The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-12-31
in A SHANTY.

Mr. Alwade, tins Is Melth, the cook. y
As old Mrs. Watson spoke thus briefly,
Wallace Alwade turned partly around
facing the small, delicate woman, who
stood but partially revealed in the shad-
ows of the long, low-roofed shanty.
For one instant he stood gazing in
GENTLY into the pale face of the timid,
retiring creature before him, then ex-
tended his hand, with polite bow and
pleasant word of greeting.
Meth. the cook"
What thrill shot through his heart at
the mention of the name. As their hands
clasped in the dim freight, and he
gazed down into the pale face of the
shrinking figure before him, Wallace
Alwade's mind grew troubled.
That face, so thin and pale, with long
tug, regretful shadows lurking in the
violet eyes, toucheda half-forgotten chord
In his bachelor heart. 1t was but a
dreamy reflection of the past, however
He remembered where he was, and
turned away without thinking deeply
1t was not likely that an almost forgotten
dream would meet with fruition in place
like this, dingy lumber shanty in the
heart of the great pine woods.
A minute later the jingle of sleigh
bells cut the frosty night air.
''Well, Mrs. Watson. i must De going.
said the lumber dealer, turning toward
the door.
Wont you stay all night, Mr.. Al
wade?"
''tmpossible, my good woman. have
important business to attend to in town.
/ find that your husband is managing
affairs very well in the woods. / think
can safely trust him to go on with the
Job.
"Tattlers' tongues to the contrary,
eh?" returned the rosy-faced matron,
with a ripping laugh.
eyes, the stories L have heard are Ill
false, Mrs. Watson. l shan't trouble
myself about these flying reports again,
rest assured. q"
"Thank you, Mr.. Alwade. My hus-
hand shall know of your generosity"
Facts are stubborn things" returned
Alwade. "The job is progressing well
under Mr.. Watson's management, and I
AIN only too glad to place the credit
where 1t belongs"
Thus speaking the rich lumberman
left the room and entered the sleigh that
stood waiting at the door.
Speeding over the glistening snow.
under the tall pines, with the keen win.
ter air cutting like knife, Wallace AL
wade felt strangely invigorated after
contact with the close air of the lumber
.shanty.
That evening, after reaching his room,
Alwade found time for reflection. The
face OF ''Melth, the cook, pale worn,
and timid, haunted him once more.
hike the dim memory of half-forgotten
dream. Why did he give the pale-faced
shanty cook a second thought? Simply
because this was not the first time he
had seen that face In bordering over
the subject, Alwade came suddenly into
tuii knowledge why he had been 80
strangely affected at meeting Meth.
A Vision OF the long ago was before
him. He stood under the gaslight plead
ing for the love of as beautiful q girl as
She sun ever shone on. He could see
Che naughty curl of the full red lips, see
the scornful flash of those violet eyes,
ard oven Feel the sting of the words that
fell from the maideu's lips, refusing him.
laughing To scorn all his passionate plead
ings; and all because he WIS but poor
law student, without name or fortune III
che world. His hopes were crushed for
cyer. He went our into the world with a
bitter pain in his heart yet unable even
then to conquer the love that had mas
tered him SO utterly.
That was twelve years ago; twelve
painful years to Wallace Alwade Out
West. under the shadows of the Michi-
gan pines, he had built mp fortune,
end stood one of the foremost men in
the strong, vigorous young State where
orr story is located For twelve years
he had heard nothing Of Meltha Bayne.
Was ii wonderful. then, that he failed to
recognize in "NIolth, the cook" the self
wiIled, imperious beauty who had scorn-
ed him in his youth.
After hours Of thought he was not
fufly satisfied. It could not be that
Meltha Bayne had fallen so low as this, n
cook in ono of his logging shanties
That night the face of Meth haunted
Gle rich lumberman. and at earliest dawn
he WAS once more seated behind bis
magnificent bays speeding rapidly into
the great woods.
''Goner exclaimed the lumberman
seemingly staggered at studded revcla
ton.
Eyes. She must have slipped off IL
the night some time" said Mrs. Watson
looking her surprise at the strange inter
est Lcr employer took in the little fade,
cook. ''It don't matter great deal
though" continued Mrs. Watson. M
husband can hunt up another woman
right quick"
Wallace Alwade stood warming hi
hands by the fire.
'IShe went in the night, you say?"
Il n = 81