St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-02-16

nervously as she strove to clasp them
before her.
''Therese, you are in greater trouble
than Harry can bring yOu,n | said,
kindly.
At first she could not speak. Then
with great effort at self-cOntrol, she
said:
''Madame, Mr.. Scranton was here this
morning. He told me that he was go
ing to sell me away from the children.
He will keep them himself. His wife
wants to bring them up in the house.
Philippe will be waiter, and Ettie
maid foT her daughter. A man was
with him, trader, who wanted to take
me west at Christmas"
The voice was low but intense with
the tone of subdued passion before she
ceased speaking it sunk to monotone
of helpless misery. A shock went
through me as listened. There were
some "peculiarities of the institution"
to which l could never become accus-
toned. In the community in which |
was living there was very little buying
or selling. Most of the families had in
herited their negroes, and never sold
unless under great pecuniary pressure.
A "negro broker" was regarded with
contempt, with utter adherence, and
treated as social pariah. Mr.. Scran-
ton was a new man. He had made his
money, and consequently had to buy
his negroes as he did other possessions.
His wife, unused to her position, vas
naughty or condescending as the case
might be, her want of breeding evident
in either demonstration, while her loud
tones and harsh words showed what
those who lived with her might be call
ed upon to endure. Her husband, a
kind-hearted man, possessed some quail
titles which gave him a respectable po-
sition in society and commanded some
tolerance for his wife, though social cir
cles opened very charity to them, not
withstanding his great wealth and pub
lie spirit. | could easily understand
why Therese felt the added sting of
leaving the children to the tender mer-
cies of this inferior and insolent woman.
had no drop of comfort to give to the
poor mother, except to say:
"POor Theresei If this must be done
| will try to have some oversight of the
children. How much better it would
be for them if you could control your
self more ~
"That is true; they will owe it to
me-" she said, humbly.
"And now let them owe to you one
year of happy life" l added. "Harry
is always kind to them. have often
seen him stop his work to fix a toy for
them to help Philippe in his play, or
| lift Ettie over rough place. Would it
not be better not to mind the old mans
folly and idle words, but for their sakes
return good for evil :"
at is very hard, Madame, to keep
my temper. He said this morning,
when he had driven me beside myself
with his lies, that he could make Il
peceabler bargain with Satan himself
than with me- and told him l would
give him chance to do so any time he
wished to change company"
| smiled inwardly and said, "Now go,
Therese. | will see Mr.. Scranton my
self, and use any influence l may have
for you. Aud, Therese," as she was GO
ing out of the door, ''if you would like
it, you may take the store-room keys
and get the children some sweet crack
ers, and at the same time get some gel
atine. do not think gave you enough
yesterday"
She turned and looked up into my
face as | handed her the chatelaine
"Madame, you are too good. | have
not merited this kindness. | thought
perhaps, you were like Mrs. Scranton,
and when | saw that you preferred not
to trust me with the keys | took from
you what my children wanted. | have
often taken crackers and Il cup of jelly
when Ettie was sick"
mo matter, Therese do not think
you will do so again without my per-
mission. You will find too good friend
to want to deceive me.n
She tried to speak, but the words
would not come there was a convul-
sive movement of the throat, and after
standing moment in silence she turned
and slowly walked back to her domain
disarmed and overcome.
L threw my arm up over my head
and meditated how | could best com
pass my wishes and my strong purpose
in behalf of the children. / knew this
was Mrs ScrantOn's revenge, for which
she would say she had ample .justifica.
ton in the violence of the mother.
. knew kind-hearted Mr.. Scranton, who
sacrificed great deal for a quiet life
; was very apt to do as his wife desired
or, rather, to let her rule. But had {
long time before Christmas in which tt
work, and | determined to pay cOur
| never otherwise should have dreamed
, of to the purse-proud Mrs. Scranton.
r fell asleep with my plans playing
through my mind, mingling with Wis
: ions of the lost husband and father
whom, however, l could not include il
any possible future that could picture
for Therese.
| The post that day brought me let
ter from my husband, who was in Sa
r vannah. He gave me an account of hi
! social life there, consisting of such little
S "asides" as a lawyer could find tim,
for, told III of old friends, and spoke
enthusiastically of Creole family b.
; had met at the Telfairs', where he ha,
, dined the previous evening. "The,
a are originally from st. Thomas, wher
D they still own large sugar plantations
7 but they have resided in Europe fo
e some years, and are personally ac
e quainted with every artist or musica
b composer of note in Southern Europe
t Under great bOnhOmie Sefor ROsas car
ries warm heart and much artist
g culture and appreciation. His wife Is
r delicious erecutGnte on the piano an
harp. There is member of the fami
whom they treat as friend and equa1
II though his position has been that of
courier, think, while they we're trav
!, cling. Every thing is referred-I nigh
Y almost say deferred-to Leon. He is i
New Orleans now, so | have not see
Z, him, but they are talking of coming t
IS the 'up-country' for the summer, whic
e they will spend at Madison Springs an
e travelling in the unner mart of the Stat