The true northerner., 1877-08-10

ottoman near the hre That burned cozi1y
and hrightly. He, waited ten-twanty-r
thirty minutes, and when she had, not
come at the expiration of three-quarters
of an hour Mr.. Ammidon was conscious
of a keen disappointment -that aston
ished himself. - .rii,., /,
"At all events my object shall be ac-
complished, 80 far rs 1 can accomplish
it," he thought. ..-.~. ~. -.
And he took his gold and ivory pen,
and wrote an ardent, courteous, undeni-
ably eager statement of his case, asking
her to be his beloved wife, and begged
an answer on the morrow, when she
should be visiting Mrs. Benedict. ef"f-
"I accidentally learned you would
take tea with us tomorrow night, he
wrote. "and must know at once when
meet you if / am the blessed man l
hope to be. If you can look favorably
| on nv suit let me know by answering
'yes to the question put to you. IL
it is otherwise, will not trouble You
| further" .s.,s ,a, -,
Then he signed himself suitably, put
the folded and addressed note conspicu-
ously on the top of pile of newspapers
| and sheet music on the piano, and took
his leave, in strange whirl of excite
ment and expectation. y.nii
Half an hour later Mrs. Baldwin came
in, and stopped as she passed the dining
room door to speak to the girl. ....,..r
"You carried all those papers and the
music up stairs, Annie, as | told you?"
b" "The very minute the gentleman went
away, Mrs. Baldwin--it was Mr.. Ammi-
don. and he came just as you went out. !"
sob, that's too bad that was not in !
Mrs. Mays little baby is very, very sick,
Annie" i'
And so Mrs. Baldwin never knew of
the precious letter, as she sat there alone
by the fire, thinking of the caller she
had missed with genuine sorrow and
paling cheeks and eyes full of disap-
pointment For pretty Mrs. Bessie,
with her soft blue eyes and rebelliously
curly hair, and small, perfect figure, was
more interested in the handsome bache-
lor than she cared to admit even to her.
self.
The next day she dressed with un-
usual care for her afternoon visit to Mrs.
Benedict, wondering, as she basted the
soft little ruching around the neck OF
her sleeveless velvet jacket, and adjust
ed the loufs of her black silk overskirt,
whether or not Mr.. Ammidon would
think she looked well, and whether,
possibly, he might not escort her home.
So her eyes were dancing with radiant
blue sunshine, and her cheeks were
flushing most delicious rose pink hue,
her lovely mouth dimpling into be-
witching smiles, when Mr.. Ammidon
| A.. o.A ,.,,v
utes before the time for the dinner-bell
to ring-Mr. Ammidon, handsomer than
she had ever seen him, in a dark-blue
cloth suit, with white tie, and his face
so grandly intelligent and animated as
he went up to her and offered her his
hand, looking straight into her face as
he spoke, very quietly, but with all his
fate in his words-and she so smiling,
unconscious.
''I am very glad to see you, Mrs.
Baldwin. Didn't you find it very cool
this afternoon ?"
! Then she met his gaze, hating her.
self because her heart was throbbing
} so gladly at the sight of him, and de-
spising herself because he had thrilled
} her from head to foot. Then, never
} knowing her fate was in it, she turned
her beautiful face carelessly away and
withdrew her hand, and answered him
: "No; / thought it was charmingly
pleasant. "
And Mr.. Ammidon recoiled as if he
had been struck dreadful blow, and
could not, for the life of him, console
himself with the conviction that women
were fools and men were well rid OF
them.
The next day he told Mrs. Benedict
he would not want his apartments any
longer, and had his trunks packed and
sent to a hotel. Mr.. Ammidon deter
mined to kill two birds with one stone
to get rid of the possibility of having to
meet often Mrs. Benedict's friend, the
pretty little woman, than whom he had
never loved another more, and to make
r his home where house cleaning was
{ unknown, and Bessie cried till her eyes
were red and swollen to think how en-
tirely Indifferent Mr.. Ammidon was tc
| her.
{ And the winter crept softly along il
soft, white, snowy robes, and severa
times Mrs. Baldwin saw Mr.. Ammidor
driving past, although he didn't do more
as he passed than glance carelessly a
I the window and bow. And the sweet
: warm spring days. came, and with per
| funny tints of roses and woodbine, ant
4 fresh emerald leaves, and climbing vines
and bursting blossoms, came Bessie
! Baldwin's fate, in the. shape of the un
: romantic, the inevitable spring cleaning
, that must be undertaken and accom-
plished, no matter how temptingly
| balmy sunshine and fragrant breezes
and cloudless skies came to welcome
} them. HNhh
J Thus it happened that Mrs. Baldwin
, stood in one of her chambers with {
/ blue veil tied tightly over her COLDER
, hair, and her muslin dress pinned up il
front, disclosing ravishingly lovely feet
despite the half-worn boots, with a bas
ket lying in readiness beside her, and
her faithful ally, Annie, waiting to con
sign piles of waste to deathly ignominy
, and the paper and rag man. la
Only one pile more, Annie, and
aren't you glad we're so nearly done