The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-12-27
PART I.

The old house stood alone quite
alone, among fields of snow, traced
here and there with hedges of ever
green along paths else hidden; out
from the little town, on a road which
led southwark to other towns as silent
and uneventful.
1t was rare old homestead, even
thus remote from other dwellings,
roomy, luxurious, with wealth's con-
ceptions and royal with welcome for
friends. A rare old place for a visit
at Christmas no less than at other
seasons-for therein was never known
cold corner, never chill spare room,
an icy sheet, a frosted window pane!
A huge furnace in the cellar sent up
streams of delicious warmth, which
here and there found supplement in
glowing CRATE fires ruddy as the setting
sun.
Great solace was evident in the rosy
depths OF flame great solace
and delight, to the mistress of the
house, the quiet, elderly woman who,
for thirty years, had ruled here, alone
for the most part. especially until
Clarice had come Yet her life had
not been one OF unhappiness; she,
Lucretia Claiming at 60, could look
back upon the past and say it had been
well worth living. And Clarice would
brighten all the later days-Clarice (no
relatiye) whom she had adopted as
niece half-score years before, and
striven to do for as she would for an
own child.
Sometimes Miss Channing's only
brother, older, not oyer-like herself,
found time to run hither from the great
city and spend day or two, filled with
his politics, his speculations, his linger-
ing greed for gain. Little and bent he
was, with many a cynical chuckle and
nasty sarcasm, and seemed TO delight
in arriving when least expected. Yet
he ever received his due of respect and
deference-even they humorcd him by
strict observance of his request that
no carriage be sent TO wait for any late
train.
There were others who always came
at the Christmas season; the Fieldings,
Glen and Charley, children of a cousin,
Victor Keene physician, and his wife
L. 1 loo
a school girl friend or two of Clarice.
In the past there had also been Elmer
Keene, now abroad and Robert Nc
Clure, his chum and protege.
Even though Miss Claiming had not
herself enjoyed this flood of youth and
music and laughter, she would still
have made them welcome for Clarice's
sake. No mother could have been
truer or wiser to Clarice than was she.
She felt it no sacrifice when she took
the girl to the city to spend a January,
or TO the seaside for midsummer
month. Tie remainder of the time
in the two years since Clarice had left
school-they had spent happily enough
by themselves in the great house out
among its own far-reaching meadows.
Here they could bring the latest
wonders of art, and enjoy them in rest
full leisure; here was home and its eX
ceeding tenderness and peace.
1t was lacking two days of Christmas,
and the house was filled with a quiet
ude that presaged coming joys. Every
where was the delicious evenness of
temperature, from the great velvet
carpeted drawingroom to the smallest
upper chamber, through whose dormer
window came the faint light of the win
ter sunset.
And in her own apartment, facing the
glow of freight, Miss Claiming rocked
slowly to and fro in an ample chair,
while Clarice stood leaning upon the
low mantel, sweet and gracious pres
ence. Tall with perfect outline,
though slenderly built; fair, with face
both classic and tender, and wondrous
shadowy eyes, gray springs in the fuller
light. She leaned gracefully; her gray,
close-clinging dress, was perfect in tail
Drift, perfect in its one hue relieved
only by the cluster of Jacqueminot
rosee glowing on her bosom.
Miss Charming rocked slowly TO and
fro in her favorite chair, still holding
her favorite magazine though she
had not read for an hour. There was
something in her countenance indicative
of slow Judgment, answering purpose,