The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-11-10

moved mechanically around the house
and only longed to die.
Another letter from William Snyder
was brought me by the evening post,
and contained the following:
ais it possible that have worked and
waited all these years to find that you
are fdlse9 o, Judith the one hope of
my blighted life .-are these things so?
In my heart of hearts L cannot doubt
you, but unless you give me word or
token by which l may feel that you are
pure and true, l cannot see you, but will
go away and finish up my life upon the
earth alone"
'My first emotion was a feeling of Bit
ter Indignation, that if obeyed would
have prompted me to ruin my last
earthly prospect by sharp reply. But
sober second thought brought reason to
my aid and made me answer, "Come.
Your Judith is as true as steel"
Two days passed quietly away, drag
ging their monotonous lengths along,
without excitement or incident to ripple
the surface of the summer calm. No
body visited me; nobody seemed to care
for me. My poor sister was my fiercest
enemy, and her bitterness wrung from
me many a sarcastic thought.
/ made vigorous preparation for an
early visit to my Pacific home.
The calm, summer evening was ra-
diant and glorious. Birds trilled their
evening roundelays and katydids kept
up their grand monotony. Bells chimed
in the distance, carriages rolled through
the avenues, pedestrians fingered in the
quiet walks. Everything seemed happy
but myself Why did not my lover
come?
l left the parlOr, entered the latticed
porch and sat me down to wait. Oh! for
years and years my heart had learned
over and over again this trying lesson,
lUdH
The deep shadows of the vines formed
a retreat of welcome darkness, and my
black robe gave little outline of my fig
ure in the silent gloom.
A kind of hazy, mellow light illumin-
ated my retreat. l looked up eagerly,
expecting to see the usual apparition OF
a beautiful face with beaming eyes and
long white beard.
The face indeed was there, and so as
well was the tall form and actual pres
ence Of the lover of my youth.
"Judithv'
"Williamr'
l will not reveal our further inter
change of inward thought. Such facts
are sacred only as they are kept securely
guarded from the public eye. Again
say, as l said in reference TO the sweet
hour of communion, when, in our youth
and hope and inexperience, we held
council together beneath the stars: ''Sa'
cred forever in my heart of hearts are tho
sweet words which the true soul of love
can coin"
The silvery tinkle of MIinnie's harp
the decided result of the touch of Win
MES fingers upon the piano keys, Benz
flute and Freddy's childish voice wer'
heard i'm union.
''Won't you come to the parlor and SCI
my pets ?' / said.
1 could see that William Snyder pain
fully reeoiled.
care they-the children-much lik
their-like-John Smith?n
II trust they inherit what good wa
in him." 1 answered, firmly. ''They ar
beautiful, sensible and noble boys an
girls, and unless you can learn to Low
them as know they will love you, tn
, cup of happiness must be dashed il
pieces at my feet My children are no
responsible for their existence, and the
} must never be made to feel that thei
interests are a secondary consideration
either with you or me-"
"Right! Judith, as you always are
he answered earnestly. 81 will forge
Z that they are John Smiths children
| Yours only shall they be, and mine"
left him sitting in the alcove an
went in to meet my flock.
"Children," said I, trying to spea
composedly, but my voice was husky an
1 tremulous, "are you ready to see Il
e man who, long before you were born, b
came your mothers husband ?"
> Mother, yesr' was the unanimol
u reply, and in the little, bright and COS
I parlor, where the worlds cold eyes cou
not see us or the tongue of scandal m
: our happiness, we had a grand reunio
and all Joined in singing "Home, swe
home"
To a late hour We all fingered thu
and when at parting William Snyd
o assured us that he would examine Il
records and see if the divorce had real
been granted in the by-gone years as n
u mother had said, felt that as fami
II NV husband, self and children we
: united, and my spirit rose in silent gr'
l. itude TO commune with the great Faith
le who doeth all things well.
TO be cOnfinued.)
Mrs. NJ. F. Butts is said to be the on
- aW