The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-08-24

her first husband, who was really the
mistress of the establishment, for Maria
Patterson had strong will, and she was
an heiress. "a very nasty heiress, too"
poor Maggie thought, and she was right,
for Maria was skinny, and thought her
self sarcastic, and always said nasty
things to people who did not dare to say
them back again.
One evening, when Maggie had been
about year at Woolwich, and she was
sitting alone in her school-room as usual,
for her pupils had just said goodnight
and been delivered up to the tender mer-
cies of their nurse, Miss Patterson walked
in, very much dressed and rather flushed
and excited.
"Miss Dunlop" she said, "we shall
have few friends this evening, and 1
know one or two of them like an i'm
promptu dance; will you be ready to
come into the drawing-room and play if
we should want you2"
81 fear cannot play dance music
very well; / never keep time, said Mag
gle.
eyes, / feared so, and thought would
come and tell you, 80 that you might
practice for an hour or two after dinner"
and she sailed out of the room, evidently
considering the matter settled; and Mag
gle meekly proceeded to practice the
"Mabel" waltz and the "Flick and
Flock" galop. Then she put on her
shabby black evening gown, and stuck
spray of white flowers into her golden
hair, and waited patiently for a sum-
mons, hoping she would wait in vain. 1t
very soon came, and with roll of music
under her arm, flush on her innocent,
frightened face, and scared, almost
hunted expression in her eyes, she de-
scended and timidly opened the drawing
room door, and there stood still for a
moment, staring in establishment at the
scene before her. There sat the heiress.
with an eager, pleased expression Oh her
face, and leaning over her, talking and
laughing. and more handsome than ever,
and sunburnt and soldierly-looking was
Alc Granger. There was no installing
him. The color rushed to Maggie's face,
as if to say hurried good-by, and then
left it altogether. She recovered her
sef-possession, however, and walked
with what she hattered herself was great
dignity toward the piano. She felt
rather than saw him raise his head and
look at her, and the next moment he was
by her side.
Maggie, my dear Maggie Why,
fancy you being here. Where did you
come from? 1 have been trying to find
you out for months.
81 thought you and then she did
not know how to go on, so added, almost
rNifany1olxy &c tho hara ~
Are you Oh, see, then, that is
the reason I've not seen you before, L
suppose"
"Do you really know Miss Dunlop ?"
the heiress asked, coming up, and speak
ing in her coolest manner.
Maggie wished sincerely that she could
sink into her shoes and bury herself.
why, of course L do ; we have been
| play-fellows ever since we were born
haven't we, Maggie2'
And Maggie, feeling she was backed
up, answered bravely:
eyes"
ooh, indeed how interesting p then
turning to Maggie: "Will you be so
good as to begin a waltz, Miss Dunlop |?
This was to be our dance, / think" to
Alic, and she sailed off with him tri-
umphantly.
He came to her directly after the dance
was over.
81 went down to Porlock to try and
find out where you had gone to, he said,
"but nobody knew"
cit didn't matter" she said, huskily,
letting her fingers wander vaguely over
the keys to make believe she wasn't very
interested in what he said.
Yes, it did--it mattered great deal.
Why, I've got box full of curiosities
for you-clubs to fight with, and little
heather god or two, and statue of
Buddha, and all sorts OF things. L told
you / should bring you them home.
Do you live here-I mean in this
house ?"
He said these last words under his
breath, for the heiress came up, and the
next minute he was carried off to dance
with Mrs. Somebody at the other end of
the room, but not before Maggie had
nodded a reply to him. Soon after this,
Miss Patterson came up to the piano,
aEd saying she wished to play herself, and
that Maggie looked tired, dismissed her
without her being able to get even an
other look at Alic.
The next morning, to Maggie's very
great surprise. Miss Patterson came into
the school-room before the children had
assembled.
"Miss Dunlop" the said stiflly, ct
should like to know where you say you
met Mr.. Granger"
CAT Porlock. His uncle lived next
door to my mother. He is very old
friend indeed"-r- w
Thank you. merely wished to IN
quire, because, of course, you must he
aware that it is not usual for any rne in
your position to make herself remark
able by having long confidential talks
with any gentleman who may visit the
house"
81 don't know what you mean, Miss
Patterson !" Maggie said, Indignantly.
But Miss Patterson had swept out of
the room without deigning to reply.
Then Maggie went into her own little
room, the one place she had in the world
entirely to herself, and cried till her eyes
were red and her head ached.
The lessons did not progress that
morning. Maggie was thinking of Alic,
who was, no doubt, strolling about the
common listening to the band and MAX