The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-09-16

I'd llVS Ill
"Miss Humphreys can't really believe
that to be true" l answered.
81 don't know whether she does or
not She's away now, but she'll be
home tomorrow. and perhaps she'll be
more reasonable"
The next day Mabel arrived. She met
me politely, went through the introduce
tion gracefully, and acted as If she had
never seen me before There was not
the slightest half-glance of recognition
she evidently intended to consider me
a receat acquaintance. With curious
inconsistency ! could not help being n
little disappointed, while at the same
time I was immensely relieved. L don't
know what L had expected start,
blush, just the shy, pleased look OF
girl toward an old friend not yet forgot
ten or was it haughtiness, hardly yelled
anger, disgust? Whatever L had ex-
pected, I got nothing at all but pleasant,
meaningless words. great pollteness.
great civility. had nothing whatever
to do with. and could have no interest
in. the intimacy that formerly existed
between Mabel Humphreys and James
w. Wolcott; he was one man and was
another. And so the days went on, and
she was always friendly with her fathers
copyist.
Toward the end of July Ned Humph-
reys came home, and brought Mr.. But
tsr-Scotch Steele with him. Mr.. Steele's
baptismal name was William, but he had
been rechristened by his friends Butter
Scotch on account of his fondness for
that particular kind OF candy.
Ned was quite boy, and q capital fell
low at that, and he and 1 soon became
firm friends; but Butter-Scotch I
loathed. | really don't know why I
loathed him SO much, unless because
there was rumor afoat that Mabel
was making up her mind to renounce
the bangs and bangles of single life, and
herceforth stick to Butter-Scotch. OF
course, this, of itself, was enough to
make me contemplate placing an extra
ordinarily bent pin on his chair, or con-
verting his overcoat pocket into re-
pository for litter of baby kittens. But
Independently of this rumor, | had
distinct and positive impression that
loathed the man just as he was, whether
he ever succeeded in marrying Mabel or
not. OF course, it was none of my
business, but it did seem pity to stand
by and see her become the missing rib,
thereby completing the anatomy, Of such
molly -coddle.
One morning I was standing on the
piazza-just finishing a very nice cigar
Mr.. Humphreys had presented me with
the day before, with the remark that he
didn't mind man smoking once in a
while, if he smoked tobacco. but he
abominated cabbage-when Mabel came
out
"Mr Wolcott," she said, "are you
going to he busy for few minutes ?"
81 think not" / replied. Mr..
Humphreys doesn't want to begin for
half an hour yet"
"Then will you come to the croquet
ground and finish your cigar there ?"
Certainly" I answered; with
pleasure"
Over to the croquet ground we strolled,
and Mabel sat down on one OF the rus
tic seats. Without preamble of any
kind, she began:
81 know you have a friendly feeling
for us all, Mr.. Wolcott, and want to
ask your opinion and advice"
bowed, for she was unquestionably
right about my friendly feeling, but l
wondered what was coming.
She went on; What do you think
of Mr.. Steele p
Well, that was q poser What did j
think of Butter Scotch? That he was
fool, of course but 1 reflected it
wouldn't do to tell her So particularly if
she was going to Oh, no it wouldn't
do at ALL
"Why do you ask, Miss Humphreys ?"
81 will tell you frankly. There is
very strong inclination on papa's part to
buy the stone house..
yes, L know there is.
And 1 don't want him to-"
May ask why not?"
"Becauso it's haunted"
81 don't see how that affects Mr..
Steele-he isn't haunted"
Mabel laughed. 81 don't suppose he
is. But that isn't what mean. / want
to know if he is courageous enough to
go there and see if it is really haunted.
"Oh, L guess he's pretty brave he
says he is, and Mr.. Humphreys thinks
so too, believe"
eyes, papa is so enthusiastic over Mr.
Butt mean Mr.. Steele's kind heart
and religious feeling; he thinks he must
De gOOU man, ana nOI cuSlly lrlgnU-
ened." She looked at me squarely. "And
i want to know if he's a man fully to be
trusted"
"With untold wealth ?"
"No; to see ghost"
"Ah / see !"
You're brave, too, aren't you, Mr..
Wolcott?"
you're very kind to say so, but L
assure you there never was a worse cow
ard than l am. I've no courage at all
I'm all brain Now there's the difference
between Mr.. Steele and myself"
Mabel rose. "Yes, see the differ
ence," she said. "I'm very much obliged
to You, Mr.. Wolcott, for your good adj
vice. wasn't sure whether he would
undertake it. Brain is a good thing,
so is courage; prefer happy mixture. T"
And with O pleasant little nod she sailed
off.
1 never saw until afterward what a
comparison had made--one ell coui age
and no brain, and the other all brain and
no courage. L had muddled things
badly, that was evident, and the worst
of il was that she never gave me an