The true northerner., 1872-01-05

Ranthorpe was acquainted, and it was
the inspiration of true genius when
babe Tom, when from afar he saw the
elder Middlemist come plowing up Pail
Mall, to seize the button of the young
nobleman, detain him in earnest con-
versation about nothing, and whisper 10
him that Middlemist was one OF the
oldest old boys alive-a delightful
character, to be humored in everything
for the sake of the fun to be made out
of him. This procured for Middlemist
his lordship's pleasant and atfable sa-
lutte, and decided the venerable uncle's
destiny.
Old Middlemist reached home beam
ing with delight, wine, pride, and self
glOrification. He was resolved that
Paul must marry Lydia Ranthorpe,
even though, as Mr.. Neetit, in Trollopes
late novel, says so elegantly OF his
daughter, she had nothing but her
smock."
"Paul, my boy |" his uncle exclaimed
that very night, as they were parting at
bed d-time-Paul was returning to town
next day" know the whole affair; l
know it ALL And if you haven't the
spirit to marry that lovely Lydia Ran
thorpe in spite of the world, why,
damme, sir, I'll disown you ~
"But, my dear uncle, have you con-
sidered ?''
"No, sir, / haven't! | won't con-
slider anything And I'm ashamed OF
you to talk of considering in such
case! Marry the girl, sir-run away
with her, if you like-and bring me my
niece, Lydia, here, or never let me see
your face again ~
Paul was too obedient nephew to
demonstrate any longer, although his
conscience little misgave him when,
next morning, his uncle mysteriously
pressed check for handsome amount
into his hand. He feared some trick
must have been played somehow but
when he saw Ranthorpe, the latter,
amidst bursts Of laughter, pledged him
his word that he had never made any
false representation whatever to Theo.
philus Middlemist touching his sisters
place in society, and that he had in
fact, warned the good man against the
marriage. So Paul did not feel bound
to make any further inquiry. He was
weary of waiting, and meant to have
married Lydia at once in any case,
whether his uncle liked it or not; and
his doubts and scruples now had refer
ence not to the question of marriage,
whereon his mind was made up, but as
to accepting his uncle's money to pay
the expenses Of the honeymoon.
There was no need of running away.
Paul and Lydia were quietly married,
and, after short trip in Scotland, Paul
brought his pretty, winning wife to
charm his old uncle. which she did un-
affectedly. Before week was over the
elder Middlemist fairly adored her.
OF course the whole thing came out.
1t was revealed first by Lydia herself,
quite innocently and artlessly and even
in the first moment Of his anger the
old man could not but see that she had
no part whatever in the little comedy.
Tom Ranthorpe took all the blame TO
himself, and exonerated even Paul from
any serious participation in the plot,
which, however, Tom manfully de-
Tended as entirely .justifable in the in
terest of two loving hearts.
"But, sir,' exclaimed the bewildered
Middlemist, "you told me of some
elderly relative who wouldn't consent"
"Don't you see, my dear Middle
mist ?-yourself! | meant yourself all
the time ~
But you led me to think it was her
relative-her father"
"The Right Honorable Lord Ran
thorpe ?" interrupted Tom, with burst
of laughter. No, / didn't, my dear
sir; you led yourself to think it. /
warned you against allowing the thing
to 90 on, and told you you mustn't
blame me for anything that might hap
pen."
There was nothing more to be said,
and old Middlemist made the best of it.
But it was long before he could be re
conciled fully to Ranthorpe, or would
consent to meet Lord Pendennis and
the Earl of Wal rington, and the rest of
that joyous company One day, how
ever, at flower show, some one pointed
out to him the Honorable Lydia Ran
thorpe-the real honorable aristocrat of
Windsor Castle-and he saw lean,
miserable creature, yellow as a guinea,
and angular as Rosinante. He went
home, kissed Mrs. Paul cordially, and
thanked Heaven for what had hap.
pened, adding that it would have only
punished him justly for his mean snob-
bishness if his nephew had really mar.
ried some hideous woman of title who
would have looked down with scorn
and contempt on her husbands poor
old uncle.