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


decidedly.
"For me, you mean," cried Lucy,
who bore the only pretty face Of the
family.
"Isn't it for me?" asked Ann, as she re-
membered that Mr.. Gustavus Thorp had
walked home with her the last time she
was caught in shower.
The matter was speedily settled, how
ever. bv Kate, who had contrived to gain
possession of the letter, and was reading
Miss Francis Harper" in no gentle
voice.
Give it to me directly, and don't tease
me so, Kate, cried Fanny.
"Wait minute till I've found out who
it's FROM" said Kate. peeping under the
seal. ''Let me see-Thom-Thomas!
There, do take it.
My dear reader did you ever write, re-
ceive or read love letter?
"Not /, thank fortune" growls the
cross old bachelor.
''Nor /, +" signs poor Aunt Nabby.
'That's secret, whispers pretty Ell
len. $3.50 --
Well, then to you who know nothing OF
such matters, an explanation or even
sight of Fanny's letter would be, unln-
telligible; and as for you who have al
ready dozens of your own, you can, OF
course, feel little curiosity respecting
this one. Besides, what right have l to
read you Fanny's secret?
Fanny came down to dinner with an
air of dignity quite unusual to her.
''Do tell us who the letter was from?"'
asked Lucy. au
''Shall you say yes?" called Sam, from
the end of the table.
"Of course she will, and we will be
uncles and aunts, roared Tom.
Thomas, leave the table, directly"
cried Mrs. Harper.
eyes, mamma, said Tom, encouraged
by the bushes and filters of the four
sisters; "but is it for saying that Fanny
would say yes, or that we should be
uncles and aunts?"
$50 away, you naughty boy!" and
Tom was gone.
When dinner was over, Fanny took
her mother aside and begged her to read
the letter.
"Well," said Mrs Harper, after 81
lence of thirty five minutes, "avery pretty
letter, 1 must say-but who Is this
Thomas Somerby?"
"Why, mamma" replied Fanny, 81
don't exactly remember ever seeing him,
but"
"Ah, well, that's of no consequence
You shall answer this letter directly
Just the situation for YOU Letme see
lives III the country during the summer
months. La, we can take the children
and spend at least four out of the year
with you every season."
dear mamma, you forget that I am
at the head of the Anti Matrimonial So
ciety."
"3ut that's Of no consequence. Only
think OF your friend Julia-such
n nice house-such elegant furniture
such a sweet baby as she has!'
"Yes, Julia seems very happy; and,
do you know, mamma, she has really
urged me of late to be more charitable
in my opinions of gentlemen. After all,
L have possibly been to severe"
Fanny retired to her own room to
mediate upon Mr.. Somerby. A tap at
her door aroused her from the reverie
into which she had fallen, and Kate,
with an air of great Importance, made
her appearance.
"And SO, Fanny, you are really going
to take this Mr.. What's ibis name? You
needn't blush, formamma has told us all
about it, and we have planned out about
the dresses and everything; and after
you are married you know L shall have
your room, for papa says / may. And
there's another thing which 1 must tell
you. Oh, Fanny, / hope shall have n
love letter some of these days"
Fanny hardly knew whether to laugh
or cry, but in spite of the grave face
which she found it expedient to put on,
several little smiles twinkled in her eyes,
smiles that said: "Kate, you are dar-
ling, but mustn't let you knowI think
So"
"Well," continued Kate, "have you
written the answer? Let me see it, do.
Come now, 1 shan't tell the girls what
pretty things you say to him."
KATY" said Fanny, solemnly "you
must not talk any more about the matter.
confess that it is very hard to disap-
point you all and to distress him, but it
must be DONE"
Now, if there was anything that Kate
pdItiCuliIlJ ulSllhtu III WIS IO be6 IeurS
shed by anybody for any reason; there
fore. as she began to suspect that Fanny
meditated some such act, she lost no
time in retreating.
When Fanny came to tea she was as
sailed by a host of questions, congratu-
lations, and kisses from papa. mamma,
her four sisters and three brothers.
"How dye do, Mrs. Somerby?" asked
one.
"Now for the wedding cake" shouted
Tom.
you'll let me DO bridesmaid, won't
you?" urged Ann.
"And if Mr.. s. givesyou gold watch
won't you give me your old one?" asked
Matilda.
After tea no one seemed inclined to
.et aboutany regular employment. Papa
held his newspaper before his eyes rs
usual, but it was at last discovered by
Kate that it had been upside down for
an hour. Mammals knitting work lay
quietly in her lap, while her thoughts
wandered off to a certain fine house in
the country, where several children ran
about, bearing decided resemblance to