The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-03-24

4NOS W.
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dinipg-room in Eaton. Square, wher'
the smoke had settled 10 clouds upol
the faded stucco walls, where Mr. But
ler sliced the eternal legs of: muttol
while every body sat round and watch
Cd tho process in silence and anxiety
' Monsieur Fontaioe sat next Cathar.
toe, to-day; Madame de Tracy sent
them IN together. She could not helr
thinking, as she followed the couple,
shatz an easy solution there might be
to: al her difficulties. The little thing
would be the very wife for Fontaine-
he would make an excellent husband
1t would be a home for her-the
mair's admiration was evident, and
Ernestipe had been too provoking that
morning. ..
Z, There had been an explanation, end.
ing as explanations generally end, by
hopelesaly confusing matters. Ernes-
tine declared with the utmost lyeliness
that she had noteroom to lodge a fly in
her apartments at Paris, and that moth:
ing would inauos her to have Cover:
ness IN the house. e
"Bpt it is certain neither I nor your
grandmother requires one," said poor
Madame de- Tracy, at her wits end.
"ADd xe 60 to V-on the twentieth
Of next month. What am I to dol
how 1aoF can I tell her p ID.
i seemed like "a second inspiration
TO this impubiye lady when on her way
to l,' tto blrsakfast-roem she happened to
see the little scene in the, courtyard.
The bow, the respectful look Of admira-
ton, which said nothing to Miss
George, were like signals Of approach
ing succor to the distressed hostess.
Madame de Tracy thought no more OF
parceling out the future of two living
souls than she did of matching her cap
strings. As she sat there at ths head
of the table, she talked, schemed, made,
looked after them all, carved out des-
TIMES and chicken With admirable pre-
cision and rapidity. "Baptiste, take
this wing to Monsieur dc Tracy. Mar
the, I know it is no use Offering you
any. Monsieur lie Marie, do you prefer
omclette ?''
This was the first Friday that Cath
ar'ne had spent at Tracy, and she saw
with a thrill that omelettes were being
handed round, aud great aowery roast
potatoes and fried fish, There were,
however, chickens too, and outlets, of
which, rs Protestant, she felt bo2nd
to partake. 80 did Jean and bis grand
mother. His mother was Of an am-
phibious persuasion, sometimes fish,
sometimes flies, as the fancy took her.
She was BY way Of being Protestant,
but she went to mass with her family,
and tasted on Fridays when Marthe
and Ernestioe were there. Madame
dc Tracy n'@rc, as they called the old
lady up stairs, had dispensatiou.
cstharino was rather disappointed to
see them all quietly pepperiug and salt
ing the nice little dishes before them,
aud enjoying their breakfasts. She
thought Of her aunt Farebrother's warn
ings ; the scene did not look very
alarming. Monsieur Fontaine, al
though strictly adhering to the rules
laid down by his church, managed to
make an excellent repast, attending a,
the same time to his companions wants,
and passing salt, and pepper, and su.
gar with great empressment aud gallant
~. Catharine herself, before break.
fast was over, became conscious of his
devotion, and, I am sorry to say, was
woman enough to be amused and not
di'pleased BY it. Once she caught
Madame de Tracy's glance there were
no frozen looks now to chill and ter
nfy. '"I am determined I will speal
to him on the subject Immediately afte,
breakfast, =" = Madame Do Tracy wa
thinking. = q. =. :. -,
J.: "Monsieur le Maire, I want to sho,
you my new plantation: Ernestine
little Mad elaine Is longing for br.ncl
cf grapes. Baptiste, has Madame d.
Tracy nsere'., breakfast been ,taker
up? '.....: .:'..-
'"hladame desires > little moro chick
co." said Baptisto, respectfully. "Mad
enoisellc Picard has just,came down t
fetch some; also . little Burguud
wine, and 40 egg, and some 6gs."
Catharips used to wonder at the sur
plies which were daily sent up trou
every meal to this invisible invalid
She had seen the shutters Of her room
from without, but she never penetrate
into the, interior Of the apartment whic
Madame de Tracy mere inhabited
Once or twice, in passirg, she ha
heard 4 boarse voice like mans ca
ling Picard or Baptise Qhey we're tb
old lady's personal attendants J ono
Catharine had seen = pair of STUN
velvet shoes standing outside her doc,
That was al. Old Madame do Trac
Vas = voice, an appetite, a pair Of shos
to Catharine, no more.
Every body is something to some
body else. Certain hieroglyphics stan
/ q