The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-03-31

Mrs. Gray had seen Fred Seymour going
in the direction of the depot at half-past
seven, and it did not seem to occur to
the gossips that, as his business was in
New York, this was sight of daily oc-
currence. Another one had always
thought Miss Grainger's quiet, modest
manners, covered a deceitfutl heart.
Some pitied Susy, some congratulated
her npon her escape. The young couple
were discovered to have every fault the
imagination of their accusers could sum-
mon up, and Mrs. Belknap and Mrs.
Seymour shared the odium and pity with
Mrs. Granger, who certainly should have
attended more strictly to the education
of her daughter, and given her a more
careful moral training.
Every mother in Myrtleville was pitt
ously thankful it was not her daughter
who had SO disgraced herself, and the
daughters, as a general rule, secretly
wished they had had Miss Grainger's
chance, for Fred Seymour was decidedly
beau in Myrtleville, and his mother
was known to have O property from her
late husband that would make the young
man independent, when, in the course of
nature, it reverted to him. He was en-
gagged on one of the daily evening papers
of the great metropolis, and considered
talented and upright, man who in time
would make name and position of honor.
His attention to Susy Belknap, though
the fact of their engagement had not
yet been published, had been too marked
to escape the notice of eyes so prying as
those possessed by the good people of
Myrtleville, and his INCONSISTENCY was
matter of marvel, as Susy was maiden
whom any man mip'.t have been proud to
win.
When the O'Clock train came in, Mr..
Granger, little, nervous man, all ex-
citability, was amazed at the sympathiz-
ing faces that greeted him on the plat
form. A chill like death seized his
heart. For years his wife had been an
invalid, suffering from spine complaint
Had she died while he was away2 White
as sheet, he turned to friend standing
near, saying:
why do you look at me3 What is
the matter at homer"
"My poor friend, have you heard
nothing 2"
GA choking sensation came over the
loving husband, but he struggled against
it, saying:
"Quick, tell me Is it Mary2"
"No. Mrs. Granger is as well as us
ual, 1 believe but there is a very sad
story to break to you regarding your
daughter"
Wrath took the place of terror.
"My daughter !" cried the little man,
furiously. "Who dares to carry stories
about my daughter9'
Well-you-see," stammered his
friend, "the women folks say she eloped
this morning with Fred Seymour. '
"Fred Seymour Why, he's head
over ears in love with Susy Belknap.
My Belle Why, she has been engaged
for two years to Lieut.. Weston of the
navy, though we did not publish the
fact for the benefit of all the tattlers in
Myrtleville."
"I am afraid, was the reply, that it
was the fact of these engagements that
drove them to secrecy and elopement."
"I tell you the whole story is false !"
roared the excited father. "Iu make
these mischief makers eat their own
words My Belle, indeed They must
be crazy"
met the report in 80 many places, heard
it in such plausible versions, that he en-
tered his wife's room with a very grave
face, from which all angry excitement had
vanished.
"Where is Belle, Mary" he asked.
"She went to New York this morning
to do some shopping. She will stay at
her Aunt Maria's tonight"
"Did young Seymour go up on the
same train 2"
ct suppose so. He usually goes at
eight, and that was the train that Belle
took"
Mr.. Grainger was on the point of tell
ing his wife the whole story, but on
second thought he restrained the inn
pulse. Sure in his own fatherly conf
dence in his gentle, modest child, that
there was some mistake admitting of ex-
planation, he said nothing. After all,
it was subject of congratnlation that
none of the busy bodies Of Myrtleville
had invaded the sick room, and he easily
made some trivial excuse for going out
again. He was determined to sift the
gossip thoroughly before alarming the
invalid, and his first visit was to the tele-
graph Office at the railway station.
"Is Belle at your house Z" flashed over
the wires, and was carried to handsome
house in the city.
"Yes. VIII be down on the next
train," was the answer I; for poor Belle
imagined there was death or frighful
illness to cause her fathers mess lge
when visit to her aunts was such
common occurrence
Satisfied on this point, Mr.. Granger
quietly waited until the train came in,
walked up Main street, with his daughter
on his arm, left her at home, and started
out to defy all Myrtleville.
From house to house he travelled with
exemplary patience, and followed the
snake like coils of the story, till he
faced Mrs. Sawyer, who earnestly as
sured him
"Mrs. Seymour and Mrs. Kitely were
in the sitting-room as / came in the
back way through the kitchen. They
were talking, and just as l got to the
door, Mrs. Seymour told Mrs. Kitely
that her son and Belle Granger had
eloped. They saw me then, and Mrs.
Seymour said very carelessly: