The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-10-21
THREE LOVERSAT ONCE
BY MRS. MARGARET HOsMER.
PART SECOND.

PART SECOND.
Frank appeared perfectly satisfied
with the present state of affairs, ant
being naturally fond of his own com
fort found it greatly improved by Esth
| er's administration, and was conse
quently good humored on the subject
No particular arrangements were made
for the entertainment or reception o1
society during the wiuter, beyond call.
ing on friends, and an occasional quiet
dinner to few more. Esther was very
busy and very much interested in he,
work and its progress. Her auut had
completely resigned all interest in the
housekeeping in her favor, and the
change Of management was an exceed
insly beneficial one to the personal COM
fort of her friends. The marketing,
hitherto entrusted to Peter, an unre-
liable waiter, was now done directly
under: her supe1intendence, and the
cooking, over which Dorthy had exer-
cised uncontested control, was now im-
proved by the personal knowled ge aud
nicsty OF execution she had acquired
IN her ardent taste in a new study.
Tom was silent but most interested
ally in every pursuit she undertook,
and when their first monthly settlement
took place, and he discovered that de-
spite lnnumerable added comforts there
was balance still on hand, instead of
deficit, as usual, his congratulations
were earnest and encouraging.
''It's a pity that You should ever de-
sert Us, Essie," be said: "we are just
beginning to understand comfort and
decency. That table, when arranged
by Dorthy, looked like cattle stall, in
comparison to its present appearance,
and what we have to cat seems made OF
different material since it has passed
into your hands"
"This was rather a material kind of
compliment, but Esther teceived it de-
lightedly. The sense of giving CON-
fort to those she loved, or being of use
in any way, was une Of supreme enjoy
meut to her unsel6sh heart, and she
answered beamingly:
"I'm 50 glad, and you arc 50 kind to
tell me so. Do you know, Tom, that 1
am really content for the first time in
my life, and I don't mean to be mar
ried for good while, unless Frank looks
unhappy about it."
"Then you have no feeling on the
subject yourself it seems"
"Oh yes, 1 am very uncomfortable
at times about it, for I feel SO entirely
unsuited to married life; that is, I
don't feel as if it would be an improve
ment."
"Essie," cried Tom, suddenly chang
ing the subject, "Essie, please get that
new carpet chosen for the parlor, and
let US brighten up the house little by
spring time. There are a great many
odds and ends wanting to make us per.
fectly comfortable, and we'll try to man.
age it all now"
Nothing could please Esther better
than the beautifying of the home she
had adopted as her own, and she eagerly
closed in with the new carpet suggest.
ed, and began proposing different colors
and patterns as suitable to the apart
| meut thus to bc embellished. Whilst
their heads we're laid together over the
plan, Mrs. Loder came in wrapped in
morning-gown and shawl, being an in
| valid to the extent Of few imaginary
pains.
"Tom," she said, eagerly, "excust
me when I interrupt you about the car
ret; it will be impossible just now
I'm afraid to consider the idea. Poo1
Frank has been fearfully cramped al
winter, and he wants all We can spare
out Of the housekeeping for sprinf
outfit"
II have made up my mind to buy th'
carpet" said Tom, little bit doggedly
"but I have no objections to Franz
having every luxury 10 the way Of a,
outfit he thinks 6t to indulge in"
His mother glanced at him uueasi
ly.
"You know" she began, nervously
"it is quite out of the question for u
to do everything-eithsr Frank mus
do without or the carpets remain q
l hey axe for the present