The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-10-28

III Is evening. 10 lunps hBu<cu,
the heavy curtains drawn.
Mrs. Atkinson, her cap all awry, Is slum-
bering peacefully among the cushions ot
her easy chair.
The Doctor and Constance are playing
chess.
Fred, lying on a couch, is listening in
dulg ntly to Nellys low, vivacious chatter.
she has drawn low chair close up to
the couch, and chances up at him every
now and again from under her long, curl
ing. golden lashes. The fire-light PLAYS on
the thick, soft curls of her fair hair. How
! is it"-Fred interrupts her rather uncere-
sly-"how is it that your hair is
short; did you cut it off To be in the
fashion,"
"Fashicn indeed Did you think l
would cut off my hair TO be in the fashion?
Merci. Monsieur, l am not so stupid. |
lost my hair in fever had three months
| ago. | was a teacher-a teacher of draw
ing, but broke down ANONYMOUSLY, right
| in the midst of n term, with nervous fever.
| The people in the boarding house where
was took il into their heads that ii was
sons kind of CONTAGIOUS fever that had,
and so | was left to the tender mercies of
chambermaid. who was drunk more than
half the time"
II SEQ, and, Nell, must give those curls
|
course, but a pull. My health, all my
prospects of complete recovery demand it,
| suitng the action to the words.
Nelly gives a smothered, laughing shrek,
and Constance raises her eyes from the
| cheSs-b board.
Her face grows pink from brow to chin,
and she drops her eyes again rs quickly as
she had raised them.
The chances of the game have until that
moment been in her favor, but wild move
made now causes her adversary to exclaim:
"You did not mean TO make that move, l
think. You may take it back if you
| choose"
oh, mono! l made the very move /
intended to-" she replied, and her adversa-
ry raises his eyebrows in establishment. A
very few moments later and the game is
finished and Constance totally routed, of
| course.
Il am afraid l played very badly" she
saws as she puts the men away intothe box,
"but Nap has been so teasing He keeps
| pulling at my dress every few minutes"
| Nap is beautiful little Yorkshire terrier,
Constances especial pet and property.
| well, Nap, what is lido You want to come
on my lapy" STOPPING and picking him up.
But Nap evidently does not want to come
on his mistress lap he refuses to stay
on the panels, then scours back 10 his mis-
tress, barks, jumps up on her, runs back to
the door again.
Constance rises and opens the door. but
the little doggy, though he runs down the
corridor short distance, returns again di-
rectly, and. ju as the mistress is about to
close the door, he jumps up again, ticks her
hand, his bright dark eyes saying as plainly
as eyes can. Please come, too" Con-
stance gives n backward glance into the
room before following her favorte.
Mrs. Atkinsons nap is over. She is sit
ting very erect now in her arm chair,
glancing grimly in Nelly's direction, who,
still on her low seat, has taken up her BAN
10, and is singing softly, the two gentlemen
admiring and attentive auditors, 1T was a
lovely lady, richly dressed"
Constance hears her sing, as she softly
closes the door behind her.
Nap, del GIFTED that he has induced his
mistress to follow him, trots off in the di-
rection of the kitchen.
well, Nap, now what is it you want
some milk"
The kitchen is dark, save for the light
of the smoldering fire of logs upon the
hearth. Dinah is sleeping in the room
overhead; her snoring fairly shakes the
ceiling.
and runs shutting along the wall, stopping
under an old-fashioned easement window,
which has been left slightly ajar.
"Oh. you want the window closed, you
fussy little Napl"
The little animal has grown all Of a sud-
den very quiet; it crouches close up
against its mistress, its dark eyes anxiously
fixed upon her face.
Constance's hand, which is raised to
close the window, drops heavily against
her side.
Surely there are voices speaking under
the window. She bends forward and
listens.
Her face grows white, her breath short
as she does so. She puts out her hand and
lifts the dog up. 1t nestles close up to
her, as silent, immovable now as she.
So pass some minutes; then Constance
fastens the window, carefully replenishes
the fire, pushes n heavy wooden table
against the side door, which is only fast
ened with an old-fashioned wooden but
ton. This done she returns to the sitting
room.
where is DIR. Preston2" are her first
words.
Gone returns Nelly, "gone half an
hour ago. Didn't you hear him ride of?
Have you, maliciously, ~been asleep too?"
Il was in the kitchen"
"In the Kitchen What were you doing
there at this time of night, pray?"
II followed Nap, who led me there
Aunt-Fred-it is too, too horrible to
think Dr. Preston his gone, for there are
four men outside, waiting until the house
is dark, to rob it. heard them. 1t was
Nap who discovered them; it was that that
made him restless and fidgety the whole
evening. Nelly, why did you let the Doc
tor go2'
"He had TO see patient"
Constance, you are dreamingV exclaims
her aunt.
Il am not, indeed, Aunt Kate. / heard
them as plainly rs | hear you now. They
seem 10 know that there is a great deal of
silver in the house, and that you have
your diamonds with you"
Fred has left his couch at her first words,
and is standing opposite to her.
THE doors are strong and we'll furnish
ed with locks and bolts, all except the
small side door in the kitchen"
But that is the very door by which they
will enter the house-they seem to know 1t
well. Scip is away Mt a prayer meeting,
and Fred is wounded. One man wounded
at that, against four strong ruffians. God
| baIn no olliH aaVa Mrq AtkinSoD