The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-12-18

He did steal my par sol, muttered Kitty
| kins.
WAS IL blue one?" cried =. newcomer, in
"A shrill and cheerful tone.
I'm gone; it's the boy" giOaned Heath.
"rake me 10 Jail, Pyne: let me hide my
diminished head in the darkest cell.
"Baby-bue, like my sash, an white lace. v
said kittykins, that dear treasure coming
| again 10 her memory in all its pristine splen-
dor. AN Mamie kept il wrapped in tisser
| paper, and IL never was mussed "A mite"
II know where IL is" gIlnned the boy.
forcing his way through the crowd with his
skinny elbows. Il seen him with IL last
summer. He walked incoming along, like he
does, swinging it so"-a contortion that
would Indicate that Mr. Heath was a person
of unsound mind. "As he went up his steps
he drops it, so, and t Tell inter them iron
bars over the cellar winder, across the side
walk"
Kittykns walled dismally, imagining her
treasure, dirty and desolhte, lying wet and
moldy under the sidewalk.
Its there yet, continued the boy, gaily
a. can show il TO YOU"
That was n climax.
Jest round the corner, persisted the boy,
shrilly attaching himself To the policeman
| for IL had been the dream of his life TO be on
speaking terms with one of those great men.
"Now. that's what | calls bright boy, p"
| beamed the fat woman admiringy.
Kttykins in blind despairran after the boy
and policeman, and after her waddled the
stout lady.
Let's get away" said Pyne; "this Is too
utterly ridiculous"
II will see if il is there" answered Heath,
nettled himself COW, and eager to get the boy
in his csitches.
Il feel Just like whipping her, muttered
| poor Mamie an unwilling end OF the process
sion. Il D--5r saw her act so before"
At the area ratings crowd gathered in
! -breat HESS e. expectancy.
:" see it," shrieked Kittykins, IAN it's all
faded and drownded."
The policeman. guided by the boy, who
seemed 10 know the ins and outs of the prem
ises disappeared into the door under the
stoop, and alter n hoarse scuttling of the
shutters, presently reappeared with the blue
! paraso, such widowed and wTetched object
that no little girl of any pride would carry it
even to the bakers.
| "Take me home and shut me in the closet
Mamie" sobbed Kittykins, holdingher treas
ure to her breast in such woe the punishment
| had no terrors.
Pyne explained TO the policeman Heath's
| ability and willingness TO pay for the damage
and satisfied that worthy. who went away,
| the crowd following. Up on the stoop of the
/ boarding house the boy sang merrily:
"He stole her parasol
After all, after all "
81 am very sorry" said Heath. humbly.
! 1T is nothing at all. " answered Mamie but
| glad at heart the gentleman had been the
culprit, and that her little sister had not
/ been wrong. "You will only make me feel
worse il you attempt to pay me- | know it
was an accident" Shetook kittykins' hand
/ and hurried away.
| 81 hope IL won't get in the papers," laugh
/ cd Pyne but Heath was singulurly thought
] ful and more absent minded than usual II
was thinking of bundle the young lady had
/ droppei-G box OF paint from Blake's Art
| Emporium. The next day he went there
/ found out who she was, and bought some Of
/ her work.
at is the same girl" he said to himself
Il suppose her disappointment was pitiiul
but gave her the best Of advice"
! week later, one Sunday evening. he found
! his way 20 her home in the top story of the
/ old tenement, and thought her more winning
! than he imagined, sitting by the fire telling
! kittykns stories in the twilight He intro
duced himself and gave her her bundle, that
he had kept for an excuse To call She was
coldy polite but kittykins would not speak
at all, regarding him with accusing brown
! eyes and watching her favorite doll with
keen anxiety. But he was not Disconnected
lie found excuses 10 meet Mamie at Blake's
he came across them in their walks and Join
ed them; he kept Kittykns supplied with
candy, and gradually won her goodwill; he
bought all of NAMES work at advanced
prices, and bore her reproaches, when she
found it out, with good humor.
am not pauper, sir, she said indig-
nanty.
" ! suppose can purchase what is offered
for sale; and YOU must let me give you few
lessons" (This from Julian Heath who
never would take n pupil. besides. owe
you great deal for that picture sent back,
and the misery know it caused YOU"
"Oh, it was you, then. that did it, ] re-
member your name, but would not read all
OF the letter. silly 10 he angry
said Mamie, blushing iuriouay. Il know
now you were right"
SO he came and taught her some secrets of
painting aud artistic effects, but Also another
lesson much older than art-the old old les
son of loving.
The Sunday school whore Kittykins was n
pattern scholar gave n Christmas tree on the
oath Of December, and Kittykins assured
Mamie she lust knew she was going TO get "A
par'sol,' and told Mr.. Heath the same, be-
cause Mamie said il was not hard time this
year Sure enough, when the gifts were dis
tHbuted, there WAS n long, slim package for
Miss Kitty France, whose brown eyes opened
very wide. and whose breath came in excited
gasps And IL was parasol. n lovely white
one and il that loyal soul did wish il had
been blue, not n word did she say. But. won
der of wondersl there was another slim bun
de- and another parasol, n blue one, import
ed straight from Paris.
How could you" said Mamie, trying to be
cross
1t was Santa Claus not me-" Heath ans
wered, laughing behind his spectacles.
There was also n small mysterious parcel
for Mamie.
WHO in the world" she muttered;
then she suddenly put the little box III her
pocket with Blush.
On the way home, Kittykins, in high. good
humor, took hold of Heaths hand, holding
in her other the two parasols.
-" What did Sanity Claus send. you Mamie
France" she asked severely.
He didn't send it. smiled Mamie.
But you couldn't marry Santa Claus,
said Heath.
Il guess that would be funny, my Mamne
marrying that old picture-book man, shifted
kittykius, Though he's just lovely 10 chill
dren. Has he got any little boys and girls
himself2"
II am sure Idon't know" severed Heath,
thoughtluly. g suppose if he had they
would get the pick OF the presents"
But Mamie would not say a word all the
way home.
Kittykins sat up in bed with a serious
face
Mamie France" she said, severely, and
Mamie, blushing and tremulous ahout the
mouth, came 10 the bed, avoiding the two
parasols spread out on the coverlid did
you kiss that man that took my parasol,
out there in the hal12'
n i l. -