The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-07-23
'yed, 1 thought, and 1 soon with

"You know that am generally consid-
cred cold, practical and impressive. L
am, but had met, for the first time III
my life, n man who had power to hold
my thoughts when he was out of sight.
A strange, sweet sense of being no long
er desolate possessed my whole being.
L opened the window and looked out (;
the stars were shining TRANQUILITY in the
blue heavens. 1 was happy, the night
was beautiful, and God was good to me.
l could not pray my heart could find
no words in which to express its graft
tude and content My sleep was filled
with dreams half pleasant, half painful,
dreams of travelling in foreign countries,
and dreams of Milly and my new friend.
/ had scarcely come back to reality by
morning, / think, for L was long time
about dressing. L wore white muslin
wrapper with flowers in my hair and at
my throat.
"The whole family was assembled. /
was presented to those whom L had not
met the evening before. After break
fast those who had work to do went
about it, while we who consulted our
own inclination fingered in the wide,
cool breakfast room. | took n position
on window seat, overlooking the lawn.
L had been there but n moment when
Kenneth came up. IF You cannot
help me about the minerals, perhaps
You can about the flowers, he said,
smiling, and indicating by IA slight mo-
ton of the haLd that the flowers L wore
called forth the remark.
"No, L fear not, L replied. Il ID
not take kindly to technicalities. / only
understand their beauty, which is, per-
haps, more than most botanists do.
az was seated, he standing; he bent to-
ward me as he said. Perhaps, and yet,
botanist though l am, there is one kind
of beauty do not fail to admire.
81 couldnot misunderstood the implied
compliment. and blushed little under
his steady gaze.
"Milly came up the next instant, and
the conversation drifted away to indif-
ferent topics. / could see that Ken
meth attentions to me were n source OF
displeasure to Milly. / had a sort OF
pleasure i'll seeming to be unaware OF
her annoyance.
Chow uninterruptedly events will go
on, as if change would never come
then all at once, one scarcely knows how,
everything is changed, and is never
quite the same again
81 had been five months at Deering
place, and Kenneth was at my side as
often rs he could be without attracting
attention or comment. L spent much
of my time in the library. Mrs. Deer
ing was always busy about her work III
the kitchen. Milly spent her forenoons
III the parlor, and in the afternoons she
usually slept an hour or so, then drove
out to make calls and talk over the fash
ions with the aristocratic young ladies
OF the neighhorhood. On these occa-
sions Kenneth would be sure to find
some excuse for coming i'll from the
field before evening His manner had
long been that OF lover
cone day, us | was seated at desk in
the library writing, he came in quietly,
but, seeing | was busy, he pretended to
have some eTand in the room. He soon
came TO my side, however, and put his
cool, tender palm against my cheek.
Some slight, caressing movement on my
part-perhaps pressing of my cheek
against his hand-caused him to bend
down and say, with deep earnestness:
So You dO love me.
L flashed smile up into his face and
asked:
Z" Why 2
Because | love You, he answered.
To his protestations of love | had al
ways returned an Indifferent reply, but
that day II spirit of coquetry possessed
me. My blushing inquiry had seemed
like confession, and Kenneth was radi-
amt. | would not seem to share his
mood, neither did / have the heart to
check his JOY. kept ON with my writ
ing, but l had no thought except OF this
man, who was all the world To me. He
sat by my side and held my hand /
could not deny him nor myself that
pleasure. | wrote steadily, with down
east eyes. | was in delicious, dreamy
trance. My interest in my writing was
gone. L laid aside my pen, and, passing
my hand lightly over his thick masses OF
hair, / said
"' You should he ut work, Kenneth,
instead of hindering me.
He caught my hand and, drawing me
toward him, said:
So Kiss me, Mirabel just once, dear
you never have
81 shook my head. He arose, bringing
me to my feet ut the same time his
strong arms were about me, his passion
ate kisses on my lips. had no further
control of myself, and to his whispered
entreaty, Kiss me, darling, just once,
my arm crept half way around his neck
and my lips met his. No use of denying
my love for him after that For one
hour complete, unthinking happiness
was ours. We did not trouble ourselves
by thoughts of the future. We had the
present and each other. We did not
talk much. With provoking pretense
of industry, 1 said, Let me go on with
my writing.
He put his arm aboutme and heldme.
L can't spare you,' he said. You do
not love me as L do you or you could not
think of work. Oh, Mirabel, L cannot
live without you.
GO Perhaps, / said, with a side smile
up into his face, lyon could not live
with me-
I" Myra'-he always called me Myra
when very grave do not talk so. Do