The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1875-04-15
THE splendid STRANGER.
(CoNCULUED RRoM.LAsr wEEK.)

(cosculuED RRonIAsr WEEK.
Mary caught q severe cold soon al:
ster this little party, and was confined
to her room for several days, during
which time she was much distressed
to think of her lovers solitude. She
asked Harriet everyday how the Cap
tain was employing himself, and'heard
every day that he was out--he went
out early with his fahing-rod, and did
not come home till his six o'clock
tdinner. The weather was unusually
fine just then, and there was every
temptation for him to be out of doors;
but still Mary felt she would rather
he hadstaid more Ct home while she
was so i'll.
"What pleasuFasshould I take in
the sunshine if .he. were ill~ she
thought to herselfyHIshould not care
to stir from the house."
Esther Greenock came now and
then during her friends illness, but
she happened on each occasion to be
in hurry, and Mary fancied that her
old cordial manner had given place to
kind of restraint.
1t was on a mild sunless day that
Mary was allowed to 60 down. stairs
for the first time since her illness.
She had been confined to her room near
ly a fortnight, and this time, measured
by her separation from her lover, had
seemed to her very long. She trem-
bled a little as she went slowly down
stairs, thinking how soon she was to
see him, and wondering what he
would say to her, and how he would
look as he took her hand for the first
time after this dreary severance.
Would it be as difficult for him to con-
ceal his agitation as she was .sure it
would be for her?
| =. Breakfast had been over, some time
when she went down stairs. The
house was very quiet-unnaturally
quiet it seemed to Mary, in her impa-
| tience to hear that one voice she loved
so we'll. The door of Captain Herris-
toms sitting-room was open,: and the
room was empty. He was out. then,
again to-day! The disappointment
came upon her with a sudden chill.
She had hoped that he would have
stopped at home to see her.
Her sister Harriet came in from the
garden while the invalid stood for. a
moment before that open door-came
in looking as fresh and bright and ac-
tive as if there were no such thing as
sorrow in the world. !.
"Why, Mary" said she, IL didn't
expect you down so soon. l!was COM
ing up to help you to dress. Go in
to the. parlor, child there's a. fire. in
there, lighted on purpose for you.
Go in and make yourself warm. You
look as pale as a ghost. I think the
doctor would send you back to bed if
he saw you"
Mary obeyed her sister, and seated
herself by the fireside with a very list
less air.
captain Herriston has gone out, I
suppose ?" she said presently. ..
"Yes; he went very early this
morning. He has gone to, London for
q. week" ::
"To London?
eyes, to London. Why, child, how
you stare! Fathers money will be- all
right; he says: He has taken: nothing
with him but a carpet;bag, and he is
to be back in a week." .
For few minutes Mary Baxter sat
quite still, with her hands clasping the
arms Of the chair, trembling very
much, and unable to speak. Her sis.
ter was too busy over her needle-work
to- observe the girls agitation.
"It's very sudden, isn't it, Har.
riet?" she said at last, in faint
voice.
"The Captains leaving? Yes, he
had some letter from London last
night, it seems, and he was obliged te
60 there on business"
Mary lay back in her chair, with
halfclosed eyes, for the rest of thu
morning, thinking drearily Of tht
long dull. week that must drag, itsel
TO- an end before James Her1riston'.
return. Harriet went on quietly i ,waiitti
her work, thinking that her 81 ls,iisster, wa ,,sii
enjoying a pleasant doze, Until til,
burly miller came in to his dinner Dime +
when poor Mary had to rouse helrsel
from that dismal reyerie, and receiv,,
her fathers congratulations upon he,
,, recovery. .. ~.-.".
"You look very white and feebl,
yet, though, my Lass" he: said; "bu
ifsspleasant to- see YOU: down stair
! again, and you'll pick up you,
, strength all the faster down here,
. dare say" ''
!. She smiled at him family Il sh
| sfood 1oan;nc. oco;,Hs+t 80 .,SIfstAfe