The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-10-20
IN A COAT POCK Ell.


"Are you going to the postoffice, Asst
ley"
"No not exactly, but near it. Is
there anything you want doneg
"Only this letter to post, and a girl
ish shape fitted down the stair. Ashley
watched NJ she descended, and, with
suddenly sharpened recognition of the
fact, said to himself, What pretty
girl Rosamond is!
Brothers are not always so alive to
their sisters charms, but the fact was
that rarely in her life had Rosamond
Cowper been so near to perfect beauty
as at that moment, when she came down
the old staircase, letter in hand: her
cheeks flushed with deepest pink; her
eyes shining, and her red lips parted
with l know not what happy str of
emotion and expectancy.
Two long braids of pale brown hair,
thick aud glossy as those of German
Gretchen, hung down her back. On
the fair forehead clustered fringe of
light waving rings, not cut and trained
after the manner of the conventional
bang, but happy freak OF nature and
accident.
The slender figure in it's white dress
had all the rounded grace of youth and
perfect health. Over all was an cir of
virginia. freshness, indescribable, but
charming. 1t was one of those bel mo-
mei1tj which come at times to most
young creatures.
But RoSamond was too much preoc-
cupied to be conscious of her looks, as
she handed the letter to her brother,
with fingers which trembled little,
and said anxiously, you won't lose it,
will YOU, Astley?"
Certainly not" with superior
smile. He stuffed it carelessly into a
side-pocket of his coat, coat made,
like the rest of his suit, of that immacu-
late white duck, in which our youthful
swelIs delight to array themselves in
hot Ju y weather.
Forth he went, clean, alert, hand
some, the very picture of luxurious
young fellow enjoying holiday No
thought of betraying Rosamond's trust
was in his mind, and his steps had al
ready turned toward the postoffice,
when dog-cart drew up sudden Y and
q CHEEKY hail reused his attention.
well met, Cd fellow. l was just
going rounl to ask if you felt like a
game of tennis. The Porters sent a
note ,rly in the morning, TO ask me to
drive down to the Croft for lSncheon
> and game. and to bring you"
"All right. will" Ashley jumped
into the cart and in another moment
was bowling down the road toward the
Croft-a pretty country place some
three miles distant. Rosamond's COM
mission was clean forgotten.
Tennis was followed by luncheon,
that by more tennis, and a conversa-
ton under the shade of the branching
cedars which fanked the ground. Then
pretty Mabel Porter proposed walk,
and led the way through a grassy val
ley to the gorge beyond, where a little
brook tore It's wild way from higher
levels TO the water meadows below.
The rocks over which the party
climbed were slippery here and there,
and, in saving Mabel from fall, Ashley
himself had tumble, trifing in Itself,
but damaging to the duck suit; so dam
aging in fact that the suit went to the
laundress next day.
Before its return the weather had
changed to that odd, almost autumnal
GOODNESS which checkers and tempers
the heat of our American summers.
1t was some time before Ashley had oc-
'casion To wear it again. When it was
taken for use, by mere accident he was
searching for something in the pocket,
when his astonished fingers encountered
and drew forth rather thick. fiat, hard
square of paper for which he could In
no way account.
His first sensation was one of unmixed
bewilderment.
why, what on earth? A letter, and
what letter ?"-and he proceeded TO
smooth the rumpled mass out on the
table. A few faintly-written characters
were discernibIe on what had been an
envelope.
Mr. DIV Edg r,
p. Box s.
New Y
Dwight Edgar. Why, what does
this mean? I have had no letter from
him." reflected the astonished Ashley,
still intent on the disorganizcd frag-
ments. But stay-this isn't letter
from him-but to him. How could it
get into my pocket?"
Here and there sentence could be
made out, or parts of sentences. IL
am so very, very happy, but | can't tell
you about that until" Ought to
have got your letter four days ago"
$50 you needn't go to Europe, you
see, for"-and then blurred sigma
ture "Come soon to your own Ros
-"