The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-03-15


There was tenderness in the tone
that was unmistakable, and such AS Har-
nv had never before heard. He looked
at her suddenly and keenly. Her face
grew crimson with bushes her eyes
fell she turned half aside. Then, as if
hardly knowing what she said, she be-
gan to draw lines in the did with Har-
rvs thin bamboo cane, which he had 1
put down when he opened the umbrella.
A wild, desperate resolution took pos
session of her companion. He was no |
faint-hearted knight but, as he had told |
Charley, never before had Isabel given |
him even the slightest encouragement to |
speak as lover. At this sudden shy
ness on her part he took courage, and
resolved to peril all "on the hazard of
the die"
Only those who have been in such
straits themselves. hoping and yet fear
ing, but fearing more than they hoped,
can know how he spoke. His earnest
ness, his passion, made him exception
ally eloquent, even for himself.
Isabel listened with beating heart,
and with fast-changing color. He told
how long he had worshiped her; how
her GOODNESS had driven him to despair
how, being about to go away for ever,
he could not leave without saying all
this, even though he had no hope.
"Some happier man, be said, in con-
clusion, twill yet touch your heart. /
shall not hate him. love you too
purely for that. Heaven bless you
both p
She made no reply. But, If Harry
could have seen her averted face, he
would have seen that tears were in her
eyes. After awhile, however, the tears
ceased; look of perfect happiness ir-
radiated her countenance, and then
roguish smile began to play round the
corners OF her mouth. She stopped and
traced, once more, something in the
sand. But what she traced now were
large. Roman letters the letters GA
Be"
| "Havent you even word for me?"
said Harry, after pause. :" / haven't,
at least, offended you?"
CT have some letters for you, as you
may see, if they will do, she answered,
looking up With mischievous smile;
and then she demurely finished of the
tail of the @.
What did she meant Enigmatical as
were the words, the lock made his heart
beat high. He leaned toward her. She
did not move away. He put his arm
about her. She did not shrink on the
contrary, she said, in low whisper:
"Will you-give-up-going away, if
I ask your" And her appealing look
was even more eloquent than her words.
"I will give up my life, even," he an
swered, passionately, pressing her to
his heart.
She lay passive for few seconds with
her head on his breast; then made
faint effort to release herself.
"Net yet" he said, holding her fast.
/" Not till Won have told me that you love
me. It seems too good to be true. My
happiness would be too great"
"You must not hurry me-" she an
swered, with saucy, bewitching glance.
Don't you see 1 ann only at the A 3 CO"
The look of those splendid eyes, her
sweet head on his cheek, the close prox-
unity of her tempting, inviting lips were
too much for him. What could he do
but kiss her?
"There, that will do-at least, to be-
gin with" she cried, laughingly, but
blushing crimson; and extricating her
self, with a sudden little movement,
from his arms, she said "You, at
least, understand the A B c."
He looked at her with such a puzzled
air that she broke into peal of laughter.
"Don't be angry" she said. II am
not laughing at you. WAS in room
at the hotel yesterday, next to that
where you were sitting. 1t WAS Carrie
Stewards room, but she had gone out,
and was sitting ut the table, writing q
message to her, when 1 heard your
voice. You understand now. The win
dows looking on the Parade were open
in both rooms, suppose you must be
more careful, Master Harry, in the fu-
ture. And it was then heard the talk
about the A Is @ of love-" And she
laughed mischievously again.
"What a veritable sprite you are, f"
he answered, joining in the laugh. And
catching something of her sportiveness
he said
"But you must be punished for
eaves-dropping. And he caught her
once more in his arms, before she could
elude him, and kissed her again and
again.
"Ohl but you're getting beyond the
A B c." she said. "Surely one-is-
quite-enough."
zone will be, or suppose will have
to be. he answered. ct am waiting
for it. :"
She opened her eyes wide.
Waiting for it !? Haven't you had