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

That will do nicely" said Ruth
Mayhem, receiving her last package
through the car window from Mr.. Per
kins on the platform.
Write us how you get along, Ruth.
If your aunt can spare you a spell this
summer we'd be glad TO see Won hum
dgln. Oh, my here's Miss Curtin with
a bunch of posies from her gardin.
Hurry hurry you'll be late, sure's the
world, Miss Curtin"
Thus spoke the group at the depot in
Shrin chorus as the locomotive. every
plate FURNISHED and dazzling, which had
1mmered quietly for some minutes
started, imparting a jerking wrench TO
the cars, and then the long snake of =
train gliG ed smoothly away.
She takes it first rate" commented
Mr.. Perkins, wiping his brow with n red
bandana handkerchief.
Then he climbed into his rusty carry
all, drawn by Il meek white horse: the
others returned along the village street
10 resume their usual avOcations, and the
event of the day was over
Ruth Mayhem had departed from the
nome OF her youth, and the place would
know her no more forever.
The struggle had been hard one. but
she bore II well as Mr.. Perkins avorred
She did not look at once at the white
house on the hill, where death had
robbed her of parents and shelter, be.
cause even her fortitude could not be
trusted to witness the Smalls moving in.
What was before here Life with Aunt
-~HSrrlet III a close sick-chamber. slave of
an mvalld's caprices and grateful for
daily bread. Oh the long. drearv
yeans, with nothing but old age in adj
vance
She took a small pocket mirror from
mex bag, and gazed pensivelv into its
oelffls. The reflected image was by no
means unattractive. She was not as she
had ,2lce been, yet her features were
good her complexion fresh, her ewes
Clear, '1SRd her physique robust. More
over, she was carefully and becominolv
atflred, amd her chignon was of the latest |
sty1e. Nevertheless, sigh welled mn |
from her heart when she oazed in tba |
glass, not altogether in unreasonable dis
satisfaction with her present appearance.
'atH1 the past had had disappointments
.stild ;lhe future with Aunt Harriet was
without promise. Away back in the Wis
Ia OF summers she beheld herself a fan
cIful girl, building cloud-castles ont of
Che sunset glories. One spring-time
fy2s brighter and fairer than the others
around it still bloomed flowers of regret.
full memories, blossoms without earthly
SemblRnce IN the cold, bleak climate
ushopt Ruth lived, because sprung from
che richest sources of humanity.
A brave young missionary had urged n
e2e.edless girl to go with him to the hot
countries among the heather. and the
girl, to whom the world seemed a vast
treasure house lavish of gifts, had flouted
der young missionary, and he had silent
" departed without complaint, to return [
TO more. Then Ruth had shed tears in {
secret, bitterly remorseful tears, and {
armed her back capriciously on the we'll |
o-do farmers of her acquaintance.
Got cinder in yer eye =" inquired
! sharp voice in our travellers ear.
The latter awoke from her reverie with f
start, and turned to her questioner with C
, guilty. blush sutfusing her cheek. She, il
tuth Mayhew, of middle age, caught b
oolring in the glass Her interlocutor
WIS brisk, bright little old lady in a s.
AIDED shawl and an antiquated bonnet of
he coalscut5le pattern. She carried on "
Ier arm black silk bag which seemed to h
contain unlimited stores of snuff and
drops. Eucircling her with y
red throat was n necklace of beautiful ii
Soid beads delicatoly wrought. These Ct
,,eads, an heirloom in her family,
.cscending 20 her through long genera pi
'oDs, mad been worn by her since early
outn, amt 80 much of superstition was as eI
ocIated III the mind of the possessor N
MN such relics, that the old lady would 80
ave dreaded immediate misfortune had at
ne lost them. Such was her child-like Oh
aIth IN her fellow-creatures that she h,
lever dreamed Of parting with her w
treasures. -0- 80
Il, : l eau set it ont quick as wink. nj
'Nio' sac continued, eagerly, settling