The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-08-17


serving that he was coming very eau
tiously, rs if in fear of being seen, and
knowing that she was undiscovered,
curiosity prompted her to stay so glid-
ing behind hay-stack near by, she
was in position to note his actions un,
discovered.
Coming to the barn-yard, he ran
across it, in half-stooping posture, to
the meadow fence. Getting inside, he
began to creep along the fence towards
the house, much like savage trying to
steal upon his enemy.
"What does he mean?" said Mary,
her blue eyes dilating in wonder.
The summer-kitchen was short dis
lance from the main building and be-
tween it and the meadow fence was the
spring.
From the spring issued quite largo
stream, flowing under the fence and
across tho meadow.
Where it flowed under the fence,
near the summer-kitchen, was a smell
but dense tlicket of alders, briars and
wild grapevines.
This was the point for which John
was making.
Arriving within o few rods of the
house, Ire ran, stopping, across the
little open space of meadow between
the fence and stream; then, behind the
alders that lined its bank he hurried
along until he reached the thicket, in
to which he crawled, and fixed himself
so that he could have view of the
window.
Mary's eyes flashed in anger.
$50, john" said she, "you have been
reading the Champion Herald. Well,
we'll see how much knowledge you'll
obtain for your trouble"
Then, taking roundabout way, so
that he might not see her, Mary entered
the house and went upstairs to her
room and sat down near q window that
overlooked his riding-place.
"What splendid place for observa-
tion!" said John to himself, as he fixed
himself among the bushes.
Just then up went the window and
out came pail of dirty water, thrown
by the strong arms of Mrs. johnson.
ugh ugh!" said he, crawling back
ward, as the dirty shower came dripping
down through the leaves, "this is a cir
cumstance for which L made no calcu-
lation."
Belle, where is Mary?" called Mrs.
johnson to one of the girls.
upstairs" said Belle.
why. what's she doing there9 Why
doesn't she come down and do the
milking?"
Il don't know" was the reply. "She
says she's pot coming down for some
time; you needn't wait breakfast for
her."
"Just as expected" said John with
sad countenance. "Those boarding
schools will ruin any girl. / suppose
they'll carry her breakfast up to her. 1
guess I'll go now; I've learned as much
as l want to know"
But John did not go just then; some
thing again occurred for which he had
made no calculation. The Squire had
several dogs, and among them was one
ferocious old fellow called Bull. At
tracted by the smell of victuals, for
breakfast was now cooking, they had
gathered about the kitchen door and
sitting there with wagging tails were
awaiting their morning meal.
At the first rustic of the leaves as
John turned round they pricked up
their ears. In moment, after he had
moved again, they were over the fence,
jumping and bowling and prancing
around the thicket as if it contained
their greatest enemy.
Hi, there! Hist, Bull! Go in,
Rover! Hurrah, Bob, dogs have got
rabbit" shouted the boys, running out
and bombarding the thicket with q
shower of sticks and stones, which
made John lie as fiat as a skirmisher
under the fire of whole line of con-
cealed enemies.
Get out there Get out! What in
thunder's all this fuss about? ~ growled
the Squire, coming to the spring to
wash and thinking the dogs were after
q cat or bird.
In few minutes the family went to
breakfast, and the dogs left the thicket
The coast seemed clear.
Nov or never" said John, rs he be-
gan to crawl toward the edge at which
he came in.
A low savage growl stopped him;
there, right in front, was old Bull,
stretched out, with his head between
his paws, winking at him and seeming
to say: "Pve got you now, young fell
low"
poor old Bullw said John, coax
ingly.
A low growl was his only answer.
MY poor old fellow Come here,
won't you?" said John, patting on his
knee.
Another growl, fercer than ever.
Bull was too old to be fattered.
John now was mad.
"Confound you, you old scoundrell"
said John, "if ever catch you away
from this place Ill murder you"
Bull only winked in reply to this
abuse.
John now tried to get out at another
place, but Bull moved around upon the
line of investment and took position in
Johns front again.
John was not usually profane, but
just now he used OH expression or two
denoting his willingness to see Bull in
warmer cline than this.
Breakfast was now over. The Squire
and the boys came out, took their