The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-03-02

It's beyond me. But If Albert had
come first, and Alberta, by some other
name, second, she wouldn't have been an
only child, as she is now, petted and IN
dulged in every within and fancy, until
she imagines herself Queen and all the
world her slaves.
"You said "a Princess few moments
ago." said Cora, demurely.
And perhaps she wouldn't be smiling
ON that grinning idiot, Dan Van Rensse-
laer-they say she's going to marry hum,
his fortune equaling her own, and his
great great- eat-great-grandfather hav-
ing been one of the very first Dutchmen
that landed on these shores-and turning
away from the fellow she has known
from her infancy, and who has
Whoa, Ned, keep still Why the deuce
don't she and her train make their APP
pearance ?"
They don't make their appearance, and
Cora begins to talk again.
Harold, you wrong Alberta indeed
you do. 1t is yOu that are foollshly
proud, not she. When she went abroad,
she left us rich when she came back,
she found us poor; and yet she had only
been home two days when she sought us
out. And how did yOu receive herr In
the coolest manner; and then raved and
swore when she was gone--you needn't
contradict me; / distinctly remember
two very wicked words you said-be-
cause she didn't rush into your arms and
kiss you mt meeting, as she did at part
ing, three years before. Can't you I'M
derstand, you horrid, splendid old boy,
that what is allowable in a girl of 15would
be highly improper in young lady OF
10? And you've only called upon her
once since her return-once in six long
months and pray what did your Lord
ship do on that occasion? Scowled and
growled and snapped at Louis Vance in
such a.ferocious manner that he told my
Fred-poor Fred what a pity they're
taking count of stock tonight he actu-
ally thought" with little chuckle,
"you were losing your senses. And
what's more, Mr.. Harold Brown and
the dimpled chin is thrust forward def
antly-"I think, and so does Fred,
that it's your duty to apologize for the
way you behaved that evening. And L
don't believe she's engaged to Dan Van
Rensselaer, at all. That was only ru-
NOR that foated over here from Paris,
and L see no reason why you should ac-
cept it for the blessed truth any more
than you do the thousand and one idle
reports that are always floating about.
And Harold, if you really love her, why
don't you tell her so? Fred told me the
moment he found out. But there L
sha'n't talk any more it's no use.
cit is not" declares Harold, with en-
phasis "for unless, by some unfore-
seen turn in the wheel of fortune, she
become as poor as myself, and I don't
believe the wheel contemplates any
such turn, shall never speak of love to
Miss Alberta Lee"
"Rude, obstinate, wretched boy !"
scolds the little sister; 81 wash my
hands of you. If you insist upon being
unhappy, be So Not another word do
you hear from me tonight, for my breath
is all frozen on my veil, making it stiff
think, Notwithstanding my promise to
the contrary, my big brother, I'm going
to sneeze."
My darling" cries the big brother,
fumbling in his great-coat pockets, Give
another sky, or moon, or cloud, or what
ever you call it, here-bought it as L
came along for fear"
"Har," interrupts Cora, solemnly, I" II
you wrap another thing about me, even
if it be the finest gossamer, 1 shall cease
to breathe ;" and she twines the veil she
had unfolded about the lower part of her
ace again, and relapses into silence.
Here she is-and time, / think, 1"
says Harold, his blue eyes flashing with
no pleasant light, as a laughing party
ran down the steps of the Lee mansion
and crowded into the empty sleigh.
"And, thunder and Mars that internal
Dan Van Rensselaer, is at her side.
G'lang, Ned ~ savagely. And away they
all start, laughing, singing and shouting
as only young people sleigh-riding on
fine moonlight night can laugh, and sing,
and shout.
An hours ride, and then n stop of an
hour or two Mt an old-fasL Toned country
hotel-would there were more of them
for dance (the sole music for which was
furnished 10y very old violin, played by
still older darkey, who, the dance end
ed, proceeded to display his musical skill,
with much rolling of eyes and stamping
of the right foot, by performing a com
position of his own, the theme being,
60 The Queen-Bee's Visit to the Garden
of Roses, and the most noticeable point
i'll which was a hum-um-um, COM
mencing pianissimo, crescendo to FORTS
simO, and then diminuendo until the
Queen-Bee flew away again and sup
per.
AT the supper an enormous turkey pre-
sided, thanked by crisp salads, broiled
quails, and the various pies of the
country; but he, the turkey, didn't pre-
side long, for he was soon reduced to
much less than skeleton and then the
sleighs were brought from the stable, and
the heads of the horses, the horses moth
ing loath, turned homeward and the
good-natured landlady and the red
haired chambermaid, and Dan Van Rens-
selaer and his chums, had all they could
do i'll the way of searching for articles of
wearing apparel, and helping on jackets,
and holding shawls and cloaks, and tying
wells, for Mt least fifteen minutes.
Hurry up" mt length shouts some
one from outside, eff you want to get to
the city before the moon turns her back
on us : and downstairs they go pell-