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

to live. On hearing this, Criuger, after
delivering u small volley of grumblinG
epithets, aud consigniLg the child to
foreign regions, hoisted it under his
arm, meal-bag fashion, and proceeded
to push its mother on before him, with
q grip that made her beseech of HIM to
be gentle.
The heat of the room wasn't much to
boast of, but it revived the mother and
child, while Cringer, seemingly utterly
Indifferent to their presence, sat In
logged silence, his hands over the
CRATE, which contained few Goals, care
fully surrounded with ashes,to prolong
their life.
The clock licked lonesomely through
the cherries room, and the gnarled
branches of a tree, that seemed to stray
gle over the dismal roof in sheer pity,
tapped peremptorily on the frosty
panes
Cringer looked up startled, and met
Gretchen's joyless eyes.
II can't pay my rent, Christopher,
she said at last. $50 I've come to tell
you that it isn't my fault I've trav-
eled many weary journey, my broth
er, in search of work, but always, al
ways in VAIN" and here her voice falt-
cred, and q cenvulsive sob stifed fur
ther uttsrance.
"There, now, if you're going to bawl,"
roared the atfectionate brother, II want
to see no more of you; if there is any
thing hate more than another, it is to
see a woman make a cry-baby of her
self. 1t pears mighty strange that
other folks find enough to do; look at
the tenant on the same flat with your
self. She pays her rent up fair and
square; how is it that she gets along
and you can't?"
"She is more fortunate than 1 am,
Christopher, that's ALL" said Gretchen,
rising, the hot tears falling on her thin
rags, and now and then making wet,
starry spots on the miser's floor. II
thought would come and tell you any
how, that you might know it wasn't my
fault. Good-by." And, drawing her
thin shawl about her, she took her child
once more in her arms, and, eager to
escape from place which held no well
come for her, slowly, sadly moved to-
ward the door.
you're sure" said Cringer, follow
ing her to the threshold with sudden
fear that after all she might die and put
him to expense. You're sure you are
all right, Ell? That is, you don't feel
particularly sick or anything of that
sort? ?"
The sister paused in wonder at this
anxiety manifested for her health.
Neglected as she had been, it sounded
like sweet music to her to be questioned
with such apparent solicitude. Never
theless when she looked at her brothers
hard face there was something there
which took the value from his words,
and caused her to say, although her limbs
were bending beneath her with weak
ness and her heart seemed icy and
bursting:
II am quite well, Christopher, or soon
will be"
"Well, won't press you for the rent
at present, but OF course you must ex-
pect to pay it soon's you can, to help me
along with my taxes; good-by; good-by
t we, Gretchen" and he closed the door
upon her with a smile that frightened
her, and peeped after her through the
windows, and watched the snow fall
about her and her child until they dis
appeared from sight. and then ran his
hand nervously through his wiry hair
and shambled back to his cruel.
Somehow, as night fell, her large
dark eyes, wild with the hollowness of
hunger, haunted him, and the little
spent Wilhelm's wall seemed to fill the |
lonely room. He rose from his chair
and shook his shoulders and paced the
Jagged apartments restlessly. |
A long, dark mahogany cupboard stood |
in one corner, and by way of escaping
from his present guilty state OF mind
he unlocked it, and lifting from it's shelf |
a stingy-looking vial raised it to his
mouth, and took from thence draught |
of brandy.
"Ahl" he said, as he smacked his lips
and laid it down, "that warns me! that
rejoices me! but ] mustn't grow fond of
it; oh, no. shaking his head, mo, no, it
costs money"
He was about to close the cupboard
again, when his eye, kindling with sa-
worry "reminiscences, rested on some
thing. 1t was the skeleton of leathery
Did gobbler that had followed him for
years, and which, when too aged to walk,
ne had killed and made meal of, with
! view of tightening his butcher bill.
He lifted it now between his fingers,
md, after carefully examining it to see
here was nothing left to pick, threw it
IN the hearth, determined when morn
ng came it should help to light the fire.
Then he locked his cupboard, put the
ley carefully under his pillow, and Sat
Town before the CRATE to think of his
money, and how much he was out by
lis sisters unpaid rent bill. Then he
,egan to wonder if she had got home
afe, adding aloud, "Ive done my share
n not pressing her for the rent; she's
ucky not to be on the sidewalk tonight
instead Of under a warm roof. Yes, it
lands to reason, it must be warm ; {
FARMER at any rate than outdoors would
'e, even if she hasn't fire; well, if she
aven't, that's her lookout. 1 don't see
,hy bother myself thinking over it.
t never existed she would have to 1
ct along without me, 1 suppose"
La this strain he continued for some !
ime for the purpose of easing his con-
cience, which never before seemed to I
tart mn and reDrOach him as now when