The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-05-04
IN HALF AN Hour.

uSb WQlb lOT us u llblle Wnlle 20
will come back in half an hour!" Norah
and Bob had said, and they had gone
off into the little wood, hand-in- hand,
like two children.
So Missy was left quite alone, to
move herself backward and forward in
Che swing, and feeling herself, to say
truth, rather left out. Why had they
wanted to go off by themselves, she
wondered? 1t was so strange of Norah,
when her brother had just telegraphed
to say that he was coming down that
afternoon to see her. How odd, too,
that they SHOULD want to get away from
herl Missy was not accustomed to
being neglected. Hitherto she had al
ways been first with Bob, and first with
Norah, but since Norah and Bob had
become acquainted things had assumed
very different aspect, and the intense
friendship which had sprung up be-
tween these two threatened to extin-
guish Missy altogether.
Missy did not like it, but as yet she
had no comprehension of its full signiti-
canoe, no due appreciation of the ca
Iamity which had befallen her. At
present, she was only aware that Bob
preferred Norah's company to hers, and
that Norah-perfdious Norah !-evi-
IDENTITY liked Bobs society better than
that of her dearest friend. 1t was very
disagreeable, and, to put an end to the
unpleasant thought, Missy called mp
her favorite subject of meditation, and
began TO weave afresh the romantic web
of fancy which encircled the person of
the wondrous being of tho future who
was on his why to WOO and win her vir-
gin heart
She was very young-only land
the assertion of even those few years
seemed belied by her childish appear
ance. But she was very pretty, and she
made charming picture, as she sat in the
swing in her strawberry dress
and large bonnet, with her deep, serious
eyes fixed on the little gate opening
into the wood, and her red lips half smil-
ing as some sweet imagination passed
through her mind. So at least thought
q young man who was coming noiseless-
ly toward her along the dahlia-bord-
cred grasswalk, and who did not fail to
mark the beauty of her profile and the
grace of her movements as she stirred
herself lazily to and fro by the help of
her daintily-shod foot. Advancing
quietly in front of her he lifted his hat
She was not slow to perceive who he
must be.
"You are Norah's brother-yos are
Mr.. O'Hagan," she said, simply
"Norah has gone into the wood with
Bob for half an hour. Will you wait
for them?'
Mr.. OHagan had no objection TO
wait. He threw himself down on IA
garden seat close by and sat looking at
the girl, who continued her half-uncon-
scous motion, with an expression on
her face which betrayed degree of shy
ness. She felt, indeed, that she ought
to speak, but eventually it was Mr..
O'Hagan who took the initiative.
You seem delightfully."- situated
here" he said. Have you lived in this
place always?"
Yes; it belongs 20 Bob, my brother, +"
replied Missy, briefly.
"Then you are Missy, of whom have
often heard"
Eyes, / am Missy. And You are
Norahs eldest brother, the blrrister, of
whom / have often heard.
"Why have Norah and your brother
gone away without you?" asked Sir.
O'Hagan, abruptly.
81 do not know returned Missy.
"But you must know said Mr..
O'Hagan, in tone of gentle authority.
"Norah is your guest, and it is not usual
for young ladies to go about alone with
their friends brothers"
"Norah is doing nothing unusual,
cried Missy, flushing angrily; for
though she was very unhappy, she did
not choose that mir. O'Hagan should
find fault. bob is Norah's own friend
and Aunt Caroline sees 10 harm in any
thing they do They are very fond o.
each other"
$50 it would appear said Mr.. Ola
gan, dryly He was somewhat annoyed
He had received an ambiguous lettel
from his sister that morning which haC
made him think il advisable he SHOULD
try and find out what she was doing
ard now he had come to try and sh'
had vanished. But she had left sub
sttute, and to this substitute, after
moments pause, Mr.. O'Hagan turned