The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-11-21
"I tried that, Suke, and twas no

Wa'al, now, s'pose we let the past
take care of itself and see what the
present has got to say" broke in Suke
again. "Here comes Mrs. Culvert
now. Brace it up like good girl, and
tell the whole story. Put yourself out
side of your story. Don't think any
thing about what she will think Of you,
but how much comfort you can give her
by telling her how her boy came to leave
his home"
Suke was an incorporating philoso-
pher. She might have assured the poor,
trembling girl of kind reception, but
she meant she should perform this ac-
ton simply because it was her duty.
Keep a stiff upper lip, Evy," con-
tinued she, "because it is right Here
she comes now," and poor Evy, who up
to this time had been meditating some
means of escape, stood now face to face
with the woman whom, above all others,
she dreaded to meet"
"Why, Eva, how do you do, dear ?"
and the lady's voice had strange some
thing in it that had been missed for q
long, long time. 81 called at your
house just moment ago, child, to in
vite you to spend Thanksgiving with us.
We may not be very gay party, but
we shall try to be very thankful and
happy"
Was it sob from the pantry that
made both women turn their heads in
that direction If so, it was speedily
swallowed for just then Suke appeared
with huge pan of milk, apparently en-
tirely absorbed in getting the vessel to
the table without spilling its contents.
=" L cannot spend Thanksgiving with
you, Mrs. Culvert, replied Eva, trying
hard to steady her voice at least you
won't want me to after tell you some
thing. Mrs. Culvert, I drove your boy
away from his home -
For moment there was no sound
heard except Eva's suppressed sebs.
She had told the whole truth in as
short way as possible F.; and now, with
her hands covering her face, stood like a
culprit awaiting her sentence.
"You, Eva, you I" and Mrs. Culvert's
voice expressed all the establishment she
felt. " You ?" she repeated, as if half
dazed by the revelation. est down
beside me, my dear little girl, and tell
me all about it. Don't you know it will
be great comfort for me to find rea-
son for my sons strange departure :?
Why haven't you told me before ?"
"Oh, don't ask me that, Mrs. Gull
vert-don't, please. Twas very wicked
l see now just how selfish / was.
But"
"But let that go, and get to bust
ness, broke in Suke. ave amt none
OF us that's got such clear record in
the past that we can afford to have much
raking done"
"You are right again, Susan, re-
piled Mrs. Culvert, fervently. "Now
tell me all about it, Eva, my dear, and
remember all the time that shall not,
can not, blame you, no matter how bad
it is"
Mrs. Culvert drew Eva's little hand
into hers, and the girl commenced
"Stephen loved meat least he said
SO, and l always believed him-and l
loved him. This commenced before he
went to college even. We wrote friend
ly letters all through these four years,
and when he graduated he asked me to
marry him. This L refused to do. He
kept entreating me to allow him to
speak to my father, and this l wouldn't
hear to. y
"And why, Eva" interrupted Mrs.
Culvert, if you loved him %
"That's just it," replied the girl,
naively. 1t was just because l loved
him that L wouldn't hear to it. There
was too much in Stephen Culvert to be
allowed to rust out on his fathers farm.
He knew there was plenty and to spare,
and home was pleasant, and love was
sweet, and he hadn't energy sufficient
to bestir himself as l thought he ought.
There isn't money enough in the world,
Mrs. Culvert, to tempt me to marry an
idle man.
Yankee doodle, doodle doc - sang
Suke, trying loaf of cake with a
broom-cor
"Well," continued Eva, matters
grew very uncomfortable, and Thanks
giving Day we had almost quarrel.
This happened in your parlor, Mrs.
Culvert, and was just after dinner. He
tainted me with not loving him. had
grown tired of this kind of talk, and
told him that / never would engage
myself to any man who had not a trade
or profession that L had sense enough
to know that love could not always oc-
cupy his whole attention; and ended
in telling him that [ was ashamed of
him. These were the last words he
said to me Eva Benton, when you
see or hear from me again L shall either
be the man you are anxious to marry, OF
worthless, drunken vagabond. On
your head be the responsibility ; and
with this he marched directly out of
the house..
ave have both erred, Eva, in oui
way of dealing with our trouble more
than you, because / was so much older
but that can't be helped now. Kiss me
and promise that you will spend to-
morrow with us"
Eva promised.
clark - said Mrs. Culvert, listening
intently, and drawing her companion
close to her side. "Do hear what Susan
is singing Did you ever know voice
to express so much ?"
"That is what she was singing wher
came in. Don't you know, Mrs. Cul
vert, that that is Stephens favoritt
anthem 2"
40 go your way into his gates with
thanksgiving, and into his courts with
praise, rang out Suke from the porch