The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-11-01

melody from the recesses Of a moss
hung live oak
THAT Is bad omen. the negroes say
Ito near mocking bird sing al night. :"
said Adele.
He took no notice Of the remark. but
asked slowly:
Will you be trueT'
She looked at him q moment and an
swered
Love cannot die
And again the hooking bird sang
from the moss hung tree.
And that was three years ago He.
,rue 60 the agreement. had struggled
manfully for awhile 20 make his way
and earn his reward But he was weak
IN perseverance,. He tried almost every
thing and gradually sank lower and
lower AT last. half crazed with drink.
he enlisted IN the army and was sent to
the plains of New Mexico
AS he sat with his chin IN his hands
ne looked across the waste of sand and
pondered over his past. Too proud TO go
back and acknowledge himself whipped
in the battle of life. ne did not know
what TO do. An intense yearning 70 see
Adele once more took possession of him.
III write TO her tomorrow, he
thought, and I'll get furlough and
go home for awhile Ny God but I
must see her. I'll go crazy in this
devils country if don't -
The garrison had never seemed so hot
and stuffy to him before The hot yell
low sand had never seemed so monoton
Gus and blank, and life in the garrison
had never been so abhorrent as it was
then. He dreamily looked out the win
dow and whistled softly:
Say Eau revoir," but not 'goodby."
Not doubt entered his mind but that
Adele was true.
II can talk her over if she is still OBJ
stinate, thought he, land ! can buy
my discharge. Then we will get married
and live at the old place. She will at
least give me credit for having done my
best Yes, l think will go home "
His reveries were rudely disturbed by
the sound of Private Finnerty's voice
right under his window saying:
"Shure, an tn new major how come
ter take command Nv US. He's been at
q posht down south, hovin foine, aisy
tonne av it, He fetched his wolfe wild
i'm too. Dom me- but she's as pretty as
a spotted purp An She got tn prettiest
pair iv blue eyes thot Oh liver saw. Oh.
she's swate, sure.
Sergeant Stone moved away from the
window still whistling softly He was
thinking of Adele-of home. He could
see her sitting in the moonlight playing
and singing He could almost hear the
wind as it rushed softly through the
magnolia leaves or murmured sadly
through the long gray festoons of Span
ish moss. He thought of all the haunts
of his boyish days and of his mother
sleeping peacefully beneath the cedars
in the lonely little burying ground on
the hill. He remembered the path that
he and Adele followed when they were
children and went TO school together
He wondered if she had changed and if
she loved him as much as ever The idea
that she would cease loving him never
entered his mind. She had said that she
would always care for him, and that
left not a doubt for him.
He spoke pleasantly to one Of the sol
diers who passed by, and that individual
was so surprised that he could only
stare.
Something's a-going to happen, he
said to the gang loafing about the can
teen few minutes later "Stone's got
civil all of sudden And they mar
veled greatly thereat.
Stone wrote out his application for a
furlough and got it Endorsed by his cap
tain, and then by the post commander.
and late that afternoon he was informed
that his leave was granted.
He was happy. He went about whis-
thing and singing. He was going home
and to Adele After supper he had an
other attack of dependency. His soul
was sled tn doubts and fears and q
horrible DIRE I'd was gnawing at his heart.
Suppose she'- But his heart would
never allow him to finish the question.
''She will be true. it said.
The moon rose in its full grandeur.
and the mellow radiance silvered every
thing. toning down the rough prospect.
until it seemed as through the path TO
an enchanted land was opened to him.
Three years ago tonight since l saw
Adele" he murmured to himself.
well. it won't be long till | see her
again
1t was growing late, and TAPS
would soon sound He went out for one
last walk around the parade ground.
and as he neared the majors house the
distant tinkle of guitar attracted his
attention.
1.-THE majors wife must be musical, .
he unused. Then he remembered that he
had been told that the major had been
married only few months He drew
nearer to the house and listened. The
player began to sing in fresh girlish
voice:
Say Eau revoir," but not "goodby"-
Love liveth still Love cannot die.
He drew nearer. and the voice went
on:
'Twere better far we had not met:
| loved you then-I love you yet.
Stone stood as one suddenly bereft OF