The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-10-28
Mother AND Son.
by EMMA MAUD PHELPS.
PART L

pAhI
1t was long. low house of rough gray
stone, with only one story and a high
peaked roof.
1t was more than a hundred years old,
and had been famous tavern away back
an revolutionary ages. One of Washin :
toms generals had passed night under its
roof, u was said.
The old house was now occupied by q
widow, self-styled invalid, and her two
nieces.
Mx. Atkinson had come to the mountains
of this Southern Sta'e for her health, but
finding the noise and gayety of the fashion
aide hotel too much for her nerves, and
seeing IN one of her drives abou. the coun-
try this old house standing empty, she had
instituted search for its owner, found
him, taken the house for six months, and
removed from the hotel as soon as posi-
be, with her two nieces and three servants.
The departure of these young ladies
from the hotel was secretly yet sincerely
deplored by every unmarried man in the
house, for they were, If not absolutely
beautiful, yet undc niably pretty and though
rather reserved, perfectly amable and we'll
bred.
The family had now been some six weeks
or more in its home amoug the mountains,
and though they were five miles away from
the hotel, and three from the posotfice,
the girls had not as yet shown any signs of
loneliness.
1t was September now. 1t had been
clear in the morning, but shower had
come up rather suddenly about an hour
ago; it had not cleared off, but settled
down into driving storm of wind and
rain.
1t was very dreary out of doors, but
Within it was pleasant enough.
On the bro I'd, open hearth fire of pine
sticks was swapping cheerily; before the
fire was rug of white bear-s,iin. The
round table covered with a crimson en-
broidered oioth was fairly loaded down
with books, papers and magazines. There
was a big deep lounge, screen arlistically
painted, and any number of comfortable
easy chairs. Before tue fire, bending over
an embroidery frame. girl sat working
diligently. Another girl was seated on the
broad, cushioned W ndow-seat, looking out
absently at the dipping, swaying, moaning
pine trees.
The worker at the fire looks up now,
suddenly puts down her work. and going
up to the watcher at the window, says
affectionately
docs the rain make you melancholy,
Nelll wish for your sake Aunt Kate
would have allowed us to stay on at the
hotel. II is such pity you should miss
all the hops, the bowling, the tennis, and"
with laugh-"the nice young men.
The other turns lovely little mignonne
fnGe up at her companion.
AS If l cared for the dancing and the
mon. have you, Conny, and that's all l
want. / never expected to be with YOU
again-yeu know your aunt never could en-
dare me" Constance turns red up 10 the
roots of her hair.
GAunt Kate is vary macmillan in bar lilyao
and dislikes, Nell, but she is your aunt,
Nell, as much as mine. And she will do
YOU justice one of these days, Nell, | am
sure. don't understand how anybody
could dislike YOU"
Aunt Kate dislikes me, COMFY; always
has and always will. think the reason
must be that my mother married poor
man. A 'beggarly artist, Aunt Kate once
called my fa,her to my face, while she and
your mother made very grand matches.
Well, COMFY, it is rather too bad; but the
sins of the faith r, and mother, too, in
this case, are visited upon the children,
you know" Then, tui ming her face 10 the
window az in, she continued: Il wondtrif,
while we have been talking, that tramp has
gone away again. But [ don't think he
has; | kept one eve on the window all the
time we have been talking together"
What tramp, Nell? tramps never come
here"
"This was n tramp. He came up to the
kitchen door about half an hour ago. He
was all wet and ompletely coyered-his
clothes were-with mud, and he stagger d
as he walked as if he were drunk"
II hope" suddenly. Gle hasn't murdered
Dinah; still | I ink Dinah is match for
two tramps at least; don you?"
Suppose we 60 to the kitchen and look
after her: and, Nell did you see the
villainous2 We are only women in the
house. Aunt sent Scipio TO the post
Office over an hour ago"
81 couldn't see his face; it was hidden
by hs hat He was awfully tall. and came
staggering up the garden-wal like, as
they saw her :, ike be was drunk"
well, let's go and investigate the mys-
Gcry."
Aren't You afraid, COMFY he may have
murdered Dinah, and we are to be his next
victims. He is probably sharpening the
axe, which has been blunted bv coming in
contact with Dinah's skull. / am sure
Dinah's head is even harder than the
aycra0e head of the race. And how much
harder do they say negro's skull is than
ours. Conf"
al thought You said Dinah was a match
for two tiamps mt least. Don't be a miser-
able coward, Nell, but follow, follow me. !"
The girls go through the broad, long
hall. and Constance has her hand on the
door-laic As they stand there they hear
very pla My through the closed door the
sound of grooming. "ThereI" exclaimed Nell.