The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-08-25

ding that l had no emotion or care con-
cerning the welfare of my family.
As | lay listlessly resting, for 1 had
indeed found rest, l could often hear
that sweet and solemn promise, 'Tll
which so often attuned itself
to melody during that spell of indispo-
sition that it grew to be with me an in
ward song Of gladness. gave neither
thought nor heed to the bitter fact that |
the explanation for which hoped and !
looked would always avail me naught. |
So anxious was to prove the innocence
of my hearts secretly cherished idol
that no thought of self or of my hopeless
bondage gave me concern or pang.
1 longed to ask DR.. Armstrong the
question which intuitively knew that
he could answer, but my state Of peace
was so satisfactory that l dreaded to
break the spell.
was able to sit before the fire when
John came home. He had been, for a
wonder, unsuccessful in his hunting ex-
pedition. The long exposure in the wet
and cold had made him rheumatic, and
he was visibly displeased when he
found me bolstered in a chair and
and treated as an invalid. The doctor
was out engaged in doing the chores,
but master Ben. soon told my lord oil
his visit. which seemed in no way to
reconcile his mind to the fact that l,
his staff and stay, was being coddled
and nursed by an old friend, who had
assumed prerogative that my own
father never would have thought to
take.
As he sat before the fire, dogged and
sullen, drying the water from his mud
bespattered and repulsive apparel,
watchingme furtively as ! sat languidly
reclining in the rough armchair, kind
of liant or indescribable intuition
beamed across my brain, and l
seemed to grow in a sort of rapport with
circumstances which revealed to me
that John Smith knew of some dark
deed which he felt that l must never
learn. Hastily banishing the thought
as something too horrifying to be in
dulged moment, / commenced con-
versing with my husband upon COM
mon-place topics, which only elected
from him such terse, absent and curt
replies as confirmed my worst suspi-
, cions.
"Judithr' said he hoarsely, rising t.
his feet and looking at me with such ;
I gaze of agony as pray God 1 ma!
never behold again, OTIS no use fightin
against fatel I never had any right Z
YOU, 5y ginger! I've been a might,
sight meaner man than I ever wante
d, YOU to think l was, but the jig's up
Kiss and hug me, Win. and Min, an
A. then I'm of, and LET Doc. Armstrong g
to thunderw / think / did not for
moment clearly comprehend that h
was gone. But as gazed after him i
the deep cleaning a wall Of pity an
10 despair escaped me, which the doctC
overheard as he came leisurely up I'll
It kitchen steps with his pail of milk.
IN "Pa's gone off, and he said you migl
90 TO thunderr ~ said master Ben.
is For my life I could not have spokel
The shadow of great darkness owe
'' came me, and I swooned and fel
III When consciousness returned / -four
myself bolstered up on the lounge b
Sc fore the fire, where 1 passed the nigl
in a bewilderment of doubt and drei
ss and fear. The storm-king was in a pc
80 feet rage of fury through the livelor
night. How 1 pitied the poor, mi
VI guided fugitive, the father of my chi
dren, who was exposed to the fury
VI the elements on the awful night, al
whose crime, though innately guessed
could not inquire into, it would be in
possible TO say.
rs For few days I seemed to hover b
tween life and death, but the necessi
IT, of some rational action for the benefit
a my dependent family did much
rouse me to life and vigor, and in we
was able to resume many of n
household duties.
One thing surprised me much. II
in gossiping neighbors who had profess
he to be my warmest friends no longer VI
g tied the house. At first did not noti
this, but as the days wore on | began
wonder that they did not come.
a One day Winnie, now tall girl
N fourteen, came bursting into the sittil
ID room where 1 was busily at work al
bs exclaimed vehemently, ~ wish we we
v all dead II do so And wish old 1
,n Armstrong was at the bottom of t
of oceanr'
as ''why, Minnie! what does Il
he mean?" was my amazed inquiry.
n 81 mean the people are telling orj
lies on you, mother They say that Y
u- never made pa a good wife, and that
,or came home one day and found that Y
had taken up with an old doctor, and
lc- felt so bad he left home for goodl G
nd mother! 1 can't repeat the horril
re- things they say about your and {
he poor, dear child sobbed rs if her hei
by would break.
by "Never mind them, darling.n "