The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-06-18

over cndlrJ tIit udu nOt Sptch VI uust
anywhere on their shining surfaces,
Todd suddenly awakened to the idea
that something was going to happen,
and lifting her eyes, that new scrutiny
of Mary's face might help her to deter
mine what that something was, she as
suddenly discovered that Mary was ar
rayed in her daintiest afternoon dress.
An afternoon dress at nine in the morn
ingl That certainly meant something,
so Todd began investigations immedi-
ately by inquiring:
Are you lookin' for company?"
Nonsense! Can't person be decent
at homer"
"Why, yes; but always noticed that
you slicked up some for Jane Beebee-
she's such powerful hand to notice
things, and tell people how white our
floors are"
"And how dusty our mantels are. She
may come to-day, who knows Do let
me brush your hair; and won't you put
on your drab suit? ?"
MY new Sunday clothes? Why
Mary What should wear to meetin',
if Spite them with everyday wear?"
New! You call thing new till it's
worn out. You've had that suit going
on six years. Do wear 1t to-day, to
please me, and I'll make some fresh
seed cakes for Bobby Wilkins; indeed, /
will" Mary emphasized her persua-
sions with another sounding kiss. So
Todd donned the ancient but well-pre-
served garments, and all this day she
had not once remembered that to-day
was the thirtieth anniversary of her
conscious existence. BY and by she
looked out and exclaimed:
"Of all things in the world There
is Jane Beebee, sure enough, and
carrying an amazin' big basket. Must
be fetchin' her carpet rags to sew"
Other women came with other bas-
kets, and genuine birthday surprise
parry, with small gifts and a great din
ner, unfolded itself to the astonished
Todd. There was no one in Kirkville
who had less need Of their gifts and
their dinners than the abundantly sup
piled Todd Ashton, and perhaps that
was the very reason why they were be-
slowed upon her; it is such very
human weakness to do as did that Mas
ter who gave to him that had much and
took from him that had little.
Mary, having been previously APP
prised of the village intention, de-
termined TO utilize the gathering for
the furtherance of a scheme of her own
her own and Mike Nelling's. Every
body knew that Mary and Mike hoped
to he married. To be sure, Mary had
not told everybody, but she had told
Jane Beebee. which amounted to much
the same. They were only waiting for
q turn In the wheel of fortune. Mike
had team and wagon, but occasional
DAYS came when there was neither
wheat to be hauled from the station TO
the mill nor flour to be hauled from the
mill to the station, and yet the horses
went on eating and occupying rented
stalls Just as if their income OF hay and
corn and shelter were supplied from
an inexhaustible storehouse. Poor Mike
fretted in q most absurd manner, and
even swore little sometimes because
his accumulation of riches grew so
slowly, houses were so dear, and rent
was so high; and the long evenings
when he sat with Mary were spent
in trying TO plan way out of the
present difficulty and solve the
problem of their future. Todd, of
course, expected to help them, but they
were not aware of her kindly intentions
concerning them. Mike had at last
fixed upon scheme which seemed to
him full of hope. They must induce
Todd to spend year or two III travel.
They must be married just as she was
about leaving and must keep house for
her while she was gone. They would
save the money that in different case
would go for rent and pay it toward
house of their own, mortgaging the
house for the remainder and paying
it as soon as they could possibly save
enough money. This was their dream.
But inducing Todd to $50 journeyin'"
was no light undertaking. She seemed
as strongly rooted to the spot she
grew in as the elm in her dooryard,
magnificent tree which had in all prob
ability stood still for century. They
were not even sure that death would
take her away, but felt vague appre-
tensions that her specter would always
move quietly about in shadowy corners
of the dimly lighted house. They had
fully persuaded themselves that Todd
would be immensely benefited by travel
it is so easy to believe that people had
best do the thing that self-interest
makes us wish them to do. Todd's
health was not so fine as it had once
been; she needed change of climate,
new scenes and different faces to look
at. She had plenty of money;
why not make tour = that
was what they called ito England
or Indiany, or somewhere, where did
not greatly matter to the lovers so that
they saved years rent. So Mary in
terested few friends in her project,
and got their tongues duly wagging on
the day of the birthday party. Todd,
dear, unsuspecting soul, was greatly
perplexed over the sudden interest in
her welfare manifested by her friends.
She stole away from them and their
opportunities once during the evening,
and was gone half hour. and the hap
py, cheerful, food-sated company did
not miss her.
Where was she?
Locked in her own room, first to
turn round before her mirror and OBJ
serve whether her figure was in the
least diminishing, then to gaze upon