The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-10-28
extreme case Of manner up stairs to

"a extreme case Of manner up stairs
10 bed
70 IL don't quite understand" sa
I, Esther slowly. "It seems to me til
+ "e are none Of US in good hum
is with ourselves or each other, SO that
j. must say the evening has not been c,
o tirely agreeable to me-"
D Carrie tossed her head slightly
"Perhaps you were not the bell
0 Essic," she said, With e:silly laugh.
Esther locke at her steadily as if bt
meaning were a riddle. Then sh
glanced over at her aunt, who, tryin
, to appear unconscious, was busily ur
} pinning the bouquet from the corsase Q
her dress.
"Ycu are too obscure for me to unde,
stand, and I don't believe I'll try" sh
said at length-and with a half siy]
she took up her fan and wrappings an,
went slowly up stairs.
The next day to her unbouudcd as
tonishment Frank announced at break
fast that he was engaged to drive ou
Tom Fenlcy, and 80 might be late }o
dinner. Now Tom Fenley was the oul,
son of the Fenlcy family, aud a you'll
so totally uniuteresting in every respect
except the one of communicativeness
that the idea of offering him a civil atten.
zion could never have entered Franks
mind without strong object to account
for it3 presence there. He was one of
those troublesome male creatures that
appeared neither useful nor orname ntal
in the home-circle and out of it, be-
yond being the medium of news and
scandal, received no regard nor respect
whatever. If any one who wanted to
become Informed on any subject too
contemplate in its nature to allow
them to stoop to inquire personally,
would take the trouble to harbor him
tor an hour or two, and give him the
hint of its nature, they would receive
in return discharge of confidence so
copiors as to be absolutely overwhelm.
ing in its wordy minuteness. It was
on such sloppy nothiugs his mind fed.
mere dwelling order of mind 1t was,
incapable Of evil only from its pur-
poseless weakness. Full! Of mean, small
ways and petty nischiefs, he rather de-
lighted in setting friends by the ears
and when full Of small reports enjoyed
the power Of giving annoyance with
provoking relish. Esther raised her
eyebrows inquiringly-
"Can you tolerate that fellow ?" she
said. ~ thought you dcs2ised him too
heartily even to be amused by hi,
faults"
"You are very good to settle these
things for me, I'm sure, but I am not
aware Of ever expressing any view on
the subject at ALL" His tone was cold,
and his manner so uninviting of con-
hdence that Esther said no more, but
drank her tea rapidly and tried to swal-
low her astonishment with it.
Frank began to talk with sudden
animation of all manner of subjects.
and still chatting, rose from the table
aud hurried away.
"Mother, let US stalt early and be at
the hotel before lunch, please"
Carrie displayed such alertncss that
her mother commented on it with pleas
ure.
"Why, Carrie, you arc positively
surprising. never knew you so brisk,
really"
"It is something to be brisk about"
remarked Carrie 10 exploration. eve
are obliged TO do SO many polite things
for stupid people who give US no pleas
ure, that I'm glad to show some attea-
tion to really interesting friends"
Tom had been as usual absol bed in
his newspaper, be now look ed up.
ESTHER" he said, ~ will send an
upholstercr here to-day for your orders,
let him do up the chairs and things so
as to make US look more comfortable
looking"
eyes, Tom," said Esther, watching
her aunt's face.
"And about the carpet" he continu-
ed, "get handsome one, and don't
mind few dollars in the price,"
"Tom," murmured his mother, i'm
ploringly.
"And if there is anything else want
ing please attend to it, and send the
bills to the store. 1 want you to make
the house decent"
His mother gained courage to speak.
II declare, Tom," she said, "you are
acting as contrarily as you can. We
want everything in the way of money
you have to spare just now for the party
We propose to give, and the dinners,
and all that. As for the fittings up
here, We can do with them very we'll.
The general effect is excellent, and these
Barrcttos will not be likely to examine
our establishment closely. As your
mother I claim the right to know what
expenditure is for the best"