The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-04-11
WHAT CAME OF THE FIRE.


WHAT CAME OF THE FIRE.
Uncle Dashaway rode over to Daisy
Lodge in his trim little carryall.
Aunt Hannah was sick, he said had
been ailing for week, and she wanted
me.
''But what shall j do with my guest ?"
/ asked, +" standing out there in the
sunshine, ankle-deep in red clover"
"Your guest L didn't know you
had one.
eyes, my old friend, Blanche Heath
don't you remember her?"
"Blancho Heath / think I do" he
said, hesitatingly, curious, amused
expression in his face, and the color
came to his cheek; THAT wild little
thing who rode Deacon Hides horse
that time-oh, yes, yes
"But, Uncle DASH that was ten years
ago." / said D.; :" she was wild then,
rather. Well, you see l can't leave her,
and / can't send her home.
'Bring her to the parsonage you
must come, you know Hannah has set
her heart upon it.
Ishook my head Blanche had been
my visitor only for two days, and l had
luNlut( lcI lOI IL illOulu. NOtl BIG 80
to the parsonage? would she remember
and here l laughed to myself.
Go suppose | must" | said at
last, land I'll see what L can do with
Blanche"
"All right; I'm off to town. At half-
past three, sharp"-he took out his
great moon faced, silver watch" I'll be
back be ready then pray don't keep
me waiting.
went into the house in some little
trepidation. Would Blanche accom-
pany me? To leave her by herself was
ont of the question.
There had been timc-at least | had
fancied so-when word, a look, from
Uncle Dash had set her pulses bound
ing, but | feared she had never been
favorite of the rector. He had only
seen the wild, thoughtless girl, who sat
under his ministrations only because 1t
was the thing to attend church and be-
have decorously while there. She vexed
him with her merry, thoughtless ways !;
her ready laugh and gay attire were dis
tasteful to him the laugh, because it
was so often out of place the dress, be-
cause he was man of sober notions,
but / sometimes thought he liked her
witching dark eyes, and innocent, ex-
pressive face.
It seemed he did remember her ride
on the deacon's horse, II slow, stupid an
iInal, too old for active work. Blanche
had caught him once i'll the deacon pas
ture, and, after dressing his ears, name,
and tail in the most ridiculous fashion,
with lunches of grass and flowers, and
long rings of pine shavings, she had
sprung upon his back, herself III fantas
tic attire, long, red scarf tied about her
shoulders and waist, her brothers straw
hat on her head, and urged the creature
into a trot. Old Rosinante became
frightened at last it put speed in his
lean bones he began to run, and she
chung to him, terrified and screaming,
until the beast stopped short, right i'll
front of the rector's study window.
Poor Blanche came home crying, and
declaring that she hated ministers of all
sorts; they never make any allowance
for the fun in ones nature in fine, she
was so thoroughly mortified that she
did not go inside the church door for
weeks.
AS entered the sunny little parlor
smiling over the recollection, Blanche
turned round with q questioning glance
How the golden CLEANS rippled all over
her hair-that fine red-brown one rarely
sees save in old paintings-and her eyes
were sweeter and graver than before !!
Twenty-eight was more beautiful than
eighteen.
elf | were a man / should fall in
love with you this minute, j said going
toward her, and kissing her on the fore
head.
of were man, | don't think you d
kiss me that way" she answered, laugh
ing, "but who was it you were talking
with %
"Uncle Dash.
A rosy flush crept along her cheeks.
ooh" she said saucily, 1.-the Rev.
Dashaway Merrifeld f; l have good cause
to recollect him he, doubtless, consld-
cred me the only black sheep In his
flock"
az don't believe it, / remarked,
quietly.
ooh, but he did; and don't wonder
at it, either, when | look back. DO you
remember the day he found my Sunday
school exercise, and what / had written
on the back? do to this day, and it
was Dash, Dasher, Dashed, Dash
over, Dashunder, Dashaway Merri-
field Upon my word, L saw the cor
ners of his mouth curl when he read it,
black as he looked-but what business
had he with such ridiculous name?
know he almost hated me for it in fact,
/ almost hated myself, for / had set the
whole class in giggle, andyou couldn't
go dozen steps after that, any day in
the week but you would hear boy rat
Ting it over at the top of his lungs. oh,
i don't blame him in the least for dis
liking Inc am sure have thoroughly