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

"Of course there were friends of his
own invited, and of course there was
heavy drinking and whilst father, Leah,
Mrs. Mathews, and sat together in the
drawing room, listening TO the March
winds clustering without, noise of
voices in loud contention came from the
dining-room across the hall.
+" Liar,v 'Cheat = Sharper Pc Vaga-
boEdP were among the epithets which
fie. We met the servants in the hall al
SO, hurrying TO ascertain what was the
matter, and as we opened the dining
room door we saw Capt. Thornton with
his hands on divers throat. / shrieked.
Sam, our man-servant, darted in, and
helped to separate them-drawing his
master away toward the door.
"The faces of both men worked with
passion Oliver shook himself free,
snatched decanter from the dining
table, and hurled it across at his
antagonist with full force. Instructive
ly The captain put up his arm to
guard his face. The decanter smashed
upon his hand, gashed it frightfully.
CT believe there was cry for doc
tor, but not for me, though had faint
ed and been carried back to the drawing
room sofa insensible.
"Capt. Thornton's life was in peril
from the hemorrhage. His wrist was
bound tightly before surgeon came to
extract the glass and sew mp the wound;
but for all that he was for long time
in danger of lockjaw. When he did re-
cover the muscles OF his right hand were
so contracted that he could no longer
shuttle cards, ride at hunt or steeple-
chase, handle billiard cue, or fire
O gun and he vowed vengeance against
the man who had made life burden to
him.
"Oliver laughed, as was his wont !;
but evil seemed to haunt lis from that
hour-not as a consequence of that one
act, but of much foregone, of which
knew nothing.
"My father beckoned me into the
library before he and Leah returned
home, and he shut the door.
Mary said he gravely, 'had 1
known thy Oliver was such wastrel I'd
have chopped my hand off afore I'd
ha' given thee to him. I'm afraid thoult
rue afore long. Such riot and extrava-
gance as l saw last night cannot last.
And when his own brass is melted he'll
want thy f1,000.'
"Never shall forget his look of con-
sternation as told him had given the
money over to Oliver before we left home
on our wedding-day.
"'Then, ten to one, it thy money he's
squandering he cried, in as much of a
temper as ever saw him but he soft
ened at my tears, and added, It's my
fault, Mary; I ought to have tied it
down on thee. Never mind, lass, if the
worst comes to the worst, there's home
for thee and thy little Launcelot whilst
I've roof to cover me-.
"The end did not come quite so soon
as father predicted, but it came quite
soon enough. Bills came pouring in as
soon as the rupture between Oliver and
Capt. Thornton got wind, and L had to
soften my husbands Hang it, let them
wait, as best / could, to importunate
duns-I who had never known what
debtor and creditor meant beyond q
bill of parcels at school. Then credit
was stopped, and Oliver swore over every
sovereign he gave to me. Sometimes,
after brief absence, he came back with
rolls of notes, but he would disappear
again, and they would disappear too.
And as his embarrassments increased he
drank still more heavily and his temper
grew so irritable that no one knew how
to deal with him.
"In our little Launcelot, whose win
ming ways beguiled many dreary hour,
and in the books in our cosy library, L
tried to slnother the sense of impending
misfortune.
Zone servant had already gone. The
old housekeeper 1 myself dismissed,
knowing my inability to pay her. And
now 1 felt the value of Leah's sharp
training, for had to do the work of the
house, cook, and nurse my baby into the
bargain and woe betide me If broil or
roast or ragout were not to my husbands g
liking.
"He rode off one morning with q
valise strapped before him, kissing
Launcelot and me before he went, and
did not see him again for years. Be-
fore the day was outl sheriff's officers
were in the house, and but for kind
IuISs VuhbtilcWby WuO iubcrCcticu lOI iut,
neither baby nor myself would have had
so much as change of raiment left.
"She took me home with her, poor,
dazed, stunned creature, who had not
reached her twenty-seeond birthday.
Consoling Launcelot (who wept because
his mother wept, as children will with
lump-sugar and jam, she hushed him to
rest, and then dispatched a hurried mis-
sive to my father.
CA couple of days elapsed, during
which my heart sank to its lowest ebb
Then he came. He had been himself
away at an auction and could not leave
"He did not upbraid me. He said
he had 'foreseen what was coming and
/ know not whether he or / thanked
Mrs. Matthews most heartily for hel
kindness.
Back to my childhoods home / wen
with very heavy heart, and not all my
dear fathers heartiness could preven
me from feeling myself and child in
truders.
"Soon after he sent me down to Mos
ford to my brother-in-law to learn con
fectionery, then stocked shop ant
furnished house for me In one OF tn
old Rows of Chester, to the great indig
nation of the others.
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