The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-15

"a
he m no mo- crazy dan you an me is. His
biggest faiin' is, he's kinder got too much sense
overloaded with it, so as to make him top
heavy. Crazyl why, dere nevah were man
IN all New York could tech him in business,
W hat In de name o common sense put dat idee
In yer head, madamsell? -
"Oh, yaas, c'est YER fonnie, / know-so
fonnie es max you laugh. Yaas-vell zen,
you tell me zis: ven he HEX SO grrrande for
tune in New York;, why he not stay? Why
he come to GenesS Aha zen, you tell me
also, why his manner so 6iea dr6le, eh Moi,
J etais Ia sale aa man9er &c matia, enter
Monsieur Bealej he not see me--hees eyes FRED
like ze-ze-sang-his hand rrest on bees forrr-
head, so-he grroan, he muttair some words to
hisseif, l not understand what-mais, I-ahem,
SO as Eat notify him of my presence. Sacr4
Dieu! vat you sink He turn rround toward
me, so-he stamp down his boot--like zat-
and he said to me, CONNIE. an homnse dement,,
dam vat you do in zis place, vat you want
here?' Mon Dieui I was nevair so Jlessee.
rise, mex him Won courtesie, and rretire
myself from re sale wis diguite. Vat you
sink !! he stare at me wis za red eyes all re
time, and he not offair Won word of apologize
Out l say he is crazle, and l say, also, Eat
you have re knowledge of re fact-zat You Is
hees keepare--oui-n'est-ce pas vrai done, tout
entierement?n
Georges plans were quickly decided upon.
be saw that this woman's shrewd eyes had al
ready detected something wrong; and, since to
blind her was impossible, to mislead her was
the most feasible course.
Hush !" said he, in stage whisper, put
ting his finger to his lips. Then he rose, and
closed the door with great air of mystery.
~ see faint no use tryin' to keep it secret
from you, madamsell," said he, with bow to-
wards her, as if to compliment her profound
sagacity. "The marster do have his Eighty
spells, specially at night, and | has to take
care OF him. But cts great secret, you know,
an ct mus be kept from de children. He's
perfectly harmless, an won't tech nobody. So
you jest help me to keep de secret from de
children, an I'll give de marster an de mad
anne kind hint, you know, to have your
wages doubled"
BY means OF this sort Of deception and caio-
lery, our worthy George transformed the sharp
eyed Mademoisele from dangerous spy into
a most serviceable ally, Ard he confessed TO
himself that he had urgent need ofeverv alliance
to effect his purpose of restoring Mr.. Beale to
the cheerful walks of life, for that purpose began
to rece6e every day further and further from his
grasp. The aid he had expected from Mrs. Beale
was but partially and feebly rendered. That
poor woman was too much stunned and prostra
ted by her troubles and her rapid Journey, and
moreover had too long borne in patience the
yoke of submission, to be as yet able to exert any
rousing influence over her husbands sombre
mood. To suffer and be SILENT was so com
pletely the lesson her lore had Taught her, that
she seemed incapable almost of grasping and
graphing with the present exigenuy for a more
active and positive style of demonstration.
IL - -
his heart sank within him as be felt that he
could expect but little aid indeed from her,
But his hopes were renewed now By the arrival
and cheerful presence of Miss Helen, whom.
he intuitively felt, he should find his most ener-
getic and serviceable coadutor. There was
pride and naughty impusiveness about Ru-
pert which made him turn away from the
young man, and shake his head in dismay, as
he reflected upon what would be the conse-
quences, should Rupert make the discovery of
lis fathers real position 10 tho eyes of tho
world. Helen's love, he felt sure, would con.
quer every other consideration, bat whittier
might not Rupert's pride carry him2
Meantime, though they had scarce been with
in the Pdlczzo Cteco twelve hours the brother
and sister had already known the overcoming
of the chill shadow by which it was infested,
and were already beginning to SILVER, all un,
conscious why, beneath its nalgn influence.
Breakfast over, the two had withdrawn in half.
embarrassment, halfdismay, and now, seated
in Helen's whitecurtained parior, they gazed
into each others faces with eyes of perplexed
and anxious inquiry. This parlor of Heens,
one OF the suite allotted to her, was the most
delightful part of the whole establishment. The
room was less grand grand in, its proportions
than other apartments, and consequently had
cosier, more homelike look. 1t was finished,
too, in entirely different style from the other
reception rooms-fOr which circumstance Miss
Helen discovered she was indebted to George
either to his natural taste, or lucky scintlla-
ton of his genius. Mr.. Reaie had left the re-
ordering of the palace entirely to his faithful
servitor, and that worthy had chiefly confined
his Improvements to the private apartments
destined for the family, wisely concluding that
the other rooms would DO well enough" and
that "'taint no use to spend money on oder
peoples houses" By chance, in his perqu-
sitions, he had come across Jew upholsterer
who possessed part of the furniture of an Eng
lish family who had been housekeeping in Nice,
and this was what George had purchased for
Miss Helen, rather perhaps because he thought
it would be cleaner and freer from heas, than
in obedience to any promptings of sense of
aesthetic fitness. In this way, Helen's rooms,
and immovable furniture and made dark with
the sombre hangings of old.time Genoese fash
ions, was fitted up in light and airy style the
of cottage fashion, were covered with
white linen, the carpet was of lively pattern,
and the hangings graceful and maiden,like. 1t
was indeed Just the fit bower for young lady
of tase, and life, and health. The windows
opened out upon small balconies, in the long
mould of which grew tall and lux
uriant oleanders, ever contrasting the ripe vo
righteousness of their lip-hued blossoms with the
glossy strength and richness of their dark green
leaves here, too, geraniutns fourshed, while,
sown perhaps by some sou brette yearning after
Paris the dainty mignonette tangled itself about
their roots, and lavshed its spicy fragrance all
around. From these windows one could see
The glorious lines of the Genevese bay, and the |
sparkling waves of the blue Mediterranean,
sprinkled oyer with the white sails of craft from
the steamer TO the felueca, from the fisherman
boat to the black-hulled man of war. Within, |
in front of mirror, that, with its antique frame,
was as old perhaps as the time of Andrew Do |
ria, stood always vase filed with fresh pluck |
ed flowers. A piano of English make was with
drawn to one side of the room, and, being open, |
proved that she had already tested its powers
while in an opposite corner stood her harp, |
still uncovered from its journey.
Rupert has risen to his feet, and is standing
near the open window, gazing over the tops Of
he oleanders, out upon the wide and jewelled |
yea, with fixed and anxious gaze, to which
MS tight-set jaw gives an air Of sternness. Evil
vently, the shadow is beginning to come up
over and involve his young life--evidently he
8 perplexed, sorrowcul, disappointed.
An arm is circled about his waist, hand is
,lasped about his wrist and his sisters cheek
s rested against his shoulder, with confding
md playful affection.