The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-02-04
CHATTER III.

CHAPTER III.
"Good morning, father!" exclaimed
hearty voice, and, CHANGING up, from his
paper, Sir James Bolton beheld his son.
Springing excitedly from his seat, he
exclaimed
"You, Arthur? Where"
"Why, father" cried Arthur, 'you do
not seem very glad to sec me-"
But Sir James, recognizing his rash
ness. had recovered his self-control. Ex-
tending his hand, no exclaimed:
Pardon me, Arthur, but your return
was SO unexpected, and 50 welcome,
that I"
Enough, father dear" the young
man gently returned. Il know that j
am welcome, especially when have a
satisfactory report of my work to hand
in. But / can not stay with you long.
Associations here are too sad, too bitter.
And his blue eyes looked inconceivably
unhappy, for he was thinking of her who
had written him soon after his arrival III
Cuba, one short, cutting note, declining
his love.
So it was arranged, greatly to Sir
James satisfaction, that Arthur should
start the next morning, to spend few
years travelling in the new world
1t was evening. The clear blue sky
was studded with twinkling stars, whose
soft plimmer melted into the stronger
halo of the moon. The garden of the
Bolton mansion was bathed in grayish
mist, which tlickered among the tall
trees. and cast weird shadows on the
old castle.
Arthur Bolton was slowly strolling
through the deep paths leading In and
ont among the shrubbery. The fire OF
his cigar burnt fiercely as he pulled
nervously away at it. How often he had
walked here with buoyant steps and
light heart, looking toward the future,
when Lucy Grey was to have become his
wife!
SLOW cruelr' he murmured. "Cruel
cruel! Oh, how shall bear it-how
shall / endure? Would to heaven that
here and now L could lay down the bur-
den of my life and sink into oblivion!
Lucy, who was my life and love-who is,
and ever shall be, my love-is not
false--but the note!"
Hour after hour passed away, and still
he staid. 1t was about midnight that he
stopped opposite the old tower
''Hark!" he exclaimed, springlng for
ward and assuming listening attitude.
arthur Arthur! Save mc!''
Like lightning his blue eyes sent n
CLEAN up to the window above. A white
object fluttered moment, and then fell
at his feet. Picking it up, he read in
family penciled characters the follow
ing:
ITO the person finding this handker-
chief. For the love of all you hold dear
i'll this world or the next, take this to
DR.. Grey of Hazelton, and tell him that
/ am confined prisoner, by Sir James
Bolton, in the big room of the old tower,
and that he swears shall not receive my
freedom until i become his wife,"
Without reading further, Arthur Boil
ton sprang like blood hound toward the
house. He knew it all now. Sir jane
WAS suddenly awakened that night by a
terrible crash, and hurriedly throwing
on his clothes, he rushed toward the big
room in the old tower. ---...t....
Crashl With a Wild shrek, he sprang
forward. Crash, crash! And down flew
the door. rotten with age, ana Sir James
arrived just in time to glare through the
open space on Arthur aud Lucy, fondly
clasped in each others arms, while the
Young mans hot kisses were raining over
the brow, cheek and neck of her who
was his life and love.
"Fiends' screamed Sir James. while
tho blood rushed in torrents to his
mead
With one wild bound the old man TT
tempted to reach the pair, but, falling
short, he tottered, fell, and remained as
one dead.
Tenderly he was laid on the bed. AL
ready Arthur and Lucy had forgiven him,
and for many week, hung over his pill
low: and when lie became convalesceilt,
none were happier than they. But tho
punishment came. Sir James sight had
gone in his illness, and henceforth, oil
that made life worth the living TO him,
was TO sit between Arthur and Lucy, who
had become man aud wife, with u hand
of each clasped tightly i'll his own, and
hear them declare their forgiveness and
love.