The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-02-23

Strong was able to sit in her arm chair
and knit little protest. He was walk
ing nervously up and down the room,
"a his father used to walk the deck,
whe nhe met her wisfful eyes.
"My boy" she said gently.
ats of no use staying here" he said,
bending his cheek down to hers. II
YOU can spare me now I'll make that
visit to Lennox."
"You are going to Rachel3'
81 wish | were, but | have no idea
where she is"
Did she give you no address ?"
"No."
"She must be either NOR or less than
woman to hear you say you loved her
and yet 60 away without giving you a
chance to say it again"
"She said she would come back when
you were willing to receive her."
az doubt she's more like Arthur
than that wishy-washy mother Of hers.
Is she pretty, Shirley"
~ don't know; | never thought OF
it," said Shirley, beginning to walk up
and down again.
Miss Temperance raised her eyebrows
till they were nearly lost in her hair
but she said no more Of Rachel, and
made no objection to Shirley going
away next day. He was no sooner gone,
however; than she drew little slip OF
paper from her knitting basket, and,
after studying long time, knitting all
the while, she wrote letter to Rachel.
The latter had written her address and
stuck it on Miss Strong's knitting
needl es, knowing that she would soon
find it in that spot, while it would be
safe from Shirley.
On the third day Rachel walked
quietly into the familiar sitting room
and offered her hand to Miss Temper
ance, who glared at it over her specta-
cles as if it had been new kind Of liz
ard, but took it nevertheless.
81 sent for you to ask question or
two. Do you like Bombay Shirley ?"
dyes"
"Do you mean to marry him ?"
ayes, if he asks me-"
"With or without my consent?"
dyes"
"One thing more. Do you think your
mother did right in enticing your father
away from me?"
Rachel's face, which had been smiling
brightly to all the other question, Grim.
soned painfully. "My mother suffered
| deeply. 1t is not for me to blame her.
| Her last words were an entreaty to you
to forgive her."
You are no beauty yourself, Rachel,
and if some other woman stole Shirley
away from you could you forgive her."
Cd" Perhaps not but if she were in
her grave l think / might possibly
like his children; only because they
were his"
You may as well take off your
things and stay awhile" said Miss Tenn
perance, with sudden change in her
every day manner.
II WILL" said Rachel, simply. And,
with no more words, these two women
adopted each other.
Shirley soon came home, because he
found all other places equally rksome.
Miss Temperance greeted him warmly,
and kept his attention till she heard
Rachel's door open above.
ooh! / sent for the girl, Shirley. |
forgot to mention it before"
"What girl? You dor't mean Ra-
chel ?"
"Of course / mean Rachel. Who
else p Miss Temperance took refuge
in her kitchen before Rachel dawned
upon Shirley's glad eyes.
When she opened the door again,
with great hustle, to call them to din
ner Rachel was saying:
"But, Mr. Shirley, you have scarcely
known me fourteen days yet. You take
too much for granted"
"The seven last days have been as
long as the seven last years to Jacob
when he waited for that other Rachel"
Rachel laughed merrily.
80, Mr.. Shirley! you have certainly
seen the ghost of Metellus."
"She's sitting at least three feet away
from that foolish boy" thought Miss
Temperance. "She begins as she can
hold out; and, after all, she's Arthurs
daughter. 1t might be worse"