The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1868-12-17
new road, in which he took occasion to
urge upon his fellow members tho duty
Of preserving Wtha institutions we have

VI pIeS0EVAuS IuV AusttSVeAouS wv Ho'o
received from our posterity aud handin'
'cm down to our ancestors" AS
this speech was duly reported in tho
Arabia Betrsa Journal, with iadmirins
commons by the editor, who had re-
ooived several lots to MD in esta}-
fishing his paper,:.our proprietor felt there
wero no moro worlds to conquer in
that direction, and devoted himself to
seconding his wife's efforts to sustain
their position. Town lots were exchaug-
ed by the dozen for furniture, fancy
dresses, ribbons, flowers, embroidery
and laces, and when Margaret became
a resident of Arabia Petrea, the original
proprietor and his wife lay in the GEN.
etary, and their two daughters, litter
ate and vain, the wives Of poor men,
struggled for place in society; and
Of the property which had made mil
lionaiss Of others. they had nothing
left but few scraps of faded 6ncry.
Or all the thousands of mon who
now crowded tho streets in search Of
fortune, where so short o time ago
the pheasant and prairie wolf had
played hide and seek in dad earnest,
few were more enterprising than Arson
Walters, of whose house our heroine
found herself an inmate. All the ap-
pointments were elegant, and she was
not long in putting the breakfast
room and table in faultlsss order. She
also.contrived without giving offense to
the careless, good.natured cook, to see
that the breakfast was properly pre-
pared. She was anxious to give salts
faction to her employers, and felt an
noyed when almost Immediately after
the first bell gentleman made his ap-
pearance in the breakfast room, appar-
emily supposing tho meal ready.
He came so noiselesslyss that she ut
tered slight exclamation Of surprise,
and glanced at his feet. He wore boots
but walked with a gliding motion
which gave no note of his approach.
He bowed slightly, murmared an in
articulate sound, and took position by
the open window, where he leaned
languidly against the frame and ap-
peared absorbed in watching butterfly
balancing over a honeysuckle which
clambered on the outside.
Margaret took it for granted that
this was the master Of the house and
his manner produced sensation Of
chill. Her blood appeared suddenly
thrown inward, with an instinct Of
avoidance; she felt that without appear
ing to see, be was closely watching her,
and set about reasoning herself into .
feeling Of indifference. His air was
that Of confirmed invalid. He was
tall and thin, and his clothes hung
loosely upon him. These were made in
business form of some home material,
the worse for wear, but scruprlously
brushed. His brown hair was stiff with
pomade and combed into kind OF top
knot, which he occasionally caressed
to assure himself that no hair had
changed its place, and his neck tie was
crossed with mathematical accuracy,
A small man, of rounded figure, with
the same degree Of precision in dress
would have been painfully dapper, but
with his hollow chest and ehrunken
limbs, as he leaned for support he had
rather look of indolent grace. His
face was long and thin, the bridge of
his nose high and narrow, bringing his
eyes unusually near to each other and
showing that he looked narrowly into
everything he saw. His beard was thin,
and he wore it all. His eyes were dap
pie, and Of about equal proportions of
reddish brown and tea green-insin-
cere, suspicious eyes. No wonder
Margaret felt uncomfortable underthc;1
covert scrutiny, as she placed the food
upon the table and rung for the family
to come to breakfast.
1t was with feeling of profound re-
lief that she heard a heavy, manly
tread come down the stairs, and strong
bass voice utter few short words, then
saw man stride into the room with a
boy Of about four years on his shoulder
and two older girls holding the one his
hand and the other his coat. Follow
ms closely came Mrs. Walters. They
all gave Margaret pleasant recogui-
ton, and appeared impressed with a
sense Of he, being out Of place; for
as they took their seats at the table,
both the gentlemen who had just come
in, (and who was Mr.. Walters) and the
mistress Of the family, made some re-
mark about place for her at the table.
Margaret had lain awake the greater
l'art Of the previous night, settling in
hser own mind her duties in the position
sh. !, had assumed. That particular
fon Of asserting the equality Of
AM erican citizenship which impcls do
mes, ie servants to demand % a right a
Place at the tables Of their employers,
had be en- one of the severest annoyanccs
in her fathers house, and her self-rc-
spect made her shrink instlnctively
from til rusting herself or being thrust
upon an J family circle, especially in
those h, 'urs OF reunion and confidence
whom til ere are so many words to be
exchanged between the members Of