The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-06-25

this manner of his; but subsequently III
was explained. Several times during
the evening, when Jennie and L were
together, Price hung upon our steps,
much TO Jennie's annoyance.
After while, after she had filed sew
eral engagements with others, L claimed
her again for my partner, and at the
close of the waltz we sought the refresh
ing air of the summer-house, in the spa
cious gardens attached to the mansion.
Here we conversed of the future of our
plans and prospects, and oh, how bright
were the promises that the future held
for us then.
How long we talked / do not know.
But fearing our prolonged absence would
occasion remark, we returned to the
house.
AT length the guests departed, and
then L babe my betrothed good night.
Her manner towards me was all that a
lover could expect, and yet at parting
some unexplained and undefinable feel
ing oppressed me. 1t was one of those
strange forebodings for which no one
can satisfactorily account. When L
should have been the happiest of NOR
tails was depressed with presentiment
of coming evil. I tried to shake it off,
but in vain. 1t bound me like some
horrid dream, and the feeling did not
leave me for several hours.
The next morning L slept late, and
having partaken of light lunch went
to the Postoffice, impelled by know not
delivered at my place of business.
At all events, to the Postoffice bent
my steps, and there found note from
Jennie. She had been suddenly sum-
moned by telegraph to distant city by
reason of the severe illness of near re-
lative-so ran the note-but would soon
return. But the strangest part of it was
that she hoped l would not write to her,
stating that she would give satisfactory
explanation upon her return.
The days wore heavily away, and no
word more came from her. / was de-
pressed and oppressed with feeling of
anxiety and alarm. A week elapsed
before she returned. The first intima-
ton / had of her arrival was the follow
ing note:
FRIEND HARRY: 1t pains me to write this
note, but it is very necessary, and l cannot
shrink from it. When / told you that loved
you did not know my own heart and the flu
ture happiness of both of us compels me to say
that can Never become your wife. Do not
make any effort to see me ; an interview would
be of no avail, and could only prove painful to
both you and me. JENNIE.
Need / say that this heartless note
completely stunned me for time. My
brain was in a whirl, and / was so stupe-
fed that / hardly knew whether l was
dead or alive.
This condition passed after a time,
and looked at the matter as calmly and
coolly as 1 could. 1 determined to
leave the scene of this bitter dis
appointment and seek "sucease of
sorrow" in the excitement and change of
travel
Arranging my affairs did not take me
long, and drawing my funds from the
bank, where they were deposited, L babe
adieu to my friends and started for New
York. My sudden resolution was a sur
prise to all who were intimate with me,
but my explanation was. that L had long
meditated a trip to the old world, and a
more opportune period than the present
to crafty this desire would probably
never occur. l had been entirely reti-
cent about my relations with Jennie, and
although some of my boon companions
rallied me about leaving such au attrac
ton when, to all appearances, / was the
favorite sutton, passed the matter off
as though it was capital joke while
suffering unspeakable torture at my
heart.
In a few days gallant steamer bore
me across the ocean. 1t is unnecessary
to name the route pursued, or speak of
my rambles in England and on the con-
tinent.
A year passed then came a longing
for my native land, and homeward L
turned my footsteps. Upon arriving at
New York 1 went straight to Washing
ton, where / had friends, through
whose influence L obtained position in
m mt. My duties were in the Bureau
devoted TO "Dead Letters" Here
another year was spent. Time passes
very swiftly when one is busy, even if
the heart is heavy. My duty was chiefly
opening dead letters, and many q curious
and quaint epistle passed through my
hands.
One day while the room in which sew
eral clerks beside myself were engaged
was undergoing repairs, several old let
tiers dropped from desk being removed
from the wall. The carpenter picked
them up and handed them to one of the
employees in the office.
"Why," said he, " Harry, here is a
letter directed to YOU"
AS / received it from his hand l recog-
nized the handwriting at glance. 1t
was from Jennie, and had been written
nearly year previously. BY some means
it had not reached me while was wait
ing for the place L subsequently OBJ
tanned, and had preceded me few days
in the dead Letter Office" There it
had lain almost whole year through an
accident, but for which 1 should never
have received it, and probably never
known the revelation it brought.
With a nervous tremor L opened it
and devoured its contents, which were
these
DEAR HARRY. To-day was surprised and
pleased TO ascertain thatyou had returned from
your wanderings and are in Washington.
write at once. because we have both been griev-
ousv panied know by cruel forgery.
When heard that you had left NJ could
not believe it, but seon was compelled to do so.
Believing that knew your heart, it was impos-
.;tlo - ,,,Ja,afaud tl,a rnotiye Or rQaaOn for