The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-04-25


merry old fellow, who had spent the
meridian OF his days in the ups and
downs of ocean Efsc, and who had now
settled down with competent fortune
to enjoy himself as best he could. He
loved life for tho joys it gave him, and
he was never more happy than when he
felt that he was imparting happiness to
others,
"Lizzy, said the old man, who had
been regarding the fair girl for full ten
minutes, what are you doing with that
book ?"
"Book !" repeated Lizzy, looking up
from page of advertisements. ''Oh,
I'm just looking it over"
Oper, is it ?" returned the old man,
with a merry sort of twinkle in his
eyes. you've been looking at the
same page for the last ten minutes. All !!
I'm afraid, there's something else on
your mind besides books :"
Eyes, your kindness in giving me q
home," responded the fair girl, with a
bright smile upon her face. That
rests upon my mind.
"My fddieStick," uttered the old
man. Il believe you were thinking OF
that young"
Capt. Simpson said no more, for at
that moment Lizzy sprang from her
chair and clapped her hand over his
mouth, uttering, as she did so
"Stop, sir, shan't allow you to take
liberties with my private affairs, even
though l am for the present dependent
upon your bounty"
A moment after the laughter-loving
girl had taken her hand from the old
mans mouth, he gazed atfectionately
into her face, and then, in low, MUIR
muring tone, half to himself, he uttered:
"Ah, the man who gets you won't
want money to make him happy y
Lizzy might have made reply to his
honest piece of hattery, had not SER
want ut that moment announced Messrs.
Timothy and Edward Barbour, but as
the name of the latter struck upon her
ear, the old man thought the small hand
which had been transferred from his
lips to his shoulder trembled rather
more than was its wont, and another
twinkle, more roguish than the first,
sparkled in his eyes.
The young gentlemen entered the
room, and were received by the old man
with that kindness which marked the re-
ccption of all his friends, while the
young ladies expressed an equal pleas
ure in their visit, though they showed it
somewhat differently. Arabella paraded
herself magnifcently, smiled bewitch-
ingly, and did not fear to speak her
pleasure in words, while Lizzy, with
feeling too deep for outward show, only
blushed as she received Edwards "good
evening"" and then resumed her seat at
the work table.
The evening had passed half away.
Mr.. Timothy Barbour and Arabella had
been saying all sorts of fine things about
music, poetry, prose, theatricals, etc,
etc, while Edward had spent most of
his time in n conversation with Capt.
Simpson. The old man talked of ships,
storms, rocks, and foreign ports, and
anon he would listen to some of his
young friends remarks upon business
matters, such rs stocks, stores, and
markets. Lizzy, all the time, remained
ar almost silent member of the social
company.
Vow Capt. Simpsons parlors were
very long. Timothy and Arabella were
by the street windows, and at the other
end of the apartments there were also
windows which overlooked the garden,
said windows being situated in deep,
tapestried alcoves. At length Lizzy
Florence arose from her seat by the
table and went to one of these back
windows, where she seated herself upon
an ottoman. Why she should have done
this it is almost impossible to tell, for
the ottoman in that recess was not half
so comfortable n seat as had been the
easy-chair by the fire she had left. She
could not have gone there to enjoy the
garden scenery, for everything was COW
cred with snow, nor could she have gone
there to look at the moon and stars, for
the thickly falling snow-fakes entirely
hid them from view. The next move
ment was made by old Simpson, who,
without word of farewell, put up his
helm and sailed out of the room.
Edward gazed about him for a mo-
ment after he was thus left alone. A
projection of the Moorish arch that
divided the parlors hid Arabella and his
brother from view, but an accidental
glance upon the surface of tell-tale
mirror revealed to him the solemn fact
that Mr.. Timothy was most ardently
pressing to his lips the fair hand of the
belle. Perhaps this circum-
stance afforded to Edward an example,
for, with sudden impulse, he started
from his chair, and went to the recess
where sat Lizzy Florence. Tremblingly
he seated himself by her side, and,
seeming to follow the plan he had in
view, he took one of her hands unhesi-
tatingly within his own.
Miss Florence" he said, his heart
futtering the while as though it would,
if possible, prevent his utterance, "par-
don me if put to you question upon
the answer to which may depend much
of the happiness of my earthly future.
Lizzy made no reply; she let her
hand remain a prisoner, and she trem-
bled violently. Edwardlgained courage.
and his heart stilled to state of anxious
he continued
Something tells me that the dearest
wish of my heart will not be crushed.
When first | saw you looked upon you
as one worthy of even heavens love.
Your society has been to me bright
hour of sunlight and Joy, and would
ask that that hour might be extended
my life's pilgrimage. l love
49,, 4 ;,,., 18th N Gr,,, opJ orJapt love