The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-07-06

@"she's afraid people will say she's
after a husband for one of her daugh-
ters. Isn't that it ?'
eyes. She always remembered what
Dicks silly little wife said to her at the
outset" -
"What was that ?"
" "Why, that she needn't trouble her.
self to dress Frank and Ellen for parties
when they grew up; that they'd 6nd
plenty Of suitors In her dodgers. It was
part malice and part earnest with Matty.
You know sho was always ashamed Of
Hates taking lodgers."
"Pshaw Kate's morbidw exclaimed
Mr.. Alroyd.
"ro be cure she is. l always said she
was," Mrs. Alroyd returned.
And while they criticise Mrs. STAN
hopes "queer quirks," as they styled
her sensitivcnc.s and pride, up stairs
In their own room Frank and Ellen
were having their little tilt Of criticism.
"Oh !" shivered out Frank, pulling
down her long shining hair with an i'm.
patient jerk, ~ do get so very mad at
Uncle Toms speeches about marriage
| think it's vulgar to talk in that way
Ely"
"Of course it u.s." answered the coole,
"Elly," with more emphasis than usual
"Uncle Tom evidently thinks it's ,
|.girl's bounden duty to marry somebody
or, at least, .*e thinks it's our bouude'
duty. L fancied he'd stop that kind 0
talk when he saw: that I x:se:a able t
take care of myself"
| "Elly !"--and Frank ceased her busy
combing as the new thought struck he,
-"E!ly, l do believe it was Uncle
4 Toms exasperating speeches that firs'
get you thinking of taking care of your
self, as you call it."
Ely colored little and laughed q
little: o..
"Well, I suppose it was, Frank. 1,
set me thinking in various ways. saw
lthat mother didn't need but one OF Us
to assist her about the house. I fel,
that w. were being talked at a gooi
deal in the matrimonial key, both by
Uncle and Aunt Tom. 1t occurred tt
.+ae that school teaching would he.'rr ~ th'
matt,~s all round. But Uncle Tom
doesn't ap,re'r to believe much in that
kind of help, / see. He seems to think
that the only decen: way for woman is
to get married." and Ely laughed again
with the old glcam of humor in her
eyes.
"Just to think of your earning 5000
year, ELY you who are two years
younger than I. You always were a
great deal:orighter than I, Ely. Bless
my soul I don't believe; am sound on
m:5 multiplication table to this day.
And when I 60 shopping I always have
to count nv fingers in my muf when I
reckon up my change I do truly"
ELY laughed ou* at this, and Frank,
meeting her amused lcok, laughed too.
"All I can do is to sweep and dust
and mako beds, and sometimes fuse
round in the kitchen when Bridget is
away. I haven't an acquisition or an
accomplishment-not one: As far as
that goes I'm a fool" Then making
an indescribuble grimace at herself in
the mirror, she concluded emphatical-
ly, eyes, I've got tim healthy
fool-just that"
Quiet ELY was laughing by this time
as nobody bat Frank could make her
laugh. But as quick as she found her
breath she. said, animatedly,
SHOW can you talk'so, Frank, when
you play so beautifully, and sing, too,
like nobody else."
"'Like nobody else'-yes, that is
the way, .Elly,'. precisely; there's 90
training or since about it to make it
like any body else. And as for the
playing, that's in the Same category"
Il heard Mrs. Raymond say the
other night that there was no playing
Or singing touched her like yours" an
sUered Ely, quietly
"Did she say that!'' exclaimed
Frank, her eyes all aglow-tor Mrs.
Raymond vas great authority, woman
whose fine natural taste bad been culti-
waited to the utmost They talke ! while.
OF this, and then dropped their voices
as they heard the key in the room be-
low them click 10 the look. Sim glad
Nh Ma1chaot's: going y said Frank, in
het lower, tone" )" he's such an old Betty.
I've got tired of creeping round the
house and talking in whisper, for fear
of disturbing him. Any way, Ely, 1
think it's awful dali and poky to have
a house filed with: parcel of old fuss.
es. :do think mother is over-sensitive
there. She says with two daughters
like us it is better taste and better dig
nifty to have quiet, elderly people in the
house. I don't know but it is, but it's
awful dull,':' reiterated Frank, shaking
her head pathctica]ly. "And no soon-
er does one 60 than another of the
same sort comes. 1 shoald think
they'd call it the Patriarch's Retreat
by this time," went on this droll fittle
Frank, with a suppressed giggle.
"Hush! speak lower!' cautioned
Ellv. .::.,. H..