The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-03-11

the door, holding the strip Of paper be-
tween the thumb and foreGnger of biz
right hand and the wrist c]ssped in biz
lett. Presently he resumed his scat
and singular change had come to bis
voice as he said:
~ suspect, Mis- Merlyn, that you arc
rather an. adventurous young lady
Did you write 4 letter last fall to Mrs.
Clara Howard, Of this city ?"
| If she had committed 4 forgery and
it had just come to light, she could not
have looked aud acted more the guilty
thing than she now did. A film appear
ed to pass over her eJes and her face
grew red and white by turns, as she
rose and walked to window, and then
mastering courage said:
II did,"
II saw that letter." he replied, "and
recognized the name at once.''
"Do you know where she is ?" she
asked, standing With her back toward
him.
"she is in the city, in cheap lodg-
ing, with only Sally. She has broken
up her establishment, sold most of her
furniture, and rented her house. She
is now waiting to get possession Of her
son, who is in this Home. He has
been there for the past year. She has
been paying bis board, and what ap-
pears still more singular since what you
have told me, the managers are very un-
willing to give him up. I thought
this proof that they are unusually at
tsched to the children under their
charge, and very careful about securing
their happiness."' After hesitating an
instant he resumed: "1t quite puzzles
me. Mrs. Howard was here yesterday
to get me to assist her in recovering
her child, to whom these ladies cling
with singular tenacity. cannot at all
understand why they should be so un-
willing to part with the Children, when
their funds are so low and things in
such ap unpromising condition. Yet I
have known them refuse several appl-
cations from responsible families, who
wished to take children to bring up.
Mrs. Kendon at one time wished to
take boy who was in The Home, but
there was so much unwillingncss on
the part Of the lady managers, that we
abandoned the idea I understood that
the boy afterwards ran away and has
not since been heard Of. 1t is very
singular" he continued musingly.
"Perhaps," Margaret suggested,
''children may be thought necessary to
maintaining the Institution. If there
were no children in it there could be
no school, or at least, l suppose Miss
Ironton's vocation and situation would
be gone if tie supply Of children we're
exhausted, and during the past year
more have died there than have been
brou ght in. But Of Mrs. Howard.
What does she propose to do if she re-
covers her child ?"
"she wishes to get cheap home in
the country /; i. afraid to 60 to an iso-
lated place with only her servant and
child, and breads village gossip SO
that she is a good deal undecided.
While practising law 1 made the con-
veyance of her house on Beech street,
and she has come several times to con-
suit me as to her future course, but l
can think Of nothing just suitable"
Margaret had resumed her seat and
her equanimity, aud alter thinking a
moment said musingly: II wonder how
that would dot" aud addressing her,
self to the Judge, continued
~ know young Irish couple who
have purchased farm principally on
credit. They are kind-hearted, good
people, aud it Mrs. Howard could buy
a few acres Of them-at an advance, Of
course-aud have it surveyed SO thatshe
could have house close to their cabin,
it might be . mutual benefit. The
place is twenty miles out and mile
from a railroad. think from the de.
scription it is healthy, pleasant and re.
tired. l know they would b, consider
ate, and though ignorant, would treat
her with more true politeness than
most refined and chistian people,"
"That appears hopeful was biz
thoughtful reply, "and will suggest
it rs coming from you. She has been
very anxious about you, supposing you
had gotten into trouble on her account.
Sally went to enquire for you, and was
very rudely driven away from the place
she had first seen you, and I suppose
your visits to her wero the reason ol
your being sent to the Aims House"
II suppose it was, in part; bu. would
there b. any impropriety in my seeing
Mrs. Howard, or could be of any ust
to her ?"
"You could certainly be of use t
her, ind I suppose you ore not to bt
judged by the rules which blind ordi'
nary mortals. You might see her here
if you prefer, for she will come to learn
about the child after have seen the