The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-08-07
PEACE tLLITHORPE.
BY LILY CURRY.

had deepened into the dull purple of
twilight; and now the moon, rising
over the shadows of the bluffs. had
flung golden bridge across the wide,
smooth waters. Mid-stream, one boat
swung softly TO the dip of oars and the
song of the rowers, who were moved,
perchance, with an impulse to round
the completeness of the midsummer
night.
Peace Ellithorpe and Louis Gordon,
standing in the shadow of the boat
house, listened intently for time.
How SWEET the girl said, pres
emily.
Gordon's eyes were fixed upon her
pure. pale face, with its halo of red
gold hair, its long-lashed violet eyes.
"'Ihe Soldiers Farewell" he an
swered. sit IS always beautiful. His
thoughts, nevertheless, might have
been more of the beauty of her coun-
tenance-there, where the moonlight
crept Upon the darkness as a timid
lady TO her lord.
And now he had stepped down into a
boat, and was reaching up his hand to
assist her.
All right?" he asked. And when
she had answered half gayly, he pulled
away from the landing out into the
stiffness and delight of the waters.
Il am so glad to have you back" he
said, by and by. 1T has see med ayear
since you went"
81 am glad you missed me-" she re-
sponded. "Yet it was only month. :"
and passed rapidly with you, no
doubt, among scenes of gayety." He
spoke III jealous tone.
81 have not said So" she answered.
There was much 10 occupy, much to
amuse me; nothing to compensate for
our separation
There was no coluetrv here Not
once in all the six months of their en-
gagement had she hesitated to speak
the truth concerning her regard for
him.
90, we'll, he said, as if half-ashamed,
"you must expect one to be ill natured
when he has TO stay Mt home and let his
sweetheart go thousands of miles away
from him. But now you are back, you
must tell me everything You saw, every
place you visited.
AS if had not already done so in
my letters"
In general way, you did. would
like particulars.
"Where shall begin? The Springs,
or the country? l spent two WI eks at
Saratoga, and one at the seaside, you
know; then did seven days penance
at BrocktOn. o, such dull place,
Louis Duller than Western towns OF
half lbs S 20. Not thing TO see, not a
place to 80, eXcept-you'il laugh when
tell you-except the State reforma-
tory"
She paused, for he had suddenly let
go the oars. He bent again in mo-
ment, and, taking firmer hold OF them,
began 10 pull very hard against the
eurrent.
What is the matter, LOUISE
He answered breathlessly, after his
exerions.
Nothing We-were getting too far
down stream. Go on, Peace; you were
saying that you visited the State re-
forEsatory."
"Yes. is was very interesting. Were
you ever there?"
Gordon laughed family.
WAS / ever there? Oh, yes; L was
there once. Well, how did it strike
your"
81 don't know what you are laughing
at," she said; "and don't believe you
were there either, so I'll tell you all
liked the idea, you know. In the
first place, it is built upon hill, and
the entire g ounds are surrounded with
high brick wall
I'm the shape of square," suggest
ed Gordon, with sentry tower Mt
each corner, and Waterman inside of
each tower, with a loaded gun and in
struct on, to shoot down any one caught
trying TO escape"
Exactly said Peace, with some
animation. $50 you have been there,
and you know all about the workshops,
the clean corridors, the grades. and
the ght school. There is one illum-
mated text upon the chal ell wall, which
think most beautiful: Look not un-
mercifully upon the past.
Gordon repeated it after her, with
sigh.
sBut it is impossible not to, he said,
YEARLY.
impossible not to look unmercl-
fully? Why do you say that? Why,
nearly oil the prisoners were boys,
mere boys, placed the for some
trifliug oifcnse instead of being thrown
into prison among old, hardened Grim
ina s."
There isn't much difference" he
said, modify. "Once you deprive a
man or boy of his lib rty. 70 ary fault
committed" He broke of sudden
ly, and cried, "Pshawl Why are you
talking of such things?'
But she was not re~dy to abandon
the subject.
You speak as if you did not believe
in reformation"
@Do vou9" he asked quietly.
"To be sure l do, and most effectual."
"Wat little" said G., rdon. "lou
couldn't think as much AZ any one
who had been an inmate OF such an