The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-02-28

phine's approach.
Mahlon is soon among Delphine's con-
slant Thursday evening guests; running
headlong into danger, every one predicts.
Yet nothing could be less like his ideal
of Adams helpmeet than this gay little
woman.
Mahlon hrs interested her in the hos
pital, however, the burden OF which
chiefly falls on him, no one else giving
much concern to its completion. Del
mime aids it literally, and his poor pa
tients, also; but for Delphine no one is
anxious. A grave, literal man like Dr.
Kerr is not one to intrap a bright, i'm
aginative person like Delphine, who
laughs at the idea of his being attentive,
declaring that woman must be i'll unto
death for that.
A chance word overheard mt her house
reveals to Mahlon that people are coup
ling their names. Men less fastidious
Than he would have called it nonsense !;
he considers it wrong for woman to
have her name so mentioned, when he
does not intend to marry her. He must
silence the gossip by avoiding Delphine.
Even trifes wear to him the serious
aspect of right and wrong; so, though
he is sorry, he will make his good-by to-
night final, and part without any explana-
ton.
1t is later; every one is leaving.
"Wait moment" Delphine says. Il
have news for your hospital"
But he looks grave.
"Old Mr. Gale promises G200
for his subscription. i did my best to
be charming, and he valued my effort at
just SO much"
Another way for gossip to link their
names!
"I an sorry begins Mahlon, at
last.
"Oh, very well! If you dislike help
1T is not that" he answered, con-
fused.
"Only you dislike my help?"
"For your sake. May be frank? /
found it pleasant here; never thought
of doing you wrong"
Delphine looks bewildered; then the
blood rushes into her face.
"Will you please explain what wrong
you could possibly do me?"
ct is certainly wrong to allow any
one to suppose l do not consider You in
some measure sacred, set apart from
other women"
q understand" she interrupted her
color dying out. "You mean as Mr..
Eiot's widow"
Yes; and L blame myself that our
friendship was misunderstood. L can
only promise not to intrude again"
Delphine gives shrug of assumed
indifference.
"Of course, the less is all Hine," he
says.
"Of course. Very well. But, if we
cannot be friends, at least your poor
need not suffer"
"Thank YOU" he says, Gin the name
of my sick You will shake hands with
me?"
Why should L? 1t is a mere form"
Yet she does not refuse when Mahlon
holds out his hand; and, for an instant,
while hers lies SO passive in his grasp,
he has an odd feeling that he may hold
it or drop it as he pleases.
He bushes little at the conceit, and
lets her go.
Good night" he says.
"Good- by!"
Delphine turns away, busying herself
in rearranging the flowers on the man.
telpiece.
Not until Mahlon shuts himself out
of the drawing-room does he remember
his hat is within there. These small
absuTdities will thrust themselves on us
when we are acting the heroics. There
is no help for it; he must go back.
Delphine no longer stands before the
mantel. Greatly relieved that she is
gone, Mahlon steps softly to the table.
Then he stops; there is a suspicious
heap of silk and lace on the sofa.
Resting? But just then, with low,
shivering sob, she sits up, pushing the
hair from her flushed face; she sees
Mahlon. Is she dreaming? One is
never on ones guard in dreams. NAH
Ions eye fell under her gaze. What has
he seen in hers that he turns SO pale?
Il thought you had gone," she says,
sharply. Surely, with your ideas of
strict propriety, you need not be re-
minded how late it is.'
No answer; she goes on:
III WdS SO JlTeSOlue tO-ulSHJ, SOOQ
cry is such relief. Just what cigar
il to you men,"
No answer still.
"Js anything wrong? Any one i'll, I
mean? asks Delphine, growing fright
ened.
There is something wrong" Mahlon
says, slowly. Il was wrong when said
it was best for us to part. My love will
be better protection"
Delphine puts up her hand to cheek
him.
"Not tonight. Tomorrow, if you
choose"
AS he walks home, Mahlon is con-
scious of the same old tinging through
his veins which set his heart beating so
when Delphine, in her bewilderment,
looked at him. For the first time, he
has acted from impulse; the sensation is
pleasurable.
AS for Delphine, love comes to her
later in life than to many women, and
she yields herself to it the more readily.
Every one calls Mahlon's influence I'M
bounded She gives ND cards and