The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-03-16

month And was she not neatt-Droken
maiden, resolved to die as soon as the
ice in the Connecticut river melted 7?
These thoughts whirled through her
brain as she fastened bit Of white lace
at her throat--lace which Aunt Charity
had once worn. when knitting was not
her sele aim in hfe-and took a final
peep at her pretty self in the double
sectioned mirror. At all events, II made
her conscious of her beauty, and caused
her to forget the terrible letter lying be-
tween the pages Of the dictionary down
stairs.
When Kitty went into the sitting-room
to announce that supper was ready,
she saluted Jack with chilling politeness,
and addressed him as Mr.. Burroughs.
This ought TO have stabbed the young
man to the heart, but it didn't He
looked very grave, TO be sure, and called
her Miss Gibson" but there was the
old roguish twinkle In his gray eyes, and
Kitty detected at once that, under his
assumed gravity, there was desire, re-
strained only by continued exertion, to
burst out laughing. Naturally this
vexed the young lady to degree where
tears would have been a sweet relief. 1t
was not enough, then, that this wicked,
deceitful, cruel Jack should make play
thing of her heart, but he must needs
exult over his atrocious conduct Kitty
could have cried with relish, but she
remembered her letter and her resolution
to die, and 50, in lieu of tears, she drew
solace from that grim thought
At the supper table Jack was unusually
ALL ATtou I.n
upon the excellence of her haky biscuits,
and emphasized his appreciation by eat
ing half dozen Of them he expressed
his cordial sympathy with Uncle Ran
dolph's desire TO kick the tribe of Mar
shalls, and evinced a deep interest in the
plot of the story which Tom Turner had
Just devoured he shouted the praises Of
Aunt Charity's knitting in tones 80 lusty
that the old lady was made to hear, albiet
she was wont to declare herself " so
proper deef she couldn't hear anything;D
and as for Kitty, this wicked Jack bonn
barded her with such volley of inter
rogatories that she was forced into an un-
willing conversation. When the meal
was at an end, Kitty persisted in helping
Miss Martha wash the dishes.
You'll only hinder me, expostulated
the elder maiden, and besides you've
got on your best dress. Go into the sit
ting-roem and entertain Jack
But the younger maiden was fixed
in her purpose. So she went TO her
room to don an apron, and left Jack to
entertain himself.
Thereupon, the heir of the house of
Burroughs picked mp a bulky volume
and sat down by the open fire IN the sit
ting-room. The bulky volume proved
to be Webster's Dictionary, which care
less Kitty had thrown on the table on
her first hasty retreat from the kitchen.
Jack turned over the leaves hstlessly
until he came to a sheet of paper written
upon in chirography pleasantly familiar.
OF course it was highly improper for
him to read that paper, yet as chroni-
cler of simple facts am forced to record
that he did read it. And this is what it
contained:
To dear Uncle Randolph and all who love me:
/ have determined TO drown myself, be-
cause am tired OF life. Ny heart il broken,
and / can zee no relief except In death. For
give me for what am about to do, and I shall
pray to God to forgive me alEo do not want
to live and suffer as have sufered
Here the words "since Jack" we're
scratched out, and in their stead was
written, during the past Ga blank
to be filed in when the ice should
thaw)
/ forgive everybody / hope You win not
mourn for me, nor remember my melancholy
end, because do not deserve 1t. With love to
you and to dear Aunt Charity and Tom, re-
main, Your heart-broken KATE.
H.. ..o.... ks..,oc Too1~ oo.l ell - .,...1
this singular document will never be
known, but when Kitty entered the room,
quarter of an hour later, he was still
sitting with the dictionary upon his knees
and the paper IN his hand.
81 thought Uncle Randolph was here, 7"
said Kitty, hesitating whether to remain
or not, and failing to observe what it was
that 80 absorbed Jacks attention. He
turned with a start, as though first con-
scious of her presence, and thrust the
sheet of paper back into the volume.
Then he said, very gravely:
Your uncle is not here, Kitty.
Won't you be seated? want to talk
with you.
Kitty sat down upon the high-backed
sofa, and fell 10 studying the figures in
the carpet. Jack went over and took a
seat by her side. She did not notice
that he held the dictionary under his
right arm.
Kitty" said Jack, with becoming
solemnity, II do not believe that you
have been very happy during the past
month, have you p
Kitty's lip began to tremble, bnt she
answered, desperately, "Why shouldn't
have been happy?"
Because" replied the candid Jack,
"you have not had me to torment you. .
fYou mean 10 say that / can not be
happy without you, Mr.. Burroughs ~
Kitty was stiD gazing intently at the
carpet, 80 that she did not see the smile
that played about Jacks mouth as he
answered:
Yes, / have reason to believe that
without me you would be very miser-
able
9 Indeed T. exclaimed Kitty. 81
should like 10 know what right you have
to believe that 2"
"Well, Kitty, Judge You by myself.
have been wretohed ever since the
night of that unfortunate party. / made
mp my mind yesterday to swallow my