The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-09-22

straining her eyes to see the be-
loved form of Montague Garthorn
among the crowd of men leaning over
tho ratings.
Day after day Mr.. Garthorn spent
with OPAL, and evening after evening
with Nellie. Opal was so sweetly kind
to him, sang and played for him, de-
clared that something must be wrong,
and besought him to have confidence i'll
her and to tell her his trouble. In re-
ply, he kissed her, told her not to wor-
ry, and that she was foolish girl" And
directly his duty visit was over, he
rushed to Nellie's house, where she met
him with bright eyes, merry repartee,
and kitten like caresses. She really was
very lovable and it was no wonder that
this man, who so loved being made
much of, fancied she was more wor-
thy of such love as he he had to give
than the woman who would have died for
him.
Things could not last much longer
like this. Opal wondered why he did
not come of an evening, and asked him
to spend the following Monday with her,
as she would be alone. He could not
refuse, 80 all day Sunday he spent with
Nellie wandering about Kensington Gar
dens then to church with Mr.. Wylde,
and q delightful Bohemian supper i'll the
shop -parlor. Afterward came the
goodnight and Montague told Nellie
he could not come the following day,
because he had to see cousin of his !;
and then he went on to say that these
happy days must end, rs he was going
away for long time, and would only
come once more to say good-by. The
blue eyes filed with tears; the tiny hands
rustled up into the air, and with wild
scream she threw herself upon the stairs,
sobbing, "Monhe, you can not, shall
not leave me !"
Darling, must
"But you say you loved me !"
4" God knows how much, my darling
but must leave you, for am in honor
bound to marry my cousin Opal.
Nellie did net receive this announce
ment haughtily, with pride, or with
despair, but threw herself down at Mon
tague Garthorns feet, sobbing piteously,
You shall never marry her-the proud
lady you show me in the park but me,
your own loving Nellie, who worships
you with devotion she can never feel /"
CT do believe You love me best. my
golden wig," he exclaimed, as he caught
her in his arms and kissed her, promis-
ing to call again soon.
Nellie was Immediately comforted, and
before he had got to the end of the street
she was singing to herself rs she cleared
the supper-things away.
On Monday, Opal dressed herself in
the dress Montague admired, ordered
the dishes for dinner he preferred, and
made up her mind to try and win him
back, remembering the words of one of
our greatest writer's, that revived love
is the strongest. He came in deter
mined to make the evening pleasant to
Opal. even to confess to her his fiirta-
ton with Nellie-to tell her that he had
rooted it up, and was ready to come
back to her more devoted than ever; but
Opal looked 80 strong in her self-posses-
sion, so passionless, so unsympathic,
that the image of Nellie recurred to him
as he saw her last in her attitude of
worship at his feet.
"Montie, why are you so strange
Does anything worry you, dear 2"
"Nothing."
"But am sure it does. Have any
thing to do with it z"
emo"
"Only remember, Montague, If there
il anything in the world 1 can do for
you 1 will"
"Would you, really, Opal 2" and a
CLEAN of hope came into his face, and
for the moment he felt inclined to tell
| L III. &c Oplxy ha ha1
toward him instead of going to the win
dow, he would have made clean breast
of it. and saved Nellie end himse q
sorrowful fortnight.
Opal crossed the room, not eve looK-
ing at him, and, with her eyes fixed on
the street, she said: Montague, even
if you love another woman better than
me can bear it, and give you up 80
readily-for your happiness;" and she
turned and smiled one of her brightest
smiles at him.
"I am but poor company tonight SO
goodbye" And before she could call
him back he was gone. How little she
cares for me !" he thought, while she was
caring for him more than her life.
For fortnight Mr.. Garthorn saw
neither girl. He was sel6shly unhappy
he was in that state of mind that he did
not. know what to do next. He wisheG
some one would take his destiny from
him, and make him do something. Every
day he thought more of Nellie and less
of Opal.
The latter wrote him kind note, hop
} ing he was not i'll should papa com,
and see himl
| Nellie wrote mad letters, beseechinf
him to come or she would die. She wa,
, i'll she was pale she really was dying
She should never see him more If he dit
; not come.
He sat down to answer these letters
| and felt relieved when they were fin
ished.
/ Opal received hers by the last post, ant
, directly she saw the well-known writing
she took it up to her room to read i
r alone. It was only short note, and sh
perceived it was in a school-gi hand. l
I ran thus:
"OwN DARLING MONTE: Your broken
; hearted golden wig is pale i'll, languid, an
dying. IL you don't see her soon IL will be TO
late, and you can only put flowers in her coffir
and hid her n laet adieu DO do do. come 4