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

dreaming III uer blYut. IL stTuCh hihi
with a certain impotence that no man
had ever found words that would do 1t
perfect justice. To all it is, at first,
something new under the sun.
He hid it closely from Rachel, how.
ever, and grew more ceremonious and
dull. Rachel looked at him sometimes
with the quizzical smile which the first
words she had ever heard him speak had
provoked.
She sat by the bed side one day, while
Shirley stood in his favorite position,
holding up the door post. Suddenly
Miss Temperance raised her head from
the pillow and stared wildly from one
to the other. "Arthur, you love her II
she almost screamed; 81 see it in your
| eyes. You never looked at me like
that. Rachel has weaned you away from
me I"
A flush rose to Rachels pale cheek,
and Shirley hailed it with big heart
throb. Then he tried to sootho Miss
Temperance with all the fond words he
could think of.
Have you any idea why she calls me
Arthur" Shirley asked Rachel when he
saw her alone.
eyes" said Rachel, with the flush
again in her cheek.
Don't tell me if it pains you.n
"You may as we'll know it. Miss
Strong was engaged to Arthur Gordon,
my father, and, while she was i'll with a
| fever like this, my mother came to take
care of her and won away her lover. |
believe, at least hope, she had no idea
of what she was doing, till Miss Strong
saw the change in his feelings and re-
leased him. My father thought she did
not mind it, and had never really cared
for him, but my mother knew better
how strong minded women suffer. While
my father lived they were all on appar-
emily good terms (that was part of Miss
Temperatures pride), but as soon as he
died she forbade my mother to come
into her sight, and dread her becoming
conscious again, lest she will transfer the
enmity to me-"
"She could never do that" said Shir-
ley, eagerly,
"Why not?"
Because" stammered Shirley.
"That is woman's reason"
Arthur Arthur !" screamed Miss
Temperance from the bedroom. "Don't
be making love to Rachel in my very
hearing. Come in here, both of you"
They obeyed her silently.
Now, Arthur, look at me. Can you
lay your hand on that shifty heart of
yours and say to me in truth and sober
ness that you are not in love with Ra-
chel?"
Shirley hesitated. He forgot that it
it was not in his own name that she
adjured him. He thought only of his
devouring love for this second Rachel.
"Thats enough" said Miss Temper
ance, falling back pale and trembling.
Before either could speak to her the
wild look was gone from her face.
"Shirley, boy, what was saying to you.
will take the broth now, if it is burnt ::
you did the best you could"
Rach ell had slipped noiselessly out of
her sight.
You have been in this bed whole
week." said Shirley, kissing her thin
cheek, though he felt his heart sink
within him at the prospect of Rachel
being driven away by Miss Strong's hat
red of her mother.
"Who has taken care of me? / have
had an uncomfortable otion Of ghost
lowering about me-for Rachel's death
was in the paper-I saw it with my own
eyes,"
Rachel's daughter has been here
since the first day. You would have
died but for her."
81 wish had, rather than have been
kept alive by one of that treacherous
brood. Rachel's daughter, thin, col
orless girl, with eyes deep as wells, who
would not do any harm for conscience's
sake, but will take your life in her quiet
way, smiling family at everybody all the
while"
"Rachel's daughter has done nothing
worse than to keep yeur house and
nurse you night and day for week."
said Shirley severely.
80 Shirley, my boy, son of my old
ager' cried Miss Temperance in an
agonized tone. have lost you. Ar
thur said those very words of her moth
err. You have grown to love her."
Yes, l have" burst out Shirley,
with the force of torrent breaking
bounds. "She is the one woman of all
the world to me, and none shall say an
i'll word of her in my hearing"
"Mr. Shirley, you are beside your
SELF" said Rachel, selling his arm.
"Think Of her weakness. Would you
kill her with hard words? / am going
away at once, Miss Strong, and l will
never come again until you send for me.
I hope you will do me the justice to be-
lieve there has been no love. making over
your sick-bed. This is the first word or
sign that Mr.. Shirley has given Of his
love for me-"
She went out quickly, and Shirley's
quick ear heard her mount the stairs.
He gave the quieting draught to his pa
tent which had been left for her to take
when she returned to consciousness.
When Rachel came down Shirley
met her in the hall She was again
i" the girl in grey" with her bag in her
hand.
@ If yoa 60 away go with you," said
Shirley desperately.
"No," said Rachel, "your place is
here. If we belong to each other we
shall meet again"
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