The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-12-15

wander to, until we mistook your light
for the lighthouse, and pulled up here
No, no; pray keep your seat, do
Really, | must insist"
Nothing could exceed the languiC
grace of the latter part of this speech
nothing except the easy unconscious
ness with which she glided by the offer
ed chair of her stammering, embar
rassed host, and stood beside the open
hearth.
"Barker will tell YOU" she continu-
ed, warming her feet by the fire, " that
am Miss Portfire, daughter of Major
Portfire, commanding the post All
excuse me, childr' (she had accidental
ly trodden upon the bare yellow toes OF
the Princess). Really, did not know
you were there. | am very near-sight-
ed" In confirmation of her statement
she put to her eye dainty double eye
glass that dangled from her neck
+" It's shocking thing to be so near.
sighted, isn't it p
If the shamefaced, uneasy man, to
whom this remark was addressed, could
have found words to utter the thought
that even in his confusion struggled
uppermost in his mind, he would, look
ing at the bold, dark eyes that ques-
toned him, have denied the fact. But
he only stammered "Yes." The next
moment, however, Miss Portfire had
apparently forgotten him, and was
examining the Princess through her
glass.
"And what is your name, child 2"
The Princess, beatified by the eyes
and eye glass, showed all her white
teeth at once, and softly scratched her
leg.
Bob"
Bob? What singular name !"
Miss Portfres host here fastened
so explain the origin of the Princess
title
"Then yOu are Bob ?" (Eyeglass.)
"No, my name is Grey-John Grey"
And he actually achieved a bow where
awkwardness was rather the air of inn
perfectly recalling forgotten habit.
Grey ?-ah, let me see. Yes, GER
tainly. You are Mr.. Grey, the recluse,
the hermit, the philosopher, and all
that sort of thing. Why, certainly
DR.. Jones, our surgeon, has told me all
about you. Dear me, how interesting a
recontre. Lived all alone here for seven
was it seven years ?-yes, | remember
now. Existed quite az naturel one
might say. How odd! Not that
know anything about that sort of
thing, you know. I've lived always
among people, and am really quite a
stranger, assure you. But honestly,
Mr.. i beg your pardon-Mr. Grey,
how do you like it ?"
She had quietly taken his chair and
thrown her cloak and hood over its
back, and was now thoughtfully remov-
ing her gloves. Whatever were the ar
guments-and they were doubtless
many and Observation-Disclosures the ex-
perience-and it was doubtless hard
and unsatisfying enough-by which this
unfortunate man had justified his life
for the last seven years, somehow they
suddenly became trivial and terribly
ridiculous before this simple but prac-
teal question.
"Well, you shall tell me all about it
after you have given me something to
eat. Wewill have time enough; Barker
cannot find his way back in this fog to.
night. Now, don't put yourselves to
any trouble on my account. Barker
will assist"
Barker came forward. Glad to escape
the scrutiny of his guest, the hermit
gave a few rapid directions to the
Princess in her native tongue, and dis
appeared in the shed. Left moment
alone, Miss Portfre took quick, half
audible, feminine inventory of the
cabin. Books, guns, skins, one chair,
one bed, no pictures, and no looking
glass ?' She took hook from the
swinging shelf and resumed her seat by
the fire as the Princess re-entered with
fresh fuel. But while kneeling on the
hearth the Princess CHANGED to look up,
and met Miss Portfire's dark eyes over
the edge of her book
Bob"
The Princess showed her white teeth
"Listen. Would you like to have
fine clothes, rings and beads like these
to have your hair nicely combed and put
up so? Would your"
The Princess nodded violently.
Would you like to live with me and
have them. Answer them quickly
Don't look round for him. Speak foi
yourself. Would you? Hush never
mind now"
The hermit re-entered, and the
Princess, blinking, retreated into the
shadow Of the whale-boat shed, from
which she did not emerge even wher
the homely repast of cold venison
ship-biscuit, and tea was served. Mis-
Porttire noticed her absence. "Yor
really must not let me interfere with
your usual simple ways. Do you know
this is exceedingly interesting to me, SC
pastoral and patriarchal, and all tba
sort of thing. | must insist upon the
Princess coming back; really | must"
But the Princess was not to be founc
in the shed, and Miss Portfre, who the
next minute seemed to have forgotten
all about her, took her place in tn,
single chair before an extemporizec
table. Barker stood behind her, anc
the hermit leaned against the fire place
Miss Portfire's appetite did not come W
to her protestations. For the first time
in seven years it occurred to the hermi
that his ordinary viotual might be i'm
proved. He stammered out somethn,
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