The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-07-30
SHIFTLEss SETH.
BY NORRIS REDwING.

the bank of Brier Greek, with the shad-
ows of the great trees flung athwart
the roof. Sometimes the sunshine
danced on the ripping waters Of
the creek. rendering its serpentine
course aglow with sparkling beauty.
A pleasant spot indeed had Conrad
Baker found for home. Every day,
with his pretty wife's kiss lingering on
his lips, he trod the woodland path to
the saw-mill three miles away, where
he earned good wages which he hoped
would, within year, grow to sufficient
proportions to complete the payment
on his homestead.
All the day long sweet Nettie Baker
sang about the house, or in the -shad-
ows of the wood, as gay and blithe of
spirit as young and happy heart could
we'll be- And she was happy. Less
than a year married, Conrad and she
had yet to have their first quarrel.
From home in an old settled farming
country to this cabin in the wilderness
was radical change indeed, vet one
that. pleased rather than discounted
the ever cheerful Nettie.
One day, late in the afternoon, Net
tie tripped down the path leading to
the spring that bubbled from the bank
above the creek. In one hand she car
ried a tin pail, while merry tune
passed from her lips, and was waited
away on the summer air.
AS she bent above the wateus of the
spring her smiling lips became sudden
ly compressed, and deadly pallor
stole into her checks. Beside her own
face reflected there was another, the
coarse visage of a man.
For an instant Nettie's heart ceased
its beating, and a cold chill stole down
her spine With mighty effort of will
she crushed down her fears, stepped
back from she spring, and glanced up
ward into the face of the man who
crouched on the bank above the bub-
bling water.
"Seth Bragg, what are you doing
here?" cried Nettie Baker. in a sharp
voice, tinged with unmistakable resent
ment.
The man struggled to his feet and
quickly lowered himself into the path,
standing in an awkward attitude before
the Young pioneers wife He was be-
low the medium height, vet possessed
unusual physical development. His
broad shoulders, sinewy arms, and
heavy eek betokened great strength.
With this remarkable physical devel-
opment went low order of intellect,
as one could see at glance into the
face, with it's low forehead, sunken,
heavy black eyes, and blank expression
generally.
Seth Bragg, or Shiftless Seth, as he
was generally termed, had been an EN-
ploye IN the saw-mill where Conrad
Baker worked, but his dislike of any
thing approaching bodily exertion soon
caused his discharge, and he was left
to seek his fortune elsewhere.
Nettie had met the man several
times. She did not like him, but until
this moment had not feared the shift
less donothing.
"What am I dom here? Mebbe ]
might ask you the same question. Eff
L should, what would you say, Mis-
Baker?"
His eyes twinkled, and fixed them
selves with an intense glow on the face
of Nettie Baker.
"You can see why / am here" and
Nettie held up her pail.
after water, Ell? Wal, git it, and
go back. to the house, then I've got
somethin' to tell ye."
With little of the fear in her heart
going out Nettie stopped and filed her
pail, and started on the return. Bragg
offered TO carry the water, but she re-
fused the prefer and hurried on in
silence Once at the house she felt
less fear of Shiftless Seth.
He did not SIT down, but leaned
against the back of a chair, clinching
and twirling it about with his huge
hand, while his beady eyes watched
every movement of the pioneers pretty
wife with a hungry glow not pleasant
to contemplate.
"Mis' Baker, hev you heard the
news"
She paused in her work of brushing
out the sink, and faced him with ques-
tioning look in her eyes. She had pre-
tended to be busy In order to show the
man that she cared little for his pres
ence, after offering him the chair which
he refused to take.
"What news, Mr.. Bragg" her lips
moved in questioning at last.
vi COulot. IOu ichiu u
might O know'd. The mill bowed mp
an hour ago, and lots of poor fellows
suffered. The boss is killed, and"
"Conradl What of him?"
With. one hand pressed over her
heart to hold it down, that it might
not leap from her bosom, the pioneers
wife reeled forward and placed her
other hand on the shoulder of Shiftless
Seth, and looked in wild appeal into
his face.
3Don't go off that way, Mis- Baker
Conrad's all right.
SIS be unharmed?" huskily.
"Not exactly, but he'll pull through"
Without waiting to hear more, Net
tie sprang to the next room, and min
ute later returned with bonnet and
shawl, ready for n journey. She moved
toward the open door without seeming
TO notice the stout form that stood on
Che center of the floor, still twirling
she chair.
A heavy hand on her shoulder inter