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

THE FOLDED LEAF.
The light from two large lamps shed
It's soft, mellow radiance over the room,
and contrasted strangely with the bright
RAYS of The crescent moon that came in
through the open window and lay in sill
ver bars upon the carpeted floor.
That the room was what is usually
termed bachelors den" was to be
seen at glance but there was far
more taste displayed in the arrangement
of all it contained than is generally
found in any place not under the imme-
diate supervision of one of the
gentler sex. 1t could be seen in the ar
rangement of the pictures upon the
walls ; the careful manner i'll which the
choice books and magazines were placed
upon the table, and III the ornaments
displayed upon the mantel. Everything
an the room gave evidence that its occu-
pant was man of taste. And well it
might. for Charlie Knight, who passed
the greater portion of his leisure time
within this room, was proverbially fas-
tidiOus, and In nothing was he more so
than in the arrangement of all that per-
famed to his own immediate comfort.
A brief description of Charlie Knight
will be sufficient, and we will give it as
me sits at one of the windows, lazily
smoking cigar and caressing a small,
yellow terrier that is asleep in chair at
his side.
His is not a face that would attract
the attention of Il casual observer, but
second glance would have revealed the
mnmistakable signs of temper, pride and
yf,,l< ,nl
full lips and small, blue eyes, were all
indications of strong will and determi-
nation. His complexion was fair as a
girls. and there was peculiar feminine
cast about his countenance which, with
his low, well-modulated voice, was well
IN keeping with his lazy, INDECENT style !;
but there were well-defined lines of care
upon his forehead and beneath his eyes
which told that even thus early in life
he had found that
There's burden in life for every mans shoulders
which all must bear;
We may miss it in YOUTH but twill come when we're
older,
And fit us close the garment we wear.
Seated near him at table is youth
who, though he bears little or no resem-
blance, is his brother. No two persons
could be more opposite in looks, ideas
and disposition. Yet between these two,
despite the difference in their ages, there
was a strong bond of sympathy and love,
80 often remarked between persons of
directly opposite natures.
o. need but one glance at the face of
Waiter Knight to know that he was to-
tally without frmness. He had been
,petted from earliest childhood-not a
'desire ct his, that was possible, but had
been granted by indulgent parents, and
now, st the age of 10, when most BOYS
go forth into the world to battle with its
reverses and disappointments, he was
wholly unprepared to meet the stern re-
5 alities of life.
As he sat at the table now, his head
resting upon his hand, his handsome,
boyish face was distorted by an angry
frown, and occasionally he muttered
some indistinct word as he ground his
heel into the carpet. At length he
sprung up, and, giving his chair kick
which sent it spinning into the further
corner of the room, he began walking
mp and down the apartment with angry
strides. His brother glanced up from
his cigar with a half-amused, half-angry
expression upon his countenance, at this
sudden outburst, but said nothing. AT
dength Walter threw himself into chair
near his brother, and exclaimed
f'Charlie, you are brute
Charlie removed his cigar from his
lips and blew forth cloud of fragrant
smoke that completely enveloped him,
and as it slowly foated forth upon the
might air he laughed good humoredly,
and said
"You are very complimentary, Wal
ter, and / fully appreciate the delicacy
with which it was passed, but L fear if
ANY representatives of the brute creation
were present they would hold you per-
ssonally responsible for the insult to
rtheir race. Here's Jinks wonder what
he will think of it But then he has
associated with me SO much that he has
lost all self-respect, and considers kim
d. self no better than l am.
Aud, as he ceased speaking, he gave
Che dogs ear pull that caused him to
yelp with pain and annoyance.
'Just as good as / could have ex-
pected from YOU" exclaimed Walter, in
tlnguist. "There you sit, star. gazing
out Of that window, knowing that Jen-
ME refused nae this evening, and know
ing that for me life has lost all bright
ness, and yet not one word of sympathy
do you offer and when / remind you of
what brute you are, you must needs
get off one of your cursed jokes"
"Because do not talk to you about
your disappointment, is that any reason
that do not sympathize with you? /
believe, with Tennyson, that
Sorrows crown Of sorrow
Is In remembering happier things"
~'There you go again with one of your