The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-01-22

on the doorstep-most likely I; and
30 glad. [ haven't strength-to say
more"
"His wife !" I cried, in my dism.y.
"Lord have mercy 90 upon us!
cried the painting creature. "Ay ;
that's the truth"
| What could I do? She was scarcely
able to totter along, painting and breath
less. 1t was her heart. Poor soul
no" could any one tell what she might
have bad to suffer. I took her, though
with trembling-wbat could I do else ?
TO my own. house.
CHAPTER ".
cannot attempt to describe what
my feelings were when 1 went into nv
own house with that strange woman.
Though it was very short way, We
took a long time to get there. She
bad disease of the heart evidently, and
one of the paroxysms had come on.
81 shall be better by.aad.by," she
said to me, gaspiDg as she leaned on
my arm.
My mind was 10 such q confusion
that did not know what was doing.
She might be only tramp, a thief,
svagabond. As for what she had said
Of being Mr.. Reinhardt's wife fe-My
head swan, oould neither uoderstaud
nor explain to myself how / got into
suoh position. But whether she was
good or bad, l could not help mys If ;
l was commit.ed to it; Every house
on. the Green was closed and silent. The
shutters were al put up at the "B.rle..
nov" and silence re,gsed: No, thaok
heaven. in the Admirals window
there were still lights SO that ifany.
thing happened I could call him to my
aid. He was my nearest peighbor, and
the sight Of his lights gave me conf.
denoe.
My: maid gave little shrek whe,
she opened the door, and this, too
reused me. l said; "Msry, this-lad,
is i'll she will lie down on the sofa in
the drsviog'room while We get ready
the west room. You will not; mind the
trouble, I am sure, when you see how
Ill she is.''
This I said to smoothe matters, for
it is not to be supposed that Mary, who
was already yawnipg at my late return,
should be quite pleased at being sent
off to make up bed and prepare a
room unexpectedly, As it were, in the
middle of the night. And was glad,
also, to send her away, for I saw her
give wondering look at the poor cres.
ture's clothes, which were dusty and
soiled. She had been sitting on the
dusty earth by Mr.. Reinhardt's cottage
aed it was not wonderful if her clothes
showed marks Of it. / made her lie down
on the sofa, and got her some vine
Poor forloru creature! The rest seemed
to be life, however, to her. She sank
back upon the soft cushions, and Der
heavy breathing sottened almost i'm.
mediately. I left her there Cthough
confess, not without slight sensation
of fear), and went to the west room te
help Mary. 1t was room we seldom
used, at the end ot long passage, and
therefore, the one best fitted to put .
stranger, about whom l knew nothing
in. Mary did not say anything, but
could feel that abe dlsapproved Of nat
10 every pat she gave to the frest
sheets and pillows. Aud was conoil'
iatorY, as one so often is to ones ser
wants. drew little picture Of how
had found the "poor lady" painting fo'
breath and unable to walk how weak
and how thin she was-and wha. ter.
riole thing to have rt-disease, which
came On with any exertion-and how
anxious her friends must be.
All this Mary listened 10 in grim
silence, pattiog now and then the bed
clothes with her hand, As if making :
protest against al l said. At length
when l had exhausted my eloquence,
and began to grow . little angry, Mary
cleared her throat aud replied.
"Please, ma'am, I know It amt my
place to speak"
"Oh ! you can say what you please,
Mary, 80 long as it Is not unkind to
your neighbors," said I.
II never set eyes on the-lady-be-
fore, so she can't be . neighbor Of
mine" said Mary; "but she's been
seen about the Green days aod days.
I've seen her myself = haunting East
Cottage, where that roor gentleman
lives"
"You said this moment that you neY.
er set eyes on her before"
"Not to know her, ma'am," said
Mary; otis different. 1 saw her to-
day Walking up and down like ghost,
and 1 wouldn't have given six.pence
for all she had on her. 1t sin't my
place to speak, but one as you don''
know, and as may have gang ready
to murder us oil in our beds Moth
er. was 10 service in London when she
was young, and oh {! to hear the tales
she knows. Pretending to be ill il
the commonest trick Of all, mother says,
and then they get took in, and then,
when alPs still 49,"
"1t is very kind Of You, + am sure,
TO instruct me BY your mothers. exper.
ieuces," aud I, feeling very angry.