The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-12-25

when she came down and offered &C
pleasantly to help her about her pacl
ing.
II am sorry you are to leave us
Alice" she said; although / don't
doubt you viii like it at Uncl.
Georges"
Il hope So" said Alice, brightly;
@and i never shall forget your kindness
in giving me home when / had none
Jeanne"
"Ihat was nothing" said Jeanne
"How time does fly; We ought to be
q lunch Tor us before we Co."
Alice did not know what to make OF
this unusual kindness, and went away
to her dressing room thinking that she
had possibly misjudged her cousins
after all, and they were sorry she was
leaving them.
Dress made great change in the
plain little girls looks, and it was an
airy. graceful figure that accompanied
Jeanne 10 the dining room where Louise,
also attired for the concert, was await
ing them.
"We will have to go alone girls. Paps
and Mr.. Lorton will drop in before
the concert is over" she said, and then
she observed, II have some splendid
lemonade here, as cold as ice can make
it. thought you would like some, il
Is such a warm evening""
"Thank you" said Alice, Il do moi
care for anything to eat, but will take
glass of lemonade"
Il knew your taste, you see, my dear
co.," said Louise l.ghtly, handing each
of the girls heavy goblet which stood
ready filled at her elbow.
How do you like it?' she asked.
when Alice had half emptied her glass.
at is excellent" was her milling re-
ave must get on our wraps" said
Jeanne, hurriedly. setting down hei
glass. at is getting late; drink ur
your lemonade, AL. Ihear the carriage
Alice drained the last drop of the de.
licious draught and followed her cousin
into the sitting room where her wraps
were lying.
"Sit down in this chair, AL, and LEI
me arrange those lilies of the valley in
your har," said Louise. THAT could
not have been our carriage. Jeanne"
Alice sat down, and that was the last
she remembered distinctly, for she fell
into deep doze, and soon after the
two sisters laid her limp form upon the
couch in the corner of the room.
"You are sure it will not hurt her,
Louise?" asked Jeanne, q little regret.
fully.
"Of course not" was the reply.
"Ive taken it for neuralgia a great
many times; she will have O dreamless
nights sleep-that is ALL"
"And then?'
"Then she will start for Uncle
Georges in the morning train. and you,
If you play your cards right, will mar.
ry Claude Moltror."
Jeanne threw q shawl carelessly over
her white-robed cousin, overlooked her
toilet, and then followed her sister tc
the carriage and was driven to the large
hall where the concert was to be given.
The two ladies rustled to their seats,
and it was not long before Claude Mol
trop joined them. :"
did not Miss Alice come with your
were almost the first words he said.
no." replied Mrs. Lorton. "She
starts for the East in the early train,
and so gave up attending
"But what will we do without her
solos? My sister will be at complete
loss"
That's inst the way with AL re-
piled Jeanne. mo one can depend
upon her in the least if she gets little
mitfed at anything; she always acts
just So.
Mr.. Moltrop said but little more to
the two ladies, and then made his way
back through the hall, which was
crowded. to the green-room.
"Mary," said he, Alice Taylor is not
going to come. What will you do?"
Not going to come? ?" questioned Mrs.
Moltrop, in excited surprise. "She
must come; we would not have any con-
cert ut all without her. What Is the
matter? Is she ill?"
Il believe not. Mrs. Lorton, or rather
Jeanne Taylor, gave me to understand
she was mi ed at something"
Impossible, said Mrs. Moltrop.
Claude, you get the carriage and we will
GO after her. ] would not disappoint
this great audience for anything. III
Alice Taylor is in town she must sing
They had driven but block or two
when the fire-bell began to ring excit.
eddy. and the st eet ldlers rushed
toward the indicated locality.
"That's somewhere near the music
hall, said Claude, as he hardened to
to the bells.
"That's true" said Mrs. Moltrop.
"What if it should have caught fire? 1t
was fearfully warm"
"Lets go back" said Claude.
Their forebodings were too true.
When they arrived frantic mass of peo-
pie were pouring rom the building, and
the engines were pouring a steady
stream of water upon the roaring
flames.
1t was not long before the fire was
subdued, but the scene was heart
rendrng one when the mass of burned
and crushed humanity was taken from
the crowded building. Many lives had
been lost in the swsying living mass
who had wildly attempted to escape,
and many had been more or less
burned by the hungry flames.
Claude Moltrop as istei Edgar Lor-
ton, as he brought out his dead wife,
all crushed and bleeding, and Jeanne
DN r. n