The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-07-30

I" No, thank you. 1t is nothing, said
Ruth, hastily popping the glass back to
its hiding place.
Thus foiied, the old lady relapsed into
silence, although she could not remain
quiet long. She jerked her head about
quickly to observe different objects with
a sparrow-like motion, and becoming alb
sorbingly interested in Ruth, she peered
Mt the trimmings, even testing the quail
ty of n ribbon furtively with critical
fore-fnger and thumb. Age had chiseled
wrinkles, innumerable fine lines, in the
intelligent face, had whitened the scanty
hair, and robbed the sunken mouth of
paired. She was like queer little gray
bird hopping along to peck crumb of
information everywhere.
I" / wonder who she is and where she's
goin' !" pondered the old lady, her busy
brain having unsuccessfully twisted Ruth
around the whirlingwheel of minute in
vestigatiOn. Then she bobbed abruptly,
and skipped into the seat beside the oh.
lect Of her interest with an apologize,
Guess I'll change my place, if you
don't mind, and get out of the draught
from that winder. Old folks have to be
kinder keerful about draughts.
Miss Mayhem graciously assented, and
her neighbor was delighted with the sue
cess of her stratagem.
olive in these parts ?" small, beady
eyes twinkling all over her companion
interrogatively.
" Yes. Have you come far3
" Far | guess so left my darter's
home in Indianny day afore yesterday.
My son-in-law, Marthy's husband, is Il
lumber merchant, you know, out West.
Yes, the winters been cold, some. We
had Bible classes and lectures, and once
there came a panoramy of New York.
Jabez took me. Hev you been there
Most as good as seeing it for yourself,
| the panoramy was. Come home alone
Law, yes Made my way along as easy as
could be. 1 stopped over night at Mon
treal i'll Canady, at great hotel. and the
clerk gave me snug little room, SOS |
felt real to hum. There's big bridge
the victory bridge, they call it there. l
see it. I've been good piece on the
Grand Turk Railroad, too.
The old lady had traversed all this dis
lance safely, enjoying every hour of the
Journey, and was now turning her face
homeward to farm nestled among the
hills.
My son lives on the other side of the
house, and does all the chores about the
farm. | take care of myself" she ex-
planned, with the curious simplicity of a
nature that confided all its private affairs
to strangers, never dreaming of doubt
ing that their interest equaled her own
in discussing their personal history.
Ruth's sympathy was aroused. This
sympathy cost her DEAR Three hours
later she was standing alone on the
crowded platform of a large railway ter
minus, where locomotives were dashing
frantically about, and anxious passengers
vociferated loudly, with her own train
disappearing in the distance, and
string of gold beads in her hand.
1t happened thus: Ruth and her new
friend hobnobbed delightfully."-. The old
lady was particularly pleased to discover
that among the many good things pre-
pared for the others journey by friendly
hands We're crisp turn-overs, generous
slices OF dried-apple pie, and doughnuts.
" Seems like hum, she declared, with 7
a sigh of satisfaction. "Couldn't git /
any cake nor pie in Canady. They said |
that they had plenty of beef and beer,
but L don't need nothin' quite SO
hearty"
Born Of the same race, subjected to
the same influences of a harsh, cold
climate, the English resident of Canada
supplies generous fuel for the machinery
Of life, while the Yankee resident of
New England most grudgingly lubri-
Gates the busy mechanism of his econ
omy, at the same time extorting the
greatest possible amount of labor from
ais slave-the BODY.
The train paused at the station, and a
young man strolled into the car. Miss
Ruth's attention became instantly CEN
ered in him. 1t was not because of the
beauty of his black mustache that she
observed him, nor his oily ringlets,
iashy walstcoat and resplendent watch
'haln. 1t was simply because his evil,
naky eye, wandering carelessly over the ,
passengers, pounced on our unconscious
id lady.
" You will bear Watching" thought
he younger woman. Then she talked !
of thieves and pickpockets, at :
'hlch the old lady looked simply be- /;
yildered. !
The train rushed into tunnel dark.
billy hole that seemed to open yawn. +
~ mouth, itself stationary and soulless. {
} engulf life and motion. A tiny blue :
anne cracked; the old lady had lighted /
bit OF tallow candle, using her hand for +
candle-stick 6
=" L git scared in these tunnels" she 9
nd, and held the candle so that Ruth a
at herself were framed in vivid radi- ;
ice. !,
The former, keeping her eyes stead n
stly fixed on the snaky young man p
'ated behind, detected stealthy move r,
ent OF his hand toward the old lady's t,
eek, where hung the family gold beads. v,
A sudden draught (emanating from et
70 snaky young MANI fared out the D.
ndle, scuflle and rush ensued amidst N
infused ordinations, and Miss Nav %,
w launched into active combat with ii
@ foe. re
" Thieves she shrieked. 70
" Oh, murder gasped the old lady. in
st receiving blow over the head that bl
ushed her bonnet awry, and then feel lv
g as if great many shawls had tum- SO
ed over her.
/" What is the matter ." echoed on oil tb