The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-09-27

piuuSiuB III iuc>tino fco- bhne Hiss
Lydia Ludkins is about to be mar
ried?"
Married Miss Lydial mol Hadn't
heard word of it," said the Major, in
genuine amazement. "Who is the fort
innate man, pray?'
"The Rev Nehemiah Applebloom, a
missionary to the Micronesian Islands,
who has come home to recruit his
health and find wife,"
II know him." said the Major SAW
him down at the station-a long, lean,
lank individual-just tit for his yoca-
ton; no temptation whatever to can
nibals But what the deuce is he going
to do with Miss Lydia? What will
Balaam's Corners do without her?'
"Balaams Corners must do the best
il can" 1 said-I fear little sharply
for my mind was still in most aggres-
sive state toward the Major.
They are to be married next week,
and"
"What will become of the 'ances-
tors p" interpolated the Major, in whom
surprise seemed to have gotten the
better of habitual politeness.
"Oh, she has made arrangements
with Mr.. Grow about that"
Just like her. Dear, faithful girl. {"
The Major had oil his life loved all
the sex--not one-and / was not to be
beguiled by this show of feeling.
"She had set her heart upon being
married in her grandmother wedding
gown"
"Old Mrs. Capt. Simon? L remem-
Der her well. A mighty fine woman.
She never would have gone to the ends
of the earth with missionary. It's
the craziest scheme L ever heard of.
began to fear L should never get to
my errand.
at was put out on the grass to bleach,
being little yellow with age. 1t was
a lovely embroidered India muslin that
the old Captain brought home from
India himself"
How well / remember him in my
boyhood! A Jolly old soul A grand
daughter of his go off to the Cannibal
Islands to be eaten up by sayages. l
won't have it ]"
Her heart is set upon going, j con-
tinued. THE wedding gown was put
out to bleach, and this very afternoon
those little Berkshire pigs of yours
they are a nuisance to the whole neigh
borhood, Major-trampled and rooted
it to pieces, so that it is utterly ruined"
Little black rascals !" said the Major,
with chuckle behind his neckcloth.
And L have come, without her
knowledge, to tell you of it, because l
was sure that, under the circumstances,
gentleman of your breeding would
feel in honor bound to make some
PREPARATION to Miss Lydia"
The Major unused and looked at his
boot for moment in silence.
Miss Grace" he said, at length, Il
thank you for the service you have rem
dered me in this matter. Will you
have the goodness to say to Miss Lud-
kins, with my compliments, that 1 shall
do myself the honor to wait upon her
tomorrow at 10 o'clock TO adjust this
unfortunate matter? 1 beg, in tue
meantime, that she will give herself as
little solicitude; for, though l cannot
restore the ancient and venerated dry
goods, will do the best that is possible
under the circumstances to make the
loss good
Re bowed over my hand, and the au-
dience was evidently concluded Was
i satisfied? No, indeed. What woman
would not have felt wronged to be left,
at the end of a mission of disinterested
benevolence, in such state of doubt
and uncertainty as this? But l was
obliged to go home, nevertheless, and
wait as patiently as / could for the
stroke of 10 next morning
Glory had been in hearing when the
message had been delivered to Miss
Lyddy, and she, too, was on the watch.
At last she scudded in from the hedge,
her worries all a-glisten and her eyes
wide open and full of a rather incompre-
hensible mirth.
He's a-comin'," she said, "and such
sightl"
At that minute the gate clicked, and
up the walk strobe, indeed n most as
tonishing figure. The Major had got
ten himself up into a continental suit,
which he must have fished out of the
unknown depths of the ancient attics of
Hawthorndean-black velwes coat with
lace ruffles at the wrist, neebreeches,
white satin waistcoat, shippers with
shoe-buckles, powdered wig and cooked
hat. He was six feet tall, portly and
well formed and he looked every inch
signer of the Declaration at the very
least He was followed by his colored
man, who carried a large brOwn-pape1
parcel.
Hes come a-courtin' missus," sand
Glory; Eye can see it i'll his face"
had not the instinct of Glory, and
doubted; but what his errand was was
dying to know.
But he disappeared into Miss Lydia's
parlor, and was left outside to temper
my impotence as best / could. Pres
emily Glory entered on tiptoe.
"Missus, missus,' she whispered, ode
dos swung open ies' de leas' crack, an
it's jes' opposite the big mirror; an if
We come out here in the hall We can see
it all in the mirror as plain as day, an
it's heap better'n play
1t was temptation, but believe me,
dear reader, resisted it. Only as
Glory ran back to her peeping / fol-
lowed to pull her away, and send her
out of doors-that was simply my duty
and there he was, full on his knees
before her, and she with that rapt,
seraphic look upon her face which no