The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-12-19

TO yourself you would have obeyed me,
1 am sure. My dear, il affords me great
pleasure to inform you the sacrifice will
not be required"
"Papal' the girl cries, her whole
face lighting up, you will let me mar
ny Harry, poor as he is. Oh, papa!
am not afraid of poverty-not afraid OF
work; neither is Harry, and
@Oh, poohl my dear. poohl nothing
of the kind. My opinion on that point
has never changed, and never will. No.
no, it is something infinitely better
than that. Old Hatton died suddenly
last night. before making the proposed
new Will, and all is Harry's."
Katherine Englehart uttered faint,
startled exclamation.
And the old will, leaving all to Har-
ry, stands, and his only daughter is dis
inherited and left out"
Left without a silver, my dear, and
serves her right, say l. She ran away
With a worthless scamp, against her
fathers will, and, like all fools, has paid
the penalty of her folly. She supports
herself and her five children by sew
ing, SO have been told, and you know
what sort ofsupport that means. Serves
her right, say again. John Hatton
has done what it was his duty to do
what would have done in his place
cast her of and left her to starve with
the pauper she chose"
In the moonlight the face of Miss
Englehart grows white as the snow it.
self, but she walks on and does not say
word.
However" cries her father, cheerful.
ly, that is not what / want to say.
Rose Hatton's case need never be yours.
All is Harry's, and, except his poverty,
l never had any objection to Harry as a
son-in law. So when he comes to Wi n
you merry Christmas, my dear Katie, l
give you leave to name the day"
A strange light comes into the brown
eyes; strangely resolute expression
sets the pretty, soft-cut mouth.
us he coming tonight, papa?"
"You will find him, / have not the
slightest doubt, at the house before
you. 1t would be hypocrisy for him to
profess any grief for that old skinfint
uncle, and Harry is no hypocrite."
you have seen him since his uncle's
death?"
Certainly, Katie, and was the first
to congratulate him. l trust you with
draw your objections to my suit now,
sir! he says to me, in his naughty way !;
am John Hatton's heir after all! A
trife hot-headed is Harry, but good
fellow in the main-oh! very good
fellow! 1 have no doubt, Katie, he
will make you an excellent husband"
"He means to keep this fortune,
then ?" his daughter says, and says it in
so odd voice that her father looks at
her, puzzled.
Keep it? What do you mean? What
should he do but keep it? By George!
1 should think he did mean 10 keep it
"a cool hundred thousand, if dollarl
May [ ask what you mean by the ques-
ton ?"
Not now. papa, please; will see
Harry first" she answers, in the same
strange voice. very quiet voice,
though it startles her father.
Look here, my girl he says, stern
ly, Il know you of old-know your
high-drawn, Quixotic notions about
things in general, and points of honor
and conscience in particular. ] warn
you, don't let us have any of them here,
if you want to be Harry Hatton's wife.
The lad has come fairly by his fortune
let him keep it in peace"
They are at the house with the last
words-words harshly and menacingly
spoken. They go together into the
parlor, and there, as Mr.. Englehart has
predicted, they find young Hatton
alone. A tall and proper fellow, this
Harry Hatton, with handsome face,
and eager, happy eyes.
AT last" he cries, coming forward,
both hands outstretched, just as pa
thence was ceasing to he u virtue.
Thank you for bringing her, Mr. Engle
hart. Come to the register, Katie. and
warm those cold little paws. Has our
stately papa been telling you the good
news?"
He draws her forward, eyes, smile, all
alight with love and joy. Last night
he was in despair-last night this cozy
parlor had been forbidden ground.
Sorrow and weeping had endured for
the night. but Joy had come with the
morning. This time yesterday he had
been beggar, and Katie had been re-
fused him-to-night he was rich man,
and Katie might be his for the asking.
Papa Englehart, after genial, father
in-law sort Of nod, had slipped away and
left them together.
why don't you speak, little girl ?"
cries jubilant Harry, or has the power
of speech been frozen within you
Wish me merry Christmas, Katie, and
congratulate me on my capital fortune"
She looks up at him with eyes full of
wistful love.
al wish you merry Christmas with
all my heart, Harry; but congratulate
you on what?"
"Why, hasn't the dear old dad been
telling you? Then wonders will never
cease. Oh, pshaw OF course he has
told you that my uncle is dead?"
Poor old Mr.. Hatton-yes, know
he is dead"
"And all is mine, Katie, all. And
next April the old house shall have a
new mistress, and Harry Hatton shall
have new wife. Why don't you speak
IL