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


man he loves from one extravaganza TO
another, the end isn't doubtful"
"That is too idle, father. Neither
nor any one else could make Cavendish
take one step that he thought wrong,
you know very well!' said Anna, with
tremendous dignity.
81 know yon will make him take
some steps that he will think Spanish"
said the old gentleman. "What right
have either of you to want more than
your parents had when they started up
the hill? And as for hlm-a bird must
build his nest before he fills it,"
ooh yes, father, that's all very well"
Miss Anna had replied. But if you're
going to natural history, you should
have your illustration correct. Both
birds help build the nest And for my
part, ] don't know how to do a thing.
You haven't brought me up to know.
couldn't bring my bird straw of my
own picking up p cried she, half sadly,
half detiantly.
"Well, Anna, there's some sense in
that. | didn't know you had SO much.
1t is very true that things should be
equal and if haven't taught you to
do your share, then the blame and
reparation are mine. Now I'll tell you
what" said the worthy old citizen, taxi
| ing his coat tails over each arm out OF
the way of an imaginary fire, "Ill
make you fair proposal. When you
can find little house, with, let us say,
a dining room and kitchen on the first
| floor, drawing-room over that, three
chambers and an attic more than your
mother and had, by great deal. and
a perfect desert for two young people
and q servant to be lost I'M, and Caven-
dish thinks be can furnish it-why,
then ! will make you gift Of the deed
of the house, and the house is at SO
Poncedcleon Place And the worthy
gentleman stepped into the hall before
she could reply, tugged on his Big sur
tout, and, with his gold-headed cane, as
stout Us a policeman's baton, went out
on his rounds.
A little house, with dining-room and
kitchen, drawingroOm over that, three
chambers and an attic! Her palace.
her ormolu and bronzes and carved
worries, dwindled into that! Poor
Anna burst into tears-why, goodness
only knows, unless it was for fear that
she should accept the offer. And then
her cheeks were burning and her nose
was red, and Cavendish was coming III
the evening, and if she didn't want to
have him get tired of her altogether,
he mustn't see her in such a plight as
that; and she ran TO rose-water Tor re-
lief, and then betook herself to q walk
in the sunshine to restore her color and
her spirits.
After all, the poor girl was not alto
gether fool; she was only misled by
injudicious friends and unchecked de
sires AS she walked on, and saw
bright, contented faces of husband and
wife coming from market, and met rosy
little children at their play on the side
walks, she half admitted to herself that
it was possible to be happy even in such
house as 53 POncedeleon Place must
be. At any rate, it occurred to her that
she would not be compromising herself
If she Just walked round and took q
look at it.
There it was--a neat gray brick, with
white facings, a bay window, a balcony
over that. a grapevine over all and
there was quite yard behind, in which
she caught glimpse of pear-trce and
an immense clambcring sweet-brier. 1t
wasn't her palace, to be sure but then
it wasn't so bad, after all. And Just as
she came to that conclusion, whom
should she meet but her father, POM
pously swinging his cane as he paused
to survey it, with q sort Of pride written
on his face, that said he thought if he
was going to do this for his daughter.
he was going to do very we'll for his
daughter. Anna would have liked to
sink into the ground (; and that lofty
and melodramatic method Of disap-
pearance being impossible, then to
sneak down some alley.way but there
was none and so she had to pass the
old gentleman, and they quite laughed
in each others faces as they went their
ways one a good deal encouraged in
his child, and the other something more
light-bearted than her wont. "What
in the world" thought the old gentle
man, " a girl wants to marry and leave
a comfortable home at all for, passes
me. But, at all events, if they will
marry, this looks little hopeful. Per-
haps she isn't the simpleton I've taken
her for. Her mothers been filing her
head with French notions this last ten
years; but this looks as if there were
some Slatterleigh left, after all. don't
know, if find she's really rational, but
might do more-fnd the carpets, or
the piano and book leases. I've no no.
ton she should suffer any more than to
get rid of her nonsense needs. I've no
notion a daughter of mine shall 90
shabby, either. Cavendish is deuced
smart fellow; want to do the hands
some thing by him-all the more be.
cause may be taking him in little in
letting him have the girl at ALL |
don't know, though this looks hope
full"
And as for Anna, she was wondering,
for her part, if she accepted the house,
what under the sun should they furnish
it with. 81 don't believe Cavendish
has more than thousand dollars in the
world" she said. 4" For that endowment
policy for his mother takes about all he
could lay by above expenses. And who
can furnish u house with thousand
dollars, should like to know? Why.
the carpets would cost more"