The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-11-26

| ana you must remeIhper you arc u
Thew"
"And he is Boynford," said Keziah.
interrupting, "but people of different
names marry, don't they, pap?"
"Yes, yes, Kizzie, that's all right. /
don't object to the name, but he is as
much like his father as one fox is like
another"
"Well, pap, that isn't saying anything
very bad about Baz. always have
heard his father was very good-tem-
pered and honest man."
IL have nothing 10 say against that,
Kizzie, nothing, no, nothing against
that; he--was-a-Whig, and L
am responsible for you. l must do my
duty by you, Kizzie, mind that, child
i must do my duty-and won't have
any foolishness with Baz Boynford.
Then he helped himself literally to
venison and corn bread. He had said
his say and laid down the law OF mar
rage in his household. Then he talked
of his long and successful tramp over
the mountains. But ii fathers forget
that love takes no account of politics or
religion, young daughters with love in
their hearts dosnot, and certainly her
fathers words did not convince Keziah
there was any great wickedness in
thinking of Basil Boynford, and she
bent her brown face over her plate, eat
ing little and wondering much how she
would get down the valley to frolic to
be held that night, to which all the
young people of the neighborhood were
invited.
! While she was wondering she heard
footsteps on the porch and tap at the
door, and who of0all men should enter
but Basil Boynford. He was tall, long
limbed, quare-shouldered, and slight
ly angular, but with his bright gray
eyes, long brown hair. and the light
down of youth on the chin of his nut
brown, good-humored face, he was very
pleasant to look on. When KeZiah saw
him much sweetness gathered about
her mouth and much trouble in her
eyes, which deepened greatly when she
turned toward her father and saw the
stern look on his face. Basil saw moth
ing of all this. He was eager to escort
Kezlah to the frolic in the valley, and
he plunged into his mission at once.
We'll have splendid time" so he
said. "You ought to come along, Uncle
Ben" $50 every one called Benjamin
Thew, "voull think yourself young
again." Basil was full of love and hope
and there was a rolliicking jollity in
his voice.
Then Benjamin Thew spoke: Basil
Boynford, Keziah Thew can't go down
to the valley or anywhere el:e with
you."
"Sho. Uncle Pen, you're Joking of
course we'll go. Why, look here, Uncle
Ben. Kizzie wouldn't go with any one
else, and wouldn't go with any one
but Kizzie. Why, bless you, Uncle
Ben, it wouldn't be any frolic, not to
me, without Kizzie.
While Basil was speaking Thew
walked over to the wall and lifted his
rifle from the pegs on which it rested.
Then turning toward Basil, he said
Il won't have any Wing running here
after my daughter"
"Sho, now!" said Basil, laughing
good naturally. IF L can swallow
your rank Locofocoism without get
ting sick, vou oughtn't to make faces
over the little Wing in me-"
With that Benjamin Thew raised his
rifle, and with an ominous softness in
his voice he said: Basil Boynford,
I'll give you just a minute to git out
inter the road"
ner fathers rifle to shelter Basil, but
he brushed her gently aside and said:
"Let him shoot, Kizzie, if he wants
to-" Then looking into the eye sight
ing along the rife-barrel, he added:
"You needn't shoot, Uncle Ben, I'M
less you're spelling for it. That arge-
ment is good: it convinces me ought
to CO." Then ne went out into the
road And the frolic in the valley was
held without the presence of either
Basil or Keziah.
Ii any imagine that Keziah put Basil
out of her heart after this, they are mis-
taken. Opposition does not work that
way, and Basil only laughed. greeted
Thew with pleasant "How-de, Uncle
Ben," whenever he met him, and whis-
pered soft nonsense to Keziah on the
sly whenever he could. So the months
wore away until Christmas. The third
day after Christmas Benjamin Thew
started away from homo early in the
morning with his long, trusty rifle on
his shoulder At midnight, thing
which never occurred before, he Was
not at home. Near daylight Basil
Boynford entered Thew's house, carry
ing Benjamin Thew on his back.
In the middle of the afternoon Thew
slipped on the rocks. In falling he
sprained an ankle severely, and at the
same time disturbed great loose rock
which rolled over against the stones
between which he fell, so that he was
confined and in danger of being crush
ed if he attempted to move the rock in
any but one direction, and as to that
one he was powerless. Basil Boynford,
who was hunting higher up on the
mountain, heard his cries for help, and
hurried to his side. When he saw
who it was, and how he was confined,
Basil sat down near him. with his rifle
across his lap.
well, Uncle Ben," he said, quietly,
you're in pretty tight fix, amt you?
Accidents amt no respecters of per-
sons, are they, Uncle Ben? Even your
old hide-bound Locofocos are liable to
'em, and you'd like to have help,
wouldn't you, Uncle Ben? Now, I'm