The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-11-15


she found it was to be. But he was
appalled, at her manner.
"If you marry that girl, Teddy, not a
cent of my money shall you ev + have J"
screamed Miss Wickersham Mt the top
of her shrill old voice. Il detest the
whole family, root and branch, and
there shant dollars worth of my
property ever go to benefit one of them
in any way if | can help myself, and |
guess | can.
Teddy's face fell 1t was bright,
handsome, young face, framed In with
lot of yellow hair, that was his aunt's
especial pride - though she was too
much overcome with rage now to pay
any attention to his good looks.
Just to think, she went on, in her
thin, high-quivering key, that of all
persons in the world, you should select
Nellie Willis TO be your wife. And
you know very well. Teddy, what my
opinion is of the Willis m'ly--a poor,
proud, shiftless set, to make the best
of 'em.
Teddy grew very red
"If rumor is true, Aunt Wickersham,
you did not always rate the Willis at
such a low tigure-particularly the
Major" retorted he, Indignantly.
The pale pink that yet fingered in
Miss Wickersham's delicate old face
turned suddenly to viv d scarlet.
She choked, and heSitated an instant.
This from you, Teddy" said she re-
proachfully.
Directly he had the grace to feel
ashamed of himself.
Forgive me, aunt" he cried. Il am
brute.
Say no MORE" said she coldly,
motioning him to leave the room, the
delicate color in her face having now
faded entirely out, giving place to II
dull, leaden hue, not pleasant to see.
Once alone, she went to foreign
cabinet that stood in one corner of the
apartment, and, unlocking the drawer,
took therefrom a small parcel.
1T seems strange how the folly of
my youth vet clings to me in my old
age she unused, bitterly, turning the
package over in her still white and
shapely hands.
Il will burn these things. Perhaps
forgetfulness will come the more
readily" she uttered 20 herself, undo
ing the parcel, and dropping bunch
OF withered roses on the desk.
Still, she hesitated n thousand mem-
cries of bygone time, struggling
through her mind, and suspicious
moisture dimming the brightness of her
proud, dark eyes.
"She would only break his heart"
oh rvioI of loct tianf1,- HrThaxv
are coJuettes, all-father and daughter
alike Teddy shall not have his life
spoiled by her-the false daughter--of
ali unworthy parent.
An instant later and she had flung
the little packet into the CRATE. There
was a sudden light puff and strong
perfume from the burning roses, filled
the room. The parlor door was thrown
open. Maj. Willis announced the
servant. The room seemed to swim
around her, for moment. She could
not have been more astonished to hear
clap of thunder from clear heaven.
a feeling of anger brought back her
usual self-possession.
"To what am / indebted for this
visit, Maj. Wills" she asked with
freezing politeness.
ITO be frank--various causes. j am
here, principally, in behalf of the future
well-being of our young people, re-
piled the Major, bravely.
IF you are trying to negotiate mar
riage between those two, you may as
well know, first as last, that / shall
never consent to 1t, +" said Miss Wicker
sham, ignoring the fact that her visitor
was still standing, hat in hand, before
her.
The Major bit his lip.
He glanced critically at his obdurate
hostess, as she, too, rose to her full
height and confronted him, her face
pale, her eyes flashing, and her white
ringed fingers tightly clasping the edge
of the old cabinet he remembered of
yore.
1t was thirty years since he had
entered that house for the last time, as
he supposed. He was a young man
then, gay and handsome, and very
much in love indeed, with the angry
lady before him. Thirty years. 1t
was long time. and yet, how well he
remembered even the smallest detail
VI tic iOplil. -NOthiuS W ~
now, he thought with a cynical smile,
save himself and the little old lady
who so ungraciously received him.
Unconsciously the Major fetched deep
sigh.
1t was evident that, if Miss Wicker
sham had unhappy memories of the
long ago, the doughty Major also had
few that were not so pleasant as they
might have been.
ut seems great pity" said he, re-
calling himself with an effort, that
two young lives should be made miser-
able because of mere whim. Icalled
to-day to speak to You about the settle
ments l shall make my daughter on the
occasion of her marriage. | am not
rich, still she will have no mean dowry."
We will not discuss the subject of
your daughters marriage, as it concerns
me not the slightest. have this to
say, If my nephew persists i'll making
Miss Willis his wife, l shall execute
will cutting him of with apathy dollar.
My determinat on is unchangable.
There was the least little bit of an
angry sparkle in the corner OF the
A1n,p re