The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-08-14
ON his watch and poise it in the palm

major Coates, / have just proposed
to your daughter. and she has accepted
me. Are you willing we should be mar
ried tonightY'
The cigar fell from the lips of the
major. and he looked in blank amaze
ment first upon his interrogation, then
upon Oliver, with slight questioning
aspect i'm the last glance. Oliver burst
out laughing. and the major turned
again TO Garden helplessly and said:
"Percy, my boy. have you lost your
senses?"
"True," the other answered drawing
chair up to the table; this requires
some explanation and justiflable waste
of time. doesn't itF'
Then he went into every detail of the
conversation between himself and Al
ice as well as exploiting incidentally
many of his views of life which bore
directly and some even which had no
bearing at all upon the subject at pres
ent of vital interest. Then after he had
finished he took out his watch impa-
tiently TO note the time that had been
thus recklessly expended in the recital.
"Gadw said Coates, looking across TO
Oliver. There's considerable sound
sense in what he says"
Now, this is my plan" continued
Garden. There is clergyman here,
DR.. Van Every. See how beautifully
everything fits! Oliver here has power
to issue marriage licenses. and. as for
witnesses, that need not be mentioned
with such a houseful."
"But Alicef" said the major. Il can
not believe her Il party 10 such plans
"Oh, yes; | know she will be agree
able" answered Garden. she has said
So"
yet am sure she shall have
changed her mind by this time. She has
had time To think il over collectively.
III 20 find her"
mo put in Oliver, rising. LET me
do that for you"
Garden had placed his fob upon the
table, and, playing a tattoo with his fin
gers timorously on the crystal of the
watch. he said
I'll give you just three minutes"
Now the major looked Garden over
carefully, and the other returned bis
scrutiny with signal seriousness, much
as he might have looked out of an ear
nest commercial disputation upon an
other business man with whom he was
discussing some fine point in mercan-
tile ethics 1t occurred TO the major in
a fumbling, bewildering fashion that
(, 10 a or Of "a Of w i9h no
had often sanguinely dreamed, but
never-heaYen. no-never with such
unheard of precpitancy. Garden was
even then exceptionally wealthy, and
with his tireless devotion TO money get
ting no man might estimate what
would be the end. His own Ghe ma
jor's) affairs were in rather precari-
Gus condition, although few knew of it,
and indeed he had closed the city
house. sold the country place and sent
Alice off for q prOtracted visit with his
deceased wife's relations in England
in order that he might get a breathing
space in which, if possible, to retrieve
his declining fortunes. He had always
had Garden in his minds eye for Alice,
for he had always admired the fellows
sterling qualities. Then the girl had
always entertained fondness for Gar
den. looking upon him since childhood
with the veneration and confidence Of
brother, for she had no brother her
self. The major had certainly expected
they would marry in moments of ex-
altation. but what nonsense 10 think OF
such a proceeding.
At this period of his reflections Oliver
returned with Alice upon one arm and
his wife upon the other. Jack himself
was smiling blandly. Mrs. Oliver seem
ed somewhat amused, but Alice was
picture of loveiest Indignation.
She addressed herself first to the ma
jor:
my dear father, l hope you do not
believe l could have been SO absurd
HIM" said the major in which ut
terance there lowered the very ghost of
an infection of disappointment.
thought you did not consent, certainly.
How could think otherwise? But that
fact does not reflect upon Percy's theo-
rieS. | think they are very admirable
Garden thrust his fob into his pocket.
"Oh. DEAR said he. Il see one has
to be conventional. 1t is part of the
primordal curse"
This remark of Gardens seemed TO
have the effect Of dispensing the little
party, perhaps on account of its en-
barrassing pathos Again, it may have
been a conspiracy or merely a desire to
avoid the scene which Alice's cold, i'm
personal glance toward Percy very
surely indicated Her eyes were upon
the carpet when the others stole quiet
ly out She seemed gathering from its
dim scarlet flowers the secret fires of
her scorn under which Garden must
presently vince. When at length she
looked up and found the others were
gone, all save Percy. a singular look of
helplessness came into her eyes. In
stinctively. it must have been, they
sought Garden. He was still sitting
with his face buried in his hands.
well" she said to herself, how lone
ly he must be after all"'