The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-12-24

his ears did he glance toward the parlor in
some bewilderment. 1t was years since he
had heard the old instrument, gift of
his mother, when she came bride to the
farmhouse, and he wondered now who could
have the audacity to open it.
He arose and went into the hallway.
Edith's back was toward him; but presently
she turned 10 reach for some music, and he
beheld, with a thrill of admiration, the del
icate profile, surmounted by masses of rip
pling hair. She had finished the accom-
paniment TO the song she was practicing,
and commenced an old Scotch air, which
he remembered having heard his mother
play in years gone by.
He stood for moment as If rooted to the
spot, and before he could make up his
mind to retreat she had left off playing
and turned To encounter his gaze.
She started slightly, and James Rod
brook advanced into the room.
II beg your pardon" he said, "but your
playing charmed me so that l came nearer
to listen"
She smiled reassuringly. at is 1 who
ought to apologize for taking possession of
the room, but Miss Peeriam said / might
use the piano, and / thought We were the
only persons in the house. MIR. Rodbrook,
l presume"
He bowed and considered what next to
say. For several years he had been un-
accustomed to ladies' society, and at the
outset it did not appear easy to continue
conversation with this fair girl.
Have the pleasure of addressing one of
my neighbors?" he inquired at length.
MY aunt Mrs. Hargrave, lives in Elm
dale, but l am only visitor at her house.
My name is Norton"
"But she is not the Mile Norton who
married Sam HaIgrave?"
Eyes, that was my uncle's name"
"Poor Sam. l heard of his death when
l was in South Africa. We were boys
together, and often played truant from
school to go hickory -nutting."
"He was always ready for any expedition
of that kind" responded Edith. His
nephews and nieces generally had good
time when they came to visit Uncle Sam.
There was another pause, then Edith
said:
II wish / could find the words of that
old song. There are only few lines that
| can remember"
The one you were playing as 1 came
in?" he asked.
"Yes, sir"
II believe that / have them stored away
in an old trunk upstairs. At least packed
up great many of those Scotch pieces,
and, if l remember rightly, that was among
them. / will look for it this afternoon
II couldn't think for moment of putting
you to so much trouble.
ut will be pleasure, and if / succeed in
finding it. and you will allow me, L will
take it around to your aunt's house this
evening"
There was a little flash of triumph in
Ediths eyes, but she cast Them down
modestly, and he did not perceive it.
"Auntie will be very glad to see you, am
sure" she said demurely.
Thus it was settled that he should call at
Mrs Hargraves, and so pleasantly was he
entertained that the visit was repeated sew
eral times during the ensuing fortnight.
Many and varied We're the comments
which this proceeding elected from the vii
lage gossips. Some of them were of the
opinion that his attentions were bestowed
upon Mrs. Hargrave, who was his junior
by several years, but it soon became APP
parent that her beautiful niece was the at
traction.
So rapidly had their acquaintanceship
progressed that when Edith left for her
home he had obtained permission to call
there on the occasion of his next trip to the
city.
To her mother and sisters she gave glow
ing account of his evident DEVOTION and
they were not surprised when the brief
courtship resulted III an engagement shortly
after his arrival.
Mr.. Norton, poor. hard working man,
was glad to know that one of his daughters
would be we'll provided for, and received
his future son-in-law with open arms.
1t was decided that the marriage should
take place on New Years Eve, and prepar-
atoms were forthwith commenced.
To Albert, working hard over books and
bills in the distant metropolis, no tidings
of the approaching nuptials were sent. Ii
did not occur to James Rodbrook that there
was any necessity of informing his nephew
of the step he was about to take, and since
the latter part OF October Albert had not
heard from Edith.
He attributed her silence to pique, caused
by correspondence he had been obliged
to carry on with Agnes Draper, in regard to
her brother, n student at the same college,
who had fallen in with bad companions and
narrowly escaped expulsion.
Albert wrote several times, endeavoring
to explain the matter, and receiving no re-
Spouse. determined at Christmas time to go
himself.
What was his surprise, upon reaching
Ediths residence, to be todd that she was
to be married few days later and did not
receive callers.
But / must sec her, he said, turning
pale, and some desperate resolve to carry
her off in spite of her relatives and betrothed
husband flashing through his mind.
What name shall l give?" asked the
girl.
albert Rodbrook."
She assembled the stairway to an apart
ment on the upper floor, and presently re-
turned 10 admit him to the family sitting
room, which CHANGED at that time To be va
cant.
When Edith appeared, he burst into a
storm of apology and entreaty. which could
hardly have failed To move the heart of a
less worldly minded person.
She had not previously heard of his let
ters To Agnes, but she was n quick witted
girl. and his words decided her as to how
she should act in this emergency. She was
cool and disdainful. refusing to accept his
apology, and il was not until he had ex-
hausted every species of pleading he could
command that he asked the name of her
intended.
CONSERVATION was visible upon every
feature when he received her reply.
"Bnt my uncle James is twice your age"
he exclaimed; "he cannot love you as l do?"
Then followed another impassioned pro-
posal for her To fly with him, and become
his wife at once, defying relatives on both
sides.
There were real tears in Edith's eyes be-