The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-01-04

atoms to leave me, there, anyhow" 1
said TO myself as / thought of the "at-
homes" and balls to which she was 80
often receiving invitations
This set me talking-fishing, as i
called it in my great cunning-to see II
there was one OF the rocks ahead OF
which was in dread.
How shall you be able to leave all
your fine friends parties and set
outs?" / said.
"Oh, I'm tired of them all !" she said,
clapping her hands.
"And gay cavaliers, with dandy airs
and mustaehes, and programmes.
"Ha, ha, hal she laughed merrily;
and then. as it seemed to me in my leal-
GUS watchfulness, turning the subject,
she began to talk about the country
place L had taken.
A fortnight later and we were settled
down; and really, with all my London
notions, / began to find the calm and
repose of the country delicious. Cob
web was delighted, and constantly drag
ging me somewhere or another into the
grounds of the pretty old place, where
she arranged garden seats in the snug
gest, shadiest spots for my especial be-
hoof
As L have said, there was n wilderness
of a wood adjoining the garden, which
the former possessor had left In state
of nature, saving that he had had the
old footpaths and tracks widened In
their old winding ways, carefully turfed
and dotted with n chair here and there.
This was;Cobweb's favorite place, and,
if l missed her out in the garden, L
knew / should find her here, with the
sun raising a shower of golden beams
! through the network of leaves overhead,
to dance and fash among the waving
tresses of her long, golden hair.
One day found her leaning on dead
bough which crossed an opening in the
wood. where all seemed of delicate
twilight green. She was listening in-
tently to the song OF a bird overhead,
and, as stopped short, gazing at the pict-
ure before me, said to myself with a
sigh:
"All that's bright must fade! My
darling, / wish l had your likeness as
you stand. Time flies" L muttered,
land the winter comes at last, with
bare trees to the woodbury. hairs and
wrinkles to the DID,"
She caught sight of me directly, and
the scene was changed, for L was listen
ing the next moment to her merry, hap
Ply voice.
A day or two later L was in the city
where L always went twice week-for
could not give up business, it was part
of my life-when an old friend dropped
in, and, in the course Of convt rsation
he said:
"By the way, Burrows, why dom
you have your portrait painted ?"
bah stuff What for?" ! said.
"Well," said my old friend, laughing
81 don't know, only that it would give
poor artist / know a Job; and, poor
fellow he wants it badly enough"
"Bah I'm handsome enough with
out being painted" L said, gruffly.
Then, as a thought flashed through nay
mind-for saw again the picture in the
wood, with Cobweb leaning on the
branch" Stop minute. Can he paint
well?"
"Gloriously."
"And is terribly hard up?"
"Horribly, poor fellow"
Flows that?"
Don't know. He's poor and proud
and the world has dealt very hardly will
him. 1t isn't so smooth with everyone
Jack, as it is with us.
"Truc, Tom, old fellow" L said
"true. Well, look here; L ii give him {
job. Would he come down and stay a
my place."
"Oh, yes, if you treat him well; but
as | tell you, he's poor and proud, anc
quite gentleman.
"Well, I'm not, said, testify. ell
give him enough to eat, and good bee
to sleep on; and he'll have to put uT
with me dropping my 'h's. But"
added, slapping ray pocket, " can pay
him like gentleman.
"Get out, you purse-proud old hum
bugw said my friend, laughing as h'
clapped me on the shoulder. Blu
there, I'm obliged to you. He's gen
tleman and man of honor"
ooh, I'm not afraid he'll steal the
spoons" 1 said, laughing.
"No," he said, dryly, "No fear o
that. But you'll make good picture.
"Stuff - said. do you think In
going to be painted? ?"
Why, what are you going to do
then ?" he said, in an astonished way.
"Let him paint little Cobweb,"
said, chuckling and rubbing my hands
Ny friend gave long whistle, an(
after few more words he left.
1t did not strike me then, but 1 re
marked afterward that he seemed dis
posed to draw back from his proposal
but L was now so wrapped up i'll m.
plans that / could think of nothing bu
the picture in the wood, and wen
home full of it, meaning it sur
prise.
Two days later one of the servants an
nounced Mr.. Grantly on business, and
on his being shown In, found mysel
face to face with handsome, grave
looking man of about 30. He was rathe
shabbily dressed, and looked pale anC
i'll as he bowed to Cobweb and myself
ending by staring at my child, as
thought, in rather peculiar way.
This annoyed me-a stout, choIeric
elderly man-for no one had right t.
look at my Cobweb but me; and spok
rather testify as l said:
Now, sir, when you please 1 am a
your service"