elms. 1t would be a
change; besides, I wanted to see why
Jane was not happy. lam bound to
say that, though my visit was unex-
pected, Mr.. Forbes received me very
cordially.
"Jane will be delighted to see you" ,"
he said; "she is out with my little
boy"
Jane came in presently with a sick
ly, peevish-looking little fellow,-the
| wonderful Arthur, about whom she
had had so much to write. She COL
ored on seeing me, but delight in her
face I saw not. If I could have be-
lieved it Of Jane, I should have
thought she was sorry I had come.
She stammered q welcome, however,
but, as I soon perceived, Stunned
every opportunity of remaining alone
with me. Once I caught her on the
staircase.
"Well, Jane, are you happy p !
whispered.
20, quite happy" she replied, airi,
ly. "Is not the Elms . charming
place% And she made her escape
Yes, the Elms, was q charming
place; q brown old house, spacious
and convenient, with q gay flower:
garden around it, and beyond this Q
region Of ancient elm-tress scattered
on grassy slope. Truly the mistress
of this pleasant abode and well-order.
ed household, the wife Of that hand
some, agreeable gentleman, ought te
have been happy woman but sht
was not. I saw it at once. Jane hac
grown thin and@pale, and looked sac
and careworn. Nor did Mr.. Forbe4
look happy man. I did not 1ik'
1.-THE rigid lines which a few months
had made in his handsome face. II,
was very kind to his wife, and strict
lily polite; but of fondness, of love, o!
tenderness, I saw no sign. He KEEP
these for his child, who was certainl,
one Of the most ill-tempered littl
three-year-old wretches I had eve
seen. Yet Jane seemed to rival he
husband in doting affection for tha
little monkey, who began our acquaint
ance by making faces at me, and fol
lowed it up biting my leg before dir
ner. 'He was a great sufferer" apo
ogetically said his father.
! I thought I was the sufferer in thi
particular instance, but I bore the pal
II have the mark to this day-wit
that heroism which politeness alou
l inspires. I did not intend paying MI
Forbes and his wife q long visit: bu