The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-12-09

grave and thoughtful of aspect, with face
already as scanned and wrinkled as the
medallion of Caesar, with no beauty to re-
deem il but that of deep, luminous gray
eyes. Yet all men and women honored
and admired me; and this one-why not?
could by unwearied devotion be brought
TO love me.
Absorbed in the exacting duties of my
great calling, L had not vet seriously begun
TO prosecute my suit, but was Eliminating
upon the subject when the rude blow fell
that Threatened to demolish the whole airy
castle of happiness that L was rearing.
was suddenly called one evening TO at
tend a youth of twenty, Frustrated by a
sudden attack of acute hysteria. Nervous
disorders of this kind. though rare among
men. are apt to be dangerous when they do
exist; not so much from their present
effects as the results to which they may
lead This boy Che seemed to me nothing
more) was subject to such attacks, as his
anxious and distressed parents told me.
They were very wealthy, and Edgar was
their spoiled darling. AS a physician L
sympathized with his bodily weakness, and
would try 10 help it; as man endowed
with masculine intellect, l could feel
| nothing but contempt for the whole class
of beings TO which this young fellow be-
girls; his pale blue eyes were as inane as
dolls, and his face was the face OF n pretty
wax model. To dress, to lounge, TO
dawdle. expressed his highest ideas of
human occupation.
gave him simple remedy, but informed
his parents that in such cases as this pre-
vention must be looked to. Here was a
most keenly susceptible nervous organiza-
ton, upon which sudden shock of excite
ment, disappointment, or fear might be en-
pected to produce even worse results than
that which they were witnessing now. And,
by the way, what was there, of this nature,
that had lately happened to him? As his
physician / ought to know. They both
seemed somewhat confused by the question,
and l did not press it. L told them that
the soothing draught had prescribed would
give present relief, and that in n few hours
this attack would be over. Mr.. Lennox
followed me TO the door as / withdrew. He
wanted to explain what had occasioned Ed
CARS illness. The fact was, he had become
infatuated with Young lady. She recip-
rocated his attachment, but she was not
| willing that her parents should be informed
of it just yet She wished neither TO be
engaged nor married at present. Edgar had
been pressing for an immediate engagement
and marriage in year. MIR. Lennox sup
pOSeu ludi 10Y uullc IL SCcuc ldSt
| night on the subject with Lillian. and
| started as If smitten in the face.
with whom" l interrupted.
"Why, Miss Graham--Lilian Graham.
| She says"
1 do not know just how 1 broke away
from the mans garrulous chatter; nor have
| any recollection of how | reached my no.
tel. | locked myself in my rooms, and
| never left them till the evening OF the fol-
| lowing day. All visitors were denied, all
| calls refused; | simply returned the answer
| from the inside that was indisposed and
must have rest. Not mouthtul of food
passed my lips in this time, nor did L sleep.
| / walked the floor like a Gagged beast; l al
most foamed with rage mt this discovery, so
| sudden, so unexpected. And In words that
had before passed unuttered through my
mind, swore a frightful oath that whoever
came between me and Lillian Graham
should be trampled down and crushed to
powder.
Darkness was approaching, when, the
next evening, | sailed out and walked rap
idly and aimlessly through the streets.
Chance took me past the stately residence
of Mr.. Lennox. As / was passing, the
door opened, and Edgar and his mother
came out upon the steps. With a sudden
impulse, l secreted myself behind a tree,
and listened.
Don't stay long, my dear"
mo, won't; but | must see her again
tonight. And you'll speak to Mrs. era
ham tomorrow, mother?'
"Yes, my boy"
The door closed. and he tripped jauntily
down the steps. l have more than once
| spoken of impulses; / say now that the in
fuence that led me at that instant to act as
| did was simply empowering | sprang
from my place of concealment; / took him
roughly by both shoulders, and warned and
terrified him by my savage speech.
You fool" l said, Lillian Graham is
not for you. Cease yonr visits there, or |
will not answer for what may happen to you.
She is mine do you hear? Mine only"
His Mortified face paled as he recognized
me and heard my words. Without word
he turned back, reascended the steps, and
disappeared in the house.
No eye had seen, no ear had heard what
has just been described. Rapidly / re-
turned to my rooms. Not five minutes had
passed when an urgent message demanded
my immediate presence atthe LennoX man
sion. Anticipating the meaning OF the
summons, / complied. The house was in
confusion, the parents wild with appre-
hension. / was told that Edgars mother
had parted with him at the door. and that
n few minutes later one of the servants
found him lying senseless and speechless
| in the hall. / was conducted TO where he
| lay upon his bed. His eyes were set and
stirring; his limbs were rigid and cold. l
placed my hand beneath his vest; there
was no response.
as he dying?" whispered the stricken
father.
He is dead, / replied.
Let the procession of events that fol-
lowed pass again rapidly before me. The
best society of the city shocked and startled;
its fairest mansion changed to q somber
house of mourning; a thronged funeral. the
air heavy with the perfume of rare flowers;
n white face beneath the glass, above which
were signs and tears; mournful hymns;
words of prayer, and the clods on the
coffin-lid. A year passed; decorously, and
not with ardor, my suit for Lillian Graham
was commenced. She yielded slowly, and
consented at last with indifference, almost
with apathy, and only because l urged and
her parents wished it. She had loved him
who was dead, she told me (of such stuff
are women made), and her heart was in
the grave with him. She honored and re-
spected me, and ought to be proud of my
love. So we were married.
More years passed. our child came. The
tenderness of mether-love drew her closer
to me. / kew that at las. L was loved.
| The white face i'm the ooffin waQ fOrooften