The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-10-04

had often mutely thanked me. could
help her now no longer. In the silence
that followed on this dreary conception
she raised her gentle voice. What
plaintive look there was in her face!
How hard she was trying to be ami
mated; and how felt for her! Happy
thought! Had i been alone 1 should
have cut caper. 1t struck me all at
once that L had not yet told them about
our newcomer and the tricks which we
had played upon him. This, if only
properly managed, would afford food for
laughter and amusement for days.
ooh by the by" began, II have not
told you about the new fellow who ar
rived at our place the other day"
Certainly Miss Eleanor's eyes were
fixed on me with an interest such as she
had not hitherto accorded to any of my
stories, and, thus encouraged, / pro-
ceeded boldly, telling them, only with
much more gusto, what have just told
you, about the letters and advertise
ments, the dead mems cards and the
false suicide. L was so much taken up
with my own cleverness that / did not
notice the way in which my story was
being received by my hostess. Judge,
then, of my establishment and dismay
when, as 1 ended with an inane little
chuckle, she suddenly burst out:
"And you call yourselves men! Do
you know what / call you?"
MY dear Nellie!" said her father
1 was speechless. She fixed her eyes
on my face, and the position, assure
you, was singularly uncomfortable one.
Il call you towards" she went on,
and-and-" evidently she was at a
loss for an expressive word.
Miss Hartley" 1 said, deeply peni-
tent, eff"
"Pray say no MORE she answered
coldly. Papa, will leave you to your
wine'
1 did not see her again during my
stay, which, as you may guess, was not
prolonged beyond the time absolutely
necessary. This abrupt and mysterious
interruption of an acquaintanceship
that had promised to prove interesting
cut me up more than can well express
1 tried to cast the whole matter out of
my mind. l could not. In every quiet
moment 1 would find myself running
over the unfortunate occurrence, and
trying to account for it. Had she
known him before? Was she in love
with him. The idea first made me turn
hot, then cold But no! impossible |!
Not the most extravaganza fancy could
ley and of our simple little newcomer,
stand side by side. Looked at from
another point of view, the thing was
equally absurd. A score of men adj
mired Eleanor Hartley-fne stalwart fell
lows, the pick of our community, for
none other would have ventured TO lift
their eyes so high-men broad-chested
and deep-voiced, and well-versed in
every kind of world lore. Was it not
preposterous to imagine that this pulling
boy could be her choice? How, then,
was l to explain her displeasure? L did
explain it. 1t would be hard for you to
guess how. But, at certain times, you
know, our thoughts are peculiarly ODE
dent to impulses communicated to
them by a will with which our desires
have tempered 1 said to myself that
Eleanor Hartley was disappointed in me.
Yes, this was the meaning of it all. That
L should have joined in inficting an
noyance on a helpless fellow creature
vexed her. And really, when 1 looked
back calmly, the whole thing began to
wear an ugly aspect. Well! it was an
noying But time plays havoc with inn
pressions. Eleanor would be sorry,
doubtless, for her hastiness. / could
easily put the matter in different
light. All would be well.
Meanwhile l returned to my own
quarters, where, as l presently found,
events of an exciting character were un-
der discussion. Miss Hartley, L was
told, had come to pay visit to her mar
ried sister, who lived in our settlement.
AS we were not cheered by the presence
of any unmarried ladies, this was, of
course, an occurrence of the first magni-
tude. But further, large dinner was
to be given at our club, to which all the
ladies and our newcomer were invited.
He had been persuaded that the dinner
was given in his honor, and was to be
beguiled into making a speech, from
which much fun was expected. threw
cold water on this scheme. was afraid,
you see, that Miss Hartley would see in
it another malicious trick and be fur
Their incensed against me. But once a
ball of such sort is set rolling, it requires
a hand of peculiar force to stop it.
Mine was not able for the feat, and my
friends arranged their plan of action
without me. After all, think 1 was
not sorry that he should make fool of
himself publicly before Miss Eleanor.
1t would be sure to destroy any senti-
mental liking she might have had for
him, so held my peace, and the event
full day came on.
How nervous / was that evening! /
remember L was obliged to call in the
assistance of one ofmy friends to adjust
my necktie, and he was obliging enough
to tell me that looked as yellow as a
guinea. A comfortable assurance truly
when had wished to look my very
} best, for 1 had not seen Miss Hartley
since my unlucky story, and 1 wanted
to make my peace with her. But when
with an apology on my lips, 1 drew near
the sofa where she was sitting, found
to my infinite regret, that no apology
was necessary. She was as friendly in
: her manner as ever. She was exquis-
itely dressed that evening in-well,
, can't exactly say what - some dead