The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1912-06-21


thetically. "And If think OF anything
I'll write at once. In the meantime,
whatever you do, Martha, be practical
and daring, humorous if possible.
That's the modern method of doing
things, and | must say it seems 10 be
effectual!" The twins waved a last
adieu and the train bore them swiftly
off.
! Martha turned away. her mind full
of the conversation of the afternoon.
Instead of going directly home, she
turned rather aimlessly into a side
street. She wanted TO think it all out
again, though there was not single
part of her dilemma that she had not
gone over many times before. She
hated to own, even to herself, how
much she cared, but she did care very
much. She admitted it with a little
catch of the heart.
And she was sure that he did, too.
That was the queer part of it all. The
man loved her, she knew he did.
! There were a thousand little ways Of
! telling And they had been so happy
: together, so congenial from the begin
ming. A sudden moisture blurred her
| eyes.
Martha winked quickly to clear her
vision, turned corner, and halted
abruptly with surprise at what she
saw DR.. Jeffries' little empty run
about stood before her at the curb
Evidently the doctor was making a
/ call inside the house.
: With the sight, swift idea leaped
into Martha's head.
Practical, daring, humorous. I'll
do it," She looked carefully around
to see If she were observed. 1t was a
quiet, questionable neighborhood, no
one happened to be passing. Martha
walked up to the car and seated her
self beside the drivers seat.
For five minutes she waited, her
heart nearly sitting her with its ex-
cited jumping, then the door opened
and DR.. Jeffries ran lightly down the
steps.
At the sight of her he stopped stock
still, and his face went white. Then
he gathered himself
I'm sorry to have kept you wait
ing" he addressed her, with smile.
ooh, haven't minded waiting in the
least" she returned politely.
He went around in front and crank
ed the car, then took his place beside
her and they were away.
Calmly DR.. Jeffries drove the little
car across the town, past the small
houses of the outskirts, and struck
out for the country. His face was
tranquil, but Martha, stealing a glance
from the corner of her eye, noticed
that the hand which moved the levers
trembled. She herself could not have
spoken had her life depended on it.
On they sped, over the country road
now running beside a scampering
brook, now leaving it while they pass.
ed through patches of woodland, cool
and sweet. The way was familiar to
them both, it had been favorite route
for the drives of the early summer
Finally, at one of the wooded places
DR.. Jeffries' energy seemed to relax
The car slowed down, and for the first
time its driver turned and looked into
the face of the girl beside him.
"Are you really here?" he asked
slowly, cor is it all a dream?"
Martha laughed softly. cts q
Dream she answered, with a saucy
CLEAN in her eye.
Then l hope / may never wake
up!" calculated the doctor. fervently
ct is pleasant Dream" agreed
Martha. amiably, -r-1.yssrs,,n-
tits heavenly" Then, after @
pause, Now tell me what part Of the
dream is the hint that Jerome Holden
gave me that you and he were prac
tically engaged"
ooh, he didn't really, did he? The
coward. Oh, l could almost
words failed her.
Then" persisted the doctor, eager
ly, that hideous nightmare has nc
place in-our dream"
mo place at ALL" steadily.
DR.. Jeffries brought the car to sud
den stop, turned 1t around, and began
to hasten back to town with all the
motors power.
why, what are you going to do?'
! asked Martha, In surprise.
I'm going to take you home, where
I hope to be invited into the house
I've some things to say before I wake
up. Besides, can a man drive car
and do-anything else?" demanded
DR.. Paul Jeffries.