The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-11-03

They told her my tale, and seeing me
utterly friendless, she wiped my tear
stained face with her white handker-
chief and took me away. 1 was no
better than masterless dog, and worth
far less. But she took me to great,
clean, quiet place-an institution they
called it-where there were many others
as homeless and wretched as l. And
there they washed me and made me 80
clean and fresh that thought the real
me, the ragged, red-eyed, unkempt sur
plus atom of humanity that had been
me, was gone away over seas with Jim,
and this rosy-cheeked child was another
me, newly come into the world.
Then one day there came q grand and
stately lady who took nae away to live
with her and be her own little girl. This
lady wore shining silks and lived in
splendid house, and had lad in velvet
jacket, who was about as big as Jim. 1t
was all like strange, bright dream, If
could have only forgotten Jim. But 1
could not.
Jim was surplus population no longer;
perhaps he was drowned, hisragged jacket
and crownless hat might be buried now
away down under the sea. Nobody
about me now wore patched shoes or
trowsers out at the knees, and nobody,
it seemed to me, not even Louis, who
was so kind and good to me, not even
he, had an eye as bright and soft as
Jim's, or q hand as warm. And 80 /
never forgot Jim, but always in my
heart of hearts seemed listening and
waiting for him.
Sometimes / used to lure Louis down
to the wharves, and always when 1
walked by myself my steps turned thith-
erward, and thus it was that 1 never
lost sight of the ships, and dimly, faint
ly, unreasonably, looked for the return
of Jim.
But it began to be years since dear
old Jim went away, and Louis was tall
youth home from college, and I was
well, folks called me young lady, and
said that would marry Louis some day.
And perhaps they might have been right;
but how could be lady-a real lady,
you know-with an old straw hat and
ragged jacket slowed away in my heart
Even after grew up had fits of silent
fretting for Jim that seemed as if they
would eat my life away. Mrs. Belden
said it was because was growing, and
took me away to the seashore. Oh the
seashore l cannot tell you what l felt
when first saw the seattle real sea-
stretching away from the white line of
shore, throbbing and sounding as it
br;mmed to the horizons edge. This
was the sea, the glorified sea, no longer
grimy and smoky and gray with getting
its living, but the sea translated, puri-
fed, made holy as if after death. The
days went and came shining and beauti-
full; and every day walked on the shore
with Louis, ran races with the breeze,
picked up shells, or gathered seaweed,
or watched the sun gliding the sails of
some far-fitting ship. Louis face was
sweet in those days, and kind as sun
light; and his voice was soft and low
when he spoke to me, for he said we
were old friends now, and had known
each other so many years that we
ought to love each other always.
One afternoon we strayed farther than
usual, and the twilight deepening as we
walked, think we both forgot everything
except that we were young and happy,
and life was glorious. Love The word
dropped warm from his lips, and seemed
to color all my future with rose tints.
All my past seemed sinking out of sight.
The gates of paradise were open, and 1
was free to walk therein if would. Not
for me the barrenness, the disappoint-
ment, that blighted other lives. / might
make mine what would, with wealth
and love for my servants, and luxury
and Joy at my command. All, well 1 re-
member that afternoon by the sea the
long line of white beach, the overhang-
ing cliffs, the twilight touching the water
with a golden glow, and glittering on
the tall mists, and the ship lying at
anchor beyond. Oh, life was 80 beauti-
full l-oh, love wasso beautiful ! Alight-
ness of heart, a capricious intangible,
elf-like mood fell upon me, born perhaps
of the very overflow of bliss. remem-
ber clappiny my hands as I skipped
along, challenging Louis to a race.
Perhaps he had urged me too persistently
to respond to his affection, to say when
/ would be his wife. Wife! / wanted
to be no ones wife just then, but only
to love and to live. Would 1 answer
him sighed Louis.
"When you catch me" responded,
ulOCkIuBlJ, ulbbiuS dlOuS buo Stuu.
Away 1 went, with Louis following,
breathless. We rounded the curve of
the shore, and was just sinking down
upon the sand to wait for him, when an
old boat with a broken oar caught my
eye it lay swinging in the shadow just
wnere great rock overhung the beach.
Lightly, thoughtlessly, stepped into
the tiny craft, and waving my handker.
chief laughingly to Louis, caught up
my oar and set myself afoat. I scarce
ly thought what l was doing il was 9
mere caprice born of the lightness oi
heart and youthful thoughtlessness
But single glance at Louis coun
tenance reused me to the folly / was
committing.
"Come back come back I" he cried
"the current will carry you out of reacf
, in moment !"
J Still laughing, endeavored to obey
Dextrously l worked the broken oar
diligently steadied the frail little yes
sci but all my efforts seemed to bear m,
further and further from the anxious
face that was watching me.
/ Perhaps if Louis then had plunged
( into the water, few strong strokes o
| his arm might have reached and savet