The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-10-22

her action be remarked. After tea she
had promised Cosgrove to meet him ut
the church to rehearse new solo.
The Ashers always dined at seven.
Their midday luncheon was most in
formal repast. Cold meats and fruits
and pastry were set forth. from which
one should help himself precisely as he
felt inclined.
At luncheon that particular morning
the ladies had mentioned Miss Folsom
in connection with an entertainment
about to be given for some charity.
"She would sing, / suppose?' Miss
Abigail remarked.
40, certainly, she would sing!" said
Miss Fidelia. the most energetic of the
three.
Miss Dora offered no objection, but
continued to make her luncheon of
cheese and some hard ginger cakes.
Mr.. Cosgrove spoke absently.
Il presume she would glady take
part"
"If it were not so warm, / should call
on her this afternoon" Miss Fidelia
declared.
"We practice tonight" said Cos
grove, as absently as before.
"Then," said Miss Fidelia, II will
come over to the church and see her."
I'VE shall have a heavy storm to-
night" Joy heard some one utter this
prophecy, as she went down the board
walk. when tea was over. She heard
the words, yet gave them scarcely
thought. She cared little for gathering
shadows in the sky; her world was
already IS dark Is it ever could be.
When evil news is brought. one always
reaches out for little attendant circum-
stances to witness or disprove its truth.
Joy had been tortured all the afternoon
with the recollection of a thousand
trivial acts and sayings of her lover.
And so she had little interest in the
color of the sky or the way the wind
began to blow up the dust in the street.
She went on, unconscious of now and
then single drop of rain flying against
her cheek, on toward the church. She
went in, Ms usual, through the little
door facing toward tho rectory. She
heard voices in the organ-loft, and felt
no surprise at discovering Miss Fidelia
in conversation with Clinton Cosgrove.
But all the bitterness she had choked
down during the day seemed now to
rise up and suffocate her. She hest
tated; they had not heard her enter.
Cosgrove was playing his favorite
"Largo"-playing very softly, and Miss
Fidelia stood looking over his shoulder.
The gas burned dimly.
Joy retreated softly to the little
study. She could not bring herself to
face them She felt as if she had lost
all self-control. She would 60 away
quickly She opened the door-but
rain was falling in very large drops.
No, she must wait a little. The wind
was blowing terribly, moreover. She
could not see yard in advance. She
would wait till the shower was over
The study was now pitch dark, save
where the light glimmered family
through the half-opened door the
light from the organ-loft. And she
could still hear him playing Largo"
She sank down In the rector's arm
chair, overpowered and heart-broken.
The storm without grew wilder. She
could hear the wind flashing the sides
of the edifice aud tearing away the
strong old English ivy. The music
ceased; Cosgrove and Miss Fidelia came
down the steps from the loft into the
study. Joy sat motionless and heart
sick. What would they think to find
her there? Would they perhaps ac-
pcuse her of eavesdropping? Oh, if
only they might not observe her!
They did not appear to. Miss FL
della opened the door.
"What an awful storm" she said. in
a shocked voice. do you think we can
get across the street,"
Better to wait here. said Cosgrove.
at will soon be over"
"But Abbie and Dora will be nervous.
1 think we'd better try"
Cosgrove hesitated.
The lady opened the door second,
and was passing out.
Joy could never explain to herself,
or to others the singular impulse of the
insuing instant. Swift as lightning all
thought of self had left her; she knew
nothing but one blind, unaccountable
impulse, to reach out and hold Miss
Fidelia back. This strange impulse, or
instinct, seemed to thrust her from her
seat and force from her a wild cry.
"Wait Cone back"
Miss Fidelia turned; at the same mo
ment came frightful rush and crash
ing sounds which lasted for some sec
onds.
Joy" cried Cosgrove, amid the din.
But the girl had tainted.
"a terrible storm, said every one,
the following morning. Quite a re-
spectacle crowd came to take look al
the church steeple. Moreover, it was
whispered about that the younges,
Miss Asher had barely escaped from
under.
"A regular Western cyclone" said
some one. 1--WE dent very often see
our churches pulled down like that.
Just about the same time Clinton
Cosgrove was calling on Miss Folsom.
wont you please explain how you
came to appear so suddenly for Miss
Fidelia's beneft?" he began, in q tone
that puzzled the girl.
Il had been there some time" she
said, slowly. Il was waiting for yor
to be at leisure. saw you were con
versing with your affianced."
"My affiancedT" repeated the young
man in stupefed accents. Then the
truth NAV have dawned upon him. And