The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-10-30
an EPISODE OF
OLD NEW YORK
lOriginal.l


At that time there were few houses
| in the city north of Wall street, and
we lived in the country on the upper
end of Manhattan Island. The Cur
tices lived near, and as Dorothy Cur
tice was then barely twenty and | but
two years older we naturally saw
much of each other. There was no
man of her family TO take her into
town when she wished TO go there to
make purchases, so | either took her
down OH the river in my boat or we
drove i'm her mothers coach, or, that
which we liked most, rode on horse
back. Ii was on those jaunts that /
became infatuated with the tones of
her voice. the curve of her neck, the
dimples on her cheek-what was the
cause doesn't matter SO long as | be-
came her slave, and not even her dog,
which usually scampered ahead Of us,
was more easily subdued at sight of
her raised whip than | at a single
flash Of her eye or a scornful curl OF
her lip.
A man is never so stupid as when in
love. and | gave myself much veXation
because Of this same stupidity. There
was one occasion when | failed to see
even what was as plain as the three
corners OF my hat or the lace ruffle at
my cuff. ON one of our visits to the
city Dorothy, instead of going to a
woman'S dressmaker went TO a tailor
ing shop and bought coat, waistcoat,
braocboe hose and chooo FOR. n MAN or
rather. for a boy. because she desired
suit SO small i'm size that a mans
would not suffice There was nothing
surprising i'm this. since we who lived
in the country, especially those of us
dwelling near IIudsons river as far
down as the village of Greenwich, were
to have an entertainment in fancy
dress, and Dorothy was intending this
suit for herself or some Of her girl
friends. -
1t was the next afternoon that l
rode UP TO the Curtices' and hitching
my horse at the gate, went up into the
house. Not seeing Dorothy, | was
about TO call servant when | espied
her through Il window out under a
tree with man. And as | looked
what should he do but fold Dorothy
in his arms, and in this fashion they
walked together toward the house. l
was that wild l could have killed the
fellow. Rushing into the hall, | went
out through a rear door and met them
face TO face.
Your presence, sir | said, sis Of
fensive TO me. | beg that you leave
this place at once"
How now, Mr.. Huntingdon" cried
Dorothy. incensed at my assumption.
"Who gave you the right TO order my
guests away, and in my very pres
ence?"
Il beg your pardon, Mistress Curtice.
| am much panied to have seen you
in such Il position as you were when
came up. There is some excuse for
me in that. | suppose"
What did the cowardly fellow beside
her do but run like a deer into the
house. had half drawn my rapier,
which at this contemplate procedure
| thrust back into its scabbard, and,
turning my back on Dorothy snapped
my fingers, saying
The girl who can receive the ca
resses of such Il coward is of no con-
sequence To me whatever" Then sud
denly it occurred TO me that | was
taking much upon myself. since no
word of love had passed between Dor
othy and myself; SO | bowed humDly
and asked forgiveness for having made
SO much ado about what did not con-
Germ me. 1t seemed TO me from the
expression of her face that anger was
struggling with desire TO laugh at
me. This reused my choler all the
more. and | was about to fly into new
freaks Of temper when she looked at
me somewhat less angrily out of her
soft eyes and said:
Edward
DOROTHY" | replied mournfully.
"why did you not stab me with steel
instead of with this boy of Dough-
Il have not stabbed you at all, Ned
Come let us go back there among the
trees and have it out"
What, VIII you have all your lovers
under the same tree"
Tut. tut, Mr.. Huntington! I'm not
accustomed TO having my conduct thus
criticised. Please measure your words
more carefully"
She turned and went TO the very spot
where | had seen the boy take her in
his arms without looking back to see
If | followed. | did follow, but with
hating steps for, putting one foot for
ward hungrily desiring to make peace.
no sooner was ii planted than the other
Jagged, | mindful of the detestable
scene. At last we stood under the
tree. | folded my arms and turned my
back, casting glances up at the sky,
which | saw no more than the girl be-
hind me.
You need not flatter yourself, sir"
she said, that there can ever be aught
between us. | could respect a pirate,
but fool never. You remember yes
terday in town bought mans suit of
clothes. 1t was for my cousin, Mistress
Lucy Livingston. who came this morn
ing from Harlem and who will be with