The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-06-22


The strange Promise Young Lady Ex-
acted Of Her Lovers.
Trom the Chicago Tribunal
Pass the butter"
Out beneath the tar-gemmed sky,
and under the sturdy old oaks that had
bid defiance to the storms of centuries,
Girofe Mahaffy and George w. Simp-
son were sitting that beautiful June
night, the balmy breath of the evening
that was being waited in signing kisses
from the everglades of Florida made
vocal by the chirp of the cricket and
the low, mellow note of the dissipated
tom-cat as he wandered listlessly around
the backyard, now and then lodging
in nonchalent, languid fashion the
latest boot-jack as it came hustling
through the air with cruel force, or stop
ping beneath a window to see if his howl
was still within reach. Up from the
westward came the sound of the sea as
its silvered foam FLASHED in rhythmic
cadence on the white sands of the beach,
and through the masses of foliage that
encircled Brierton Villa could be seen,
ever and anon, especially anon, the fit
full flicker of the ice-cream lairs that
decked the horizon in every direction.
1t was a night for poets pen, paint
er's brush, or large schooner of weiss
beer, and as Girofe sat there in the
cleaning her thoughts wandered back
to the days of a year agone, when every
moment of her life was trimming over
with JOY and every day seemed rose
tinted dream from which one would
never care to waken.
And now all was changed. Standing
on the verge of womanhood and watch
ing with wistful eyes for the mists of
futurity to rise, her life should have
been a happy one as Hope called to her
with jocund voice and Youth laughed
back response. But instead of this the
darksome shadows of doubt and fear
fell ever on the pure young face, and
in the sweet brown eyes there was
wistful, yearning, MISUNDERSTANDING
my shoes were two-siZes-larger look
that was pitiful in its sad beauty.
You cannot love me, George" she
says at last, "or you would not leave me
In this manner-go away for two whole
days, when You know that my heart
will be breaking for you, and that every
moment of your absence will be to me
an age of torture and doubt, and com
ing to his side she places her arms about
his neck in a shy, hesitating, dopt-know
whether-l-am- al ot-or- horseback fash
ion that tells its own sweet story of
love that will never fade or falter as
long as the collateral securities hold
ont.
And so they stand there, 1.-THE moments
passing by UNDECIDED, the girl nesting
III his arms secure in the deep trustful-
ness of an overpowering passion, while
the man. smoothing her fair forehead
gently, bends over now and then to kiss
the rosy lips that are upturned to his,
and then wonders in dreamy. idvllic,
North Sidefashion who the last man
that held a similar situation on Circles
staff might have been. Suddenly the
girl breaks the silence-she had bl oxen
the man on the last matinee day. And
you must really go?" she says: really
and truly"
Yes" he answers. when duty calls
we must obey, and have seldom known
duty to call on the poorest hand
But l cannot let YOU CO. she says,
passionately. 1T is cruel to test my
love so sorely!" and, breaking down in
a storm of sobs, she clings to him more
closely than ever. And then, just as he
fears for her reason, so terrible does
the blow seem, the sobs that are MAX
ing the light form culver with anguish
cease, and Girohe looks up to him with
happy smile upon her face. Il will
be brave, she says, but YOU must make
me one promise-a holy, sacred prom
Use that even death it elf may not alb
sol We you FROM
Il will do it gladly, my precious
one he murmurs. What is this prom
ise?"
You must promise" she says, TO
lend me your razor.
why, of course | will, sweetheart. "
he replies, gayly, II promise YOU that
cheerfully. Bnt why do you make such
strange reauest?"
Because" she says, in those low
mellow tones that would lure man
through Inferno or to Harvard juno
ton, Il have large, throbbng bun
ion