The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-09-15

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moral right to liberty, and that il was
therefore impossible to save her from
herself, and seeing this, 1 wondered
that men, with all their wisdom, never
yet had learned that in the very matters
in which woman most severely needs
the protection of the law, she is left to
rely solely upon the biased judgment of
a weak, wounded, suffering, but affec-
tionate, forgiving and morbid heart.
''Dr. Armstrong; said passionately, |
as l mounted the marble steps, shak-
ing the drenched umbrella while
talked, and stamping resolutely in my
rage, "my sister Sarah's a consummate |
fool ~
'Well, well, what now?" following
me into the parlOr.
A hurried and indignant explanation
followed, winding up with my expressed
determination to wend my way back
to the Pacific coast at an early day,
clinching my assertion with doubly
emphatic $50, THEREOF
"Tm surprised that you didn't know
before to-day that a woman in love with
her husband would go down to the
depths of degradation with him. I've
seen so much of that kind of thing i'm
my time that / sometimes fear that
women never will be able to govern
themselves
''They are, at least, as capable of self
government as are the besotted wretches
whom they so often claim as husbands"
said Mrs. Lewis, quietly.
''Have you disposed of the epileptic
boys and idiotic girl as you anticipat-
ed?"
"No! l got so angry because my sis
ter sold her dress to buy that wretch of
a husband a jug of whisky that didn't
offer to do her family another favor"
"Judithr' was the reproachful an
swer, ~ gave you credit for more good
sense and magnanimity than this"
'I don't profess to be a saint" l re-
torted petulantly, but 1 didn't feel just
right over my ill-natured furry.
Ny daughters were in the music room
practicing a duet. Well as l liked mu-
sic, was in no frame of mind to bear it
then.
"Fifteen hundred of you! stop that
noisew 1 shouted, angrily.
az guess you're not much of saint !;
YOU re right about that Natter said Mrs.
Lewis, laughingly.
My daughters, who had long before
become accustomed to my fits of temper,
made sly, amused grimaces at each
other, and demurely folding their hands,
wheeled around with their backs to the
piano, and sat stock still, with the air of
patience on a monument.
DIR. Armstrong broke into an ungOv-
ernable fit of laughter. "You're the
same quaint, curious, unmanageable,
wild animal that 1 knew nearly forty
years ago." he said, finally.
II do wonder if you have just made
that discovery ?" 1 haughtily replied
ayes, and glad indeed am that I have
II. AAAt germ va , Jul AhAAAAAAN7
uous and singular childhood-nature
which long ago so deeply interested me
is yet alive. You are not the crushed
dispirited woman 1 have been taking
you for, but are amply able TO help your
self"
ayes, and I'll do il" was the quick
, response.
\ ring at the door-bell startled me
, Why was it that was forever looking
longing, expecting? Always waiting
for somebody that never, never came?
The visitor proved to be my friend o
newspaper notoriety, and his visit result
ed in an offer of what seemed a liberal re.
ward for my services as a writer for his
journal for the ensuing year.
"Your western brusquery is charming
Mrs. Smith. | only stipulatc that il
whatever you undertake to write, you
use your own terse, comprehensive, We
hement style. That suits me-"
So the bargain was made, and / fell
that | would henceforth be enabled t.
live Independently of my kind and gen
erous friends.
The day which had been so unpromis
ing and disagreeable eliminated in on,
of those delightful afternoons so deeply
appreciated by every lover of the beau
full and grand.
"Come, Judith, let's be off after you
sisters children. promised to tak'
them round to the asylum as soon as tn,
I weather should clear up. And, stay; i
you have anything that will mollify
your sadly insulted sister, better take il
along"
'I can't think of anything unless
buy a jug of whiskyr' said /, sarcas
tically.
judith, don't be a simpleton. You'v,
been victim to-day to the depressing
influence of the weather. Now let's Sc,
if you can't show as serene a face a
Madam Natures. / don't blame YOU
sister for getting liquor for her husband
Neither would you blame her if you un
derstOod the case. He might be reclaime,
if he were placed under confinement il
some hygienie home, but, as there is n,
law to compel him to go, his wife anC
children must endure the consequences. ,
My brother-in-law was in n heavy
drunken stupOr when we reached tn,
house. Sister received us coolly at first
but, as | had by this time recovered my
. / wOnted eouanimitv her rigidit,- nov,