The true northerner., 1875-06-11

ceited creatures. And L thought he hated
her but there now, you can't ever tell
and l suppose, anyhow, rs he don't
want to see her before he dies, it's for
the sake of relationship, not love. You
see man likes to leave money in his
own family. How much did he say Mrs.
Pettingl"
"He didn't mention the sum-" said
Mrs. Petting. He's worth consider
able, | suppose"
"Oh, yes" said Mrs. Smith" at
least two hundred thousand. Poor as he
dressed, and going about with that big
blue cotton umbrella with a string round
it, and brass knob on the end like a
pair of tongs-only you never see pair
of tongs nowadays, do you 2-and that
white hat of his, you know, with long
hair on it, and altogether like poor
person, ma'am. Indeed, many poor
person looks forty times as fine. For all
that, ma am, two hundred thousand ain I
by no means all he's worth. Dear me, /
wonder he never thought of marrying >
and Mrs. Smith looked at her round,
pink face in the glass and settled her
widows cap. "a wife of suitable age,
would have quite made a different man
of him and if he'd been taken off, as he
seems to be going to be, she'd have had
all that's going to this Anna Maria, no
doubt. Well, some people have luck,
don't they, Mrs. Pettings"
eyes," said the nurse, with a sigh
"but, whatever you do, thank your stars
you haven't been obliged to go out nurs-
ing"
Then she poured the broth into bowl
and carried it up stairs. 1t was the last
the poor invalid ever swallowed. He had
always been an eccentric man, and about
sunset he turned his face to the wall, said
aloud in quite strong voice
"Well, here goes. Good luck to you,
Sam Shippen, and a comfortable jour
ney :" and gave one long sigh. Mrs.
Petting ran to his bedside at once.
He was dead.
Before morning note was in the post
Office, addressed to Miss Shippen, inform
ing her of her uncle's death, of his state
ment that he had left her something, and
his wish that she should be present at
the reading of the will, as well as at the
funeral.
The answer was a telegram bearing
| these words
Expect me at once. ANNA MARIA SHIppEN. 4"
eve must get the best room ready
for her." said Mrs. Smith "heiresses
amt to be slighted and tell you, Mrs.
Petting, that it would be good idea for
you to get into her good graces. An
heiress is likely to marry, you know.
and in large family there's deal of
nursing to do. / drop the hint be-
cause you have your own living to get,
and good connection is everything"
"Indeed it is" said Mrs. Petting
The deceased man meanwhile lay at
rest in the supper-room, white and still,
with his hands crossed on his breast, and
pleasanter smile than people who had
known of him late had ever seen him
wear upon his quiet face. Once, doubt
less, he had been handsome and happy
"A very different parsonage from the
queer old bachelor, In his odd attire,
of whom people were now talking.
Yet he had been generous to the poor,
and liberal to any one who worked for
him, and all his virtues had become
prominent now that he was dead
{" I suppose he was attached to that
white hat and that blue umbrella" said
Out. III StllC IL WISH llltiillDtSS llldJ
made him wear them. He was no
miser."
"And really" said the paper man
on the corner, " 1 miss 'em going by,
do, though 1 used to laugh at 'em at
first"
CT think it's dignifed for old folks
not to change with the fashions" said
Mrs. Plum, over the way 81, for my
part, respect him for it. Ny grand
mother wore the same bonnet fifteen
years"
I" Perhaps" said Miss Abby, her sis
ters, who had many years before been
Tilted by gentleman named Timothy
Hoarhound "perhaps he used to go
courting some false creature in that hat,
with that umbrella in his hand, and they
were mementoes of the past.
"Well, that might be, too" said Mrs.
Plum "he had romantic eyes.
Meanwhile the young doctor, who
had attended upon Mr.. Shippen, had
been told that Miss Shippen had been
sent for, and that her uncle had declared
that he had cleft her something"
+" Every penny, no doubt, said Mrs.
Smith, thinking of her eldest son, and of
| llOW well III WOulIl Dt lOT hin 10 caDJl-
vate the heart of such an heiress as that !;
and quite unconscious that the young
doctor had made up his mind that he
would at least see what the girl was like,
and if she was presentable make an i'm
preston upon her.
And when that evening carriage
rolled up to the door and figure in the
finest mourning stepped out of it, not
only were the people in the block all at
their windows to see the heiress, but
the four gentlemen dodgers were in the
hall, the doctor at the carriage door on
one side and young Mr.. Smith on the
other.
AS for Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Petting,
they greeted her with display of white
handkerchief and tears edifying to be-
hold.
Miss Anna Maria was girl of eight
cen, not quite so pretty as she evidently
thought she was, who wore face of
great glee and triumph under her Grape
bonnet, and made no pretense of sor-
row.
The ocket-handkerchiefs were pock-
eted very shortly after she had declared
that she never could see anything but
| crustiness in Door Uncle Shippen and