The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-12-17

uu TOT IIlo sousVn, - Is WUf2 Tue
night was warm and the Windows stood
open. People who had been growing
languid in their pursuit OF social pleas
urcs Of late, were galvanized into new
life by the feeling that society was dis
banding till next year.
Marion, with sudden resolution that
was the fruit of many sleepless nights,
made sign to Hilyar and stepped out
upon one of the small balconies-flow-
er-encum bercd-which looked down
upon the broad Partisan avenue, with
its even procession of lights broken in
TO here and there by the broad glare
of cafe, and with its quietly-moying
forms of pleasure-seekers enjoying the
warmth of the night.
You will think what l am going;to
say extraordinary, 1 know" she began
at once. "But let that pass. 1 have
a duty to perform and | will not neg
lect it. We were friends once-I want
You to forget all the pas. and be my
friend again. / know all about Xir-
pinia and you-and wanted 10 tell
YOU that will help you both, If You
will let me. There, that is all.
She put out her hand bravely and he
took it slowly in his His eyes burned
SO strangely in his white face that an
irrepressible nervousness took posses
sion of her.
"Let me go," she said family. He
paid no heed.
Ibid you think l loved virginia."
he said in a voice that echoed In her
inmost soul. Ibid you think | had
forgotten
you can't-you can't"-she SIAM
mered.
4Love YOU yetp All, Marion" His
grasp frightened like vice upon her
hand, his eyes burned into hers through
the darkness.
.But | treated you so shamefully-l
did not know them was crazy! Can
you forgive me all ?'
..Marion!" The passionately appeal
inc tone seemed to draw her to him,
anu perchance the midnight stars
might have looked down upon the
lovers kiss they know SO well. had not
Mrs. Hartman appeared at that mo-
ment win Il certain look OF naughty
surprise
Marion, aren't you dancing the
valsep"
YES, aunt. With Mr. Hilyar."
WHAT will your aunt say" Owen
was asking n little later in the pauses
of the dance.
Il shudder TO think of it!' she
laughed; but nevertheless there were
no signs OF overwhelming dread on the
charming face upon which Hiiyar now
looked down, at last unrebuked. with
adoring eyes.
And Virginia? Alas for the selfish
ness OF poor human nature!The thought
had never come to Marion until she
had shut herself into her own room on
her return. But then il caught her
heart with cold spasm. Was her
younger sisters happiness, then, to be
wrecked because she. the elder, had
found her own?
She went to Virginia's door and
Knocked. Some moments elapsed and
then Virginia slowly opened the door
and stood before her sister in her long
white wrapper The ehildlike face was
paler than usual.
''Oh. Virginia.! said the latter. con-
oSiOhSS-otiiShcu, anu SOuiu say no
more.
But if Virginia had battle to fight,
she would fight it out alone and in ST.
lence.
Il know why you have come. Marie,
she said quickly, land know that you
are feeling badly about me. But you
needn't. You had first claim on him,
and he has loved you all along. /
didn't know anything about that at the
beginning; but OF late have found it
out. think he saw that-that l was
getting fond of him. and he-I don't
know how he did it-but he made me
understand. And tonight, when saw
you two come in from the balcony to-
gether, l was sure-and 1 knew you
had made it up. There! Don't cry,
Marie! I'm sure you're much more
worthy of him than / ever could be.
And I'm scatterbrain, YOU know,
aud I'm certain TO get over iti''
Aud, with a laugh that might have
ended in sob, had she permitted it,
Virginia resolutely pushed Marion
back, and closed the door.
A little while, and in spite of Mrs.
Harriman's opposition, Owen Hilyar
and Marion were happily united