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

tempt and adherence. / felt somewhat
chagrined at her evident interest in what
he was saying. and determined to tell
her SO as soon as the opportunity pre-
scented itself.
"Seating myself beside an incipient
girl, l amused myself by passing COM
pliments upon her beauty, every one of
which she believed to be seriously
meant. Wearying of this sort of thing
after short time, walked out upon
the long veranda and concluded to in
dulge in quiet smoke until such time
as Annie should be disengaged.
Lighting cigar, seated myself in
the shadow at the further end of the
veranda and gave myself up to medita-
tons, of which Annie was the most
prominent object.
"How long had been sitting there,
lost in reverie, L know not, when sud-
denly l was aroused by voices very near
me. In moment L recognized the
voices of Annie and the fellow had seen
her conversing with few moments be-
fore. / was satisfied they were not cog
infant of my close proximity, and was
on the point of speaking to them, when
L heard my own name pronounced by
the man, and concluded to remain quiet
and learn in what way [ was connected
with their conversation. had not long
to wait in moment he spoke again
But report says you are engaged to
Charlie Knight, and his exclusive atten-
tions to you of late are sufficient grounds
for such rumor.
Breathlessly waited to hear Annie's
reply. She laughed low, hooking
laugh, and replied
"'And would you hold me responsible
for every absurd rumor that is started by
meddling gossips Have L not told You,
only few moments since, that you are
the only one ever loved AS for Char
lie Knight, will admit that l have al
lowed him to make great fool of him.
self In his attentions to me, but you
know he bears the name of being "a first
class flint, and l thought would teach
him lesson he would not soon forget,
for am satisfied the fellow really does
care for me. But if you object L will
bring the Irritation to an end
"' If that is the case, have no Objec-
ton to your continuing it as long as you
like. Knight is n conceited puppy, and
deserves just such treatment
"How L hated that man then You
know self control is not one of the pecul-
iarities of our family, and instinctively
my hand sought n small pistol, which
from force of habit always carried, but
in an instant l gained control of myself,
and they walked away and returned to
the room where the company were as
sembled.
81 will not tell you of the sleepless
night passed, or of the thousand and
one curses 1 heaped upon the head of
this woman, whom L considered the de-
stroyer of my happiness. The next
morning l wrote short note to Annie,
telling her to forget all 1 had ever said
about loving her, as L had discovered
that 1 was mistaken in supposing that L
ever cared for her. During the day L
sought out her companion of the even
ing previous, and accused him of using
my name disparagingly, and when he
denied it / gave him the lie, and fol-
lowed it up with storm of cpl.
thets and abuse that few men
would care to hear applied to them
selves. Having thus relieved my feel
ings as far as possible. settled down in
to a gloomy, morose life, forswore wom-
en-, isolated myself from society, and, in
fact, made myself as miserable as posi-
BILE, and thus continued until L met, by
accident, Ida Severen. She was all an art
ist could paint or a poet dream of. A
perfect description of her would be as
impossible as perfect description of
some hot-house exotic, whose loneliness
must be seen to be truly appreciated.
"Light and willowy of form, with in
describable grace in every movement
and gesture, complexion fair as lily,
dark hair and eyes, small mouth, with
lips just n shade deeper than the Grim
son that tinted her cheeks, and constant
ly reminding me of two twin rosebuds
When she spoke they displayed two
rows of small, even teeth, that were
pearl-like in their Wilderness. Her face
was perfect enough to have served as
model for sculptor, and i'll each velvety
cheek were tiny dimples, which seemed
fit hiding-places for the god of love.
"All this noted on the occasion of our
first meeting, but, Us l became better
acquainted with her, L learned to fully
the many noble qualities that
her nature. Above every
thing else, had always admired truth
fulness in women, but Ida Severen was
the only woman | had ever met who
would not occasionally tell what in So
ciety is usually termed white lies,
and it was seldom indeed that she would
attempt to prevaricate on any question.
And last, but not least of the admira-
BILE qualities in her nature, was the gen.
tie, lady-like manner that characterized
her conversation and actions on all occa-
sions.
CT visited her frequently and met her
often away from home, and 1 learned
that there was much congeniality be-
tween MS. She was fond OF books, had
read considerable, and possessed the
happy faculty of remembering what she
read, consequently she could converse
well on subjects pertaining to literature
for one of her age. We became firm
friends, and, while L knew / admired
her beauty and goodness, the idea that
| loved her never once occurred to me,
for, like you, considered that to love
once was to love forever, and believed
that my love had been sacrificed at the