The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-01-19

Venice christen me? didn't | draw my
first breath on the Bridge of Signs? and
wasn't one of Mile Taglioni's pupils
Go ahead and tell me what Charles said
when he came back from his tramp
about the Ca d. Orc. But never mind
the architecture I'm not building at
present"
had seen Margaret in many strange
moods, but never felt her to be so utter
Nv incorri gible as upon this occasion.
However, ] resumed without appearing
to remark it,
"Charles came in, and said, hastily,
Nell, tell Pedro to get up a nice lunch
just as quick as he can. have brought
an invalid home with me, and if ] can
| shall persuade him to remain while
with US. ! have taken strange fancy
to the fellow, and should like to have
him where we could take little care OF
him. He will certainly die if somebody
don't take an interest in him. So
hurried around, and after little Pedro
and L"
ooh, never mind about the lunch ~
interrupted Mag again, without opening
her eyes, and with little tremble in
her voice, which | could not under
stand. Proceed with the man Ami
mails always interest me more than
food"
You would not call Austin Benedict
an animal if you could see him once"
| replied little Indignantly, and was
about to add that | didn't wish Charles
mixed up with that species either, when
he Ia 10 ha lD,,
and Mag said, irritably:
" | believe that animal thinks | have
nothing to do but to make my lap into
a bed for his convenience. Go on, Nell.
Austin Benedict! Austin Benedict is a
good name. I'll bet my new solitaire
against three cents that his character
was as stony as his cognomen. A man
called Austin Benedict would do what
he considered to be right, if by so doing
it killed him and everybody he was ac-
quainted with! wish you would ring
for some wine, Nell. | am as cold as
death. Don't get up, though-and
please go on"
eyes," | resumed, "you are quite
right about Mr.. Benedict's character. |
believe there is something in names.
But for all that the fellow was dying for
love-"
"A very interesting case" said Mag,
turning deathly pale. "Do you know
the circumstances p and then, with the
slightest perceptible sheer, added, "A
man must be very strong to admit such
thing about himself"
"Oh," answered, it was long
time before we got at the facts in the
case; but one day, when | sat by him,
and we all thought he couldn't last
many hours, he told me the whole
story
"When you sat 10y him, and thought
he couldn't last many hours, he told
you the whole story ~ repeated Mag, in
strange sort of way. did he die p
"No; he rallied again. | answered,
almost out of breath at Mag's behavior.
" 1t seems that he loved with his whole
heart and soul q very beautiful and
much-sought-after young lady. She
pretended to love him. Her parents were
opposed to the match she proposed to
defy her parents. The next news he
receives comes in the form of letter
from her. telling him that she finds she
does not care for him as she supposed,
and asking to be freed from her en-
gagement."
He did receive such letter, did he?
Austin Be-edict did receive such let
err" and Mag arose from her recum-
bent position, and stood before me, pale
as a corpse, but with the light of forty
avenging angels in her eyes. /" | never
wrote the letter ~ she exclaimed. 1t
is a forgery from beginning to end |
Nell Harris, you took care Vt Austin
Benedict in his last hours? ?" And now
the proud head of Margaret Hastings
was buried in my lap.
" | took care of him when he was i'll, -
| replied
"And he loved the woman he believed
to be false TO the last?'
He loved the woman"
"Oh, Nell Nelll what shall | do :?
How can / ever live, now that | know
he died with that cruel impression of
me ?' interrupted poor Mag giving me
no opportunity to explain myself.
" You took care Of him-you made him
comfortable-you kissed him when he
was dying; and Loved and despised,
~
1t was about time for me to insist
upon being listened to; so | said, "Stop
a minute, Mag, darling. did do all
could for Austin Benedict's comfort,
and have kissed him good many times;
but not when he was dying, Mag for
he hasn't passed away yet, unless he
has accomplished that feat to-day, and
and"
What in the world is all this p said
Charles, who had entered softly with
his latch-key.
"Where il Austin ?" | asked, in
whisper; for Mag was so still | didn't
know but that she was dead.
"Here y said the dear fellow, bound
ing forward. lie stopped suddenly at
sight Of the figure at my feet. SIN the
name of the angels, Nell, what is this
and whom have you got there ?''
One little faint cry from Mag, and she
was a dead weight in Austin Benedict's
arms. That was answer enough.
Such day as that was Between
swoons, explanations, and embraces my
mind got to running upon lunatic asy-
lums but the sun set clear, and my
reason remained unobscured. There