The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-08-30


have excited nv intense admiration, JhjeA
feeling. has lately ripened into deep and pas
sionate love. 1922. s....-
My business engagements now demand my
immediate return to London, but feel that
cannot go without first learning from you my
fate. ~ make you now an honorable oner OF
my hand in marriage, and beseech you not to
think lightly Of II, Is on your decision must
depend my LIES happiness or misery. II pos
sible, an answer over to-day's post VIII very
much oblige, yours respectfully,
"That will do" said, holding the
sheet, covered with Wills neat hand
writing, at arms length. Concise, to
the point, not too spoony, slightly for
NAL, but, under the circumstances, 1t is
better So"
Will folded the letter and addressed
it, and, with serious misgivings at my
heart which dare not express, walked
with him to the postoffice, and saw him
drop the missive in the box. We did
nothing all day but lounge abolt the
house and garden, waiting anxiously
until the postman would bring the let
tiers in the evening. At length the
weary day passed and the letter carrier
arrived, and, sure enough, there it was,
little pink note, addressed to Willie
Phillips, Esq. My heart beat as quick
ly as il it were my own happiness that
was at stake. AS Will broke the seal, I
looked over his shoulder, and what we
both saw was: -
WEDNESDAY, AFTERNOON.
DEAR Mr.. PHILLIPS accept the great honor
| 1. Dzf f,of.
you, would like to see papa, and obtain his
consent to our engagement.
Yours sincerely, MAGGIE SUMMER.
There is an old adage that says "truth
is stranger than felton," and if ever
felt the force of it it was as 1 read that
note. Contrary to all my expectations,
Will had actually been accepted He
bore his good fortune with much more
equanimity than did, his only remark
being Maggie, what pretty
name - while 1, with strangely-mixed
feelings, actually got up "hurrah :"
The next difficulty was how or where
to meet Col. Summer and obtain his
consent. An idea seized me; 1 had
seen the Colonel walk down the road q
short time before. "Stay you here"
said to Will; and, putting on my hat,
off bolted. had not gone far when
I espied the Colonel leaning on a wire
fence, watching some workmen digging
drain. Pretending to be interested
q. in the same pursuit, 1 walked up to him,
and made some remark regarding the
work. Thereafter we got upon the most
friendly terms, which ended, as I in
tended it should, by his walking home
with me, and coming into the house TO
join us in rubber az whist / con-
Quoted him into the dining-room, and
went for Will. He began to get slightly
nervous when he heard what / had
done, but L told him not to say any
thing to the Colonel about his daugh-
ter to-night-only to make himself
as agreeable as he could. I
then instructed Mrs. Martin to
set down the very best she had
in the house for supper, and went to Ell
terrain our very interesting guest. We
found him charming old gentleman.
At whist he and dummy beat Will and
L; and, possessing an inexhaustible
fund OF humorous st Dries, the time
passed so pleasantly that it was II
o'clock before he rose to go.
A cordial invitation to visit him was
extended to us, as we babe him good
night in the hall, which was exactly
what / wanted, and meant we should
have. Putting on grave face, said:
Nothing would have given us greater
pleasure had we been staying longer,
but we were to leave for London the day
after tomorrow"
"Then you must spend tomorrow
evening with me-" was his hearty rejoin-
der; 81 will take no refusal" and to this
arrangement we agreed.
GA thousand thanks to you, Frank;
you're a capital fellow, said Will, CRATE
fully grasping my hand as we separated
for the night.
Phillips I"
"Hallo!'
/" Are you ready ?" l was donning
my dress suit, preparatory to presenting
myself in Col. Summers drawing-room.
eyes" Ira
"Come here, then" am-ysf
He came in, dressed for conquest, evil
IDENTIFY, and looking faultlessly hand
some. I surveyed him critically. There
was not an item amiss, from the negIige
arrangement of his auburn curls to the
| poiiou VI LAS poUCHv-icdoucIS.
"How do look p he asked, with a
gay laugh and a satisfactory glance at his
magnificent proportions in the mirror.
"Like Polish Prince, 1 answered.
Miss Summer may have many lovers,
but I'll bet a new hat she never had a
better-looking fellow than you. Now,
look here, you'll do exactly as 1 tell you,
and not diverge one iota from the rule /
lay down. Ask for Col. Summer, and
say you wish to see him alone. When
the first greetings are over, you'll ex-
plain to him that Mr.. Wollmerath is de-
tanned for a short time with little pack
ing he had to finish, and that you did
not wait for him, as you had something
to communicate to him-the Colonel.
Then pitch into the subject nearest your
heart; tell him of your business and So
cial connections, and don't neglect to
| ,,,,yrooo him with tho foot that Won 40