The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-01-19

O Say muCu DuU MI. bOSo Who Noiy
merry-"ju just like any boy" as Christy
soliloquized. The latter was still in a
state of wonder as she stood again on
terra a-frma, and watched her cavalier
fasten the boat and remove the oars.
81 always do that myself" she said,
taking perforce the last clusters of wild
grapes which were imperatively thrust
upon her. There was a bow and smile,
and the scarlet wherry shot out into tho
stream again. Christy turned and went
slowly up to the house, flaming bunch
of cardinals in one hand and the rem
nants of the grapes in the other.
"Where have you been, Miss
Christy2" was the cooks rather cross
greeting. "Supper's over an hour
since. You'll have to take pickings in
the pantry"
Supper was the last thing Christy
thought of. The remembrance of the
party came back to her, and, after a
hurried peep at the decorated parlors,
she ran up stairs and began to dress.
She was very happy as she industriously
scrubbed the stains off her hands. Gould
it be possible that MIR. Ross-that Mr..
Ross whom she had admired afar off as
she might have done a young god-had
talked to her an hour and rowed her
homea And he was corning to the party
tonight (Christy shrewdly guessed that
the party was given for him), and per-
haps he would speak to her again.
Maria curled her hair, and pulled it
cruelty, but Christy was very serene.
Her white muslin dress and tiny slippers
were quickly donned, few flowers
pinned at throat and belt, and she was
ready. The parlors were already
lighted, and the full moon shone on the
piazzas and dewy gardens. There was a
subdued hustle in the kitchen, and
Belle, a radiant vision of beauty, had
already swept down stairs. 1t seemed as
if every one had come. The first strains
of music had already sounded, the dance
was beginning, and no Mr.. Ross yet.
Christy was much in demand. So tired
was she of fastening sashes, and trains,
and bows, of running for pins and pow
der, that, when at last the dressing
room was empty, she thankfully de-
scended the stairs, and, timidly creep
ing in at the rear door of the parlor,
Immediately shielded herself behind a
lace curtain.
They were waltzing. What would
poor Christy have given to have been
sc grown-up young lady !" Her little
slippered feet beat the carpet as she en-
viously watched one gay couple after
another whirl past her. And Christy
caught her breath suddenly when an
opening in the crowd showed her Mr..
Ross waltzing with Belle. There he
| IL Al - -
self, dancing with the naughty, indolent
grace that Christy knew so well, as
handsome and courteous as prince.
The little observers cheeks burned
while she thought of her afternoons ex-
perience, and how she had reckoned him
"just like boy" And Belle, whirling
in graceful circles, with his arm around
her. how beautiful she looked
Nobody noticed Ohristy. Two or
three dances passed. People chartered
and laughed about her, promenaded and
whirled past her. Sitting still was be-
coming torture, and she was casting
longing glances at the stairway, when
the strains of her favorite waltz foated
through the rooms. In sheer despair of
enduring it, Christy sprang to her feet,
about to seek refuge upstairs, when
some one put the curtain aside. Turn
ing, astonished, she beheld Mr.. Ross
bending before her and offering his arm.
81 have been trying to find you.
Will you do me the honor of waltzing
with me2"
Waltz with him Between fright and
delight, Christy stood undecided, turn
ing red and white alternately. Then,
forgetting everything but the music and
the dangerously beautiful dark eyes
looking into her own, she put her hand
on his arm, and in moment they were
circling down the room. Christy's
cheeks burned like fire. Whenever she
dared raise her eyes from her partners
broadcloth sleeve, she became aware that
she was the focus of all eyes. For a
while she was dreadfully conscious of
this. Then she forgot everything but
motion and music, and the handsome
head bent so near her own. When at
last they paused, and Mr.. Ross led her
out to the moonlit piazza, the fright
came back again, and she nervously
withdrew her hand from his arm, and
flushed scarlet when he asked. her for
the next dance.
OO you CtIe lOT quhurlllesf
Poor Christy looked wistfully toward
the parlor, and pulled blossom to
pieces.
"Oh do like to dance-before any
thing-I'm very much obliged to you,
but can't dance again."
The young autocrat in society, whose
invitation to a dance had never before
been refused by any lady, looked at
Christy in surprise.
"You oughtn't to dance with me; I'm
not grown up," said Christy, checking
a sob. "Theyn all want you to dance
with them"
Mr.. Ross would have laughed IL his
politeness would have allowed. He only
said, leaning closer to Christy in the
moonlight, and speaking low:
"But 1 want TO dance with YOU"
And Christy, of course, yielded. What
happy evening that was that followed
II people looked amazed at Mr.. Ross
dancing with a school girl, it was no
matter. He wanted to dance with her,
and the thought made her eyes shine
and her cheeks glow, as she moved
1 tb~o,,o,h tho 1,,,aI - .-.Al. Al.