The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-05-21

with very old friend who la I just come
home from India, IN his looms near Jer-
myn street. This, 1T must be sad, was
perfectly true, and, Of course, Mr.
Straig htway co I'D offer no valid obiec-
ton as Baxter had done all his work for
the day. The next day, however Tom
skunk of TO "A telegraph Office, and in
guilty haste dispatched wire TO the eff
feet that he was suffering from severe
attack of lunlago, but would, if possible
return in the evening.
BY ii o'clock he was at Lords The
mere 81 ght of the ground was 10 welcome
to him that he Uas eiermin Il to spend
as much time there as he po sibly could.
He KIN W, of course, that ne would be GER
tain TO meet any number of his old
friends. ana that the whole proeeedi z
was extremely risky, hit he consoled
himself with the thought that as Mr.
Straightway rarely If ever went into So
ciety of any SOFT. he was not at all likely
TO hear ANYTHING about 1t So he en-
sconced himself iii the pavilion and
awaite the beginning OF the play with
pleasurable Impotence. The Heathco tes
were all enthusiastic cricketers, and he
counted on their appearance by II o'clock
at the latest.
he match commenced in due course,
but upon its varying fortunes 1t is not
necessary to dwell. The Heathcotes ais o
arrived, and Tom at once took up q
position on the drag hy the side or Miss
Alice, the warmth of whose greeting at
once speedily banished all fears and
qualms of conscience from his breast.
Nothing, in fact, could have been more
Perfect than MIR. Bakers happiness up
to the luncheon interval. His steutorian
well hit" or well bowled' could be
heard one humid ed yards away. Ha
ciappe1 his hands, stamped, and waved
his hat like the veriest schoolboy, and
meanwhile he was unrem'ttiug in his at
tention to the girl of his heart. Two
o'clock struck.
The bell rang for lunch, and the occu-
pants of Mr.. Heathcote's drag prepared
for tn substantial meal which folms so
prominent feature of the two gre at
matches at Lords. Tom 10y no means
despis ed creature comforts. Dir. Straight
ways curates were expected, at all events
when with him on duty, to follow their
wears example in asceticism so good
lunch was very acceptable to him. He
had supplied Alice's wants, aud was in
the act of lifting to his mouth piece Of
,lmon, when suddenly he turned pale,
his jaw fell, his eyes lated, aud tue
piece of salmon, accompanied by the
fork, fell UNDECIDED to the ground.
1t was too true. Be side the very next
drag, talking 10 a gentleman on tue box
seat, stood tall, lean man. in clerical at
tire, whose igure was horribly familiar &c
the guilty curaIe. He could not be mis-
taken; it was Septimus Straightway,
though what could have brought the rev.
erend gent eman TO Lords was beyond
Toms ina -inaticn. The vicar had his
4
pect his curates proximity. Instant
fight was the only hope.
Good gracious, Tom" cried Miss
Alice. what on earth is the matter? You
look az white a sheet.
Il don't feel very we'll, dear Excuse
me one minute, stammered MIR. Baxter
And he rose hurriedly upsetting his
plate and jumped to the ground. JUS
| as be re .ched terri tirma he saw the
clergyman shaking hands with his frien6
on the I ox-seat; he Was Turn ng towarC
Mr.. Heatbcotes drag; in another seconC
detection would follow. Tom glanced
hurriedly round. the door OF the dral
was open md no one was looking. HI
accordingly plunged in head foremost
| shut the door, and In mako assurance
| doubly sure, pulled up the wooden blind
| Then he breathed more freely, But VIVA
on earth would the Heathcotes think
| A confederate was absolutely necess nv
| The Hea,hcotes' family butler, Mr. Binns
was an old fr end of Toms and nigh
he relied upon Baxter espied Binn
opening bottle of champagne and at
| tracied his attention as noiselossly a
| possible.
-Binnsl" he whispered. in great agitn
ton, please say TO Miss Alice that l an
not we'll, aud that l have gone to take
walk, to battle nv head-say anything
Binns-but Cor merry's sake don't let lie
knc y that In in here. Don't let anybod