The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-03-22

tate. Yet, after all, 1 do not know but
that it is best that you should be settled
in mind as TO who shall be your hus-
band. 1t will prevent many wild fan
cies and cause you to settle down like
good, sensible woman"
Grandmother, do you love me?" The
question was earnest, impassioned, al
mort pitiful.
"Certainly, darling; far better than
my own existence"
"Then beg that you will never more
attempt to mock me by cruel jest about
my coming fate"
az did not mean to mock or jest, my
dear"
"well, don't talk any more about it,
then. Let me enjoy my present freedom
in peace"
The old lady sighed and made no fur
ther comment
Old Betty, the gentle, patient animal
that for near n quarter of a century had
been on hand at the barn-yard for every
emergency, was soon saddled by Ellen's
dextrous hands, and off went the twain,
with Grundy trotting by their side, as
though personally responsible for the
safety and good behavior of the creatures
in his charge.
The road lay through a rocky defile,
where the grand old woods, arrayed in
all the gorgeous glory of the full-ripe
autumn, sighed in solemn happiness. \
squirrel nimbly ran across the road, and
Grundy, giving chase, soon drove it into
tree.
"Now, if l had my gunw Then,
quickly recOllecting her resolve, she
added, ''No, never will take another
life in wantonness. That squirrel crossed
the road in front of me. Aunty Harris
would say that such an incident augured
bad luck. What a silly, superstitious
notion! But, dear me, yonder goes a
deeri There, it's bounded across the
roadl More signs of bad luck. Back,
Grundy, backI What a splendid garb
of brown red fur you have donned for
the autumn, you nimble, fleet-footed
darling There, it's disappeared in the
bushes! Up, Betty! Wen not get to
town very soon at this gait"
Thus Ellen sOliloquized, unconscious
that a sudden storm had risen in the
south and west, that was now over
spreading the very zenith. The coming
darkness and nearby growing thunder
awakened her from her reverie, and Wig
orOusly applying the whip, she out-rodt
the storm, and dashed into the village
and up to the intelligence Office, where
a boy took charge of her steed and hur.
ried away, just as enormous hail stone:
began to burst i'm pieces on the pave
ment as they came crashing down.
A man with a shining bald crown
which somehow disagreeably reminded
her Of another shining pate, which she
resolutely struggled to forget, stood at &
high, dingy desk, with pen behind hi:
ear. Another man, of not very prepos-
sessing appearance as to either dress Ol
address, lounged in an Office chair and
chewed an enormous quid of tobacco
from which he every few seconds col
lected an accumulation of filth, which
he elected into box half full of stencil
and saw-dust.
For few moments the falling, crash
ing hail stones deadened every Other
sound, but the violence of the storm wa:
soon over, and Ellen was able to make
known her errand.
"Sir," addressing the melancholy maT
with the shining pate, 81 want to hire {
farm hand-one who knows all about
the chores on well kept, well-ordereC
farm, where apples are to be gathered
cows milked, fences repaired, and 81
on"
The melancholy man grinned a ghast
ly smile.
"Are you farmer, Miss? ,"
''That is not your business, sir. Car
you furnish such a man as 1 require?"
Fortunately you are just in time
Here is a man who wants employment
You can make your own terms will
him.
"Sir," turning to the stalwart, broad
shouldered fellow, whose vital force
were rapidly oozing out with his saliva
'are you thorough-going, scientifi'
farmer?"
AZ guess / be, Miss. don't know m
other business except farmin' an team
in"
"Can you give a certificate of honest.
and capability?n
"Nobody ever asked such a certificat.
of me, Miss. 1 have these big broa'
hands and shoulders. can do anything
that's needed, but 1 don't want to b
bossed by a woman. BE you the boss 81
'Yes, sir"
WELL then, guess won't suit.n
'Nery well. 1 can do the work my
, self"
, "Du tell! but you are gritty! CUES
I'll try it, Jest fur luck"
81 presume you wouldn't suit me
sir.n
at is your only show, ma'am," sal
| the melancholy man. ''The Califoni
[ and Oregon excitement has taken off al
. the surplus men,"
"What are your terms, sir?''
t twenty-five dollars a month throug
the winter an my horse KEEP. I'll wor