The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-06-29
QUICKLY Wood, QUICKLY Won.
BY GEORGE STUART BURR.

"My darling" said Ross Edgerly,
gIancing tenderly down at the small,
slender form beside him, and patting
the little head that rested so confiding-
ly on his arm, Il shall be very sorry to
part with you, even for a month. But"
with sigh-"if you are so very de-
termined and have set your heart upon
the matter, why, go you must and Will. :"
His companion was silent.
Not only myself" he continued, but
others will suffer by your absence.
What will your poor Uncle Nep do
without you? Who will cheer and con-
sole him, as you only know how to do;
read to him, and comfort his loneliness
and age?7
Still Isabel said nothing. Perhaps
she was q little conscience-stricken at
her nasty acceptance of a proposal made
to her by a wealthy aunt. This aunt,
Mrs. Darlington, lived in New York
city, and had just sent a letter to Isabel
at her little country home near the
source of the Hudson, inviting her to
spend a month with her amid the pleas
ures and designations of the great city
Never having been twelve miles from
Plainville in her life, Isabel was only
too eager and anxious to go. What
contrast New York must present TO
their little village with its solitary main
street, and few stores there at that;
with it's bills and forests, and silent
country roads. SO she wrote hastv
note of acceptance, never thinking how
lonely her poor blind uncle and almost
helpless aunt would be without her;
never caring whether the handsome
young farmer. to whom she was be-
trothed, would miss her or no. She
Nas n willful woman, and. like every
@illful woman, must have her own way
The evening before her departure.
Ross had come to the farmhouse re-
solved to make one last effort to turn
her from her resolution. But all his
pleading produced no effect on one who
had never turned deaf ear to his petit
tions before.
How long do you think to stay? he
asked, at length.
Several months. You could not ex-
pect me to hurry right back, could
you?' asked Isabel, looking roguishly
into his face.
But his answer disappointed her.
"Of course not; if you enjoy yourself
you will be very foolish to return-to
return at all, he muttered under his
thick, heavy mustache.
Dear Ross" she laid hand caress-
ingly on his arm, don't be angry.
Surely have a curiosity to go out into
that world of which / have heard so
much of which / have seen so little.
So don't blame me I will come back"
He could not resist the tender touch,
the soft, gentle music of her voice. He
bent down and kissed the red lips that
were close at his shoulder, and held
her tightly in last, long embrace.
The day was dark and rainy; the
streets were filled with mud and slush.
A confused sound of numberless wag-
ons and vehicles of all descriptions
filled Isabel's ear with their unearthly
noise as she stood on the steps of the
depot searching, but vainly, for the
servant her aunt said she would send to
meet her niece on her arrival.
Poor Isabel How lonely and DESC
Kate and miserable she felt crowds con-
Ginually coming and going before her,
yet not one kindly face was turned to-
ward her. ."Oh, for Ross Edgerly, 4"
she murmufed, and the thought of her
lover came involuntarily to her amid
her distress and brought with it sense
of comfort and relief.
IF no one comes for me-" she re-
Elected, Il shall have to get on the next
Grain and go Blackjack to Ross"
At that moment her attention was at
Sracted by tall young gentleman, clad
dn long, dark overcoat, standing on
the opposite side of the street, gazing
at her intently.
Isabel noticed him once or twice be-
fore as he slowly walked up and down,
every now and then peering inside the
doorway, as if he, too, expected some
one
Meeting her eyes, he now walked
confidently across the muddy street,
and, raising his hat, said politely:
MAY / ask if you are on the lookout
for any of Mrs. Darlington's people?"
A glad light broke over the young
girls face.
eyes, am" she exclaimed, "but
Nave waited so long, and no one came
6or me that"
"What?" he asked, seeing that she
showed no inclination to finish the
sentence.
"That L thought 1 should have to go
back again the same way / came;" and
she smiled little, as if thinking now
there was no danger of that, for this
gentleman must be one of her aunt's
friends, or he would never have known
of her expected arrival.
"Did Aunt Sara send your" she in
Quired, eagerly.
The young man smiled in his turn.