The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-01-09
Solomon" 1 said, growing very cold

and uncomfortable under his gaze, it's
getting chilly for you to be out"
He did not answer that, and so pres
emily went cheerfully on "Tve been
you remember where 1 said / was 60
ing"-I stopped again here. did not
want to confess where had been If he
did not know, and / did not want to tell
another falsehood if he did know. So l
put it to him in that way, intending to
be guided by his answer. 1t was so
long in coming that / took heart OF
grace to try another tack. "Where
have you been, Sol?"
Another pause, and then he answered,
just in his old, slow way
"Tve been at home expecting you,
Jacob waiting for you until l could
wait no longer"
"Tm sorry for that" 1 said, feeling
little cheerier to hear him speak.
81 would not have been so late only
had to go round by Blagly on business,
dare say you notice that I'm coming
from there now. 1 only went on bust
ness, Sol.
He made another pause before he an
swered, and though it was trick of
| Solomon's and always had been, / felt
myself growing uncomfortably cold
as parsons should ON Sunday nights?
But the icy chill turned all at once to
clammy heat when Solomon asked me
quietly, and without turning his steady
gaze from my face, How much of that
filthy lucre have you won Jacob?"
Wh-what ?" l stammered-and
then you might have knocked me down
with the very smallest of the feathers
in JOS winning bird" Wh-what,
| Solomon
He repeated the question, slowly and
steadily
Glow much of that filthy lucre have
you won, Jacob ?"
You-you have been dreaming
Solomon.
thinking his long fingers, which had
stretched one hand toward me. Give
notes." he said, still with the unmoved
gaze. 9" Five worthless, ill-won notes. "
clasped my breast-pocket anxiously.
81 have little money here, Sol. =" l
said, as airily as l could, ga few pounds,
more or less and / want to buy you a
new umbrella, yours is getting shabby.
III go into town tomorrow and choose
one.
tried to get up little cheerfulness
over it, but Solomon's gaze damped it
all out of me and besides, he had not
taken back his long, hungry, out
stretched hand.
Z" Five notes." he said again five
worthless, ill-won notes, Jacob ~
"Even if had the notes, SOL" be-
gan, trembling like a leaf in a storm,
"even if had them-hal ha what an
absurd idea what should you want
with them? And-and, added, clutch
ing desperately at straw of courage,
"what right have you to them?'
"There is no right i'll the question, y
said Solomon, and his face grew longer
and longer. :" 1t is all wrong"
You don't often joke. SOL" said /,
pretty bravely, though / was trembling
like any number of aspens, "but, OF
course, you're jokingnow, and it's rather
late for joke, isn't it? Come along
home with me-"
a" am not going your way now," he
answered.
"Shall you be home tonight ?" /
asked, trying to finish up the scene in
my natural tones.
"To-night? 1t is midnight now"
"God bless my soul, it is really ?" /
exclaimed. not so much surprised as
ridiculouslv Hurried and nervous under
brothers gaze.
Solomon had shivered as the words
passed my lips, and for the first time he
looked away.
Goodnight" he said, in his slow,
absent away and then l think he added
three other words. which he often did
add to,,his good-bys; but he spoke SO
slow that / scarcely heard, and / felt Sc
angry with him, too, that L didn't even
try to hear.
1 walked on moodily across the heath.
All the benign effects of JOS punch had
evaporated all the pleasure of the sport
had been swept away in one chill blast
the only definite idea that possessed me
was the determination not to buy my
brother Solomon new umbrella.
always carried my own key, and for
babe the servants to sit up for me, SO
you may guess L was surprised to find
my groom watching for me at the gate.
Walking, sir ?" he exclaimed, meet
ing me with hurried step and worried
face. 81 hoped you'd ride home, that
you might be the quicker at the parson-
age. They've sent for you twenty times
ut least, sir, Mr.. Solomon"
81 know" interrupted Mr.. Solo
mon is missing. I've just met him. I'll
go and tell them so, for I'll be bound
the parish is all up in arms.
All the parish was up in arms, and had
all gathered at the parsonage, as il
seemed to me but-strangest of all
Solomon was there too lying on his
narrow bed opposite the open window
with the square of moonlit sky before
his closed eyes.
They tell me something about 6
swoon or some such womanish trick
and it may be true and it may not Al
any rate, remember nothing after the
first few sentences they uttered. Solo.
mon had been ailing for some time-so
the words went-and had felt worse thar
usual that day, and lonely and restless
Still he had insisted on preaching in
the evening, and afterward had toiled
up to my house to see if was at home,
and then toiled back again. All night
he had been expecting me, and had
kept listening for my step. while he