The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-06-29

see, she had small card party last
evening, and mentioned to several of us
that she expected charming niece
from the country to-day, and was going
to send the coachman for her, as she
would not be able to drive down her
self. So l made up my mind that L
would get ahead of the coachman and
come after you myself"
How very kind of you," she replied,
flushing family under his somewhat
earnest gaze.
And, If you'll trust yourself to me,
I'll call carriage and take you up to
Mrs. Darlington's at once"
He signaled hack-driver, who was
lounging up against the side of the de-
pot, and, entering his hack, they were
soon rolling away through the dirty,
crowded streets
Before a large, elegant house in the
upper part of the city the hack stopped,
and the two got out Isabel's compan-
ion preceded her up the broad fight of
opened he said
~ don't believe Mrs. Darlington is
here now, so I'll go in and remain with
you till she returns"
Isabel made no reply. She supposed
it was but natural her aunt's friend
should desire to see that lady on her
return, after having performed the sat-
isfactory service of conducting her niece
safely there.
He seemed quite at home, and Isabel
began to think he must be very great
friend indeed of Mrs. Darlington's to
allow himself so much liberty, so very
much more than she-that lady's own
would dare to take.
He assisted her to lay aside her wraps,
and rang the bell and ordered the SER
want to bring up some refreshments at
once.
"No, no, l am not hungry" began
Isabel do not take so much trouble"
mo trouble at all, interrupted the
other, courteously; everything and
he laid especial emphasis on that word
lis at your disposal here"
The servant soon returned with de-
icious lunch, and Isabel said no more
The sandwiches and salad were very
tempting, the mulled claret tasted so
refreshing after her long, cold, dreary
journey.
How do you think you will like it
here2' finally asked the young gentle
man, who had introduced himself as
Marr-Henry Mari. "Of course You
can't tell very much on such day as
this" he continued; "but we'll do our
best to have you carry away good I'M
preston with YOU when you go back to
your country home. Do you know
can you guess"+bending toward her
and laying his hand on the arm of her
chair-"why L was so anxious to offer
my company to you in place of the
coachman's?"
His companion shook her head. The
wine-which in her simple life she had
seldom tasted before-began to dull her
senses, and she laid back in her chair in
a kind of half-conscious dream She
could not have replied to him in words
if she had tried.
"Because-because at your aunt's l
saw your picture, and that, far more
than her description of you, made me
resolve to see and Judge for myself
Her was sitting close beside her now,
his hand rested caressingly ON hers, and
his dark eyes, cleaning with bright
ness almost unnatural, looked in
quiringlv into hers. All thought of her
aunt, of her visit, of the singular means
by which she had arrived in that house,
faded from her mind She was dimly
aware that she was falling into "a sleep
from which it was impossible to arouse
herself. The massive door opposite,
the huge statue that stood at her side
the heavy ornaments of bronze around
all merged into one shadowy sub
stance, and she remembered nothing
more.
When she at last awoke she found
herself lying upon lounge, apparently
in an upper room, in kind of library
for there were books and engravings
scattered loosely about.
Where was she? Where was her
aunt? Where-but the various en-
quiries that forced themselves upon her
bewildered brain were lost in an un-
certainty that seemed terrible-mad-
dening.
She reached out her hand feebly for
the bell, which was near by on a small
lacquered table, and, i'll answer to it's
summons came-not the domestic she
expected, but her companion of the pre-
vious day.
ooh, Mr.. MARI" Isabel exclaimed,
rising excitedly from the lounge, and
advancing towards him; take me home
take me to my aunt's."
"My dear" returned Mari, compla-
Gently, "you are at home"
"Oh, not hepe-not here-not her
home! am sure of that, for why don't
l see her? Why are you here contin-
ually since-since yesterday" she
added, as the position of the sun in the
heavens warned her that the night had
passed and gone.
A look of deep embarrassment came
over the dark, handsome face; the eyes
involuntarily dropped before the young
girls earnest, searching gaze.
"To tell the truth-"he hesitated a
moment, then went on, IF l tell you
everything, the reason Of your being
here so long without your aunt, will you
will you forgive me?"
She bowed her head upon her hands.
A light, the dawn of which had never
cast shadow upon her mind before,
now arose, clear, calm, pitiless. She
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