The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-11-24
cHAPTER XVIII.

CHAPTER xviii
Alone we wandered through the fiut-
tering corn. Thorns and thistles grew
up in the burrows. Tangled vines over
Tapped each other in their luXuriant
growth and great golden-yellow pump
kins showed their shining sides at inter
walls, while around the thrifty corn
stalks well laden bean vines clung,
promising, all together, a bounteous
harvest for the prudent husbandman.
Pursuing our way with difficulty
through this wilderness Of vegetation,
we at last reached the clearing, where
hundreds of acres were covered with
stumps, cord-wood and sawlogs, through
which we made our way to the place
where once the Falls and my dear Fairy
Bower We're TO me as living, thinking
companions, with whom had so often
whiled away the fieeting days.
AS the patient reader who has thus
far followed me is well aware, no vestige
of the old and hallowed scenes remained;
but, to my surprise and disappointment,
my husband did not seem astonished or
grieved.
Now I hate crying people. They are
generally nervous, fretful, peevish no
bodies, who make everybody uncom-
Portable who is so unfortunate as to be
thrown in their company. But my the
ory in this instance was quite different
from my practice, for I threw myself
upon the grass and burst into an uncOn
trollable fit Of weeping. William STOOD
a while intently watching me and theT
began pacing up and down the path a
if in earnest thought
"Gome, Judith, childu' he said, a
length, sit saddens me to see yoI
yield to grief like this. But, after all,
do not wonder that it should be so.
have often been here during the pas
year and have, of course, become aceus
toned to the present state of things"
"Why, William" said I, wonderingly
sis it possible that you were acquainte
with these changes before you came her
to-day? ?"
'I ought to be, my dear This mill
my property"
''Oh, William! have yOU then permit
ted this devastation, this awful desecra
tion of this sacred spot?"
''No, my poor Judith. This propert.
became mine a very short time ago.
bought it for the sake of Olden memorie
and to make you a present. viii you aC
cept ?' and he placed a deed in m,
hands as he spoke, which proved to be
title to the sole possession and owner
ship Of the ''Gibbon Mill property"
"Words Of mine cannot repay YOU
dearest"
Nonsense, Judith l do not requir
pay; besides, we are one, you know, an
what is yours is mine"
''Then why did you give this dee
wholly in my name?"
Because, under existing laws, yo
as a married woman, are compile
nonentity, and cannot legally hold joil
property with myself A married wOT
an may not go into business co-partne
ship with her own husband"
'But I trust you entirely, my mob
husband / did not need this token
your regard"
81 did not say you did, my dear; but
do say that while the laws of this :
called free Republic recognize the hu
band and wife as one, and that one Il
husband, good men will screen the
wives from the possible consequences
such a law
''But what shall be done with 6'
men who never see this injustice, exec
TO take undue advantage of it?"
Nothing can be done, except
change the laws and usages so til
woman may become a pecuniarily a
politically responsible being; and, un
the laws are so modified 1 nerer &c
hold one dollars worth of real estate
''But suppose such an improbal
thing should occur as that should ia
advantage Of your generosity. H,
could you get redress ?'
81 have considered all that, Judi
and I reason thus: If either of us is en-
tied in justice to pecuniary advanta
over the other, it should be the wife a
mother, whose helplessness should
her lawful shield against the possibil
of want. Therefore, am resolved Il
my wife shall be protected in her in