The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-04-08

would otherWlse have done. 10 have
her discharged in a domestic tempest,
and then learn that she had committed
all the crimes in the calendar, Anson
Walters regarded as the normal state
Of housekeeping, and generally dis
missed all such matters as "womanS
talk"
Postponipg explanations, if indeed
there would be any from Mr.. Twinzy,
whom he habitually and contemptu-
ousIy tossed into the wash basket With
other domestic matters, he enquired of
Margaret her present circumstances
and plans for the future, invited her
cordially to visit them, and when she
had left, turned to his assistants, gave
a general and sharp rebuke for their
interference in women's matters, and re-
turned to the Invoices as he had BEEN
examining:
When Mr. Twinzy found an oppor-
tunlty to speak to his friends, he walk
e1 cautiously back and forth across the
counting room, picking his steps, clasp
'og and unclaspipg his hands in his
own inimitable and timebeating va7,
drew Lis lips to their best expression Of
propriety, turned his head Oh one side,
looked upward like canary taking
survey Of the weather, and remarked:
"Ihat was very prettily done, very.
She has her explanation all ready, and
it my be all right. l have heard in
stances Of women of that class becou-
ing very devoted as missionaries, but
how were we to know the object Of her
visits, and knowing what We did of her
previous history, Of course We could
think but the one thing. Perhaps she
would say that the notes / happen to
have in my possession we're lost from
her portfolio. She knows at least
that could not contradict any state
ment she might please to make, for it
is due to myself as gentleman not to
expose her, or prevent her securing such
an establishment as Windermere can
Offer"
Thompson felt that her account Of
the Beech street visits was all correct,
but to give up his whole opinion was
to acknowledge James Thompson mis-
taken to degree quite unprecedented
in his history. Both be and Summer
field resigned the precious treasure Of
that rare piece of scandal With a
wre.-ch and sense Of loss. To give up
anything which could be retained in the
shape Of acquired knowledge, received
opinion, was serious trial to both, and
so they settled down into the belief Of
all that was possible for them to believe
of the evil opinions they had so long
held While Voonderstaun would have
preferred the entire development of
some dark plot against the lady's char
acter, Dick was quite Indifferent as to
who committed crime, provided
crime were committed. Its value de-
pended entirely on its magnitude and
such complication Of circumstances as
added unique touches Of depravity. To
Mr., Twinzy's remarks he replied, wag-
ging his head in his usual wise way:
"I've got nautbing to say agiu the
establishment, nor agin the girl herself.
If the woman was sick, I have nau-
thing agiu, her going to see her. If
she wasn't sick, its none of my bust
ness. If she didn't write that letter to
the Boss its nauthing to me. I've
heard both sides, and Imake up my
mird, aud I say nauthing."
With which sage conclusion Dick got
his hat, made his usual inspection of
that article, placed it on his wondering
head; and with his usual swinging mo-
tion, went to supper, deeply impressed
with sense Of the wonderful wisdom
of his late remarks.
From the store Mr.. Windermere and
Margaret walked to see Mrs. Walters,
aud found that lady with her unchanga-
BILE face, quite ready to talk, and far
from showing any i'll temper. Just
then she was in all the excitement of
which she was capable, about a cook
who Lad robbed her store-room, stolen
her spoons, and taken herself away.
So she was quite willing to receive
Margavet's explanation, and apology Of
and for the visits to Beech street. She
brought the letter found in Mr.. Wal
ters' pocket, and when Margaret had
told her what it was and of the loss Of
it aud other papers from her portfolio,
she volunteered several explanations IS
to how it might have been distracted
by Kate, Malissa or the children and
dropped where Mr.: Walters might have
picked it up and Put it in his pocket
without examination. The difficulty,
which had been of such magnitude
some months previous as to make her
forget all obligations Of gratitude tor
services which could not be repaid and
the claims OF hospitality aud humanity,
had decreased by distance Of time and
disappeared behind intervening events
until it was speck, mere shadow.
As Margaret and her friend left the
house, he remarked: -.
1T ismy impression that Nh. Twinzy