The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-10-22

INoOS~~~AN6 AA W. AAouSNAOAAD ShAA
could be explained only on the sup
position that Mrs. Margaret desired a
private conference with Herbert with
out using the formality of requesting
it. I felt annoyed and intrusive,
and was only too glad to escape for .
while into the free night air.
When I returned Mrs. Margaret
looked very happy and contented.; we
had music as usual. After Mr..
Eldred had gone the dear old lady
talked with me great while, for it
required so long for her to get at the
point without implying any thing un-
kind and offensive.
You have imagined, courteous
reader, that she feared it would hap
pen with Herbert and me, as it 60 of:
ten does with young people in close
proximity. She told me how she had
cared for her nephew from his infan-
cy'; that he was to her as q son; that
he would be her heir; and then she
spoke of his future, which, in some
important respects, was yet undeter-
mined. She wished him to make q
suitable marriage, but the conditions
of fitness were so arbitrary and mum.
erous it seemed that nothing short Of
miracle would constitute them real
tiles. Herbert possessed ability, fam
lily, and wealth, and had been formed
and refined by q public education
and foreign travel. 1t was necessary
that his wife should have shared in
all these advantages, besides exhibit
ing the more subtle adaptation OF
temper and spirit to his own.
"In brief, that they love each 9TH
er," said I.
"More than that. People can al
ways love each other when their tastes
and circumstances correspond. The
proper way is to keep the fancy free
until the judgment approves, when it
is. safe to listen to inclination. You
see, dear Lettice, that I want you to
consider Herbert just as a brother.
You are both my dear foster-children,
and when he has chosen him q wife
you will have a sister. Does that
please you, my child?"
Mrs. Margaret held my hands, and
sent piercing gaze through my eyes
into my i4@ost soul. I met her gaze
fearlessly, for it did me good to have
her talk SO explicitly in order to clear
away the shadows Of suspicion that
had darkened our atmosphere some
what.
ut does please me entirely" I re-
snd SdEfr 9ased by 25a fS9 sRd sRH K nJs Rs
how I can make you happy"
my darling Lettice"-I lay in
the dear, kind lady's arms-"you are
plain and unpretending, but you are
good and lovable. I will provide for
your future. You will be happier
with me than in a situation too bril-
liant and exacting for your pre-
vious training and quiet abilities.
What will you say?''
"Only my great thanks. You
have chosen for me as would for
myself"
After that, for a long time, Mrs.
Margaret was quite at ease. Herbert
was kind and sincere, but uttered no
compliments. Had my good friend
seen all my heart she would have
feared no treacherous romance be.
meath her roof; nor yet, could she
have heard my unwearied prayer, sent
up night and morning, during five
long years, in behalf Of one who had
left me for an unknown fate-of one
who could not be living, and who yet
must not be dead: 50 said my. poor
heart, that prayed unweariedly night
and morning against reason, almost
against hope and faith, beseechine
the good Lord, with earnest cry, te
succor, help, and comfort all who art
in danger, necessity, and tribulation
| to preserve all who travel by land o.
by water, and to show pity upon al
prisoners and captives; for who csr
tell, hope pleaded, but that somewher.
on this wide earth be yet liv1e, long
| ing for q blessed release that he ma,
return to break the silence of year
with the story of bis misfortunes ant
suAerings. Thus my faith received .
little strength, and sent up still it
unwearied prayer.
| Almost always, as men and wome1
advance beyond the maturity of life
they seek some compensation for tn
decay of physical force in q more in
innate contact with the freshness ant
vigor Of nature. Thus Mrs. Marga
ret, wearied of the monotony of he
systematized town residence, wher'
nothing but heat and cold indicated
the passing seasons, fancied her idy
somewhere among our New England
hills and wales, and pictured the com
bined attractions of great trees an(
running water, the broad blue SIX!
and clover meadows, the lowing o
herds and the peeping Of young fowls
the fragrance of orchards, and garden
of lavender and thyme, sage and rue
Our pastoral enthusiasm ran high 81
winter, and our wishes took such ,
positive direction that, when spring
came, Herbert was assiduously en-
gagged in locating Mrs. Margaret will
all her rural anticipations. I omi
the prosy details of preliminaries AM