The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-01-01


silence, they took their seats.
Aimee had never seen such . sight
before. The beautiful and rare fruit
'od flowers, the graceful feros, the OK
quisite china and costly plate, formed
contrast to the meals ut home. Ii.
dies richly dressed and shining with,
je~elh sat rouna the table, while close
to Aimee, wss Mrs. Hsrexooa, in pale
green satin aud white lace, diamonds
flashing on her head sad neck. Aiuss
telt - if she we're IN dream. The
scent Of the flowers, the d.zsllng ,,ghr,,
the low marmur Of many voices, we're
I'll uinghnd in confusion, and Aimee
began to feel faint, when some one
quietly took the empty chair At her
right hand, and /. low voice SAID halt.
l.ughioyly, GOOD d.evening, Miss Bar.
low"
She looked round to SEQ Sir 5teph.
en's handsome tsce !; but, before she
had time to speak, Mrs. Harevood 10.
terropted, "Did you lose your way, Sir
Stephen p
"Of oourse," he answered, 10 . re.
signed tone. II ought to know nv
way by this time; but somehow IN the
dusk, l missed turo, and only got
here half "a hour sgo."
"How vet you must have been r.
Aimee exclaimed, Is Mrs Hsrswood',
next neighbor claimed her attention,
'n voice of immense pity, which made
6ir Stephen smilo.
"That does not hurt much. sup.
pose you got here before it began 2"
"1t was just bsgiuniug."
"A cold greeting Well, how do you
like Birchleigh7 :"
am frightened.
"What OF ?"
"Every thing. 1 did 90 beg Miss
Hsrewood to let NE have tea 10 the
oursery"
l sm very glad che refused such IN
absurd request. But please do ca.
somethIog;" for the lde. Of eating had
not occurred to Aimee.
"Here's bill Of fare. Thsre, re.
commend that" he continued, point
ing to long French name, which oon.
veyed no idea to Aimee's ignorant
miud. However, the dish w.rt.nted
Sir Stephens enoomiom; aud she felt
better, and very grateful to him for his
kind manner to her-so grateful, tha,
at last she sad, "Y ou are so kind to
me ! I should be 40 miserable just now
if you were not here.''
"Rather strong," thought Sir Stepb-
en-. "What dear little Innocent child
she is - continuing, aloud, II .m very
glad. You see I vas quite right when
told you this morning We ought not
to be strangers
| III ON afraid I was very rude, -
Aimee sald, timidly, with fascinating
blush. II never travelled alone before,
and was 10 frightened" =
"You we're not in the least rude. :: 1
am very glad We did make each others
acquaintance before We arrived here,
for now | feel quite 40 old friend"
"Oh, yes!' said Aimee, venturipe
to raise her eyes timidly to his face
III never can th.nk you enough for
being 90 kind to NE. When yo7 see
papa again he will thank you proper.
ly."
"l am quite. satisfied with your
thanks for tho present."
II shall write to mamma tomorrow
and toll her how kind you baye been.
And you will take care of me, please,
won't you, oil the time yen are here p
"With aI my heart!" sir Stephen
answered, with such tervor that che
looked up surprised i; while he wonder.
ed what there WAS about this timid
child which had so bewitched him.
"aow is the election likely to 20 il
your part Of the world, D.shvo p
here asked 40 old gentleman across the
table, an esger politician, who seized
the first pause to make this inquiry ;
and Mrs: Harewood, who was very
political, joined in the conversation,
aud for some time animated talk wen,
On among the people nearest their hos
tess. Aimee listened saRerly, feeling
prond Of the way oil seemed to refer to
SIR Stephen, and much struck BY the
easy way, pet not boasttully, 10 which
he tslksd of men and measures.
Much to her annoyance Jack Ash
ley now took courage and made bis frs,
observation to her.. 1t wa tho stock
question, "Have you come far to-day p
followed up, on her answering, Eyes,
rather" BY the usual second question
ln country houses, .'Did you drive 2"
Aimee's: answer, II CANA from
n, "surp'iscd hiu', and he thought
| Of asking if she lived in that borrid
place, but thought it might be rude
fSo be observed, every pretty plan,
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