The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-04-14

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very recent date, but it is strong and !
true. 1t is my dearest hope that when
you meet her you may love her, may win
her love- tf
impossible |"
"Stay moment, Rob. lam not quite
so foolish an old woman as to wish You
to promise TO marry stranger. But
want you to remain with US fer short
time, and try to like my friend, and win
her to like you."
st would be a scoundrel if I did
that"
ga scoundrel 1"
eyes, for / have already given my love
and won q return"
And did not tell me, Rob I"
"Only because / have not known
where to find you all the summer"
"But your mother says your choice
has fallen upon vulgar nobody, PEN
niless orphan"
"My mother has never seen Edna 1t
is true she is an orphan, born In the
alms-house, but she has been befriended
and educated by gentle, refined people,
and there is no faint of vulgarity about
her. Aunt Maria, 10 you think 1 am a
man to love vulgar woman 7"
"No, Rob but think an alms-house
orphan"
"But a gentle, lovely woman, the
woman / love! 1 might seem to agree
in your place, auntie, but you see that it
would be a scoundrel's part to court your
friend, when both love and honor bind
me to Edna"
Honor, Robr"
"Yes, for she knows my love and has
confessed her own. Gould any true man
desert woman after that Z"
"But broken engagements are every
day events. Come, Rob, be reasonable.
Draw off little by little, and let me in
troduce the girl 1 wish my heir to marry"
In an instant Rob's lips were firmly
set, and his eyes took steady light of
resolution. Never had Mrs. Hepburn
heard so manly ring to his voice as it
took when he answered:
"To please you, Aunt Maria, 1 would
do anything honorable, and if 1 were
free, 1 would try to give even my love,
where you dictated. But to win your
money, to place myself in the position
of your heir, would not lift a finger.
If you mean the emphasis in your last
words for threat, it is powerless. Let
your friend wed your heir, if you wish,
but my love and honor can not be
bought"
He rose as he spoke, as if he would
have taken his leave, but Mrs. Hepburn
put her hand upon his arm.
"Stay, Rob-" she said, CT did not
mean to wound you; 1 should have
judged you better than to threaten you
in any way. Forgive me, and in token
of your forgiveness stay and dine with
me. If you will not give your heart to
my companion, L can trust you for all
the courtesy friend of mine may claim. y
"Indeed you can / am heartily at
your service and hers for cavalier,
auntie."
"Will you ring the bell near YOU"
A servant answered the summons, and
Mrs. Hepburn said:
$50 to No. and ask the lady there
il she will come to me, If she is olsen
gagged. Heigho, Rob-" she added, as
the servant departed, "you have noidea
what very pretty castle in the air you
have demolished.
81 am sorry But you will forgive
me when you have seen my Edna. You
will not let mothers strong prejudice
against perfect stranger influence you,
will you, auntie 2"
81 won't promise. All +! hear my
friend. She has come in at another door.
Come in 2"
There was rustic of skirts, the bed
room door opened, and in the doorway
stood tall, graceful girl, whose eyes
flashed and whose cheeks grew rosy,
when she beheld Robert Harkner. just
for one moment she stood there, and
then Rob had both her hands fast in his,
and was drawing her toward him. But
her face grew pale, and she drew back
from the loving arms that would have
encircled her.
"You must not, she faltered "your
mother wrote me / cannot be the
cause of quarrel between you and your
mother"
"You need not fear that" said Mrs.
Hepburn, dryly. 81 will undertake to
remove all her objections"
You Do you know her 2" asked
Edna.
"From her cradle, my dear. This
gentleman is my great nephew, Miss
Starlight! And" she added, merrily,
"you may depend upon him Tor all the
courtesy friend of mine may claim.
"More, more, Edna :" Rob cried.
"You may trust him for ife's devo-
zion, for truest love, for entire loyalty.
You have long known my love, and have
shown me your own, and Aunt Maria
will help me to coax you to give me
soon husbands right to love and pro-
tect you all your ife."
"Bless me, said Aunt Maria, hooking
straight at the wall, If i did not think
that was my heir talking. / thought,
Mr.. Robert Harknery your love and
honor could not be bought"
"Nor can they, auntie, for long ago
they were freely given away. Edna,
darling, you will not send me from you
now9"
"No," she answered, shyly- ct see
now why my kind friend took me from
the seminary. II she is pleased, I
am"
"What, Edna \" asked Rob.
For she paused, all bright bushes.
utterly miserable, of course she is, I"
said Aunt Maria, "but she may be hun
CRY, as / am. Too much talking has
given me an appetite, so L am going to
I