The Bay State Monthly - Volume 2, No. 6, March, 1885

UNWELCOME NEWS.June was doing its best to make the world content. Little clouds floatedthrough the blue sky, like the light sighs of a mood that must find someexpression, and the air for all its softness was invigorating, it was so full of lifeand purity. This day, like many another, needed only to bring as fair hopesto the lives of those who looked into it as it did to the nature it overbroodedto make the faces its light breezes fanned as bright as the skies were, with onlyshadows of expression to give the brightness new beauty. But no such lightwas on Elizabeth Royal's face as she sat at the open window of her room witha piece of delicate embroidery in her hands. Her future had not opened outinto life; the winter had killed its buds of promise.After all, Stephen Archdale had not gone to England. His father and Gov-ernor Wentworth had insisted that it was much wiser to send an older anda better business man. "Do you want to make the best of your case?" theColonel had asked incisively when Stephen hesitated. And the young manhad yielded, though reluctantly. It would have been so much easier for him3 VARIOUSto be away and to be doing something. But at present he must think only ofdoing the wisest thing.Elizabeth had not seen him; he had written to her father once, and hadpromised to write again as soon as he had the slightest news. He had tried hisbest to be cheerful, and had sent her a message that endeavored to be hope-ful; but she saw that courtesy struggled with despair. She knew that theyneed never meet; but if this thing were true-she could not believe it-but ifit were true, then happiness was over. Life in a June day has such possibilitiesof happiness; and that morning her eyes grew so misty that she took a fewwrong stitches in her work, and as footsteps drew near the room, perceivedthis and began to pick them out with nervous haste. She had not finished,however, when Mrs. Eveleigh came in. As Elizabeth had expected, her firstremark was a comment."What! another mistake, my dear? You know you made one only yesterday,and you can work so beautifully when you give your mind to it. It is a badplan to have such a dreamy way with one. For my part, I should think youwould have had enough of doing things in dreams and never knowing whatthey will end in. You would better wake up for the rest of your life."As Elizabeth had heard the same remark numberless times before, its effectwas not startling. In silence she went on picking out her stitches."Why not say you think so, too? It would be more dutiful in you," contin-ued Mrs. Eveleigh."You take care that I am waked up," returned Elizabeth. "You don't leave