The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-06-26

not reply. lie knelt ny Iho uouoiuo,
and held his mothers hand in his.
cit was your fathers wish, she con-
tinued. "You were betrothed in early
childhood. Her parent died soon after ;
and she went to live with her uncle, who
has never favored your union" Jacques
was still silent and she proceeded.
"Since your illness, the year of the
last great drought, you are much
changed in character. You have grown
melancholy, and have tried in vain to
bring back your naturally cheerful tenn
per. Remember my last request; re-
member your duty to Annette.
In few days all was over, and the
young man was alone in the world /;
and yet why should he remain SO? He
had a comfortable house to live in and
his prospects were better than those of
his class, for he was both industrious
and economical. In fact, he was al
ready known as penurious and people
said he was constantly growing like his
uncle-an old miser who had lived in a
garrett for fifty years, and died very
rich, before jacques was born.
He'll be perfect old curmudgeon, }"
said nj. Pardee to his wife, as Annette
was entering the house in company with
a.handsome young man. Jacques had
just left and was still visible, walking
away from the house.
What contrast ~ said Madame
Pardee. "And think Victor is much
attached to the girl"
ATTACHED !" exclaimed the husband !;
"of course he is. And he will soon be-
come partner in the establishment
where he is now employed. Guyot is a
slow, timid fellow, who will never be
worth anything, because he is afraid to
branch out.
"Uncle," said Annette, coming into
the room, CT have almost made up my
mind that you are right. Jacques
is so slow, and says he can
not afford to be married for year or
two. The other girls are all getting
married and they say l am fool to be
so patient"
Whenever you do make up your
mind, just let us know" said the uncle,
sternly.
Not long after jacques received the
following note:
"DEAR SIR Our patience is exhaust
ed. Annette wishes me to say that
your last conversation with her had
brought her to a decision and that
your visits will be no longer agreeable,
unless you conclude to be married dur
ing the present year Very truly yours,
"JAMEs PARDEE.
"Poor child !" said jacques to him
self. 81 fear she is very weak, and has
been led away by the fine words OF that
spendthrift. He paced the room nerv-
ously, and then threw himself on the
lounge.
q had not the courage" he said,
thoughlfully, "to give her up, and with
her the hope of happy home. But it
is her own choice and now | can de-
vote my whole life to that one purpose
formed so long ago"
CHAPTER III.
"Here comes old.dry bones ~ cried a
ragged boy to his mates, as they were
at play by the roadside. 1t was a good
many years after Annette S marriage.
"Glve it to him :" shouted another,
as he picked up handful of mud, and,
after rolling it into a ball, threw it at an
old man who was passing by. At this
the boys all began to follow the example
of their leader. Some threw sticks
some sand and dirt; and one or two
sent stones whizzing through the air.
" He's an old miser !" exclaimed one
of..the lads. Mamma says he is. "
" He is too mean and stingy to live,"
said one boy, better dressed than the
others. My grandmother says he
starved his mother fifty years ago, and
has hated everybody ever since"
A crowd OF urchins had now gathered
around the old man, and some of them
had picked up long sticks, with which
they annoyed MIN. One lad had knocked
off his hat and, as the man stopped TO
pick it up, the well-dressed boy struck
his cane, and knocked it into the gutter
Several dogs were in the crowd and the
boys set them on the old man. At this
juncture a carriage came up, and in it
there were two young ladies', man in
the prime OF life and an old LADY.
Papa, said one of the girls, d" can't
you make those rude boys let the poor
man alone ?" The gentleman looked
out OF the window, and said, For
shame, lads, to trouble a helpless old
man !"
Hes an old miser - Gle robs the
the poor !" He lives in a garnet I"
d" He hates everybody" shouted many
eager voices. The Old lady looked out
and exclaimed:
Poor jacques for he it is, am
sure how changed But the boys are
right he is miser, and he never
speaks to anyone if he can avoid it.
" Do you know him, grandma ?" said
one of the young ladies.
" Yes, my dear" replied Annette
for it was she. We were playmates
when we We're children. But Jacques
had fever, and after that grew very odd
and melancholy. At last he began to
grow penurious /; and for many years he
has been known as the miser.' L have
not spoken to him since my marriage
which you know was fifty years ago to.
day-and have seen him only occasion
ally on the street.
Two days later, crowd of persons
men, women and children--might have
been seen in front of the little dwelling
house where we first introduced our
readers to Jacques Guyot and his moth
er.
&c live next door there" said car