The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-04-21

new position. City and people were
alike strange; but that perhaps helped to
set me at ease behind my counter.
"Bnght, hazel-eyed, five-year-old
Launcelot was the star of my night. He
was more like his grandfather Beech
than his own father, of whom he had no
remembrance black paper profile
found at my fathers being my only like
ness of absent Oliver.
"Often and often as l stood behind
my counter wondered Il ever chance
would bring him in there among the
stream of customers and yet think 1
generally looked upon him as dead no
word or sign having reached me of his
existence.
cit was Alay-sunny, scented May
and Chester race-week. Matty and L
were busy as bees from morning until
night. Launce went to school. The
second race day, party of ladies and
gentlemen came into the shop, talking
and laughing as they came. One of them
was Oliver Marbury
81 screamed and tainted. When i
came to myself he was gone. After
nightfall he came again and abused nae
for making scene and compromising
him with his friends But finding me
IN comfortable circumstances he took up
his abode with me, professed to have
exhausted his means i'll trying to dis
cover us, and was lavish of caresses both
to Launcelot and myself.
81 had never ceased to love him, and
/ hailed the prodigal's return. Yet, as
of old, he came and went, and ere long
began to drain my resources. He took
from my pocket and from my till the
money with which 1 should have pre-
served my credit, and gambled it away.
The climax came when my little Mary
was about four months old.
. My stock got low; had no money
to give him. Half drunk, he brought
broker ON to the premises, sold to him
stock, fixtures, and furniture, regardless
of my tears and entreaties; and, while
the goods were being hurried away, put
the proceeds in his pocket, and, carpet
bag in hand, turned on his heel, coarsely
telling me old David Beech would make
home for me and the squallers. The
children were both crying. At this
Launcelot raised his little fist and struck
mt his unnatural father.
"Like savage he turned upon the
child, to strike at him. On the impulse
of the moment interposed, and the
blow meant for Launcelot came down on
myself and the baby in my arms. 1
dropped, and little Mary never cried
again.
"They tell me l was frantic for
months. AT all events, was spared the
pain of giving evidence against my own
husband. Matty and the brokers' men
sufficed.
"We had fallen against piece of fur
niture in the way, and there was q sug-
gestion that the babe had been killed III
the fall. The charge of murder had been
abandoned, but Oliver was found guilty
of manslaughter, and condemned to
seven years transportation.
Mrs. Matthews, good soul took
charge of Launce during my illness, and
with Matty's help Leah nursed me at my
fathers, grumbling ..all the while at the
trouble, the cost, and the disgrace.
"I tried to shut my eyes on the fu-
ture-to hope we might remain undis
turbed, and to train my boy to better
things. Meanwhile my father died. He
had secured shop for me, and left me
small annuity, to be paid quarterly.
Eight years passed away. Launce-
lot, my pride and JOY, was fifteen-a
frank, good -natured, and high-spirited
youth, whose mother was all in all to
him.
"Suddenly the avalanche came down
upon us. A fierce, dark, scowling rep
rebate came in at our door, and claimed
as my husband right to share my
means. My heart sank. This was not
the man 1 lad sworn to love ard obey.
was powerless to resist, and he
stayed. Goaded by the thought that
while he had been in captivity we had
prospered, he tortured me in every way
he could devise, and Launcelot became
my companion. Then he made the boy
his butt to wound me surest.
"At last Launcelot, seeing only shame
and disgrace before him, conceiving that
he was only cause of outrage on me,
as many good son has done before,
ran off to sea, and / was left to cope
with Oliver Marbury alone.
"One night-shall ever forget it p
man clambered over the outhousing
in Mt my chamber window. 1t was he,
haggard, footscre, bloody. He had
wounded O man and sought concealment.
He threatened to kill me if / spoke q
word. What money had he took, ate
greedily some bread and cheese, changed
his clothes, and then fled as he came.
"Men were on the watch and he was
taken. His blood-stained clothes were
found in my room, where sat white
with terror.
"I was told that, In an affray with
poachers on his preserves, Capt. Thorn
ton and keep had been killed, and
was questioned until my very brain be-
gan to reel.
81 thought should be called upon tc
give evidence against him. i had loved
him once. He was the father of my
children. To avoid such contingent
cy fed, whittier I neither knew no,
cared.
81 had no money-never thought ol
it. went along lanes, through fields
avoiding the high roads, excitement
keeping me up, though 1 had no food
The first night took shelter in barn
stealing of like q culprit at daybreak
/ must have looked hungry, for a lac
swinging on gate, with q great huncl
of bread in his hand, broke il in two ant
offered half to me.
| "Tnat night / dropped on stone by