The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-12-15


Now" said she. "he is angry; he
will remember If | release him he
will sting me when l come near him
again. So I do not permit him to
live-I kill him"
Then she would impale him and in
vite me to look at him with the mi
croscope.
One day the baroness went away to
town with the young ladies. | was
quite alone with the servants. Father
Joulin of the chateau came over and sat
awhile with me, and told me how he
had escaped the Partisan mob, night
in the Reign of Terror. Late in the
afternoon | walked awhile in the grove
with him. When he left I went slow
ly down the trail over which | had
ridden. My strength was coming fast,
] felt like an idle man, Sinking the
saddle, when l should be serving my
country / must TO my horse and make
an end to dallying. With thoughts
like these for company, I went farther
than I intended. Returning over the
bushy trail I suddenly came upon
.
pink and white.
LIE diable," said she you sur
prise me- I thought you went another
way"
COR you would have not have taken
this one" | said.
"Of course not, - said she. "One does
not wish to find men if she is hunting
for-for-" she hesitated a moment,
/ tlushing-"mon Dieu! for bears" she
added.
I thought then, as her beautiful eyes
/ looked up at me smiling, that she was
incompatible, that ! loved her above
all others felt sure of it.
And why do you hunt bears?" l in
quired.
Il do not know / think it is be-
cause they are $3.50 beautiful, so
amiabe," she answered.
And such good companions"
Eyes; they never embarrass you"
she went on. you never feel at loss
/ for word. "
Il fear you do not know bears"
"Dieu! better than men. Voila!"
she exclaimed, touching me with the
end of her parasol. you are not so
terrible l do not think you would
/ bite"
NO; l have never bitten anything
but-but bread and doughnuts, or
something of that sort"
Come, l desire TO intimidate you
Won't you please be afraid of me? In
| deed, | can be very terrible. See! l
/ have sharp teeth"
She turned with a playful growl,
and parting her crimson lips, showed
/ them to me-white and shapely, and
as even as if thes had been wrought of
/ ivory She knew they were beautiful,
the vixen.
you terrify me. I have a mind to
run" l said, backing off.
please do not run" she answered
quickly 81 should be afraid that
that"
She hesitated a moment, stirring the
moss with one dainty foot.
THAT you might not return" she
added, smiling as She looked at me-
"Then-then perhaps it will do as
well if l climb a tree"
mo, no; | wish to talk with you"
Nam 'selle, you honor me-" l said.
And dishonor myself, l presume,
with so much boldness," she went on.
1T is only that | have something to
say; and you know when a woman has
something TOTO say"
1T is a fool that does not listen if
she be as fair as you" l put in.
you are-well, l shall not say what
think of you, for fear-for fear of
giving offense," said she, blushing as
she spoke. do you like the life of
SOLDIER"
Very much, and especially when
am wounded, with such excellent care
and company"
But your side-it was horribly torn.
l did feel very sorry-indeed l did.
You will 90 again to the war;"
'Unless-unless- All, yes, mann
selle, l shall so again to the war;" l
stammered, going to the brink of con-
fession, only to back away from it, as
the blood came hot to my cheeks.
she broke tiny Dough and began
stripping its leaves.
Tell me, do you love the baroness"
she inquired as she whipped a sway
ing bush of brier.
The question amazed me. | laughed
nervously.
II respect, I admire the good wo-
man-she would make an excellent
mother" was my answer.
We'll spoken!" she said, clapping
her hands. 81 thought you were a fool.
| did not know whether you were to
blame or-or the Creator"
cor the baroness" | added laughing.
''Well," said she, with a pretty shrug,
lis there not man for every wo-
man? The baroness thinks she is ir-
resistible. She has money. She would
like to buy you for a plaything-to
marry you. But say beware. She
is more terrible than the keeper of
the Bastile. And you-you are too
young!"
MY dear girl" said I, in a voice of