The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-01-01

he drew no comfort from TX, anu was
only withheld by pride from giving up
the character which brought him
torture every night.
The afternoon of the last rehearsal
came, and all final arrangements were
being completed.
Mabel, wearing gossamer over her
bewitching Scotch costume, was put
ting some finishing touches to the
stage decorations, while Mr.. Fremont
prepared evergreens for her, when this
conversation carried on in the gentle
mems dressing-room met her interested
ears:
"Hallo Tom," exclaimed Hal Burton's
familiar voice, as some one entered the
room; "glad to see you back; when did
you Gomez"
To-day, at twelve"
Sorry you staid so long, my boy we
have missed you woefully in this affair,
and / told Hackett last night if L could
only lay hands on you, we'd have
Norman McGregor,' at your service,
done up in style. The character is very
distasteful to me-"
"Pshaw, Hal, my talent doesn't lie in
that direction"
"By the way" remarked Hal, sud-
denly, as ifrecalling something, "did you
get my note before you left?"
"Why, yes, did; but l must say l
don't understand yet the cause of your
overwhelming politeness. That little
appeal, May l come soon again, was
quite beyond my comprehension"
What are you driving at, Steele?"
"The note of regret you sent the
| night before / left"
my note Of regret Is the boy mad ?
wrote you a note in regard to that
horse of Browns; told you / had no in
| tention of standing in your way, and
| hoped you'd be successful in getting
her. Is not that the one you received ?"
NO such note has ever reached me,
Tom answered, decisively, while Hal,
illuminated 10y swift idea, broke into
a fit of laughter.
Il have it now," he said. II wrote
Miss Mabel Benton note the same
morning, and, in my haste, exchanged
the envelopes. How very carelessi
But my overwhelming politeness, that
is rich," and he lapsed into another
merry peal, in which Tom also joined.
"But what can Mabel think of me ?"
that all allusion to the horse had been
made through the pronoun "her."
His eyes flashed as a sudden idea
suggested itself to him, but ere he had
time to follow it out he was called upon
the stage.
The play proceeded smoothly to the
end; no lack of life characterized
Mabel's acting in the last scene as be-
fore The interest she threw into it
seemed to spring straight from her
heart. Her downcast eyes, the natural
flush upon her cheek, the trembling OF
the little hand which lay within his
own, told Hal glad truth; and when
at the last she Ia sed her eyes, il was to
find in his look of exultant gladness.
"You ran away from me this after
noon, Mabel" whispered Harry, as
they stood that night in little entry
back of the stage, waiting for their
cue. Il wanted an explanation of your
late cruel conduct toward me; won't
you give it to me now?"
Blushing and trembling, she vainly
| attempted reply.
WAS it because of that note L wrote
to Tom Steele?" he inquired, with a
merry light in his eye.
''Yes, it was, Harry but don't think
it fair for you to tease" as her eyes
dropped beneath the laughing light in
| his.
"Then you know, Mabel, to what it
referred?"
Eyes. 1 overheard you tell Tom
| Steele"
What PREPARATION do you intend to
make for your unmerlted treatment of
me. Miss Benton?" he next whispered,
as clasping one arm about her he drew
her close to his side. II have been
very miserable of late; more wretched
than you can imagine, and deserve a
rich reward for the suffering you have
caused"
"Some one else has suffered, too, "
she whis2ered, with swift glance from
her long-lashed eyes.
| "Ah, Mabel" he cried, impulsively,
eff such is the case, promise to take
what give you, and give what 1 ask
| In return--"
"What do you demand?"
"Your heart for mine," was the quick
response; ARE you willing to make the
exchange?"
"Oh, Harry" she said, II must go.
They need me in the dressing-room."
Little witch do you think I'll re-
lease you till the promise is made? One
little word is all / ask, and, sweet
| heart. that is Yes"
"Some one is coming. 1 have nc
time to promise. Please, let me go!"
THE whole world may come" he an.
swered, with decision; "but you shall
not leave until you say what 1 desire to
hear"
well, them" with pout, "since you
compel me, / will say-nol" darling
swiftly from his hold, with a mockine
little laugh.
A moment later, however, when or
the stage he sang to her:
you tangled my life in your hair, Janet:
| Twas "a golden and siiken snare my pet:
But 30 gentle the bondage my soul did implor,
| The right to continue thy slave evermore,
her eyes spoke so plain and glad Eyes
that he scarcely needed the confrma
ton given by gentle lips, as, after the
play was over, they walked slowly ant
happily home.
|