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

s'f have got some news for you, Mag
gle, he said one day, about eighteen
months after he had gained his commits
sion. Guess what it is"
They were walking along the green
Lanes of Porlock, listening to the cease
less murmur of the sea, as at intervals
hey had walked and listened ever since
they could remember, at any rate, for
she was six years younger than her for
mer playfellow.
You are going to be promoted" she
said.
Promoted, you little goose! No one
ever gets promoted in the British army.
Guess again.
"You are going TO marry an heircss."
There was lump in her throat as she
said it.
"Wrong again. No inestimable young
penson with green eyes, turn-up nose,
susceptible heart, and fifty thousand
year, was turned up yet. But it's
something nearly as good. I'm ordered
TO Chinap
ooh, Alic!' she gasped, and burst
into tears. 1t was very foolish of her,
but then she pas only 16, and had not
"
ceeling her feelings.
Why, whatever are you crying for?"
he asked, and kissed away her tears.
He'd kissed her ever since she was five,
and thought no more of it than if she had
been his sister, or the cat, excepting per-
haps that it was nicer which it was, no
doubt. 81 shall only be away five
years, at most, and when come back
I'll bring you pig-tail and an ivory
tooth-pick, and whole lot of things,
and"
"Yes3" she said, listening attentively
"But then you'll be young woman
L forget-and out and all that sort of
thing, and won't condescend to speak to
a poor Lieutenant; you will have all the
Squires and fox-hunters about the place
at your feet"
"Oh, no, indeed 1 shan't, Aic," she
said eagerly.
" But tell you you will. / believe
you are born little firt, and shall
come back and find you"
But she burst into tears again, and
put up her pretty little hand as if to
stop his teasing, which she could not
bear just then. 1t seemed so cruel of
him to laugh and joke when he was
going away for five years. He did not
seem to care bit, and she could have
broken her heart ON the spot, and would
have gladly done so, and thrown the
pieces away SO as never to be bothered
with it again. Then, seeing her mourn
full blue eyes, he was merciful.
81 believe L shall come back and find
YOU Just as great little darling as you
are now, and if we have got any money
well get married and live happy ever
after, and if we haven't we'll get mar
NED and starve ever after-unless, of
course, the heiress turns up.
"Oh, hope she won't!" said Mag
gle, like truthful little idiot "Shall
you ever write to me, Alic, dear Z"
Yes, Of course I shall, and I shall
expect you to write back six pages
crossed, and all that sort of thing, you
know"
SO Alic Granger went to China, and
Maggie waited hopefully enough for
letter, but six months passed and none
came. perhaps it takes longer for
letter to get here from China" she
thought knowing as little about the
means OF transit and the time it took as
if the Celestial city had been in the
moon. But year passed and no letter
came
perhaps he's ill, or it's miscarried,"
she said tearfully, half wondering if it
could be possible that a Chinese heiress
had turned up, and that that was the
real reason of Alic's silence. Two years
passed, and never word. "Its too
bad" she said, bitterly, and wondered
ruefully if he had married a wife with a
'pig-tail. And the days and the months
went by, and Maggie journeyed on into
womanhood, but no word or sign came
from Aic Granger, and at last she gave
him up altogether.
Maggie was 20 years old when her
father died, and the creditors did pounce
down, and she and her mother were sold
out. Mrs Dunlop was offered home
an London by sister who was well off
and bad-tempered, and it was thankfully
accepted. Maggie was informed that
she must get her own living, which be-
mig precisely Maggies own opinion as
well as intention, she advertised for a
situation as governess. Now, Maggie
had very modes. idea of her own mer-
ats, and therefore only asked for f25
year ana comfortable home, 30 no less
than tive answers came to her announce
ymcnt that she could teach English.
Wrench, music, and the rudiments of
drawing.
One OF these answers came from Wool
witch, and stated that Mrs. Marshall re-
qUred governess for her three little
girls; Mrs. Marshall was q stiff-necked
sort of woman, and stared at poor little
Maggie (who looked almost as childlike
and twice as pretty as ever through
double gold glasses. Col. Marshall. her
husband, was nice old man, with bald
head and an iron-gray mustache: and
there was a grown.up daughter, a Miss
Patterson, Mrs. Marshall's daughter by