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

ner DOOkb Ou tuc btttlI lhuuiuS, ouo Ihu
down and out the rear door into the
sunshine, tossing up her fiat hat exult-
ingly.
so myl almost feel as if / was o
young lady,"
She did not look much like one as she
raced down to the river, intent on row
ing off little of her excitement. She
looked very young indeed, with her
slight figure, short dress, and careless
curls tied down under the flat hat, as
she loosed her boat and pushed out into
the stream. And she felt just like q
child as she rowed off in the perfect air
and sunshine of the autumn day. The
ripeness and mist of September were
on the russet fields and painted woods.
Warm scents came from hedge e-blooms
and gardens along the banks, and here
and there the dark water caught scar.
ct reflection from vivid cardinal
flower or redeemed bough. Christy,
rowing lazily down with the currents,
rounded q shady bend in the stream, and
came upon little cove, where an adven-
turous wild grape had climbed over low
trees and hung its rare, ,purpling clusters
from pendant boughs. Now, Christy
had an especial liking for wild grapes.
She no sooner saw them than, with a
deft movement of the oars, the boat was
pushed into the cove, and the rover,
standing on one of the teetering seats,
was trying in vain to reach the lowest
tempting cluster. 1t was out of reach.
In vain she jumped for it, at the immi-
nent risk of drowning herself; in vain,
orgetting her aspirations after young
ladyhood, she wished herself boy, that
she might climb the willow from which
it hung. She did not know what pref
ty picture she made as she stood there
in the rich, purple shadows, the richer
purple fruit above her, the gold of stray
sun rays filtering down through the
million leaves above. Her dark, curling
hair was pushed back, her cheeks were
flushed, and the sleeves had fallen away
from her appraised, rounded arms as she
stood on tiptoes below the provoking
cluster. A voice startled her, and
brought her eyes back to the shining
level of the river.
"Will you allow me to get you the
grapes2"
If Christy had been young lady
she would not have turned scarlet and
uttered an exclamation of surprise.
Being a schoolgirl, she did both /; foi
there, beside the boat, was slender
scarlet wherry, the oars lying length
wise, and the occupant standing within
it, cap in hand. Christy did not need
to glance twice at the close-cut jetty
hair, the bearded lips, the face olive
tinted by the sun, for surely the dark
eyes looking down at her could belong
to no other than the hero of her girlish
dreams-Belle's beau. Nor could the
=" fated fairy prince" who comes sooner
or later into the life of most girls, have
come in more attractive guise than in
the person of the young aristocrat who
stood awaiting Christy's reply, and re.
garding her with mingled amusement
and admiration.
EXCUSE me for startling you. ]
am certain you cannot get the grapes,
and, being head and shoulders taller
than you, / am equally certain that ]
can," he said, with smile.
"Ohl thank you! II do want
them. I like grapes"
Most people dc" was the laughing
response, as he reached high over
Christy's head and plucked two or three
punches. He dropped these in her
lap, and reached for more, while she
sat in schoolgirl fashion, holding the
gatherings, and stealthily watching the
gatherer from under her wide hat-brim.
When he at last looked down at her,
having filed the bottom of the boat
with grapes, to ask if those were
enough, she was betrayed into laugh.
"Oh great many more than enough
for me. But you like grapes yourself,
don you 2"
Indeed I do. But pray don't do
that I" for Christy was eagerly piling
fruit-clusters into the wherry. "There
isn't room for them and for me too. II
you will let me-" he added, with glance
at Christy's still-fushing face, "I will
eat one bunch here in the shadow before
rowing down the river"
There followed time-Christy never
knew how long-of positive enchant-
ment. How it was that she forgot her
awe of the elegant Mr.. Ross, and began
to talk to her companion of her doings
and feelings, as she did, will ever remain
mystery. And how thoroughly charm
ing he was How he listened and
iaaghed at her school girl relations and
how handsome his dark Spanish face
looked under the scarlet boating cap
And how enthusiastically he talked of a
hundred things seen in travel; while
Christy listened as enthusiastically, with
wide eyes and lips, and fingers stained
with the purple juice of the grapes
Mr.. Ross must nave forgotten about
rowing down the river. The sun was
very low and the shadows were growing
chilly, when at last he said apologetical-
ly, raising himself from his lounging
position in the wherry, 81 beg your
pardon for talking TO you 80 long, and
without an introduction, too but be-
lieve we know each other. You have
twice called me by my name, so l know
you know me and / know you are my
neighbor, the youngest Miss Evarts.
"Christabel Evarts," she said,
simply.
"You must let me row, or rather tow,
you home, to pay for my impoiteness.
There is only room for one in the
wherry, unfortunately but if you will
let me fasten this chain to the bow OF
vour boat IN will save Won rowing mn