The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1858-07-23

/ ~ bNSii' - 'phSo hA''iN NO ho'N bNNh VI
the road, again she said.
The horses went with tightening speed
they suddenly halted. She rushed into
the house Mr. Leslie followed, she stopped,
she gazed around in mute anguish, she
was in her own room, and it was nearly
10 o'clock.
"Good God! Mr. Leslie, what have
you done! l told you to drive me to the
depot"
" You are just as we'll off here, dear lady
said he
She did not appear to hear him, but
continued-''s so near love and happiness
and SO cruelty torn away. Oh, my husband
my husband / must see him-If had
only gone 1t is too late, too late -
Come back, dearest husband, to see your
Eleanor. My head aches-lct me rest on
your bosom. Such utter helplessness,
such despair and agony cannot bear
If my husband was only here, if l had
only gone to the depot, then | should have
seen him"
She flung herself on the lounge in utter
abandonment Of grief Leslie gently
raised her-wound his arms around her
waist and pressed his lips to hers, and
said, " will be friend to YOU
His act reused her to Consciousness
You friend" she disdainfully repeat
ed, "you who have deprived me Of my
husband, you who have robbed me of all
my happiness. Release me! / would
rather feel the Shiny folds of serpent
around me, than your arms. Go, and
never curse this house again with your
presence
"My pretty lapy, you are mine, now,
mine to do with as please. You prom
ised to marry me, before you die, Mr..
Russell, and | have you safe, now"
eco, fcnd go, or take the consequent
ces," and quick as thought she snatched
a dirk out of his belt and aimed it at his
heart He drew back and the blade only
grazcd his arm.
"You have touch of spirit about you
that like" said he, rushing forward |
had hitherto been an unobscrAcd and ST.
lent spectator. | arose from my scat.
"Charles Leslie" said ], off you wish
to avoid trouble you had better Withdraw.
You see plainly that you are not wanted
here"
"Harriet Wade upon my honor, be-
lievc that we have met before"
did not dcign a reply; and with
mocking bow he went away. Mrs. Rus
sci was completely exhausted, and almost
insensible to all that was around her. She
lay on the lounge and for hours WOO gaze
into my face with fixed look of sadness.
that brought tears to my eyes. watched
with her all night, and towards morning
she sank into an uneasy slumbcr 1t was
not more than fifteen minutes after she
awoke screaming, "my husband, do not
leave me p | went where she was. Is
he gone Z" said she could not answer
her. After a moment she said: ooh,
yes, ! understand and again her face
wore the same expression of hopeless de
spair. Her little boy and girl came run
ming into the room saying, "ma, where is
papaY The poor mother held them to
her and kissed them, whilst she shed
floods of tears. 1t was the first time she
wept since he went away. Will not
papa come soon 2" said they. took the
children on my lap, and told them to
keep very quiet, because their ma did not
feel well. They went out of the room and
in a short time came back looking grieved,
and told me they had looked all over the
house, but could not find pa. ] told them
perhaps he would come back sometime,
and give them some playthings, and their
sorrow was soon forgotten.
A year had nearly passed, and Mrs.
Russell did not appear to take any interest
in anything. She heard Of her father and
mothers death with composure, and as if
she hardly knew what it meant. | dc not
know, but perhaps she would have sunk
under her great grief, but God sent her
another trial. The houso-keeper left us
said she had heard such strange noises
close by her window at night, that she
believed the house was haunted | laugh |
cd at her fears she, however, insisted
that she was right. Some two weeks af
tcrwards, was aroused from my sleep
about midnight, by hearing screams in
Mrs. Russel's room ! immediatel y went
there and found her sitting upright in
bed, her eyes fixed on the opposite corner
of the room. "Therc,' said she, point
ing with her finger, "you will see it
soon" I noticed in that direction, for
the first time, sort of trap door, cut in
the floor, which slowly began to raise, and
a tall figure with black robe, and face
Of uncarthly whiteness, came as beneath
the floor, and with measured tramp,
through the room into the children's,
and the next moment | heard the rum
bling of carriage wheels outside the house.
Mrs. Russell had crouched to the farthcst
corner of the bed, almost speechlcss with
terror. In a few moment she requested
me to look and see if the children were
safe went there and found that the
little girl was gone g will go after her
said the mother. ] told
her that it would be useless TO GO until