The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-09-17
MRS. ST. JOHN.
The Romance of Our Boarding.
HOusa. -

'Shc was the bonniest, blithest, youlsesl
little thing when she came here, bride,
five years ago this very month. They
took my choicest suite Of apartments,
and at first her husband seemed to think
there was nothing quite good enough for
her. AS for her, bless her! she was so in
love with her handsome, fascinating hus-
band that 1 really think 1t was all the
same to her if she dined off roast beef or
rose leaves; if she drank cafe noir or
ambrosia.
"Such a pet as she was in the house.
Old Mrs. Mobbcrly and her two spinster
daughters were loud in their praises OF
her, and often haa seat in her cosy
little coupe for a mornings shopping or
on afternoons drive through the Park.
Young Hammond and his wife were Oft
Ell IN their apartment of an evening help
ing Mr.. st. John drink his sparkling
MoseIle, and praising IN no stinted terms
Mrs. St. Johns rich contralto voice and
brilliant execution. Even the general.
who held his head SO high and hau ghtv,
who never left his own elegant apart
ments to join the Others in the parlor
common to all, came down and stood
quietly in the doorway on three or four
different occasions when she had been in
duced to sing there. =
II can see him now, standing there firm
and erect, but with a far-away look IN
his gray eyes, as though the song or the
voice recalled sad memories But he
never spoke to her. Indeed, as soon as
the sweet voice ceased, he would quietly
walk away, and these visits OF his were
never observed by any one save myself
for there were three doors opening from
the hall into our long saloon parlors, and
it was at the centre door the gene raj
took up his station, and between that
door and the piano there stood large
eterage which screened HIM completely.
"There was one other who protested to
admire Mrs. st. John. A widow-Mrs.
Burbank. Tall, magni6ccntly formed,
. dark handsome face, everything so
tar as looks went, in her favor: and vet
never liked her. That beautiful gliding
step was too cat-like; that sweet voice
to caressingly sweet to all alike, be it
friend, or shock-headed beggar to whom
she refused the pittance craved, and, by
the way she always refused
''But there was one VINO admired Mrs,
Burbank, and that one was Mrs. st. John 8
husband. l first began to notice 1t when
they had been with HE year or a little
over. There were two bouquets brought
home nightly now, one tor the wife, and
one for Mrs. Burbank; and once / saw
the widow deity remove a letter from the
innocent flowers. Now they We're always
accompanied to opera or theatre by the
widow. In fact she was always with
them. l do not think Mrs. st. John
ever really tancieu her, but she knew it
pleased her husband to have Mrs. Bur
bank with them, and that was enough.
She was such child, this little wife L
tell you of-only eighteen, and as inno-
cent of evil as though it had no existence
IN this world of ours.
"At last Mrs. Burbank came one day
and told me she was going away on a
visit; that she would be gone some time,
and would, therefore give up her apart
ment. Well, go she did, and could not
say was sorry.
''For time after that every thing went
ON all smooth and even, and then tho little
wife's face grew sad and pale, dark shad-
Ows grew under the violet-blue eyes, and
I could have boxed the ears OF her hand
some husband, for I knew he was the
caus. OF it. He was never actively un.
kind, only careless, neglcctful. ~
The nightly bouquet was forgotten now,
and sometimes he would forget to come
home till the wee sma hours. And one
dismal winters morning, before the sun
was up, Mrs st. John came to me, where
I lay in my bed, and lay down by me,
very cold and white and still, her dear
little face close to mine, her arm around
my neck. I dreaded l knew not what,
and for time neither of US spoke. At
last l said: ..s -. ..
"Wnat is it, my deara'' .#.5s+'
"And the poor child pressed little
closer, and said:
Mrs. Raymond, I have been sitting
up for him all night, and he never came .
1could only smooth the little golden
head with trembling fingers as her moth
er might have done, and coax her to 90
with me to her own room, where put