The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-05-16

Il deceived You about her real senti
ments. The letter / wrote contained
nothing but falsehoods, and / poisoned
her mind against you," said Annie.
"You did this?" he exclaimed, frown-
ing darkly.
"Yes-no-that isl-Oh, Stephen,
do not look so dreadfully at me! What
have done?" cried Annie, in alarm.
"Not much harm, thank Heaven!
Though you might have embittered the
lives of two persons"
She got up and chung to him, but he
pushed her away.
Stephen, Stephenl" she shrieked
"do not thrust me away from you!
cannot bear it Your looks alarm me!
You will kill me if you are unkind!"
Stephen looked at his watch.
1t is not yet too Late" he NUT
tered.
TOO late?" echoed Annie; too late
for what? Speak to me, Stephen, or l
shall go mad! Your manner is so
strange!"
"No time is to be lost he said, in
the same tone.
iIC ouiOuo tOWdIQ tut uOOT.
Annie followed him.
Again she threw her encircling arms
round him, and entreated him, in heart
rending tones, to speak to her.
He repulsed her rtidely, and she fell
heavily against chair, becoming par
TALLY insensible.
Stephen ran for his life. When he
reached the street, he had not gone far
before he saw the bridal procession
coming from the Hall.
He stood in the roadway, and stopped
the carriage containing the bride.
Instantly all was commotion and
amazement.
He was surrounded by confused
crowd, in which he only saw Margaret,
sitting statuesque and pale, more resem-
bling victim proceeding to the stake
than bride going to the altar.
Margaret" he exclaimed, II must
speak to you!"
1T is too late!" she murmured.
Her voice was so low that he could
scarcely catch the words; but when he
saw her ivid lips moving he bent for
ward and listened, because he knew she
was speaking.
"This obstruction, sir, is unwarrant-
able!" said Mr.. Langley, who came up
to his side.
"Not quite" replied Stephen, calmly.
ALLOW me one minute, and will modest
you no further"
"Is it your wish that it should be SOP"
said Mr.. Langley to Margaret.
She hesitated
"For the sake of old times!" urged
Stephen.
Then she inclined her head affirma-
lively.
Margaret" said Stephen, in hur-
ried voice, "we have been deceived by
traitress. Annie has just confessed
that she poisoned your mind, while she
Systematically misrepresented you, and
set me against YOU"
"Did-did you not hate me?" gasped
Margaret.
II loved you most passionately; and
you-did you feel for me the aversion
have been led to-"
mo, mol Heaven forgive the wicked
creature for her cruel work." cried
Margaret. "She knew you were not in
different to me-"
Having said this, which, even at that
solemn and peculiar hour, was con-
fession of love, Margaret fell back in
the carriage and burst into tears.
"Can you wonder at my GOODNESS, af-
ter receiving letter like that? ?" he con-
tinued, showing her Annie's epistle.
Mr.. Langley had listened to all this
with sensation nearly amounting TO
stupor.
He saw at once that this reconciliation
at the eleventh hour would prove an in
vincible barrier to his marriage with
Margaret.
With characteristic generosity, he i'm
mediately exclaimed, After what have
heard, cannot claim the fulfllment of
Margaret's promise; consequently, 1 alb
solve her from it, if she should prefer
you, Mr. Earnshaw, to me-"
"Sh, how can I thank or repay you?"
cried Margaret, who felt deeply grieved
for him.
Gravel, and perpetual change #
scene, have cured deeper wounds thai
mine," he replied, with harsh, disco I'd
ant laugh.
The procession did not so on to the
church, but week afterward an unos-
tentatious cavalcade drew up at the
porch. and Stephen Earnshaw made
Margaret his wife.
Stephen paid the bell-ringers pound
apiece; but Squire Langley was far
away when the bells rang out, yet he
made the bride most costly wedding
present.
Annie's plotting recoiled upon her
self. Her mind gradually gave way be-
meath her severe disappointment; and
she may now be seen wandering about
the streets of Swallowfeld with mind
hopelessly obscured.
Sometimes lady and gentleman stop
to speak to her. She laughs idiotically,
and does not know that she is con-
fronted by Mr.. and Mrs. Earnshaw.