Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-12-29

al "duto tlCdbCu WIN ~ 4bUVc9 u
difference, until the house -like th,
leper of old-was pronounced cleah. -
Board, at this season, waa IN good de
mand, and our house waespeedily filed
1 regretted that Miriam had let tht
two best rooms in the hoase 10 a family
by the name of Marabeau, whom we hat
formerly boarded with. Nm. Marabea,
was woman past forty, had been good
looking in her day. and vas exceeding
ly vain. She had q husband, quiet
sensible kind of man, and a daughter o
eighteen, plain, and stupid in her man
ner. She had made it appear to Miriam
that her "infuence" alone could fill tn,
house with the most desirable boarders
"She had always been called uery cxclu
sive wherever she had boarded, ani
thousands would jump at the chance o
getting board where she did, Beguil
ed by talk of this kind, Miriam let he
have the rooms at a frightfully Low
price.
81 desire you to be very particula
about references she said to Miriam
"for Mr.. Marabeau is the most fastidi
Gus person in the world about his asso
ciates; and it will be well for you t.
say to the Andersons that we've beer
called exclusive, though they are peo
pie, if l read their characters truthfully
that one need not be afraid of. Als(
Mr.. Mills. He is q young lawyer O.
much promise, and Mr.. Marabeau say,
his father is quite wealthy importer
Mr.. Burnet keeps his affairs SO entirely
to himself that one can scarcely tel
what to think; and as for Miss Wells
| think she feels her Importance quite
too much for governess. She's horrid
ly ugly !"
81 do not agree with you there" re
piled Miriam. eve we're speaking Of
her looks the other day, and I believe
all united in calling her Interesting. Al
far as reference goes the inmates of the
house have furnished very satisfactory
proofs of respectability.'
ooh, | presume you are satisfied
but, as said before, John is gerry par.
ticular. In regard to your table, do you
think it gives satisfaction 7"
II have never troubled myself to in
quire," replied Miriam.
"Don't you think it would be bette,
for you to change your seat to the enc
of the table? l think the effect would
be much better as you enter the room. u
':What !! and take Bridget the whole
length Of the dining room whenevershe
wishes to speak to me? No, / think
more Of convenience than effect in this
case; thank you for the suggestion Mrs
Marabeau"
"Bridget wouldn't. mind taking few
extra steps, for l have spoken to her. -
81 am not 10 the habit of consultin
my servants in such matters, and mus.
beg that you'll leave them subject to my
dictation in FUTURE"
"You can tell me it is none OF ma
business, l know; but, as I said before,
| feel interested. Now, I think it would
look much better to have the tea and
coffee brought to you to turn at table,
and when pie makes part of the des-
sert, little powdered sugar sprinkled
over it improves the looks wonderfully"
"The idea of Marabeau's fastidious-
ness! 1t is quite laughable, truly, when
one knows the stock they sprang FROM
l said, when she left the room.
"One would think them the cream Of
aristocracy, to hear her talk but. what
do you know of their antesedentsH' ask
ed my wife.
"When Anderson came to see about
board l exchanged references, and he
very naturally asked about the Mara
beaus, after finding they were to make
part of our family. So / made Peterson
a call; you know he knous euerybody-
can trace families back to Noah and the
ark. Well, he says Old Marabeau-
the father to the present one-was a
mechanic, ana Jonu was brought up to
the trade; it is only few years since
they abandoned it. His wife, SO pretty,
SO delicate, so fniky, was tailoress,
and worked in John Gilman's shop un-
til Marabeau, captivated by her beauty,
married her and took her away"
"Well, l declare ! and she to twattle
about high family and society and all
that" replied Miriam. II presume, il
the truth were known, Miss Wells fam.
lily are far superior to her own."
"Yes, if birth were consideration,
but you know we profess to be purely
democratic people, SO we must make
real genuine worth our standard of
judging. have learned this much in
regard to Miss Wells parentage, how.
ever. Her father;was minister of ac.
knowledged ability ip a Western city
of course be was poor, for he was bles
sed with a large family and small salary
Last winter he died, leaving naught but
his blessing for the widow and her flock
of FIVE children, Of which Miss Wells is
the eldest"
"Dear me, and that is why she is SC
sad 2"
eyes, sad and busy; she has by the
help of friends obtained several music
scholars, then she occasionally gets cop
ying to do; but it is hard work for 8
female in these times to support herself
much less provide for family"
81 do wish l could help the pool
thing. Wouldn't Mills give her some
writing for the ofice-you know he is
lawyer? But it is a delicate thing t.
manage, for she is too proud to accep
anything in the shape Of favor from {