The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-10-20
ONE MORNING..
A Tale OF Reconciliation.

A Tale OF Reconciliation.
A small, pleasantly ntly-furnished morn
ing-room long windows opening on the
piazza closed Venetian blinds, that
kept out the heat and dust, and gave q
soft, quiet light to the room an open
piano, with music on the rack some
pretty pictures on the wall; cool lace
curtains at the windows books, papers
and magazines on the tables /; easy cane
bottomed rocking-chairs scattered
around; a low sofa in the corner q
French clock on the mantel, pointing
toward 10; general air of utility about
the whole department-this was the set
ting for two figures, one bright summer
morning.
The lady was leaning very lightly back
upon the sofa, with some dainty pre-
tense at work in her lap-a handkerchief
to be embroidered, believe-her white
fingers occasionally taking lazy stitch.
Dressed in some white, cool stuff that
fell in graceful folds around her, a dash
of red at her throat, and long, flowing
sleeves, showing her finely-rounded
arm, she made quite pleasant picture.
She would scarcely have been called
handsome-her features were too irregu-
lar-but she possessed to marked de-
gree that nameless charm we designate
as "prettiness. Blue eyes and rip
ping brown hair, rather q wide fore
head, nondescript nose, good COM
plexion, and large mouth redeemed by
beautiful teeth, were the main and strik-
ing features. But mere catalogue of a
persons features gives about as much
idea of the real living appearance as
piles of brick and mortar of the struc-
ture to be erected.
For all that she leaned back so care
lessly, and toyed so lazily with her work,
there was look of annoyance about her
eyes, and her lips were shut tight, in
way that argued well for a strong tinge
of firmness-obstinacy, her girl friends
would call it-in her character. Evi-
IDENTIFY the cause of that annoyance was
before her-a tall, athletic young fellow
of about %, neither positively handsome
nor ugly, yet negatively good-looking
dark hair and eyes, and skin burned to a
deep bronze by exposure to the sun,
were the main points to be noticed.
Angry, impatient, all but enraged, he
certainly was. he had been tramping
back and forth, and at length paused
few feet from her, his hand grasping the
back of a chair, and looking down with
admiration plainly struggling with his
provoked feelings.
So, Nell, you are the same willful,
stubborn, obstinate girl you were three
years ago. In return for all my patient
faithfulness you seem determined to
thwart and cross me in every thing. 1t
unjust of you, ungrateful, cruel Here
I'm not home three days, and there hasn't
been single solitary instance in which
your ladyship has deigned to see any
thing pleasant, any thing to accord with
your singularay turned mind, in what
ever may have advocated, Just so
sure as propose any thing, you espouse
its direct opposite if I make even the
simplest request, you refuse it point
blank and every thing may happen to
do is diamet1ically opposed to what. in
your captious eyes, 1 ought to. And yet,
all thus time you still love ME | Love me
Ii this is love, / prefer hate-for you
certainly could not torture me more, nor
make me more uncomfortable, were /
your bitterest foe."
Wand has your highness really done 2"
she drawled, without looking up, in
peculiarly mocking and exasperating
manner. eff Mr.. Arnold has ceased to
desire to tramp up and down the room,
and Lash himself into frenzy, after the
proverbial manner of Gagged hyenas, and
If he really has poured forth all the vitu-
perative abuse he for the moment desires
to, and If he viii sit quietly down at q
safe distance, and stop chewing his mus
tache, he may hear of something to his
advantage"
"Nell, you'd provoke saint. Are
all girls Like youf"
You have had quite good opportuni-
ties to judge. You seem to have select
ed me as not being of the general run
of modern young ladies-as one peculiar
ly suited to the requirements of your
fastidious taste. But, sir, pray be
seated the exertion of standing during
this hot weather may be highly deleteri-
Gus In your present questionable condi-
ton ; and, ah really, you weary me
by clutcning the chair so tightly; and
then I'm afraid lest, in your present
frame OF mind, you might be tempted
to annihilate me"
"By heaven!" he burst forth, throw
ing himself into chair, "I verify be-
ieve the seven devils that were cast
out have taken possession of you this
morning"
"MaDy thanks" she murmured. "If
/ were equal to the exertion, would
sweep you courtesy. But since you
have condescended to yield to my re-
quest, listen to my very mild and depre-