The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-09-10

! ed2" exclaimed the elder sister, drop
ping her hair brush and letting all the
raven tresses ripple down UNDECIDED over
her shoulders.
eve won the diamond sleeve buttons,
Olive but oh / didn't mean to. What
would papa say if he only knew it-and
Cousin Jack, too z"
"Sit down, you wild little elf, said
Olive, gently forcing her sister into
chair, "and explain this mysterious
riddle !"
"Well, you know papa left me to look
over his letter to Mr. Thorne--and he
was detained longer than he expected
almost an hour in fact, and / couldn't
help amusing myself by writing parody
on the letter.
ga parody"
"ies--yOu remember somebody was
telling us what a beautiful daughter Mr..
Thorne had-so Iwrote that Jack was III
scarce of a wife, and had heard of Miss
Thorne, and wanted to settle in life, and
all that sort of thing. In short, wher-
ever papa had written land, or estate, l
wrote wife Wasn't it fun 2" calculated
the little maiden, her eyes dancing with
.didbleTje. But You know never once
thought of sending the letter; | only
wanted to read it to Jack when / went
down stairs We'll, / signed it, with n
great flourish of trumpets, and just then
who should come in but papa and the
stranger. OF course L fed-and when
/ came back the letter was sealed and
safe in jacks pocket-book, and Olive, it
was the wrong letter
sit was rather a dim Highland pa
pas eyes are not as keen rs they were
wont to be, and my impertinent missive
was gone, while the real bona tide letter
lay there, amongst heap of discarded
papers. And | hadn't courage to con-
fess my misdemeanors, papa is so OPP
posed to my innocent little jokes-and
Jack is off with that indescribable letter.
/ shall certainly win the sleeve buttons,
Olive, but what tornado there will be,
when my mischief leaks out.
And Minnie looked so bewitchingly
lovely III her alternate paroxysns of ter
ror and laughter, that Olive, grave old
sister though she was, had not the heart
to lecture her as roundly as she de
served.
The crimson sunset of the very next
evening shone radiautly into the special
sanctum of the worthy old Jabez Thorne,
of Thornville, Justice of the Peace, and
chairman of all the agricultural meetings
for ten miles around. 1t was no schol-
arly -loolIing library, like that of his
ancient comrade Chester, but a square,
light room, with four uncurtained win
dows, and ornamented with numerous
black-framed engravings of prize cattle
and giant turnips. He was seated in a
feather-cushioned armchair, looking
over the files of an agricultural journal,
to find some coveted information on the
subject Of "phosphates" and "super-
phosphates, when servant brought
him card and letter.
1.-the gentleman is in the parior sir -
Jabez Thorne laid aside hisnewspaper,
glancedat the card, which bore the simple
inscription, "John Lacy"-then ut the
letter, which purported TO be the intro
ductory to that individual.
How--ha-from my old college
chum, Chester, as L live. Remarkable
change i'll his hand writing, but time
alters us ALL Haven't heard from him
il twenty years, and-hallo! what is
this A pretty cool request, upon my
word-nephew wants wife, and has
heard that possess adaughter-has lots
of money-wants me to aid him with my
well-knOwn experience in such matters.
/ What does the rascal mean?" calculated
Jabez, the fringe of gray hair that sur
rounded his bald head standing abso-
lutely erect with indignation. Ell
send LETTERS to kick the impudent young
scamp out of the house."
, But with moments reflection came
calmness.
"Well, after all, 1 don't see what
there is in the matter to make me so
foolshly angry. Guess I'll see what
Mary says. An excellent flmily these
Chesters-and this letter is just like
Zebedee Chester-he always was singu-
lar i'll his notions. Rather unlike the
ordinary method of coming to an un-
derstanding on such matters, but there
nothing like dash of originality in this
world, and if the boy is rich and Mary
don't object At all events I'll see
him on this subject"
And Jabes Thorne thrust the letter in
to his pocket and strobe determinedly
into the parlor, where young Lacy was
quietly awaiting his appearance. The
old gentleman face was scarlet with en-
barrassment; he was half disposed to be
angry with his guests cool self-pos-
session.
81 had thought of settling in this vi
cinity, Mr.. Thorne," said Jack, after the
ceremonies of greeting had been ex-
changed, "and understand from my
uncle that you had desirable piece of
property you might be disposed to part
with.
"Piece of property I" thought the old
gentleman, beginning 20 fire up again !;
but he controlled his emotion and only
answered Really sir, this is a very
stroage request. One can hardly be ex-
pected to answer definitely upon so very
short notice"
Certainly not, Mr.. Thorne. 1 have
no wish to hurry you," said Jack, po-
litely; "but am rather anxious to see
for myself, and if you will favor me with
a brief description of the prominent fea-
lures Of"
But Mr.. Thorne was fidgeting uneasily
on his chair
"What do you mean, sirl" he exclaim
ed wrathfully.
Jack was rather perplexed at this cava-
Her recpDtiOn but he answered rs court