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

staircase, into loity receiving room, whose
little furniture served only as landmarks for its
desolateness; through an ante room and cor
ridor into another chamber that was smaller
and more comfortable.
"You rest yourself here, ma am, while /
go"-George began, but Mrs. Beale stopped
him.
"Show me to my husband Immediately!
George WINGED, but he saw she would take
no refusal, so he led the way, through another
door, into a long corridor, at the end of which
was narrow, dark stairway-down three flights
OF steps-a dark passage low, iron-studded
door, set in dark massive frame
"Why this is below grounds dungeon
shivered the wife. Z
In de basement-yes 'm--he wouldn't have
no other room replied George, knocking at
the door, and giving his name. There was no
response, but bolt was drawn on the inside of
the door. George opened it, the dim light Of
lamp came over the threshold to Mrs. Beale's
eyes, she made a trembling step forward, he
turned, and husband and wife were united once
more-united perhaps for the first time entirely
and indissolubly.
We would rather not attempt to depict that
meeting.
1t was on the evening of the second day after
the arrival of Mrs. Beale from Marseilles, that
George, in examining the register of the Hotel
FEEDER, which is on the triangular space at the
quay, found there the names of Helen and Ru.
pert Beale, from Milan. The delighted negro
made haste to introduce himselfto Helen-Ru.
pert having already gone out in quest of in.
formation-and, by the time her brother re-
turned, George had satisfied himself that this
young lady was the very panacea needed to re-
store cheerfulness to all, and in this belief,
Helen secured fast and devoted ally.
That night, father, mother, and children, met
again, and those two young lives went under
the shadow.
But Mr.. Beale was not in the dungeon when
his children came. He received them in the
drawing room. So they, in their eager Joy
and love and tears, saw not the shadow, nor
yet felt its chilling influence.
VIII.
after Breakfast.
In this great rambling dilapidated dismal
PIlazzo Ciec0, there was ample room for every.
body of Mr.. Beale's limited household. The
hangers-on of course were confined to the court
yard, and the rest, French cook and his two at
taches, a trio of German walters, two or three
maids, Miss Beale's femme de chdmbre, and
George, were distributed about the house very
literally, yet enterely failed to give the place
the air of being occupied. In addition to the
apartments in common, there were suites of
rooms set apart to Mr.. Beale, to his wife, and
to each Of his children. BY and by we shall
take ramble or two through the Palace, in
company with Miss Helen, but that young lady
is at present both too much fatigued and too
much under the sway of conflicting emotions to
follow US, so we will take casual peep at our
friend George. This worthy, in accordance
with his large and liberal disposition, has no
less than three places OF residence within the
Palace. First, there are his sleeping apart.
ments, high up, and near the top of the great
marble stairway. Here he keeps his trunk, and
bed, but seldom goes thither. except for
change of rairnent, and then always in the day.
time, for he has heard some strange noises in
the Palace, and is withal possessed of q very
laudable tmidity respecting certain unsubstan-
tial beings whom he deaomipates "ghostes-
ses.' AS chief of the meuservants, and CON-
mander of the bare legged regiment who hang
about the place, doing .of errands and consum-
ing the scraps that fall from the table, George
has also his lodge, a pleasant room upon the;
ground floor, whence he often issues with frown-
ing brow and stick in hand, threatening con-
dign punishment to Giacomo and Giovan
B'teest, and Pepe unless they cease making
" sech a rumpuss." But most of Georges
nights have been spent outside the dark cell of
his patron, where he has not seldom walked in
kindly horror, to hear the terrible nightmare
rawlings of the haunted banker, to soothe and
compose him again to rest, or to administer the
narcotic deemed to be requisite for him.
This morning, however, we shall find him in
his lodge, a large, cheerful room, to which the
sun has just now brilliant access, and which he
has invested with something of his own person.
ality. The old frescoed walls are half covered
with comic pictures he has cut out Of odd num-
bers of Charirari and Figaro; he has dispersed
at least dozen splttoops about the foor, for
he is an inveterate chewer of the quid in one
corner is a pile of oranges, in another stands a
table, on which is displayed the ripe beauty of a
halfeaten melon, while aprons and brushes and
other ensigns of his Office are scattered in every
direction. Just now, he is in his shirt-sleeves,
q keeping his hand in (" by'energetically polish
ing his own boots. The door is open, and, while
he works, he is alternately whistling, singing
snatches Of songs and hymns, and talking to him
SELF
Hal make you shine like dem mirrers at
de Fodder HOTEL after while an de old ship
Zion, halleluya-ah.' Wonder eff its so named
case dey has Fodder beds dar7 Xii AN
Sally is de gal TO- mel Yes, sar-George, cts
a-goin' to be all right now-dem dar chiliun is
de right ones, 'cordin' to my notion. Dat Miss
Helen, WOW; amt she beauty She'll bring
de ole man all right, one desc days. Hard
times, come ag'in no mo and he went on
whistling and polishing with great vigor. A
light hand upon his shoulder made him start.
"Who dat ? ;" he looked up, and saw Mademoi-
selle, Helens maid, at his elbow: rSarvant, |
ma am. Good mornin'-Lord, how you skeert
mel"
"Your name-cest George-n' est-ce pas?"
asked Mademoselle. She was French woman,
with keen black eyes, and spoke in pointed, |
impulsive sort of tone, and very rapidly.
We, madamsell, dat dis chickens name"
Il speak Anglais-Ver' leetl'-yop speak
Frrench?"
Cannot say as how does, madamsell.
knows a word here an dere-de French of
dambon is ham-coach-on, he mean little roas'
'nough to know what dat mean"
g. Bah-frivole-yo mus not joke wis me
/ want you to tell me one two sing-xe trutz-
where from you come? You come from Amer |
ique +"
"No marm-madamsell, | mean. come
from New York"
"Oui, vraiment mails, you come wiz Mon
sieur Beale, re perez"
"Pairl no, We come single; was de sar
want, and he was de boss"
"Boss? COMMENT"
Yes'm-madamsell, l mean-de master.
He paid for de tickets, an come along to
take care to him."
"Ahl Eat is as sought. You take care sur
lui. He vas done malade-touche 4 la tete-
how you call itf"
" Yes, madamsell,'' said George, staring at
her, the picture of obscurity. 81 doesn't right
y know, but suppose that's the French for it.
We came in a ship, from York to Liverpool,
from Liverpool to Massaille, from Massalle to
dis port" 49,. - r.e ,.ttss..sg