The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-10-20

But weeks OF suspense and uncer-
tainty passed. She. could school her
wor IL and her manner, but not her
face, and that fair face began. to look
piteous and wan.
Ashley, watching her with compunc-
tious anxiety, felt an eyer-deepening
heart-ache. Three weeks had passed
since his letter of explanation was post
ed. ANY hour might bring response.
and he haunted the postoffice with a
pertinacity inexplicab to his father.
al emit stand it much longer" he
told him .elf. "If that fellow isn't heard
from by tomorrow night, / shall make
clean breast of it to Rosy, and confess
ths whole thing
And the next evening. "that fellow"
still not being heard from, he did it..
Rosamond. spirit-fair and fragile in her
white dress, was sitting on the doorstep
in the moonlight, and sitting at her feet
he plunged into medals res.
"Rose, do you recollect letter You
gave me to post more than month
ago."
"Yes," with little gasp.
"Well, forgot it,
40 Astley!"
Yes it was in my pocket, you know.
I was going straight to the office, but
something interrupted me-lawn tennis
at the Porters', believe-and then
sent my coat to the wash, with the let
ter still in it. never found it out till
the COMPOUNDED thing came back, and
some days after, "a l put it on, hap
pened to feel it in the pocket, and there
it was-what was left of it,"
Rosamond sat perfectly still. Not .
sound came from her lips. Ashley
waited an instant, as if in hope of an
answer, then went on:
"Rosy, darling, You mustn't mind,
but j couldn't help seeing who the let
ter was for, and that-that-it was
something of consequence. 1t was all
blotted and blurred, but word or two
could be made out here and there.
was awfully cut up about it. l couldn't
bear to tell you, and didn't know what
to do. At last / wrote full explana-
ton to Dwight, and put the scraps in
my letter"
"Astley|
There was ring of hope aad of dis
may in the exclamation. SO absorbed
were. both that neither noticed that
some one swung the gate just then.
Eyes. l did. It went three weeks
ago yesterday, and by tomorrow you
ought 10 hear from him, that is, If he
happened to be in London when the
mail got in l didn't mean to tell you
till his letter came, but L could wait no
longer. Just say you forg why-what
is it?' as Rosamond sprang to her feet
with cry, Dwight! Dwight"
"She's fainted!" exclaimed Ashley, in
an awe-struck tone, as his sisters head
dropped heavily on his arm.
But happiness is better restorative
than burnt feathers, and in little time
Rosamond was able to assure Ashley of
her forgiveness, to smile and ask ques-
tons, and finally be left on the door
step fer long moonlight talk with her
trusnt correspondent.
When / saw Mrs. Dwight Edgar Mt
Newport last year, she wore on her
wrist n slender chain, to which was at
tached locket whose lid was a big
ulOOUNtOnt.
Within was a singular little wad of what
looked like paper which had been wet
and pressed together. When I asked
what it could be, she answered, evasve-
", ooh, papier mache; bit of an old
letter which Dwight makes me wear.
There's quite a story about it, but it's
too long too tell"
Her husband chuckled, and later,
seeing that / was curious, he told me
the story which have told to you.
And you never saw any one 40 re-
formed as Ashley is, ever since then, "
added Rosamond, with laugh in her
voice. Hes the most particular Great
ure you ever saw, always fidgeting and
fussing for fear he may have forgotten
something If he lives TO be q hundred,
You my depend upon it, he will never
again forget another letter in a coat
pocket. Susan Coolidge, i1 Youths
Companion.