Tempest and Sunshine

The change was noticed and spoken of by the inmates of Mrs. Crane's

dwelling. Mr. Miller attributed it to a too close application to books,

and recommended her to relax somewhat in her studies. Fanny had too much

of woman's pride to allow anyone except Julia to know the real cause of

her sadness, and was glad to have her languor ascribed to over-exertion.

On the night when Kate had found her weeping she had involuntarily told

her secret, but she went to Mrs. Miller the next morning and won from her

a promise not to mention what she had revealed, even to her husband.

Mr. Stanton's presence seemed to divert Fanny's mind, and the two weeks

following his arrival passed away more pleasantly than she had thought two

weeks could pass, uncheered by a line from Dr. Lacey. At the end of that

time it pleased Julia that Fanny should have a pretended letter from New

Orleans. Several days were spent in preparing it, but at last it was

completed, folded, sealed and directed. Mr. Dunn pronounced the deception

perfect. He stamped it with the Frankfort postmark so slightly that one

would as soon have called it "New Orleans" as anything else.

Fanny was seated in the parlor in company with Stanton when Julia suddenly

entered the room and said, "Oh, here you are, sister. I've looked

everywhere for you. Here is a letter."

One glance at the superscription assured her that it was from Dr. Lacey. A

bright, beautiful flush suffused Fanny's face, which became irradiated

with sudden joy. Asking Mr. Stanton to excuse her, she went to her rooms,

so as to be alone when she perused the precious document. After she was

gone, Julia spoke of Dr. Lacey and asked Stanton if he had ever heard from

him. Stanton replied, "While Dr. Lacey was in college he spent a part of

his vacations at my father's; but I almost always chanced to be absent at

school, and consequently we are not much acquainted. He did write to me a

few times while I was in college, but our correspondence gradually ceased

and I have not heard from him in a long time. I hope he will return to

Frankfort, for I should like to renew our acquaintance."

This answer gave Julia great relief; she had feared Stanton might write to

Dr. Lacey, and that by some means her scheme might be ruined. But all was

safe, and in a few moments she arose to go to her room and witness the

result of the letter. Let us go before her and see the result for

ourselves.