The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1912-12-13

ev EUGENE LEITcH.

'eweI I'd like to know why mott"
others paused In the doorway the
picture of amazed protest In one
hand he held the evening paper anu
a magazine, and In the other cigar
On his feet were slippers. around nis
form was a smoking jacket. straight
line drawn to the nearest object from
him would have ended at the easy
chair comfortably turned upward To-
ward the electric lamp on the tapie' !
II was a chair that Others had sat In
after dinner for more evenings than
he could count. why" he repeated,
cant go in there and read! Wha'
do you mean. motherT
Mrs. OTHERS approached him ana
picked thread of his sleeve.
! wouldn't you just as soon sit up
stairs with me-" she asked brightly.
I'm going to sew"
What of it?" demanded her hus-
band. Don't you usually sew down
stairs here? Don't we always sit down
stairs? why"
"My goodness, John!" exclaimed
his wife impatiently. wouldn't you
like a changer"
"Elmira," said Githers, firmly.
you're hiding something-tell me at
once!"
Simply nothing" said his wife.
"Only Grace is going to have cailer
this evening and / wanted to let the
child have the living room--oh, It's one
of the boys In her class and It's all
right, so you needn't glare. She's
seventeen and must have friends
among the boys as other girls do. NOT
, that she wouldn't just as soon have
us there, but we'd embarrass theml
what the dickens" growled Gith'
, ers. turning toward the stairs. "Pret-
, ty state Of things when I can't use my
: own chair Callers at her age!
, Umph!"
Mrs Others got him nicely ar
, ranged in her room and as she reached
, for the mending basket she paused,
! hand in air. The front door had
), slammed and a vast whistling herald
q ed the entrance Of the son and heir
= of the household. Mrs. Others went
and leaned over the banisters.
;, "Rob!" she called In dulcet tones.
"Hullo!" came the inquiring an
. swer. "Where are you? Where 4:
: everybody Who's sick?'
- Come up" said his mother
:. wouldn't you like to sit up here witt
father and me?" she wheeled as he ar
o. rived at the door. Here's nice
a comfortable chair and"
What's the matter with the livinI
= room?" he demanded in amazement
:. why"
:, !, Mrs. Others sighed. 81 never saw
- such stupid men folks" she declared
= ]. "Why can't you do things withou
. having them all explained. I'd Xix
-, to know! Grace has a caller comm
i, and"
. 'Whoopee-e-e!" shouted Grace
hr brother, making a dart for her doc
10 who's your beau, sis? Who've 20
IL got crush on"
d. Mother" came Grace's indignar
a. voice. Make Bob STOP think he
Al perfectly horrid! I haven't got
W. crush on anybody and you know
'r' Bob Githers, and perfectly hate yo
so there now"
"Chlidren!" cried Mrs. Others. 'I'
NO surprised at both OF you. Stop 1t
=. once!"
Ia' well, I'd like a look at the chun
who's so important that I'm barred o.
u OF my happy home" protested her 30
ne Gee! There isn't anything to do
here! I'm going out!"
ny mo. please DON'T" urged his d
oc' tracted mother. "Ill read out loud
you and dad"
Mother" called her daughter, fra
tically. Come and tell me how n
IL ~ hair looks"
no Left to themselves OTHERS and
III son stared dismally at each other.
Dc Some doings, eh?" queried you
IL Githers. "Tommyrot, ! call 1t! w
iZe sis be doing this every night forever
ing ever till she's married off? I'm goi
uh' to move IL she does!"
ave This chair" said his father
say ritably, "was built for boa constr
use tor. not a man. And where are
-. matches?"
say Mrs. Others came back and Gre
=, fioated downstairs. She played
the piece on the piano exactly as thou
she expected no one and then
. wolked about. The men folks fidget
Then the telephone rang.
Presently Grace called dolefully
han stairs: "Tom can't come! He's
IT, an awful cold, Isn't that hor-r-1d!
Others and his son reached the
oeu tom of the stairs simultaneously
you "My but I'm sorry for Toni s
\. oh