The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-03-22
By Harold MACGrath -

"Then III blow you one" and Gret-
chen made a pretty courtesy
nearly bit the amber stem off my
pipe. They were soon gone, and | was
glad of it.
Herr Jack is angry" said Gretchen.
Not at ALL" growled. What right
have to be angryp
Does Herr Jack wish Gretchen al
ways to be sad?"
Certainly not, but sometimes your
Joy is irritating You are sad all day;
then some strangers come, and you are
all smiles. Your smiles do not come in
my direction as often as | should like"
well, then, look at me-" said Gret-
chen.
The smile would have dazZled an an
chorite let alone n man who didn't
know whether he loved her for GER
tain. but who was willing to give odds
that he did.
"Gretchenw | cried, starting toward
her
But, with low laugh, she disap-
peared behind the door. Gretchen was
woman. AS man must have his to-
bacco, so must a woman have her CO.
quetry. 1t was rather unfair of Gret-
chen after what | had promised. 1t
was like getting one in Il cage and then
Offering sweetmeats at safe distance.
1t now became a question of analysis.
So | went to the river and sat down in
the grass. A gentle wind was stirring
the leaves, and the sunbeams, filtering
through the boughs, fell upon the
ground in golden snowflakeS. What
was Gretchen to me that should grow
jealous of her smiles? The night be-
fore | could have sworn that l loved
her; now | was not so sure. a week
ago all the sunshine in the world had
come from Phyllis face; now shadow
had come between. Oh, | knew the
symptoms! They were not new TO me.
They had visited me some five years
back and had chung to me with the te-
nacity of a creditor 10 n man with eX-
pectatonS. When man arrives at
that point where he wants the society
Of one woman all to himself, the mat
ter assumes serious proportions And
Il man likes to fall i'm love with one wo-
man and continue to love her all his
days. 1t is more romantic. 1t annoys
him to face the fact that he is about to
fall in love with another In my case
| felt that there was some eXtenuation.
Gretchen looked like Phyllis When
saw Gretchen in the garden and then
went TO my room and gaZed upon the
likeness of Phyllis, | was much like
the bachelor Heine tells about dod-
dered.
The red squirrel in the branches
above me looked wise He was won
dering how long before the green burs
would parch and give him their brown
chestnuts. | was contemplating a
metaphysical bur. | wanted to re-
main true to Phyllis, though there
wasn't any sense in my doing so. Had
Gretchen resembled any one but Phyl-
lis | never should have been in such
a predicament | should have gone
away the day after my arrival Here
was going into my second week. My
assistant in London was probably wOr.
rying, having heard nothing from me
during that time. AS matters stood
it was evident that | could not be true
either to Phyllis or Gretchen since
did not know positively which | loved.
knew that loved one. So much was
gained | wanted to throw up n coin,
heads for Phyllis. tails for Gretchen,
but | couldn't bring myself to gamble
on the matter
A steamer came along then, putting
Importantly, sending a wash almost at
my feet. | followed it with my eye
till it became lost around the bend.
Over there was Austria and beyond
the orient, a new world to me.
IF | could see them together"
unused aloud.
The squirrel cooked his head TO one
side as if to ask, Austria and Tur-
key?"
NO" said |, looking around for an
other stick, Phyllis and Gretchen. IL
| could see them together you know.
could tell positively then which
love. AS it is, I'm in doubt. Do you
underestimate
The squirrel ran out TO the end of
the limb and sat down. 1t was an act
OF deliberation.
well. why don't you answerY
was startled TO my feet by the
laughter which followed my question.
A few yards behind me stood Gret-
chen.
Cant you find a better confidantT'
she asked.
Yes, but she will not be my conf
dant," said |. ! wondered how much
she had heard Of the one sided dia-
logue. ''Will you answer the question
just put to that squirrel of yours"
"And what was the question: with
innocence not feigned.
Perhaps it was. Why should Gret-
chen not revoke the promise to which
she holds meT'
You should know, herr" said
Gretchen gently.
But l do not. / only know that a
man iS human and that n bpanfif1l VVO-