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

times his old gayety would return, bat
1t was sure to be followed by q "a OF
more somber silence than before. IL
chaffed him about IL often, but his testy
replies invariably shut me up. We
never met Miss Summer, and the only
time we saw her was In the morning,
among her flowers, or in the evening,
when, after having ravished US with her
music, she stepped out on the balcony,
leaning on her fathers arm, to enjoy the
moonlight. On such occasions Will
seemed strangely affected, and would
break forth into voluminous praises
of her grace and beauty. Such
state OF affairs led me naturally enough
to the conclusion that, whatever might
be the matter with Phillips, the fair
cantatrice had something to do with it.
One afternoon we resolved to have
row down the loch, and, as crossed the
lawn with an oar over my shoulder, 1
CHANGED to glance at Col. Summers
window, where the two ladies were seat
ed sewing. The younger one was scan
ming me with q half-amused expression
in her brown eyes; and, as Will came
down the gravel path, with hand in
each pocket, I quietly said: "Miss
Summers at the window" He looked
in the direction 1 indicated, and, to my
surprise, he Immediately blushed like a
girl. m Tf7 's'
"Why, Will, old fellow, what is the
matter2" asked, with smile could
not express. Miss Summer was view
ing us with the aid of an opera-glass.
"Pshaw Wollmerath, get on board
quick, and row as well as you can," he
answered, throwing himself in the stern
of the boat, in position where the sun
shine struck forcibly his handsome face
and auburn locks. ~
| I bent as gracefully as could to my
oars-had been fair oarsman at Cam
bridge-and soon the little craft was
skimming far over the sunlit ripples.
AS it was still early when we returned
we strolled down the road until it would
be time to go in for dinner, when, turn
ing corner, we came suddenly upon
Miss Summer and her father, mounted
upon couple of splendid grays. AS
she cantered past us with a smile, he1
beautiful face flushed with the exercise,
1 certainly thought bad never seen any
one half SO lovely. Her perfect form;
the grace of every fold of her dark green
riding habit; the indescribable coils and
, twists of her brown hair, with the sun
shine shading it to gold; the coquettish
little felt hat turned up ON one side, with
its dancing plume and streaming gossa.
mer-combined to make up charmir g
tout ensemble which was altogether IRE.
sistible. Will had stared after her in
open-mouthed admiration for such an in.
decent length of time that 1 was con.
strained to accuse him.
Phillips, you admire Miss Sum.
ner." said. s,fL
He had his head lent, and was kick.
ing the dead leaves with his feet as he
walked. When he raised his blue eyes
they were filled with the expression of @
passion I had never noticed in them be-
fore, and which fully corroborated the
four words he uttered as his eyes met
mine, CT do love her.
Strange as it may seem, was thun.
. derstruck at the announcement. Mnch
as had noted the change in Philips,
had hesitated to ascribe it to the cir
cumstance of his being in love. pro-
tested and ragged against such folly
falling in love with a lady with whom he
had never exchanged single word.
For answer, passionate confession was
poured into my astonished ears, in which
he must and would win her. Matters
were made considerably worse when we
received our letters that evening inform
ing us of business engagements requir-
| Iiota raf IN,
would be impossible for us to remain
more than three days longer.
"Humph! your time is rather linn
tied, Phillips" 1 said, with more sar-
casm than sympathy. "You'll be g
pretty sharp fellow if you WOO and win
handsome girl in three days."
The next morning he came down to
breakfast looking pale and haggard. i
don't believe he had slept all night, but
made no inquiries, as 1 felt annoyed
at this alarming impulse of my old
friend, and was altogether out of tenn
per at this adventure of his. He ate
little or no breakfast, and looked so de-
iected that at last my sympathies were
aroused, and / shouted cheerfully
"Cheer up, old fellow; we'll manage it
all beautifully, and you'll go up to Lon
don the accepted sutton of Miss Sum
mer."
Gradually he became more animated
and began to talk, and finally shocked
me by declaring that he was going to
write and propose to Miss Summer that
very day. / considered him simply
mad, but he had apparently thought il
well over, and was determined what
course to adopt.
"But, Will, the thing is preposter-
ous," I argued. "She knows nothing
about you. Can you expect anything
but distinct refusal?"
"And what would you recommend p
he asked, curling his upper lip as he
waited for my advice.
"Why, get introduced to her first,
and wait at least until you know her a
little before you make such proposal, "
/ said. ---s-
"Have not been waiting for the last
two monthss" he answered. Sand do
ycu forget that in two days must leave
this place? There is no time for wait
ing now i. must be action, immediate
l