The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-02-19
CARL LATRODE'S RETURN.


marry pretty Hester Grey"
They stood together in the old apple
orchard-Carl Latrobe and his pretty
sweetheart, Hester Grey. The bland
October sun was just dipping its last
rays beyond the far-off range of the
Alleghenies. The sound of the river
seemed unusually loud and distinct as
IL mingled with the wild cry of the
cricket, and the woodland trailers that
chung to the roof of the old farm house
shone in the deepening twilight as If
dipped in blood.
Hester Grey, tall girl of twenty,
smiled sadly.
aYou may change, Carl" she said,
simply.
Il change! Why, Hester, you know
that to be an utter impossibility. L
shall soon make my fortune, and mine
is love that will live"
Burning with ambitious hopes, Carl
Latrobe babe his old loyo goodby,
and was soon off for California, where
AS he said-poverty was unknown,
and fortunes we're made in day.
Hester babe him "godspeed,"
prayed for his safe return. but she ut
tered no complaint. The days and
weeks passed on in their dull monotony
at the quaint little farmhouse among
the hills, and Hester settled down in
the old life again. with only his picture
to look at, and the long, loving letters
that came regularly every week to
tighten her duties and cheer her lonely
life.
1t was wild night in November,
about year since her departure. The
trees tossed their naked limbs us the
wind whistled through them, and the
leaves 10y thick and wet in the paths.
The curtains were drawn closely down
ed room woman lay dying. On her
bosom nestled tiny waxen baby, and
over her there lowered a loving girl.
who gently brushed back the brown
hair from the damp forehead, and bent
close to catch the last words of the
dying woman.
Promise me, Hester, that you will
look after my child when am gone.
You have been a good daughter to me,
and know you will"
She paused, and breathed with diff
Guilty.
"Yes, mother, / will take care of
little Agnes. promise to do all L
can to make her life happy, and God
shall Judge between u.s..
The dying woman smiled feebly.
God bless you, Hester / will carry
the news to him, that his daughter will
be mother to the babe he never saw"
So the woman died quite content.
Hester Grey took from her stepmoth-
er's arms her dead fathers child, over
whose grave the grass had not yet
grown, and whom this second loving
wife had followed to the mystic shore
so soon.
She was true to her promise, this no.
Jble girl, and took the little half-sister
from the dear old home-for it was
theirs no longer-out into the world,
whore she bravely took up the battle
of life. With the little left her 10y her
own mother, Hester settled down in q
little brown cottage by the sea.
si,he years rolled slowly on. She
saw no change in the life she had cho-
sen except the change in little Agnes.
With what jealous care did Hester
watch over and guide the young and
maynard feet of her darling girl! She
divided her strong affection, and lived
only for the absent lover, and the little
one intrusted to her care.
Hester was quite content, as Agnes
grew into girlhood, and grew more
beautiful every day. She did not know
how cloud had risen sixteen years be-
fore-a very little cloud at first, but
which was fated to grow and grow, un-
I'll her whole life should be engulfed in
Its dark shadow. She did not know
that she was living in the glory of q
dream which should prove so far better
than its reality.
Carts letters still came regularly.
They told of the hardships endured by
him in that far-off land, how he was
slowly but steadily gaining the wealth
he sought, and of the love for the
woman awaiting his return.
Seventeen years had gone, when she
received the glad news of his return.
II am rich man, now, Hester, and
will soon be with you once more. Get
ready, darling. Do not keep me wait
ing when come to claim my b ide.'
She had cried over that letter like o
girl, and Agnes, with the sunny hair
and dancing blue eyes, had thrown her
white arms about her heck and read the
good news with her.
"What dear old boy he must be,
Hester. am more than half crazy TO
see him. Yet / know what he is like
by his picture in the parlor."
"You must not expect q handsome
man, Agnes. Remember he is forty years
old and has always worked hard"
Hester smiled through her tears, and
Agnes danced with delight.
Lets 60 and dress, Hetty, for you
know the train is in from the west at
hall past seven and we must expect
him every day till no comes" She
pulled the letter playfully from her
sisters hand and futtered away, sun.
beam of radiant beauty. They came
down fifteen minutes later, Hester in q
modest gray costume, and Agnes in
white tarlatan and huttering blue rib
bons. How do 1 look, Hetty?" She