The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1899-09-13


had got to be done. and l did II with
the best grace | could.
| called Angelica into my bedroom.
The bed, tables, and chairs were
sirewn with fiounces and furbelows.
know Angelca's feminine weakness
the only weak thing about her-for
clothes, and | count on the impression
the beauty OF the garments thus dis
played will have upon her infant mind.
Darling. how perfectly lovely! she
exclaims, in a tone of mingled patron
age and ecstasy; "are they all yours!
How dreadfully 'stravagant!
Her charming face takes on its most
early Victorian air, and she looks In a
slightly pharsaical manner at her own
plain red serge dress and clean muslin
pinafOre
1T does look eXtravagant, L know.
Angelica" | FASTENED to explain; but
you see, one doesn't get married every
day."
Married. O. my dear darling,
sweet Kitty, are you going to get mar
ried? You'll have me for bridemaid,
terthought-"A too? l don't see
what Jacks to be, unless he holds up
your train. You'll have ii train, of
course. Kitty
l had had visions of n lovely ivory
cloth walking dress, trimmed with an
old lace and sable, but the finality in
Angelca's voice leaves me no hope.
"Of course" | say family.
"And orange blossoms. and a veil,
and a bouquet. and all properY
Il suppose So
You wouldn't be really married, you
see" explains Angelica kindly, unless
you had"
Don't you want to know whom | am
going to marryT | hazard the sug-
gestion.
Il suppose it's Maurice Angelica's
interest is flatter in the prospective
husband than in the bridal garments;
ii is evidently mere matter of polite
ness.
NO. il isn't Maurice: it's Ted"
Ted The name becomes a shrek
of surprise. Dear darling Ted! Why
you don't like Ted half as much as
Maurice; and, besides, | meant TO mar
ry him myself. But perhaps he was
a little old for me-"
Il didn't know you had meant to
marry him yourself, Angel or should
have been more careful"
well. never mind only, you see,
he'd make such a comfortable hus-
band"
How? Comfortable"
Yes, comfortable. Now, with Mau-
rice, you'd never know where you had
him. When you wanted him, he'd al
ways be flying round somewhere else.
OF course, he's darling, much bigger
than Ted, and funnier. don't you
think? but not so comfortable for a
husband" Angelica's tone is ripe with
martial experience. ''Now, Ted would
just go down TO the theater and come
back and keep quiet, and tell you love-
ly long stories. whenever you hadn't
anything else to do. Yes think per
haps Ted's the best"
Il am sure Ted's the best" l am
conscious of a note of lingering ten
derness in my voice, which does not es-
cape my nieces sharp ear.
why Kitty, do believe you really
like Ted"
"One doesn't marry any one unless
one loves them much. Angel"
80! yes, you do. Why, | heard Num-
ME say the other day that Cousin Lot
tie was marrying solely-yes. solely
was the word-fOr a establishment.
What's establishment Kitty
1T only means that as Cousin Lottie
isn't at all rich, darling, she has TO
marry rich man. 1t doesn't follow
that she doesn't love him."
But ii does. I've seen her and him
together'-this contemptuously-"a
they didn't do bit like lovers"
why, what do you know about 1t,
AngelT
Il know. Our Susan has a young
man, and I ran into the kitchen the
other, day, and he was sitting with his
arm round her waist. and holding her
hand and looking like this"-here An
gelica twists her face into a fatuous
grin that would make the fortune of
low comedian. NOW, Lottie and her
man." she continues scornfully, lust
sit on two chairs a long way off on two
sides Of the room, and look at each
other like you and me might"
Angelica's grammar leaves much to
be desired.
But ladies and gentlemen don't sit
with their arms round each others
waists and look silly in public. You
won't see me and Ted doing that"
well, no, because, you see, he'll be
telling me stories. and there won't be
room for you. But when you're alone,
Kitty, what'll you do then?'
l feel myself blushing hotly under
my small niece's stern eye.
Don't you want to see my presents
that have just come, Angelo l asked
weakly
Yes. but l want to know essactly
what you and Ted are going to do
when you're alone, and there isn't no.
body to see you"
walk TO the door and open Ii.
Thank hpaVpni I hear q voipa clea