The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1877-06-22


was already one day in advance of
them.
All incentive b excitement being
gone, the family at once subsidized into
mere human beings shorn Of the
Transforming destinations ot the draw
ing room
Mrs. Garnet spent hours on her
plantation directing aud supervising,
her only overseer being one of her
valued aud trusty slaves.
Adelaide turned her attention to her
spring wardrobe which had lately ar.
rived from Cincinnati, and busily
picked to pieces whatever did not al
together suit her fastidious taste.
Juliet was content with whatever
was ia store, and when not keeping
her mothers accounts, or writing bu.
siness letters for her, found employ.
ment in books aud embroidery.
Mya was always Flooding over
some new stitch or pattern which her
sisters patiently taught her, but never
actually finished any thing. Jus. now
her chief ambition was to embroider
an altar.cloth for the church ut Fort
Semple, which was decidedly ritualist.
ic in its tendencies. She read moth
ing except devotional books.
Guy spent hour. in the sitting
room teazing Adelaide, who was SEN
sitive and sulky, or reading aloud
from her favorite Ledger. or merci.
lessly prying into every possible re-
pository Of secrets on the place. She
never, by any chance employed her
white fingers except at the piano.
With the restless curiosity Of idleness
she dived into every magazine and
newspaper, culling love-stories from
the one, and witticisms aud anecdotes
from the other. Her powers Of reas-
oning were not poor, and with more
systematic training she might have
become n distinguished woman. As
it was she was creature ofchameleon
moods. swayed by whatever impulse
seized her. To me she was most at.
tractive when, with the light, free
grace of child, she romped with the
magnificent brute that always attended
her footsteps.
My own time was divided by such
duties and pastimes rs seemed most
wise or agreeable. Soon after the de-
parture of the guests, Mrs. Garnet
had summoned me to private con-
versation in her dressing.r, ON. Here
she inquired infinitely into the circum-
stances attending my education, and
also. the illness and death Of my pa
rents. She concluded the in tervlew
by saying:
"Helen, though not a kinsman, |
have right to advise and direct your
course while under my roof You
have been here now some days and !
find your disposition reserve d and
your temper impatient of restraint.
say nothing of your unfortunate pro-
pensity for scenes, because ! trust the
example of my own children will cure
you of this romantic folly. But |
wish YOU tn he useful in domestic
matters whenever occasion requires,
and tn make yourself, of ccurse, rs
contented as you can
To this unieeling speech ] could on.
" reply, IL will obey you, madam,
rs far rs ] can" She had been stand
ing, aud now withdrew after looking
at me steadily rs ] confronted her, and
left the door open for me to follow.
From this date the days went on
with monotonous regularity. ! ell.
deavored 10 be agreeable to my new
companions, but with some of them !
knew could never have II feeling in
common. There was news Of the
outside world; and frequently the I'M
couth, ignorant neighbors dropped in
whether welcome or not.
Policy demanded that Mrs. Garnet
should treat them with courtesy; but
her daughters never condescende,l To
appear.
There wa, one member Of the
household whose position was very
false one. This was carpenter nam
ed Mant His education had been Of
the first order, but his utter lack OF
ambition had permitted him to drift
beyond the pale of society to earn his
living by manual labor. Mrs. Garnet
needed some such adjunct on her
premises and engaged Joseph Mant to
fill the position. lie lived, il is true,
but | could see that the man, nature
craved something better, something
higher than the planning bench. lie
was not admitted Ia he table with the
Young ladies, and never entered the
parlor; but at night when the grand
piano, or the s"iier guitar rang forth
melody On the air, ! often SAW him 90
quietly To the piazza, and sit down,
with hi. cigar, rapt listener.
This man ventured to al iress some
nu.st,nus IA ma nm. luy as stnnd