The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-06-05


done with safety, and thrill with min
gled pleasure and awe as they rolled
oa; these were amusements enough
for such novice, and the first week of
Marg 'et's stay in Blank Crescent glid-
ed away with astonishing rapidity.
But one morning Mrs. Laurence came
10 luncheon without the usual budget
of papers.
AT last am free" she said to Mar
garet, "and shall have time to attend
to you. Poor child, how / have had to
neglect you! have had whole fam
lily on my hands" she proceeded to ex-
plan; "a family in which my dear hus-
band, the Judge, was very much inter
ested. l found them ont as soon as L
got here; and, as two of the sons We're
going on In very unsatisfactory way,
/ suggested their all emigrating; SO
they start tomorrow 1t has been a
tremendous undertaking to get them all
off with clergyman who has promised
to look after them; but it is done, and
L can repose on my laurels and trans
fer my attentions to you.
Have you been dull, my love? No?
zione this evening. Tomorrow | have
reception here, and a couple of en-
gagements for the following night, both
of which include you. Remember, you
must be dressed by seven. l have
promised to look in at the theater on
our way, and see the first act of the
new opera. Jones shall get you som,
flowers and do your hair"
But Margaret proudly declined the
lady's-maid's assistance. She did not
choose to be under the inquisitive eyes
of that important parsonage while she
shook out the skirts of her only even
ing-gown, and fastened at her throat
her only ornament, bunch of crimson
rosebuds.
Mademoiselle whispered in her ear
That she was toute-a-faite charmante,
and Mrs. Laurence, regal in black veh
vet and lace, and diamond stars, nodded
approval of the simple girlish costume.
Nor did Margaret feel as much en-
barrassed by the inquisitive or admir-
ing glances of a throng of strangers as
she had feared she should, for the first
face on which her eyes rested was a
familiar one.
When Mr. Darton's family was
smaller and his children younger he
had taken pupils, and was won't to CON
graduate himself that the students
who commenced their medical educa-
ton under his tuition had invariably
turned out well.
The cleverest of them all-Gordon
Evrington-was now practicing at
London superMare, where he was
steadily rising TO the top of his pro-
fession. 1t was not often that he could
spare an evening for amusement, but
he felt himself repaid when he recog
nized in the graceful little creature,
whose eyes sparkled with pleasure at
sight of him, the pretty child whose
willingtlave he had been in the long ago.
DIR. EvringtOn soon found his way to
the back of Margaret's chair and if
she had some trouble in keeping back
her tears when he talked affectionately
of her mother, and recalled the scenes
and spots so dear to the young girl
now she was so far away from them,
still she was sorry when a call upon his
attention compelled him to leave her.
But / shall see you again" he said.
Il have the pleasure of knowing Mrs.
Laurence. You Will make a long stay
with herr"
"Oh! no; / hope not That is, ]
think not. l came reluctantly; and
though my aunt is kind, i"
Here Margaret stopped, afraid of
saying too much; and Gordon Evring-
ton went away mystified; but deter
mined to see more of one who came
nearer to his fancy portrait of what a
maiden of seventeen should be, than
the more fashionable young ladies an
Cling so openly for the hand of the
clever physician.
Mrs. Laurence, who saw them meet,
asked few questions in her brisk fash
ion; then, in the important business of
going with her daughters to Che dentist.
appeared to forget Margaret till both
were dressed for dinner on the follow
ing day, and met on the stairs just as
the first guests arrived.
a swift scrutiny may have shown her
that the embroidered muslin was not
as fresh as it had been, but she made
no remark; and by the aid of q good
uubuTcu uOuStlndlu, WHO lIOncu III OUT,
1t even passed muster once again; but
this third time of wearing was at ju-
venile party, and Margaret, whose gal
ETY. and good-nature caused her to be
much in request, came home with her
once immaculate skirts so smudged and
so soiled by the sticky caresses of some
of her small admirers, that nothing but
the labors of the laundress could rem
ovate 1t.
And Mrs. Laurence had issued cards
for sOiree; DIR. Evrington would be
among st the guests, and Margaret, alas
would have TO stay upstairs, to miss
~ pleasant chat he had warned her.
during n chance re7acontl'ein the street,
that he was looking forward to.
If her lips were tremulous that day,
and she found it difficult to appear in
her usual splits, no one appeared TO no
ticei it.
Mademoiselle was suffering with
tooth-ache, and, in the hurry and bus
tie of preparing for so large party,
no one appeared to see that Mrs. Lau
rence's pretty niece shut herself in her
room early in the afternoon, and had
not emerged from it when the guests
began to arrive.