The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-02-05

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ness Of clambering vines and closely
providing trees.
The house was not carefully kept
the mans part of keeping q house in
repair, / should explain-but the cot
ton fields bore evidence of careful till
age.
The dwelling had five or six rooms,
evidently, and all somewhat discon-
nected, for all had doors opening into
wide entrance-way, left uninclosed at
either end.
A lady-plainly lady, in spite OF
her faded calico dress-came out into
the entrance to meet Carl and Inez.
my sister, Mrs. Strathmore-Mr.
Vogel, from New York."
1t was the first time Inez had men,
toned her sisters name, and Carl, to
conceal his establishment, bowed low
over the slender hand held out to him.
Neither the Colonel, Mrs. Lester,
nor Inez had ever before mentioned
the existence of this daughter and sis
ter.
They went into q room devoid Of
carpet or luxurious furniture-only q
few good paintings on the wall indi-
Gated taste or wealth.
"Great heavens how can this woman
be the daughter of Col. Lester and sis
ter to the lovely Inez" Carl men
tally exclaimed, as he took the wicker
chair pointed out to him by his hostess.
Inez delivered her basket and many
loving and entreating messages from
her mother. Mrs. Strathmore sat with
the basket in her lap, and q sad smile
curving her lips.
~But you know, Inez, / can not leave
Fred"
Inez shrugged her shoulders impa-
tiently and palpably repressed more
impatient ejaculation.
"Well, what are you doing with your
self now? We heard you were ILL.,"
"No, / am not i'll, only the hot
weather tires me, and l am trying to
make myself q useful woman by sewing
for the hands," lifting her eyes, with
strange amusement cleaning in them,
and Carl now discovered them to be
most beautiful eyes brown and pa
thetic as a deer's-quite unlike Inez'
brilliant blue orbs, albeit the latter
were very pretty eyes, indeed.
| AAeCi oh lOot, oCSiolCa bhO
must go, at the same time abusing
Francia for refusing to accompany
them.
"You are cold-hearted, headstrong
woman, and, verify believe, do not
care to come home any more"
Francia made no reply to this re-
monstrance, but Carl heard her draw
in her breath sharply, as if in pain, or
as if it cost her a great effort to retain
her self-control; but her only answer
was that sad little smile it struck ones
heart to see.
Then Inez kissed her sister passion
ately, and hurried away, leaving Carl
to make his adieu in q more sedate
fashion.
He stood on the second step, she
above him, and when he stretched out
his hand she laid futtering palm
within it, At that touch he seemed to
feel an electric shock thrill him, and as
she looked at him, with misty, troubled
eyes, he seemed to read her soul, and
the knowledge came to him that this
woman had suffered and was suffering
some inexplicable anguish.
"If she were well and happy, she
would be gloriously beautiful" The
swift thought flashed across his brain,
for, after prolonged but stealtky sur
vey, he had revoked his first opinion of
her, which was that she was common
place, faded woman of little intellect.
After that one hours association he
knew her to be genius, with gifted
mind and disciplined heart. But there
was blight upon her life what he
had yet to learn.
Inez was in the phaeton when he
reached it, her vail drawn down.
She did not speak when he addressed
her. and, as he turned the horses head
homeward, he was amazed to hear deep
sobs behind the vail. After few mo-
ments they subsidized. and Inez faltered:
Forgive me pray forgive my exhi-
bition of weakness; but-my poor sis
teri"
Carl was respectfully attentive.
Il must tell you more about her, for
I know you must think so strangely Of
her-perhaps you misjudge her. Seven
years ago she married Fred Strathmore.
He is well enough off to keep her In
ease, but, instead, every negro ON the
place is pressed into the fields, for cot
ton is Fred's king. Francia cooks,
washes, and irons, and never COM
plains. She has nothing to wear but
calico, although Fred has plenty of
gold. He can no more appreciate the
beauties of her mind and character
than he could do bit of fine sculpture.
She allows none of us to help her, and
her pitiful little garden, orchard, and
flowers are cultivated byher own hands.
She is an artist-all those pictures you
saw she painted; hut Fred sneers at
them, and says if she were to sew, or
do something else useful, she would be
of some account. She does all the
sewing for Fred's laborers, as it is paid
for out of their wages, and saves Fred
so much money. Why she married
him / can't explain-none Of MS can,
but the fact remains-she married him.
He is not polished man; he cant
be, for his whole soul is bound up in
money getting aud saving. He plants
nothing but cotton aud some grain. He
does not believe IN orchards or vegeta-
bles-that is for women, he says.
Francia has not painted picture lin
four years-she is just % and but four
o1Io~ than Che ooya a1 xys1I