The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-01-26

Any trouble while he is here. It will
not b long," she .dded, in low voice.
"But about his sleeping, my dear;
you really must not ask me to put him
between a pair Of sheets-we should
never be able to use them again"
"1f you object to his occupying one
Of the beds, let him have a mattress
on the floor Of tho next room, by the
side of Tiny's cot, mamma, and he will |
be quite contented.".
"1n the next room, my dear F.! in a |
room opening into yours, with folding
doors never heard of such thing :! |
it would be most unallowable v'
Eugenia hung her head and blushed. |
1--WE think nothing of it iu Bengal"
she said !; "the bearers there always
sleep by the children's cots.''
~ can't help what they do IN Ben
gal, my dear such custom is worthy |
Of heathen country ; but it would nev-
er do in Englsnd-all the servants
would be talking Of it."
Poor Mrs. Archer looked as perplex- |
ed as though she had hrought home an
elephant for which no accommodation
couldIbe found. She pondered for few
moments in silence, and then she said,
quietly:
'Let it be as you think fit, mamma.
1f'Do Mum may have this mattress on
the floor Of the dressing room, I will
lock the folding.doors between us, and
keep Tiny in my own bed. There is
plenty Of room here for US ALL"
"she will disturb you," interrupted
Mra. Elliot; "can she not be left in the
charge Of DO Mun!'"
"She is restless, away from me-" said
10eenla, snottly.
"Tbe man can't be much use to you
Is purse, my DEAR" rejoined Mrs.
Beale but her remark received no re.
ply.
So Mrs. Archers wishes, after a
great deal Of fuss and many lamenta-
tions, on the part Of her mother, that
the dressing-room should be desecrated
for such purpose, we're carried into
execution ; and after Eugenia had held
= brief conference with the native on
the threshold of her own apartment,
Mrs. Beale and Marion saw her lock
the folding-doors which divided them,
and, having wished her sincere "Good.
night" left her to gain the rest she
80 much needed.
But though Mrs. Archer, left to her.
self, lay down upon the bed beside her
slumbering children, it certainly was
not to sleep-for her eyes kept per-
t'naciously open, and her ears were
alive to every sound j.; and as soon es
the husehold was quiet, and a general
stiffness announced that its inmates
had betaken themselves to their owe
rooms, she crept softly to her feet gain,
and unlocked the folding-doors, of
which she had retained the key.
"Henry!" she whispered, scarcely
above her breath. "Henry, are you
quite comfortable ?"
"Cursed uncomfortable !" was the
surly reply, as the supposed native turn
cd himself upon the mattress provided
for him by the hospitality of his moth
er.in-law. II haven't got any pillows,
and not half enough blankets. I think
I shall turn into your room, and lie by
the fire."
"Oh, no-no, pray don't do that y
she exclaimed, with real alarm; sin
deed, it would be too dangerous think
Of the children"
"D-n the children ~ was the un-
paternal reply "they or you seem al.
ways in the way. I shall do the girl
an injury if you leave her with me
much more than you do at present. Il
the truth is ever discovered, it will be
by means Of her blabbing!tongue."
l. The darkness covered the strange
! mixture Of fear and contempt whlct
rose to Mrs. Archer's features as sht
> listened to this speech; but she con
trolled her feelings sufficiently to say
"They are but infants, Henry-yo,
too often forget that fact !; and, if ha>
left them in your charge more than ii
} pleasant to yourself, you know it ha
; not been Of my own free will, but because
I feared suspicion might light upor
> you, if not sufficiently employed in tht
character you confess to be-"
II 81 don't believe it," he answered
:rudely. "You like to see me in thi
degraded situation, and you force upo,
me what you know it is not io nj,
} present power to resent"
She did not seem to think this &C
cusation worthy Of her refutation.
eff the little ones are sometime,
> burdeusome," she SAID, remember hov
, much worse the alternative would be
and how large a debt We owe them
What should W have done withou,
! them in this emergency
"Its very easy for you to stand Their
and PREACH" he answered, "vhen 20,
run no no risk, aud are fed and lodgei
with the best. You don't care 4 rus1
) for what have to Put up with-a mat
; tress to lie on, and kitchen.fire."
"Oh, indeed-lndeed, I do," sb
said, her womanly compassion over
i~n->.s.., ~ >kh Nv. c>V: x<>-I-.l