The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-08-18
CHAPTER XVI.

In the quiet grave they made him
beside my mother and near my child
my father long has slept. The deep in
Jury to myself of which he confessed
himself guilty but a short time before
his death, left my mind in maze of
conflicting emotions.
There 1 was, bound for life by dis
tasteful union TO a man for whom my
soul felt intense lcathing, and this, too,
through the unwarranted cupidity and
duplicity of my misguided father.
"Ohl loathe these bondsr' my spirit
would often wall; but 1 saw no possi-
biIity of relief or loOphole for escape
from a bondage far more fearful than
the bondage of death.
For a year after my fathers decease 1
kept on with my school, my health
gradually failing as my labors increased,
until my daily life seemed lingering
suicide.
Ny children gradually grew up from
babyhood, and my family cares were
consequently lessened. John ceased to
exercise control over my earnings, and
1 gradually added many embellishments
to our rude cabin home, which rendered
the place more attractive.
NY brother had finished a college
course and was installed in one of the
northwestern cities in a lucrative prae-
tice in his chosen profession. Some
times he would spend a summer vaca-
tion Of a month or so in our lOg-cabin,
for the purpose Of resting from his
labors and being fed and waited upon
by myself during the recruiting sea-
son. but he never for one moment con-
sidered that ], too, needed vacation.
Often when l looked at his stalwart
frame and handsome features did men-
tally compare his lot Of ease, both of
mind and body, with my own routine
of physical and bTain-wearing eXertion.
But no one noticed this except myself /;
so / worked on, taught on, struggled on,
until it seemed that a day Of rest would
never come.
John Smith, my natural protectOr(D,
saw such constant need of my protracted
exertiOns in teaching school that he
grew mOrose and melancholy whenever
school was closed for week. He inter
ested himself every week in examining
the exact state of my finances, but ut
terly failed to see the necessity of earn
ing anything for himself
Business was thus going on, my
strength daily failing and my life
apparently drifting away through ex-
cess of work, when one day a stranger
with heavy beard, broad shoulders, grey
hair and shaggy eyebrows, presented
himself at the school room door. The
room was crowded with students, and
the miserable, misty rain was falling in
a doleful way, while the damp air
chilled my vitals whenever I came in
contact with its vapor-laden currents.
Dread of the advent of a stranger who
would expect food and lodging was the
only emotion which the strangers adj
vent excited. Motioning him forward
among the restless and curious children,
L gave him my seat near the rusty
stove, where a fire of wet logs was vain
ly endeavoring to warm and dry itself
into feeble blaze.
After a few unsuccessful attempts to
renew the fire 1 gave up in desna;r
my strength having utterly failed 10
accomplish the disagreeable task. The
stranger spoke cheerfully and i'm q ,oioo
that sounded strangely familiar, and
asked if l would allow him to build
the fire.
Certainly" was the reply, "and
am very glad of the assistance"
LeiSurely taking a large knife
rom his capacious pocket, he began
cutting splints from the sodden wood.
1ilA-tef y