The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-04-11

frotty Bridget Mallory, just returned
rom an evening visit, ripped lightly down
the basement steps.
She was making her way toward the
match safe to get match to light tho
lamp, when . voice very close TO her ear
ened; will not hurt you. and have only
come to ask you question"
The tone OF the speaker, az we'll as the
words, was meant 10 be reassuring, but
they failed Of their effect upon Bridget,
who shrieked series Of little shrieks that
would have done credit to female OF far
more culture.
"Dont do that" and q hand was laid
firmly but kindly upon her mouth. II
promise to do you no harm, but only want
you to tell me where / can find the silver
ware"
Bridget had continued to struggle while
he was speaking, but finding she could not
shake of his grasp managed to remove his
hand from her mouth long enough TO say:
How can / tell you when you hold my
mouth shut?"
promise me you will not scream again,
and will instantly release YOU"
Bridget nodded assent, but as 1t was
dark he only knew IL by the motion OF her
head between his hands.
How would it be to light the lamp?'
asked she.
CAS- you choose" he replied; "but re-
member that have trusted you. and be-
heve you will not betray me-"
AS the light flashed upon him she saw q
tall form, so gaunt that he looked taller
than he really was; pale face, dark eyes,
somewhat sunken in their sockets, and the
sweetest mouth she had ever seen, just
shaded by faint black mustache.
That she daily attended to pots and pans
and welded brooms and brushes did not
interfere with Bridget being little senti-
mental. He did not look mt all like COM
mon house breaker; and he did look al
most famished for want of nourishment.
"Sit down, she said, pointing to chair;
"and If any one comes in just now L will
say you are my cousin Thomas, and may
the saints forgive me for lying"
He did as she babe him, looking at her
the while 10 discover her meaning.
Would you like me to get you some
thing to eat?" she said.
= The handsome mouth quivered as he
replied: Il have not tasted food for two
days"
1t did not take Bridget long to spread
before him some cold meat, bread, pie, and
some milk.
He ate msrvelously at first, but as his
yentured to say:
"Now tell me what you really came here
for. If it was to steal the silver ware,
do not intend TO let you do it."
at is not only for myself / was about to
commit crime, but for two others dearer
than life to me-"
you're young looking to have wife
and child" she said.
This time he smiled as he answered.:
Il have neither. II is little sister and
brother am speaking of. / have sought
for weeks to find employment, and can
net. / have kept them as best / could un-
til now, and this morning / gave them the
last food that remained in the house."
Well" said Bridget, "you can 60, but
not until l have given you something for
the little ones who came near to making a
burglar Of you"
She took basket from its peg in closet
and filed it well with articles of food such
as children would most like.
i will make this up to the mistress" she
said, for she is a good one TO me, and l
wouldn't take the value of pin from her,
but the children have gone hungry long
enough"
In more hopeful frame of mind he
started out on his daily search, the next
morning, and whether it was the increased
brightness of his face, or the more assured
tones of his voice that were produced by
the fact that he had breakfasted before 60
ing out, at any rate he at last found some
thing to do that would help him to keep
the wolf from the door.
That night there was a knock at the door
opening into the basement kitchen, which
he had entered the night before witht TT
that formality. IL was opened instantly by
Bridget, who took the basket he extended
to her with an inquiring look that he at
once understood.
Perhaps it was your good wishes that
followed me-" he said, with the rare smile
she had noticed on his face the night be-
fore; but am glad to be able to tell you
that have succeeded to-day in finding the
employment have SO long searched for. "
"Good luck to you in it, then" she said.
smiling; "and nobody but ourselves shall
ever know of the bad intentions that
brought you here first. Be the good man
you look like, and you will prosper in
time"
She said this almost like uttering q
prophecy, and ne accepted it as such.
thank you with all my heart, he re-
piled, "and, if good fortune awaits me in
the future, may come once in while to
tell You of it?"
why, don't even know your name,
said she, aand / don't believe you know
mine, and the mistress don't like me to
have callers, anyway"
my name is Clarence Brown, and ]
really would like to know the name of one
who has been to me like good angel of
mercy"
swell, then, it's Bridget Mallory, and il
you feel as if il would do you good to tell
me once in q while how you like your
place, you may come with that intention"
All this happened quite good while
ago. In the fine-looking young man and
the pretty, rosy young woman sitting side
by side in front of the CRATE in their neat
sitting-room we recognize Clarence Brown
and she who was Bridget Mallory, now
Mrs. Clarence Brown.
Saphir's Wit and Philosophy.
A lady having expressed surprise thai
~ -. III l. A.