The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-06-09

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time or other, or rather to Molly's home,
where l found the old folks and the boys
gone to bed long ago. But my little
woman was nursing the parlor fire still.
"For knew you'd come, Jack 1
knew it," she said "and l know some
thing has happened TO You (; see it in
your face. You might as well tell me oil
about it first as last"
r"That is Just what l came for Molly"
And we had it out, sitting there by
the fire that she had kept red and bright
for me, scamp that 1 was The small
hours crept upon us before the story was
done, for there were good many inter-
ruptions, you see, and more than once
Molly had to have her cry out, with her
head upon my shoulder. Hard as she
took it, she hadn't word OF reproach
for me, not one, even when l told her
the meanest bit of it all, the shabby his
tory of how tried to sell her ring, and
meant to lie to her about it.
"Poor Jack |" was all she said. "My
poor, dear old Jack! to think that l
should have brought you such trouble J"
For she would persist in thinking she
was somehow or other to blame, which
was the silIest thing in the world, of
course. When / told her what Mrs.
Blackjack said about her picture, she
colored up with delight.
slack, I've got an idea !" she ex-
claimed. "It's no use asking me what
it is, for / shan't tell you"
"Well, that's COOL" 1 said, "when
I'm just turning myself inside out for
you, Miss"
"Never mind I'm going to do some
thing, but won't tell you" and she
wouldn't; and / never found out what
it was till days and weeks afterward- not
till such time as the Grand Mogul con-
descended to give us another bite on a
cherry, and / was lucky enough to get q
warrant for two months salary. You
can guess if any grass grew under my
feet between the bank and Mr.. Black
locks house after / got that warrant
cashed. 1 picked out (while was
waiting in the library for Mrs. Black
lock- the newest and cleanest bills
seven fives and think it was the hap
piest moment of my life, all things con-
sidered, when put them into her hand.
/ don't know if I've said it before, but
l say it now, at any rate she had beau
tiful hands. Molly's were pretty, and
they are pretty still, as you can see for
yourself but Mrs. Blacklock's hands
had delicate, refined sort of beauty
that you couldn't help noticing. l did,
that first night, in spite of the trouble
was in and to-day, when she held out
the little hand for me to put the money
in, it seemed more delicate than ever,
in contrast with the color of the ring
she wore-an amethyst ring, so like
Molly's that L gave little start without
meaning to. She saw it-such quick
eyes as she had and in second the
ring was off her finger, and she offered
it to me.
"Take it back to your little girl, y
she said, laughingly. 81 think she has
done penance long enough for your sins
but it was not my fault, 1 do assure
you"
"What does it mean?" 1 asked, q
light breaking in upon me. els ii
Molly's ring2"
"Yes, certainly; didn't you know that
she brought it here, the foolish child,
and insisted upon my keeping it p
No, indeed, had never guessed that,
as often had leased her to tell me what
was the thing she intended to do.
When / asked her where her ring was,
for she had not worn it since that night,
she said, gravely, that it was put away
in a safe, but she could never wear il
again till she knew it was really paid
for.
"She brought it in here" Mrs. Black
lock continued, the very day after
had seen you, and / couldn't persuade
her to take it away again. told her i,
was unheard of for girl to part with
her engagement ring, but she would moi
listen to me. 1t was not hers, she said
until you had returned the money. And
I sympathized with her feelings so much
that could not refuse to take charge OF
it. You may tell her that have worn
it sometimes in remembrance of a good
little girl, and am very glad to send il
back to her."
Well, l mad nothing to say, of course.
1t takes a woman to have the right
word ready, and to understand what q
fellow means when he can only blush,
and stammer, and look like fool. Mrs.
Blackjack did.
You must give my very kind re-
membrance TO your little Molly" said
she, rs she bowed me out. lam sure
she will make you good wife, and my
advice to you is to put yourself into her
safe keeping just as soon as possible"
thought that was such good advice
that persuaded Molly to agree to it,
and the end of it was that we were mar
ried next month. We didn't have any
cards or nonsense, but we let Mrs.
Blackjack know it was to be on such q
day, round ct the church where Molly
was member land where she's kept me
up to one service Sunday pretty regu-
lar ever since), and prompt to the hour
Mrs. Blacklock's carriage was at the
church door. don't know what
her husband thought of it, or whether
lac ever knew she went to Jack Stebbins
wedding. Anyhow, she gave Molly her
kind good wishes, and when we got
home there was box directed to "Mrs.
John Stebbins, with Mrs. Blackjack
compliments, with dozen silver spoons
inside.
Since then there has been silver cup
for the baby, that came girl, you know,
and was Immediately christened (by per-
mission) Helen Blackjack; also several
bits of toggery for the other two young.
o. k1,ak H..