The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-10-27
CHAPTER XXTv

CHAPTER XIV.
4 few evenings after the scene lust de-
scribed, again strolled out into the
grove Of naples, whittier was wont to
repairwhen holding silent and sweet, vet
sad and solemn, communings with my
inmost heart. Suddenly the sounds of
whispered conversation disturbed my
reverie. Instantly looking up, again
perceived DR.. Armstrong and his COM
panion, evidently engaged in earnest
discussion. Determined this time, if
possible, to. secure an explanation of
what I saw, I stepped hastily forward to
where they were sitting.
The Doctors companion arose and
hurried away, but felt, from the mag
netic condition of the surrounding at
mosphere, that he could be no other per-
son than DR.. Gordon, upon whose ac-
count 1 was fast losing the strongest at
tribute Of my nature, my innate self-re-
spect.
"Let him that thinketh he standeth
take heed lest he fallu'
What good monitor whispered these
important words Of warning? Certain
it is 7 seemed to hear them, and they
nerved my soul to strength.
'Judith Reidu' said DIR. Armstrong,
timidly, "this is no fit place for you!
Why are you there alone at this hour?
Whom did you expect to meet?D
al
to come and choose to exercise the right,
expected to meet none but the Creator
who stretcheth out the heavens as s
span. ! came here to commune Will
Him"
The Doctors companion wrapped hi
heavy cloak about his face and disap
peared in the black shadows of tn,
moon-lit grove.
''By what right do you transgress upOI
my grounds?n / continued. "You
companion fees at my approach an'
you proceed to arraign me as a criminal
guilty of some fragrant misdemeanOT
DR.. Armstrong; did not look for thi
from you! What does all this mean -
Judith Reid I command you to lis
ten to me- Have 1 not sought YOU
highest good? Did I not follow you t.
your northwestern home and snatch yor
from the degradation Of drudgery am
the very jaws of death?"
''There was no degradation in the fac
that earned an honest livelihood an
would gladly welcome the ferociou
Jaws Of death tonight! DIR. Arm
strong, what motives prompted you
seek me out? By whose connivan'
was my early wOmanhOod so bad
warped? Why was made the victi
of such awful circumstances >"
"God knows / never meant to har
you, Judith. have taken the deepe
interest in all that pertains to you ev
since l found you, many years ago,
cry prey to your own morbid faneies al
a victim of unappreciation and povert
Do you remember that I then saved yo
life?n
''Would to God that you had let L
die" Iwailed, as I fell to my knees up'
the dew-beleweled grass and poured o
my spirit in prayer of silent agony.
The Doctor was moving away as
glad to escape from my presence.
"StOpl 1 implore your entreated.
''This is no time for further discussio
my poor, frightened child To-morr,
/ will visit you and see what can
done. Ny daughter says YOU comic,
plate an early return to the Paci
coast"
There was a sort Of relief in hrs va
as he uttered these last words. wbi
caused me TO feel that he would be Y,
glad to get rid Of me. A suspicion I
for some time been vaguely gather
form and substance in my brain-a
of intuition that led one to feel t
this man knew more about my ca
misfortune than he cared to unveil.
''Never will leave this city," sal
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