The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-04-17

phan, saddsued b. tho recent los Of
both both parents, sod she expressly stipu-
lated that she should be SLOWED TO- r.
main in the hoase, and on that account
the rent is merely NOMINAL "'4.
George spoke very fast, and flushed
with his words. We both saw that 10
.soeagiog to board aud lodge tho strange
young woman be had not calculated on
the effect Of introducing such mourn.
ful element into our small family cir.
ole, and that sober second thought
made him regret his temerity.
Bertha had fallen back already; and
she remained 90.
:"She's a dreadful girl,' she mur.
INJURED, "she smells Of black Grape. and
her bombazioe rattles like bones a. she
walks"
"Now don't be childish, Bertha,
DEAR" said George, ra'Iying. "You real.
~ need something to rouse you, and if
this young lady's presence seems bore
At first, you will soon 6od that her 10.
oiety will cheer and amuse you."
Bertha groaned slightly and shut
her eyes as if to close out the view of
the entertainmeut-but she said moth.
ing more, and presently, ss if recoe.
oiz'ng the futility OF murmuriug against
hxed decree, my sister changed her
manoer, and began thoughtfully.
"Mary dear, let us put Gala lilies in
those lava vases and trim the alabas.
ter ones With fuschias," and then she
followed this tasteful idea by de,lsing
where We should place certain small
ornaments We had brought With Us on
the steamer.
We both hailed this practical turn,
and as soon as We reached the hotel,
George and hastened to pack and get
ready to move, there being nothing to
prevent our taking possession of our
new house at once, as Miss Van Art.
landt had said her servant would be
glad to remsin and hire with Us.
We were to 60 next morning, aud l
rose early aad started 10 advance of
my sister to attend to the installation of
the girl with the pale tsce aud frisky
manner.
She opened the door for me, aod
said that Miss Leonie, her young lady,
had gone out :or she; day, but the keys
were all on the ball table, and she would
show me everything.
! She seemed to regard the change 10
proprietors as a good joke, and laughed
when asked her if she were quite
willing to enter my sisters service..
"Oh la yes, II just as lief" she
said.
She told me her name was Bah, and
said she could cook and do all kinds Of
household duty pretty we'll, bu: she
sho~k her head when I spoke Of an
other girl, and begged that tho w.eh-
ing and ironing might be done out of
the house and she left to manage the
rest Of tho work.
"Please try me, MISS" she urged,
when she noted my doubtful pause,
"pm sure you'll be satisfied, if you will
only try me, and strange girls make SO
much trouble in family"
"Well," I said, "my sister must de-
eide, and now we must 70 over the
closets and SEQ where we can store our
things"
We went up into the largest and
haudsomest front chamber, which SEEM
ed the proper che to get ready for Ber-
tha. There was no disorder or dust in
the room, and yet it had q dull, air.
less oppressiveuess about it that made
me feel it must be thoroughly cleansed
,befere it could be made habitable.
I suggested this to Bah, and she
looked round critically
"There has been no one 10 it since
l-since it was put il order, and dust.
ed it yesterday myself, but if you had
rather, I'll brush it up agaio."
"Let me first wipe this wardrobe
out, aud then you may" I said. I open
cd the mirrored doors and saw hand
some oapaoious closet with shelves a
ono side aud rows Of polished pegs on
the other. It was empty, and had been
dusted carefully, yet I found scrap Of
striped linen sticking out Of one OF the
seams ip the wood. Ipulled at it, but
it would come no farther. I tried to
push 1t back out Of sight, but it stuck
there, and so brushed round it With
the duster and closed the doors, as Bah
vas ready to begin sweeping. The
next room Was equally large, and it
looked brighter and pleasanter slthouRh
it Was not 50 handsomely furnished. 1t
was beautifully neat aud needed no
additional cleaning, neither did the
hall rooms, which we're equally pretty.
The bathroom was in tho center of
the house and OF the other side Of it,
descending step or two from the main
hall, was the library, ont Of which op.n-
ed pretty room with verandah, the
door of which l found locked. had
been gong about duster in hand, peep
log into oil the nooks and corners, and
had arrived at this closed chamber
when Bah came down With her dust
pan she passed beside mo and I saw
that dried leaves and shreds Of decayed
white flowers made up the sum Of its