The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-12-08

bay, and there was delightful vista all
the way through, and at Bella's house
there was slight projection which
must make the vista perpetual pos
session of the front parlor. And what
little gem of house it was AS Anna
turned her head from side to side of the
pretty parlor she almost confessed to
herself that it was really cozier and
pleasanter than palace, though she
shivered Immediately afterward with
apprehension, as if the mere thought
were half pledge. And what a darling
little maid, in white bib and tucker,
not ten years old, had let her in, and
now came to her side and said Mrs.
Vining would be down directly! Anna
could have kissed her, but for her fears
of the effect of such an act upon the
discipline of the household. Perhaps,
she said, they had canaries trained to
draw the water, and educated mice in
the pantry, and learned fleas for the
errands.
ooh, Bella I" said she, as Mrs. Vining
entered, and forgetting all formality,
ado you believe | could find such a
quaint, delightful little maid p
vi, AllHd SulO but oIAitl. ~ Hui
dred of them. She is only the cook s
daughter who has her living and her
tiers for waiting on door and table.
And then, at the simple little confess
sion, it flashed on Anna that here was
the person for her confidence aud her
consolation, and she would swear her TO
truth on the bones of all her grand
mothers. and then learn if, being mar
ried on nothing, she had ever regretted
! it. And out came the whole of poor
Annals story : and when she had told
it she blushed for shame, for, translated
into plain words, there seemed to be
nothing of it except that she did not
love her lover well enough to do with
out luxury for his sake.
But Bella did not look at it in that
way at all. Her heart was swelled with
sympathy. "Regret it?" she cried,
with flushed cheeks, and quivering
with eagerness to add another martyr
to the fire. "Oh, regret it! Why |
never knew what happiness was before
OH, never, never! And as for the
nothing part, the income-why, it's just
like the parable of the loaves and fishes.
and Charles freely admits that there is
more TO spare now than there was in
the old times when he only gave me
gloves and bonbons and took me to con-
certs. He saves it in his clothes alone,
my dear. Oh, you don't know! We
keep house together, we do indeed,
almost-yes, almost for what it cost him
once TO board alone. And ! knit his
stockings and make his shirts and re-
seat his trowsers and bind his coats,
and when it isn't to be done any more
sell his old clothes for ground glass
vases
"Oh, well, then, Bella" said her lis
tener, in comical solemnity, otis of
10 use my talking TO you, because
don't know how to knit socks and
make shirts and seat trousers and
don't want to know, for I'm very sure
it would never pay in the world, if had
to slave after that fashion,
"Slavel' said Bella. Why, it's mere
happiness-in the evening, when he's
reading to me. Sometimes then, when
the storm is all wild and white outside,
and the air is so still and soft inside,
with the shade on the gas. and | look
at him in the ring Of the light, and is
OF his pipe curl up, and it all is so de.
lightful, so secure, say to myself, This
is our grave we are in heaven oh
how can | be telling You so much Only
that want you to be just as happy ~
Perhaps the little creatures ecstasy
softened Anna the least atom in me
world more.
Well, it may be all very nice-if
you like it," she admitted. But there
it's of no use for me to speak, even.
wonder should make such fool of
myself! ! don't suppose Cavendish
! has more than thousand dollars in all
the world to begin with. That might
get Kidderminster and an oil.cloth .
but as for any thing more"
Now, Anna dear, as I've been so
open with you, might as well tell all
the rest" cried the impulsve Bella.
Just come over the whole house with
me, and let me show you every thing
and then you shall guess how much it
all cost, and | will tell you the solemn
! truth"
So over the house the little process.
sion walked. Not much of walk, by
anyway, oibCc ~ tllt tOp vi tHt second
staircase there was a partition and
Bella confessed to Anna that the upper
stories were rented to another young
family, who used the door opening on
the alley, and had no more commune
cation with them than any other house
hold. You see it saves us half the
rent" said Bella, land so we can put
that by toward the rainy days. and She
opened the door of the remotest room
the servants room. Anna glanced
IN, and saw straw mating, painted
pine, copper-plate counterpane and cur
tains, Autograph of the Virgin of the
Veil above the bed. Neat, if not allur-
ing. The next room was the spare
chamber. Straw mating again, with a
large square of bordered Brussels in the
centre, handsome black walnut bed.
stead and bureau, great armchair
covered with silk dmity, some straw
chairs and and straw lounge, white
book.muslin curtains tied up with blue
ribbons, a toilet.table where some shin
ing blue stuff was draped and huted
| underneath the same muslin n Parian