The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-06-20

Having thus ascertained that these
two young people were desperately in
love with onej another, Bertram no
longer gave himself the trouble of pay
ing so asslduous court to Miss Lund,
and cultivated the acquaintance of Ora
ham, who was too much man of the
world to show reserve which might be-
tray jealousy, if he felt any, which is
doubtful. The two men had not CHANGED
to meet often, but they had been thrown
together some two years before in the
settlement of a domestic matter in which
Graham behaved i'll "A manner calculated
to excite Bertram's esteem, and he was
inclined to like the man who knew bet
ter of him than most people did. For
our loves and friendships depend quite
as much upon men and women's opinion
of ourselves as upon their own intrinsic
merits.
They breakfasted Mt the same little
table they strolled afterward in the
garden, smoking they also consumed
their last cigars at night in company,
and waxed confidential. At least, the
one who had something to contide did
it, and Bertram learned that Graham
was on the point of going out to Africa,
TO shoot big game.
The other visitors at Spa made to-
tally different arrangement for the young
man, and decreed that he was about to
marry the lively widow forthwith. Mrs.
Cracket announced the forthcoming
event to Millicent Lund as an ascer-
tanned fact, and the young lady, believ-
! ing it, went mad. / do not mean that
she required straight-waistcoat, or
put wild flowers in her hair, or sang
scraps of songs, or danced with her
shadow. She did not even show any
emotion before Mrs Cracket and the
| gossips, but smiled and remarked that
she supposed it was n good match ; for
she was not of an hysterical nature. But
! her mind was for the time unhinged, for
all that and she was quite capable of
doing some desperate thing which So
ciety would have brought in temporary
insanity. 1t was quite true that she had
broken with Graham, but then he had
no business to marry anyone else, etc.
How could she appease her resentment;
how prove that she did not care one iota
for the man she had once been betrothed
to? If she could only take the initia-
tive, that would be better still. No one
can throw off the restraints convention
ally imposed by their fellow-creatures
with impunity; if Milly Lund had not
INDUCED her tastes for independence and
originality TO such an extent if she had
had any experienced friend of her own
sex in whom she had confidence, to adj
wise her, she would never have been
guilty of writing, on sheet of lemon
colored note-paper LET me see you
o-morrow-M. L." and dropping it,
with her handkerchief, ut the Redoubts,
when only Bertram was near enough to
pick it up. The wisp of paper was not
addressed to any one in particular that
was the only shred of prudence she
showed; but then she gave it almost
with her own hand, which was very
shocking.
of Graham had known that / had
this in my pocket he would hardly have
hidden me such II friendly goodnight y
said Bertram, on examining the note
before going to bed. And then he put
it carefully away in his pocket book.
When he called at Millicent's lodgings,
he found her alone, not even Miss Corney
being present. She had wild, excited
cheek and directly the door was closed,
she stepped hurriedly toward him.
Do you know why L have invited
you here % she asked. Bertram looked
as many volumes as he could, and bowed
discreetly.
"Esperansa :" said she, turning
away
what !" cried Bertram. "My SYM
pathies were true; you are really"
" Instead of throwing himself at her
feet, Selling her hand, and calling her
by her Christian name, as he ought to
have done, Bertram said, in musing
tone: Curious l was never at ball
in Brussels in my life :"
ooh !" cried Millicent, shrinking
away, covering her face with her hands,
and shedding tears of bitter shame and
humiliation.
" hope you will forgive me-" Bertram
continued =" L had no idea you would
believe my rhodomontade, which was
only made up at the moment for fun.
Pray do not be distressed; it is pioue
which has impelled you to listen to the
suit of SO unworthy an individual if it
were otherwise, | should indeed esteem
myself the most fortunate of men. AS
it IS, it is happy that l am neither
needy adventurer nor an INSCRIPTIONS
lover, or perhaps you might have been
hurried into marriage which would
have proved the misery of your life
and Graham would be eaten by lions,
Rugged to death by gorillas, stamped
out by elephants, poisoned by snakes
and quinine, and-and all sorts of
things. By-the-bye, do you know that
he is of to the Cape next month ?"
Millicent was too much overwhelmed
by appreciation of the position she had
placed herself in to reply; so Bertram
went on:
They have made mp story about
his engagement to Mrs. Geylass. Alb
surd If he cannot marry one lady, / |
am certain he will never take another.
unless, perhaps, an Ashantee. Not even
for pique. 1 do wish, dear Miss Lund. |
that you would make friend of me,
and tell me the real cause of offense in |
Graham. Do not think me curious and
impairment only ask because 1 have
a suspicion that l might be able to re-
move some false impressions. / was
left trustee to a young lady, n cousin of |