Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-10-01

In few moments Ned had written q
little note upon pad Of paper that lay
at hand, folded it, and given il to the
child.
"You know the place where the people
meet to pray every nights" he asked.
Eyes" replied Mag. II listens at
the doors sometimes. i likes the
singin'."
.sGo in tonight, If you can" said
Ned, "and ask 10 speak to Mr.. Smith.
Give him that note. The woman who
beats you must not see il, remember"
Mag nodded wisely.
"If you cannot get 10 the meeting to-
night, 60 tomorrow, /" said Ned, There's
a ten-cent piece for you, so you'll be
sure Of your supper. And, Mag, If Mr..
Smith sends you TO nice place, be
good. Don't steal or lie, or do anything
wicked, and say your little prayers every
night, and grow up a good girl"
Eyes, sir, I'll try" said Mag Then
all of sudden she began to sob violently
Nobody never talked so good to me
before!" she said. "Ill remember
always"
Ne heard the feet of his employer on
the stairs, and led Mag to the door, put
her gently forth, and draped the shawl
over the shoulders of the dummy, which
was presently rolled in and put away
for the night with the other objects
which had been set forth to attract GUS
tom.
AS it happened, Ned did not see good
Mr.. Smith again. The prayer-meetings
soon came to close, and he never
knew whether Mag carried the note to
the minister or not. 1t was possible
that she was a little hypocrite who
grinned at the good advice he had given
her, and went thieving again next day.
However, he was glad, for Fanny's sake,
that he had been as kind to her as posi-
BILE. At all events, he never saw her
again, and it was not long before he left
the store and sought his fortune in Cali
fornia.
There he succeeded beyond his expec-
tations, and one day returned home a
rich man, and did all those pleasant
things that filial and prosperous son
does for the old folks, beginning by pay
ing off the mortgage ON the homestead,
of course. He could scarcely believe
that he had been away so long. Nothing
seemed much changed-his parents
scarcely older Bill and Ben were ma
Hture, but really improved. Only Fanny
astonished him. Fanny was young
lady-tall, slender, shapely. Her faxen
hair was rich blonde, her eyes bluer
and brighter than ever, if possible. And
Fanny-little Fanny-was engaged to be
married. Ned could not believe that.
She was as fond of him as ever, though,
and prouder; and before three days had
to matchmaking on his account.
"Of course, you know we want you to
stay here, Ned" she said, land to marry
some one who likes the country. Now |
have q plan. You must fall in love with
my Jacks sister. She is very pretty,
and as good as an angel, and so bright,
and perfect lady; and she just worships
the country. And you can build a house
between ours and her fathers; and Jack
and will have one opposite, and that
will be so delightful. You do not know
how nice she is, Ned, but you will meet
her on Thursday. She is away on visit
now, but is coming home tomorrow.
Thursday she will come here to tea. You
must make love to her at once. Propose
as soon as possible, and have the incest
wife in the world. Oh. / am sure she
wifi BET
Ned laughed. Like most men, he
doubted women's Judgment of each
other. Besides, he had not yet resolved
to marry. If he should fall in love, it
would be a different thing; but that
seemed unlikely. He had met many
pretty women, and was yet heart-whole.
1t seemed scarcely likely that Jacks sis
ter-nice little country girl as she doubt
less was-would make any unusual i'm
preston upon him.
However, he did not say this-only,
"You know she may not like me Fanny"
But of that Fanny assured him there
could be no doubt.
She was in high state of delight when,
on o'clock on Thursday, Jack appeared
with his sister on his arm, and she was
able to say at last:
friend, Marguerite. Marguerite, this is
the brother you have not yet met. l
know you will be friends"
Friends ! From the moment Ned g eyes
met those lovely ones belonging to Jacks
sister he was lost. He had never be-
lieved in love at first sight, but it came
to him like flash of lightning. He de-
voted himself to Marguerite all day, and
would walk home with her at night, and
then Fanny said that she would go also,
and kept Jack at a pleasant distance
socially near, but so that every word
need not be heard; and Marguerite was
the sweetest thing, Ned thought, as her
little hand rested on his arm.
Going home again with Fanny, she
teased him to confess that he already
adored her friend, and told him that,
while putting on her bonnet, she had said
that he was - ever so nice" But Ned
was too much in love to feel sure of sue
cess, and for some time was rather nm
uneasy soul, hoping and fearing-his
courage high in the morning and low at
night, until one day he took heart of
grace and actually popped the question.
What he said he hardly knew. 1t was
in the orchard. They sat on rustic
bench under an old pear tree, and he had
linked for-some time, when- Mnrguerite
gave little cry, and said:
"Mr. Brandreth, beg you to say no
no more Just vet. l have something TO
tell you that may make you feel diff
ferently. l should have toldyou before,
but IL put it off. You do not know
who am. Jacks sister, Mr.. Rawdon's
daughter, you believe me; but am only
an adopted child, a little orphan whom
they reared lovingly but stillnot theirs. y
"Au the more mine, then, If you will
have it sol" cried Ned.
"a moment more" cried Mar