The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-01-05


bear the noise women make when they re
putting house to rights, as they call 1T,
and if / can't stand it after we come
back, why, I'll pull up stakes and go for
good, that's all.
"Yis, sur" said Mike.
When Miles Guernsey and his man
returned from the fishing excursion,
Miss Osborne and Miss Osborne's mother
and Miss Osborne's maid of all work
were installed in Rose Cottage, and,
sure enough, the first sounds that
greeted the ears of the fishermen were
the pleasant tinkling of the guitar and
an equally pleasant voice singing an old
fashioned love song-not out of time,
however, and decidedly in tune.
And the very next day small dog,
after shifting curiously about ON the
outside for while, squeezed himself
nearly fiat, and, crawling under the front
gate, frisked gayly over the tiny lawn,
and from thence up to the porch, where
sat the lawns owner reading the news
paper.
The intruder was brighteyed little
terrier, slightly lame in one of his hind
legs, and he proceeded to caper about
the old bachelor as though in him he
recognized an early but long-lost friend.
Mike I" shouted Mr.. Guernsey.
"Sur !" shouted Mike, running out
with potato in one hand and knife in
the other.
"Remove this dog"
"Ramove it is, sur, said Mike, drop
ping both knife and potato.
But "this dog" clearly objected to
being removed. He skipped nim-
bly, around, barking all the time in a
"what larks !" manner darted under
the garden chairs; got entangled in a
woodbine that was climbing to the roof
OF the porch, and tore it down; seized
the knife Mike had dropped, in his
mouth, and made off with it; and the
wildly man." making after him,
slipped on the treacherous potato and
came down with whack.
"This thing must be stopped al
once :" exclaimed Mr.. Guernsey, set
ting his broad brimmed hat firmly upon
his head, and grasping his cane. Out
OF his own gate he marched in the most
dignified style, along the path, through
the rose-crowded garden, to the door of
Rose Cottage. ct want to see your
MISTRESS" he said to the black-eyed
maid-servant who answered his ring.
Which 2" asked the girl.
What2" retorted Mr.. Guernsey.
"Oh thought p'r'aps you didn't
know the old lady's laid up with rheuma-
tiz'-got cold moving. Will Miss Os-
borne do?"
Anybody" said Miles, walking into
the parlor, as she threw open the door.
Evidently Miss Osborne was extremely
fond of roses. The white muslin cur
tains were looped back with sprays of
half-opened ones vase filed with them
stood on the comfortable and on the
hearth lay shells from which they
peeped, and q vine that ran up the win
dow outside had been coaxed through a
broken pane, AMI hung, heavy with
sweet white buds, over the picture of a
handsome. young man in the dress of q
clergyman. The guitar leaned against
the arm of coy, old-fashioned crimson
sofa hanging shelf of books occupied
one corner of the room 81 mirror, whose
furnished frame was almost hidden by a
pretty arrangement of autumn leaves,
hung in the other. Humph! she's
got some taste" said the old bachelor to
himself, and began, without knowing
why, to wish he were at home fact,
was meditating an inglorious retreat,
when the old maid entered the room.
Tall, graceful, with chestnut brown
hair parted simply over frank, un-
wrinkled brow, and gathered into q
silken net at the back of her head I;
honest gray-blue eyes that looked full at
you arched eyebrows two shades darker
than the hair /; small, straight nose !;
cheeks little faded, but still throwing
out pink roses on occasion; lovely
mouth, with the faintest suspicion of a
shadow mt the corners, which was in
stantly lost in sunshiny smile.
"Our neighbor, Mr.. Guernsey, I be-
lieve T. she said, in a remarkably pleas
ant voice.
eyes," replied Mr.. Guernsey, blush.
ing violently (the idea of it ! an old
bachelor, As his last birthday, blushing
because an old maid looked at him y,
and, having uttered this monosy liable,
he dropped his hat and put his cane
through the crown of it as he stopped to
pick it up again. The hat in his hand
once more, he went on: "I've called to
see if you-that is, your mother-I
mean both Of you, of course In fact"
with sudden inspiration, &c came to ask
il you would like some trout just out
OF the water yesterday"
"Oh thank you; you're very kind,
said Miss Osborne. little surprise in
her voice, and puzzled expression in
her eyes; and at that moment Mikes
rough tones broke in from outside:
"Pve got him, boss, an the divil's
own time I've had to ketch him. Bedad
he's the liveliest lame dog 1 liver met in
me loife, an he's pult down the other
vine an"
"Good day." hurriedly said "the
boss" flying before the old maid 8 ques-
tioning looks, and spinning OFF the stoop
with such impetus as to almost knock
down his faithful retainer. "Shut up,
you idiot - he said, in hoarse whis-
per. Drop that dog and go home and
fa3ten the vines up again."
+" Howiy Moses !" CALCULATED Mike, as
he disappeared in hurry; is it mad
he isg"
"Oh, dear." exclaimed the old maid,
raising her pretty hands and eyebrows
as she caught sight of the I" fine little