The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-05-20

depart in peace should she see her fam
ily comfortably settled for life.
And Fanny's filial affection conquered
all her scrupples, and she resolved to
see. to accept Mr.. Somerby.
eyes," said she to herself, as she again
dwelt upon the tenderness of the prec-
ious letters, ''the sacrifice must be made.
must crafty my dear mother, even
though it be at the expense of my own
happiness. / will be Mrs. Somerby."
Fanny looked out upon the quiet sky,
the moon and stars, and thought, "How
fine a tale could be made from this-a
daughter sacrificing herself for the sake
of her mother"
1t was time to write her answer to the
letter; but how should she begin? Must
it be with 'Mr. Somerby, sir?" Oh, no,
that was too formal. With "My dear
sir?" That was too affectionate. And
when the matter had been settled and
the letter fairly written, the equally i'm
portant question remained how she
should subscribe herself Was she to be
"Yours, respectfully" or truly" or
sincerely" or ''affectionately?" A diff
cult problem!
But all things have an end, and the
letter was sent. Then it was that
Fanny's heart began to quake. What if
Mr.. S. should not fancy her handwriting?
Perhaps her note was too cold, maybe
too hot; ne might not expect an answer
so soon and would be shocked at her
haste. But all these heart-quakings
were in vain-the letter was gone.
To pass away the time, which now
hung heavily upon her hands, Fanny
called to tell Julia the whole story. The
kind friend was in raptures. Gust the
man for you, my DEAR" she cried. $50
he SAYS he has met you In your walks
and at church. Well, 1 can imagine
how ne looks; he's the very image of my
husband, I've no doubt"
Fanny next called upon the second di-
rectress of the Anti Matrimonial Society.
a young lady of an uncertain age, and
informed her that for private reasons
she must resign her own office, begging
her friend to make this resolution known
to the society at their next meeting.
Meanwhile the four sisters ran to tell
the news. Each one had her own par
ticular friend who must not be forgotten,
and in the course of two days, it was
known to all Fanny's acquaintance that
the fair damsel had been wooed and
won. The third day passed, and there
had come no letter from the impatient
lover Fanny resolved not to sleep a
wink that night. "What will become of
me-, thought she; 81 must be in Lowell"
In the midst of her despair she fell
asleep.
The next morning little note, sealed
with Forgive and forgetl' was brought
from the office. Fanny ran to her own
room to read it at her ease. pressing it to
her lips all the way up stairs. Behold
the note opened:
DEAR FAM" -("Why, how bold!"
thought she)-"Weh have been amusing
ourselves at your expense by writing you
a letter signed Thomas Somerby. We
are afraid that we have, carried the mat
ter too far, and must now beg you to
think of this imaginary person no longer.
Now don't be angry, Fanny dear, for we
are both quite sorry, and are ready to
hunt up for you real Mr. S., who will
write better letters than the pretended
one. Affectionately,
JULIA AND GEORGE"
Fanny sat like one petrifed. At last
she slowly rose, looked in the glass to
know if she were pale, tried to faint
away, and called her mamma Mrs.
Harpers indignation knew no bounds.
"And so we shall have no wedding,
after all, said Ann.
"And we shan't have our new dresses"
sighed Matilda.
"And there'll be no wedding cake"
screamed Tom.
cit was that horrid George Tbomp-
son, suggested Fanny
"What an impertinent fellow" cried
Kate.
And everybody, vexed and disap-
pointed, turned away to fret, to wander
and to scold. Ann and Lucy ran to burn
up the verses which they had written
about welded bliss; Kate descended to
the kitchen to tell the story there. and
Sam. and Tom, having vented their dis
in bestowing upon Mr..
George Thompson the name of "weak
sister," departed for school.
81 thought it was hoax all the time"
said Fanny, the next time she met Julia.
"Oh, did You? Well, am glad of it.
We were afraid that you did not suspect
it."
LA, as if should ever marry" re-