The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-09-03

similarly SITUATED. All waiter, tuere
is folded leaf in my life-a turned
down page that you have never read
never even heard of. seldom speak of
myself, as you are aware, for L always
think / can find more interesting topic
for conversation, but, after hearing you
assert so positively that you could never
love any woman except Jennie B, l
feel it my duty to unfold that hidden
page to you-though to recall the past
will be anything but pleasant to me, for
"There are hours long departed which memory
brings,
Like the serpent of Eden to Irvine round my heart,
And, as time PUSHES by on the might of his wings,
They may vanish awhile, but never depart"
Walter looked up at his brother, and,
as he noted the serious expression upon
his usually-smiling countenance, the rest
less, disappointed look upon his own
face gave place to one of attention and
interest. Charlie was silent for few
moments, as if recalling the past. At
length he spoke III calm, even tone OF
voice
cit has not been very long since what
1 am about to relate occurred. Not
long, if measured by months and years,
but sometimes real or supposed sorrow
causes time to go by on leaden wings,
and so in this case,
at has not been 40 very long
Measuring the years that have fed;
But il seems to me century,
Counting the hopes that are dead!
CT cannot now remember the first time
l imagined myself in love, but L think
it must have been far back III my iuve-
nile days, and from that time on / wor-
SHIPPED at a new shrine Of beauty every
few months, for, as you know, l have al
ways borne the reputation of being
tickle. 1t was soon after my return from
abroad that 1 first met Annie Everets,
and more self-conceited, egotistical
person than was mt that time you have
seldom met with. L had decided that it
was about time for me to marry and set
tie down, and 1 Mas fool enough to think
L had only to choose from among the
girls of my acquaintance any one that
might please my fancy, never for mo-
ment supposing that they would think
of declining the honor 1 considered 1
would be doing the one on whom L be-
slowed my name. You may well smile. I"
he said, as he caught the merry twinkle
in his brothers eyes, ct am Disguised
with myself now whenever 1 think of
what consummate idiot was at that
period of my life.
"As said before, Imet Annie Everets,
and, as thought, fell in love with her
at first sight. Her face was dark as n
Spaniard's, hair and eyes to correspond,
and form tall and stately add to these
a nature proud and selfish, temper be-
yond her control, and disposition that
was obstinacy itself, and you have a de-
scription of Annie as L recollect her. OF
course / was blind to all her faults, and
magnitied her attractions-if attractions
she possessed-in manner that would
have been creditable to the love-sick
hero of a modern literary production.
"Well, had been acquainted with her
but few months when L told her, in
my self-conceited way, that L had de-
cided preference for her above other
girls, and asked her to accept my hand
and heart. She blushed and declined to
give me a positive answer just then. /
attributed this to her extreme shyness,
and left her presence that day feeling
uncommonly well pleased with the world
i'll general and myself i'll particular.
4" Months passed on, and did notagain
allude to the subject except in a casual
way, for 1 felt perfectly satisfied what
her answer would be, and considered
myself the same as engaged to her. l
called at her home to see her often, and
was her escort to all the social gather
ings and places of amusement which at
that time, it being near the Christmas
Ill, A l..
rumor had linked our names together as
couple who would, at some time III the
not far distant future, launch our bark
on the broad sea of matrimony.
81 willat this point of my story do my
self the justice to say that was honest
in what L told Annie in regard to my
love for her. Even now / believe L
loved her as much as it was possible for
me to love any one at that time except
myself.
GLOW long this state of things would
have continued / am unable to say, had
not the fates decreed that it should come
to an end. There was n party in town
one evening, but, for some reason which
/ cannot now recall, did not accom-
pany Annie. Parties, as u general thing,
were my Octc HO"' oo vi Oha1 ocC"Sion
L did not put in an appearance until
rather late in the evening. When ar
rived, of course my first thought was of
Annie, and, after searching among the
crowd of her acquaintance and failing
to discover her, L decided that she had
concluded to remain at home, and / was
Just wondering what / should do with
myself during the evening when
couple in distant part of the. room
changed positions, and L discovered her
seated near u window and engaged in
earnest conversation with a young man.
As that individual still resides here, and
is an intimate friend of yours, l will not
call his name.' Let it suffice for me to
say that he was one toward whom l had