The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-11-22

RtOn Wcnt Will ntI, anu onc PiOAi
ised to be his wife.
"And he not worth shilling, indie
pendent of his profession! But so truly
did Berenice love him that she was will
ing to give up all her golden dreams for
his sake.
Accordingly, she took the diamond
from her pretty finger, and broke faith
with her East India Midas, and one
bright spring morning she welded the
man she loved.
a blissful honeymoon followed, and
then the young couple began to cast
about for fair start in life. Berenice
had no dowry save her rose-pink face
and starry eyes and red-gold hair, and
her young husband had only his profess
sion. They determined to try their
fortune in Il strange land.
"One dreary November day ut was
the day before Thanksgiving day, and
some twelve or fourteen months after
their marriage-our pretty Berenice sat
in the small parlor of small Western
cottage, with a wicker cradle at her side
and in that cradle two babies-a twin
boy and girl-her own babies, not quite
three months old.
pretty dimpled little creatures, that
any mother should have been proud of (;
but Madame Berenice looked anything
but proud that rainy November morn
ing.
"She was rather slovenly dressed in
an unbecoming old wrapper. Her red
gold hair was all in a mass of tangles,
and a cloud of sullen discomfort dark
ened her lovely brow.
"'To be tied down in this way with
two brats to nurse!' she muttered, rock
ing her cradle spitefully with one foot
''Tis too bad! 1 must toll day in and
day out like slave, and never have a
weeks pleasure. You knew 1 had set
my heart on going home for Thanks
giving day, Frederick
$50 / did love- answered her hus-
band, soothingly, looking up from his
desk; but, as I've told you, It's quite
impossible for me to be away now. Be-
sides, Berenice, I'm sadly cramped for
money
"Oh, yes, you're always cramped
when 1 want anythingl' retorted the
young wife, her ill-temper getting the
better of her good heart. Il had little
money of my own, that mamma put in
the bank for me- and I'm not allowed to
touch that. Well well, l think it is
right hard!'
Her husbands cheek flushed, and he
bit his lip, but he kept down his emotion
well.
ait appears hard, DEAR he answered,
going to her side, and putting his arms
round her; but you'll understand it all
by-and-by You must be content TO
wait little, Berry, and to trust in your
husband Meanwhile, cannot you and
l and the babies have our own Thanks
giving day all to ourselves?
"She burst into flood of hysterical
tears, and drew herself out of his arms.
SO Thanksgiving day, indeedp she
said, bitterly. A great deal I've got to
thank for now, haven't I?'
'Berenicep
"'You need not look at me in that
way she went on; L mean what / say.
You shouldn't expect a woman raised as
/ was to be contented in barbarous
place like this, living in a miserable
howell, and toiling like slave, wearing
out my youth and beauty, who might
have been the richest lady in the land;
and two cross brats-two of 'em-to
worry me ont of my senses day and
night Oh, yes, I'll give thanks I'd
give thanks to be well rid of themp
Her husband rose to his feet, his
face white and stern. Her thoughtless,
petulant words had pierced his heart to
the core.
Perhaps you would give thanks to
be rid of me, too, Berenice?' he said.
"She laughed recklessly.
"'Td give thanks to be free again, she
replied free to make my choice over
again. would never be the fool that 1
was when chose penury in preference
to wealth.
"In all her after-life Berenice never
forgot the look her husband gave her;
he did not utter single word. He took
up his hat and left the room.
In an instant Berenice saw how
rashly she had spoken, and bitterly re-
pented her foolish words. She flew out
at the door, calling upon her husbands
name. He did not answer, and, catch
ing up a shawl, she threw it over her
head, and ran across the yard and down
toward the lane. She saw him few
yards distant, and called again, but he
did not answer.
"Her proud heart rose up in rebel
lion, and she turned back, blinded by
the bitterest tears she had ever shed.
SO If he won't speak to me, let him go
on she said, and turned into her un-
tidy kitchen.
"The help was down with fever,
and all the work devolved on Berenice.
She did her best to get things straight
that afternoon, and to prepare nice
supper against her husbands return,
for she felt anxious to make amends for
her unwomanly words.
after working half an hour, she
ran into the sitting-room to look after
the twins, thinking it was time they were
awaking The wicker crib was in its
corner, and there was the pillow still
bearing the impress of the little heads,
but the trims tCere gone.
"The young mother dropped into the
nearest chair, as if bullet had struck
her. Her babies gone! Never, until
that moment, did she know how she had