The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-12-22


nized the face very we'll | was Mrs.
Ray, tall, angular.looking person, with
sallow face, very much powdered.
Under a coquettish French cap with
rose-colored ribbons, | saw few grey
hairs.
~ must find out better dye" l
thought.
My dress of sea.green silk swept the
velvet carpet as walked. Books with
costly bindings lay about, and pictures
sweet bits of summer harvest fields,
or storm. beaten coasts, or Roman skies,
with grey ruins. But looked at none.
| only paced the room with restless
steps, till door opened. A handsome
man, in full evening dress, loked in.
He hardly glanced at me, as he but
toned one of his lavender kids by the
light.
"Well, by.by, Catkins,' he said, care
lessly.
"Out again, George" l said, dis
mally.
Eyes. Why not? n
sob, am so lonely And this is
Christmas night"
"All the more reason for fellows
being jolly" he said.
"And some reason, | hope, for his
wife's being jolly" | answered, trying
hide heavy heart under smile, and,
going up to him, put my arm around
him and kissed him.
"Oh, how deuced atfectionate you
are, Catkins y he said, waiting hand
kerchief, heavy with odor of violet,
over his face.
We've only been married a year," l
said, pitifully. "Other husbands al
ways kiss their wives when they leave
them"
Please not call me that odious
name," | said, growing angry. 4
should think you could remember that
year ago you had not cent to bless
yourself with"
Nor a wife to bless me-" he an
swered, gaily, with careless smile.
Kathleen Mavourneen, the grey dawn
is breaking"
Where are you going?' asked,
pettishly.
81 go where glory waits me-" he
answered; sin other words, to the
club"
"Where punch and cigars wait you,
George. l shall join club
"Do! A Sorosis."
{" l am so lonely l don't know what
to do with my time"
"Count your laces, and look over the
cashmere shawls. By.by."
And he was gone. How handsome
he had looked in the full blaze of light
from the gas What splendid deep,
deep blue eyes what golden brown
curls All me how my heart ached as
pictured him! And he was so cold to
me Had he Enthusiastically
shrank from my kiss? He never
spent an evening at home now
never. could sit in my palatial rooms
alone, and sigh my time away. What
did | care for the splendors to be
loved was more precious than all. If |
could buy that-the love of one true
heart-how gladly would | give all for
that pearl of price Oh, miserable
! fate He'll on earth to be an unloved
wife.
Ny foot touched something in my
hurried walk. 1t was cigar-case-a
handsome Russian.leather one with
Georges monogram in gilt letters on the
back. | recognized one of the presents
had lavished upon him, and turned it
over idly in my hand-opened it as
idly. Chance or Providence-which ?
All, how my heart beat There lay a
dainty little note on rose-colored paper,
and some faint Indian scent rose up,
with sickening fragrance TO my nostrils.
| opened the billet. This was it, and
the date was the 24th:
:" My DARLING-You will come, my
own love, this evening. | am sure of it,
though you said last night you feared
your Tabby wouldn't let you off. Think
of the eternity it will be to me if you
stay away. Would | were with thee
every day and hour Christmas Eve,
too! The bracelet, beautiful as it is,
will not do instead of your own dear
self. The very thought of seeing you
makes my heart throb. Oh, my angel
what terrible fate has built up this
wall between US We belong to each
other, spite of the worlds laws-do we
not? We have higher law. We can
legislate for our hearts? Your own
ADELE"
read this over twice, and found my.
self gasping aloud-a horrible choking
sound, at which | grew frightened
when | heard it. cam | going to die ??
| said. "No, | will not die and leave
him to happiness with his guilty love
Oh, George Georger' And it seemed
as if the anguish of death entered my
SOUL loved this man, this unworthy
wretch, so much.
held the billet crushed in my hand
till the nails entered the flesh, yet !
felt no pain. Every feeling of sense
was paralyzed, but the terrible heart
pangs went on. knew now why he
could not spend the evening with me
| pictured this Adele-a rose blond
perhaps; fresh, with golden hair.
looked at my face in the glass again
where time had written wrinkles. All
that way madness lay.
How many hours did | pace that
room, wonder, the gas burning at full
height, kindling the amber curtains and
rose-strewn carpet as for long feast
All, feast of apples of Sodom He
came at last saw the ormulu clock
pointed at two. The door into the
hall stood ODen and he looked in. no.