The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-10-21

Dear Mary, uon TASK me- caiinoJ,
replied he, painfully. 81 cannot. in
deed-only to my Godl Listen," con-
tinued he solemnly; tomorrow / shall
be far away from you; and the probable
ity is that it would be very long time
at present, think, many years-before
we should meet again; so that continuing
our engagement is a mere mockery, be-
cause the chances are that shall be un-
able to keep it,
"Ohl" exclaimed the girl, wounded to
the quick by sentiment she misunder-
stood.
"Do not mistake me" said he, taking
her by the hand, and struggling to sub
due his own strong emotion; II love you
dearly, and that is The reason / do not
wish you to remain bound to what may
never be fulfilled on my part. You, 1
know, would be faithful and true; but
why should you waste the bloom OF your
youth, and neglect the many opportuni-
ties you will have of making yourself
happy, for the sake Of a man you may
never see again No, Mary; you shall
not do so from this moment you are
free, and may heaven bless you !"
The girl hung down her head anG
cried bitterly, for she felt that her young
hopes were about to be withered.
Walter, animated by the new feelings
he had acquired, was invincible; his
duty required the sacrifice, and it should
be made. Undoubtedly it was one of
the greatest he could have made, for he
might have played upon the girls credu-
lily, and maintained his position as lover
without the remotest prospect or inten-
ton of becoming her husband. But
with the resolution to do right comes q
consideration for others, which weakens
the natural selfishness of the heart, and
gives it the power to make those stern
sacrifices which honor SO frequently de-
mands.
"Now, for my mother" thought he,
and trembled at the interview before
him for, had the alternative been pre-
scented to him, he would have preferred
that the maiden he had parted with
should have been acquainted with his
error, than that his mother, his ire
proachable mother, should have known
that he had brought shame on the name
of the parent who had been SO honored
and respected when alive.
After a protracted conversation with
his mother, sine yielded to his entreaties,
and consented to retire to more humble
dwelling The removal was speedily
effected, and, on the evening of the day
on which they took possession of the
two apartments which were thenceforth
ia 10 ,nrir hOiue, the mother Dewlldered
by the chang, inquired from her son
why he had gone 81 far from the Office.
u have left Mr.. IS employ--he
was dissatisfied with me-" replied Wal
ter, slightly blushing at the equivoca-
ton.
Dissatisfied with you'll" exclaimed
the mother "Oh, Walter, there is
something in all this don't understand;
first, you bid Mary farewell, then you
induce nae to leave Cloudesly street,
and now You tell me you have left your
office. Walter, my dear son, do not
conceal anything from me-.
Walters lips quivered and his eye
making a great effort he soon recovered
himself, and seeing that he must be cool
and firm, or all would be explained, and
perhaps so shock his mother as to do
her serious injury, he addressed himself
to her in the calm language of reason.
He explained that he had been dis
charged by Mr.. - owing to his being
extremely dissatisfied with him, and
that, as he never intended to return tothat
line of business again, it was necessary,
until he had established himself in some
other, that his mother, deprived of the
assistance of his salary, should be placed
in such position as would enable her
to live upon the slender annuity she
enjoyed.
MY son." said the mother, affected
at this instance of filial devotion, "but
why separate from Nary"
Because" replied Walter, CT wooed
her under favorable circumstances, be-
came gracious in her eyes by the aid of
those circumstances, and, now that they
have disappeared, my duty to her and
myself demands that 1 should withdraw
from her society. Our position toward
each other has undergone change
she is In the same condition, while / am
poor, very poor; and love and poverty
rarely agree.
"You know little yet of woman's
heart, Walter" said his mother, smil-
liz, VI you WOulll NC dWdIt tlluI, pro-
vided man retains his honor, she cares
little in her youth about the trash which
the world calls wealth."
This remark caused Walter to turn
pale as death, and almost to fail from
his seat fainting. His alarmed mother
flew TO his assistance. and beseeched
him to make contidant of her for she
was sure, she said, he had something
concealed from ner which caused HIM
the most poignant distress.
With the utmost difficulty he reas-
sured her, and, when both were more
calm, he solemnly requested her to
grant him favor.
"What is it ?" she inquired.
"Trust me, replied he, falling ON his
knees before her.
81 will ! she emphatically ex-
claimed, falling on his neck and from
that day forth the subject was never
renewed between them.
"Two resolutions triumphantly car
ried out" said Walter, after his mother
had retired "and tomorrow is the ma
tivity of the third"
Taking a large sheet of paper, he