The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-07-17

more than a month, ana her nrSt quar-
rel with her husband had taken place
not quite five minutes before. She had
left the scene of the conflict with the
proud air of a victorious general with
drawing his troops but now, as she sat
down to review the battle her heart
sank with the heavy consciousness that
she had had decidedly the worst of it.
1t was not that she had not a glori-
Gus cause, nor could she claim that she
had been taken unawarcs. Pauline had
long foresecn and been prepared for
this struggle. Her array of arguments,
firm and invulnerable, had been drawn
up in line of battle and reviewed many
times. Words were TO be the only
weapons. Tears. the exclusive and
overwhelming allies of her sex, were to
be scornfully rejected There should
he a fair contest i'm which man, tradi-
tional opprossor, serene and mcredu-
lous of defeat, should be overcome on
his own field Of action and with his
own methods of warfare, but SO cOur-
teously ana with so little flashing of
arms and war of artillery that he
might scarcely know himself beaten,
and peace was to follow, immediate
and lasting.
Few campaigns. however, follow the
exact lines marked out for them. The
attack had come so sudden. That gilt
tering line of argument, so invincible
when on parade, had fled heller skelter.
A horrid sense of confusion, the sharp
sting of a wound, a blind skirmish
with poisoned arrows-obSolete and I'M
worthy weapon-and the sight of the
enemy, man, in agony, and down goes
woman once more, vanquished by her
self.
Pauline drew u sharp breath and,
turning quickly. took up her husbands
photograph To study it intently and
curiously, as if she had never seen it
before she herself was twcnty-three.
She had married man of sixty. She
had secretly feared and adored this
man, her fathers friend, all through
her grlhoOd, admiring him for the abil-
ity which had brought him, a typical
self made man, from orrand boy To
owner of one OF the largest dry goods
shops in New York; plying him for his
misfortunes, the hysterical, weak mind
ed wife. who had died five years ago,
and his two sons, both weak and bad,
who had done their undramatic worst
to ruin him and his fortunes.
The story was commonplace enough.
but it had come very close to Pauline,
who had watched the fortitude and
strength of her hero from day TO day
for so many years.
There had been plenty of people at
the announcement of Mr.. Sewall'S sec
ond engagement. who had whispered
of dOting old men and portiOnless girls
who married for money. but Pauline
had no illusions as to the position of
things. She knew very well that he
was marrying her for nothing more
sentimental than that he wished a sen
sible and agreeable companion for his
old age
During the past month she had
watched and studied him with an in
terest greater than she had ever felt
before. She had been amused and
the orderliness and regularity Of his
household arrangements. His surprise
at the modesty of their first months
bills had been positively pathetic.
Are these allF" he had said. tapping
the pile she had presented with per
emptory forefinger and looking up from
under his heavy brows i'm his searching
way.
Are you so anxious for more?" she
had retorted. laughing, and ne had
commented shortly, Yet we have lived
very WELL
Once or twice she had caught an APP
preciative twinkle in his eye when she
had boldly and saucily stood out
against his will i'm some small matter.
Mr.. Sewall was i'm the habit of read
ing his morning paper at the breakfast
table. a habit he resumed after the
wedding journey. Pauline eyed him
askance for several mornings. saying
nothing. Then one night she brought n
book TO the dinner table and read de
murely throughout the meal. 1t seemed
ominous to her that her husband made
no sign. but toward the end of dessert
one of her uneasy, accommodating
glances met a very quizzical one from
him, and that conflict was won by
laugh and a blush.
There was. however just one thing
which Pauline had known from the
first would cause trouble between her
husband and herself She had one
brother, a weak and stumbling apology
of a man. resembling sufficiently Mr..
SewalPs own two sons. but Pauline
cherished for John COwden Il plying
and unshakablc affection. such as his
mother might have felt if she had lived.
His frequent appeals for money to his
father had long since been received
with Indifference. but Pauline was new
er weary with sympathy and excuse
and stubbornly continued TO divide with
him whatever small store Of spending
money came TO her purse, though much
against the wishes of her family Mr..
Sewall had said to her shortly before
their wedding. II wish you to under
stand, Pauline. that. though shall set
tie certain amount ON you every year
for your own personal use not one cent