The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-03-21

so wildly, could i trust myseu 10 OK
press my sentiments in fitting words. |
Evening came. Surely, such fairy
scene never existed on this prosaic globe
before. A food of golden moonlight
paled and put tc shame the myriad OF
colored lights, which made the spacious
grounds az bright as day.
The fair and young seemed fairer and
younger in the magical radiance which
inhaloed them. A fountain flung its
jeweled spray high into the air; satiny
roses and stately lilies lifted their lovely
heads, and shining with beauty far
above all was the queen OF the tete-
Adrienne.
1t was long before my opportunity
came; then, with faltering words, all
nv fine rhetorical sentences forgotten,
1 told my darling (what / felt she knew
full welD that loved her, and that,
with her fathers full consent, l asked
for her dear hand.
There were snowy flowers in her hair,
and with the moons pale beams bathing
in an almost spiritual radiance the white
robe which fell softly and clingingly
about her, and disclosing the rapt glow
in her sweet, fond eyes, it was no Won
der that she seemed to me, not mortal,
but like unto the angels.
Tha following day We parted, and MIR.
Roscoe himself drove me to the station
in his stylish dog-cart, drawn by spir-
tied team Of bays.
"Tr,lly, how different he is," l
thought, from what have always
judged him to bel"
"Come again soon, Herbert"
Adrienne had whispered, as / pressed O
kiss upon her lovely lips.
MY Office seemed meaner and duller
than ever before when / entered it, and,
sitting down, / tried to realize what a
change had come to my future within
the last few hours. Then Isettted down
to business again. No hanger-on upon
rich father-in-law would be, and, if /
meant to have a home and wife, must
work.
The days passed laggingly along until
the time came in which intended to
visit Cragghead" again. But that
morning the postman handed me let
ter A large, cream-tinted, mono
grained envelope, with my name-Her-
bert Lisle-in bold hand. 1 opened
and read. Then how long l sat there
in the same position / know not;
but when / came back to myself, and
Glanced TO glance up into the dingy
little glass hanging over my desk, L
vaguely wondered if that pale, drawn
face could be my own.
"I was deceived" the letter ran, "and
my daughter was, too. We heard OF an
Inheritance left to you by deceased
aunt, and have only just ascertained its
amount. 1t is ont of the question that
Adrienne should marry a poor man
and so forth.
II was deceived, and my daughter
was, too Could it be that Adrienne
was mercenary? In sudden fury l cast
the cruel letter from me. Then a
mans hard, bitter tears rose to my
eyes, and, leaning my head on my desk,
/ fought them back. A gentle football
came up the stairs, through the narrow
hall, and paused at my door. Some
one tapped.
" / am engaged" 1 cried, in voice 1
tried In vain to render calm; but the
door opened, and there, enveloped in q
dark mantle, with veil covering her
face, was a slight figure.
1t was Adrienne! She flung back
her veil and sprung to my side.
Herbert, my love, have come to
see you. What care for riches? Make
me your wife now, for then nothing can
part us!'
I clasped her convulsively to me
we kissed each other, and then, holding
her away, L looked into her fearful eyes.
"Adrienne," l said solemnly, "do
you realize that you will leave life of
luxury to be poor mans wife?"
have made up my mind" she an
swered, resolutely. ut is the only
thing 1 can do. My father declares
that in a weeks time he will expect me
to marry one he had chosen for me be-
fore he formed such n mistaken idea of
the extent of your inheritance"
We left the dingy little office, and in
less than an hours time we were man
and wife.
Adrienne wrote to her father, telling
him of what she had done, and plead
ing for forgiveness.
The answer said: "When ] can visit
Mrs. Lisle in home as handsome as
the one Adrienne Roscoe enjoyed, then,
and not till then, will L forgive my I'M
dutiful daughter"
We were happy, my wife and I, in
the little home which was my heritage,
and after a while visitant strayed from
paradise to fill our hearts with her
childish grace and beauty. The little
one used to sit for hours before the
portrait of my ancestress. The dark,
naughty face seemed to fasciDate her.
One day, as I sat quietly with Adri-
enne by my side, on the piazza, sud-
den crash brought US both to orr feet.
Then came child's cry of distress.
We both ran to the sitting-room, whence
the sounds had proceeded. There on
the floor lay little Addie, almost con-
cealed by the great picture, which had
fallen from its fastenings.
After Addie had been picked up and
consoled, L turned my attention to the
mischief which had been done. As
raised the heavy picture, the broken
frame fell apart, and long, narrow,
oblong package dropped at my feet,
Adrienne stood with wondering eyes as,
A