The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-07-11

mOst. l. gave nuyscii up W ucSpAii.
Little sleep had that night, AS l fore
saw the end of my liberty through the
apparition, whom they called Ger Wes-
ton. Ger heavens, what a name !
In the morning / was agreeably sur
prised to find that the much-dreaded
Ger took no notice of me, and, as the
day wore on, and was still unmolested,
/ began to recover my spirits, and to
hope that after all l should return to
town as unincumbered as left
The second day passed without an
event, and was lulled into blissful Sc
curity was composed almost happy.
1t was evening; we had just joined the
ladies in the drawing-room, and L was
intrenched securely, as l thought, III an
inaccessible corner, when L became con-
scious of very slight perfume and heard
slight rustic. Presently voice which
L recognized said, in winning accents :
81 am glad you are disengaged, Mr..
Jenkinson / want to talk to you so
much, only you are always busy" I'm
abashed, she continued " Mr.. Marston
tells me shat you are very fond of botany
and geology. Are you? L have some
specimens of plants and ore, Thich am
told are rare. wish you wonld inspect
them, and tell me their value, will you
I stammered out that / should feel
pleasure in doing so at an early oppor-
tunity, and then relapsed into silence,
hoping the interview was at an end. Not
so; she drew me into n discussion on my
|, favorite science and sucli is the duplic-
ity of the sex, and so great cause have
/ to dread it, that L was interested and
really amused for an hour and a half.
Pleased at having found woman who
could talk sensibly, L surrendered my
self at discretion, and on the next day
inspected her specimens and declared
their value. BY the end of the week we
were very good friends indeed, and my
only drawback was certain Lieut.
Haughton, who was staying at the house
for the first time. This conceited es-
sence of military humbug insisted upon
joining in our discussions, of which he
knew nothing, and repeatedly interrupt
ed my most telling descriptions by COM
ing unawares upon us, and startling me
by some absurd trick. hated the fell
low, and Ger informed me one afternoon,
as we were searching for rather rare
fern, that he was the pest of her life.
Ere the tenth day had come had be-
gun to reflect seriously. Would not such
companion be desirable? How pleas
ant it was to be able to talk to pretty
woman about the things one likes best
and to be understood How nicely Ger
could help me in my scientific researches
And she was just the sort of girl who
would not have any ridiculous notions
about mans club or anything of that
kind. Yet suppose that she should be
only imulating his interest and counter-
feiting his character? Pshaw [ must
not be caught
One unlucky day-it was Friday, a
day ever hateful to me-the men were
away on some shooting expedition, and
| was left at home in consequence of n
sprained ankle, acquired while procur-
ing some particular wild flowers for
Ger. sat alone after dinner. drank
freely and pondered deeply. l pic
tured myself living in snug country
house with Ger for my wife. l reflect
ed upon mornings spent in delicious
rambles, afternoons in mutual study,
and evenings i'll advantageous converse
ton, | saw that L could stand it no
longer. 1 would find Ger at once and
ask her to be my wife she would ac-
cept, and then / would be happy.
found her in the drawing-room
alone the other ladies went on the ter
race. Fate favored me. But alas |
had not arranged what to say. L had
never heard what men do say under
such trying circumstances. 1 looked
confused and unhappy. Ger glanced
keenly at me, and, with her usual ten
derness, spoke pleasantly to dissipate
my fears. / saw at once that she was
willing. [ gathered courage; APP
preached, took her hand, began, "My
dear Ger, as you are aware, and as you
doubtless know-that is to say, being
cognizant Of" when the door was
opened and i'll bounced the hateful Lieu
tenant Seeing my confusion-I had
bounded half across the room at his en-
trance-he laughed impudently, and
said he hoped he was not intruding.
Ger assured him that he was not, and
the others soon following, my chance
was gone. ] had no other opportunity
all the evening, and L went to my room
baflled. Glorious inspiration-write
letter Yes, letter was evidently the
thing. l could explain the circum-
stances of the case better on paper. l
procured some brandy and water-pen,
ink and paper. / wrote a telling letter
thought of better idea-tore it up
wrote another-blotted it-threw it in
.he fire wrote another-found | had
called her " darling thought that too
familiar-wrote another At last pro-
duced one to suit; but my table was
Uttered and the floor strewed with such
a heap of paper that L was fairly be-
wildered. However, / sealed the mis-
sive up, marked it Immediate" and
left it where my man would see it in the
morning.
/ went to bed more exhausted than
ever had felt in my life.
awoke with splitting headache. /
asked myself the reason. / must have
had more wine than was good for me. 1
reflected on the events of the previous
evening, and my eye fell on the paper
scattered by my bedside. In an instant
there flashed across me the folly / had
committed. rang violently my valet
came. / exclaimed, in stammering
accents, "Did you find letter on my
table this morning?"
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