The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-03-29
an! Leave the room! I'll ring for you
when you are wanted"

W y
Once alone in his chamber, the old
man moved the carefully shaded lamp
so as throw the light in full glare upon
his pillow and proceeded to read the let
ter. Deep groans and Kisses occasionally
escaped him, but he read on to the end,
and then, as if nerved with superhuman
strength, he arose from his couch, which
for many weeks he had not left without
the aid of his strong hired man, and GO
ing to the CRATE, thrust the manuscript
between the bars. He then tottered
back to the bed and, falling heavily
upon it, broke forth in piteous walls Of
anguish.
"Lost! Ruinedi Undonep he ejacu-
lated, wringing his hands and trembling
in every limb.
Mrs. Darcy stood listening at the
chamber door, her heart beating in aud
ible thumps and feeling Of impatient
desire to rush to her husbands bedside
almost overpowering her.
Clasping the little casket, the old man
proceeded to open it, and taking there
from a lot of costly jewels, held them
between his eyes and the light.
"Ha! ha! ha! These are grand in
deed. Just the things to captivate a
maiden! Wife, wife, come herew
Glad indeed to hear the summons,
Mrs. Darcy was instantly at his side.
"See, mother! see what a lot Of costly
jewels Don't you think Ellen will be
willing to marry Killingsworth imme-
diately if she can by so doing command
such jewels as these?"
"Does the man ask marriage of her,
father?" and the poor old lady stood
shaking as if in an ague fit.
"Ask it,womani He demands it! She
must marry him, or We will all be driven
out of doors. He has me in his power
played high games with him. lost.
He won. We are all in his power, and
nothing but the sacrifice of that poor
child can keep a roof over the stricken
heads of the D'Arcys."
"Do you then really consider it a sac
rifice for Ellen darcy to marry that
man ?"
''Did 1 ever say that thought it was
anything else, woman? That man had
me in his power, or should have never
thought of making such bargain. You
thought / was crazy. tods mad, but
not from the cause you mention. 1t
was because could not help myself"
"My precious husband, let me be your
counsellor. Perhaps there is some loop
hole of escape"
"You know nothing about it, woman;
nothing at all, tell you. I lost heavily
at the gaming table"
80, my husband! Anything but
thatn' and the poor, stricken wife bowed
her head in her wrinkled hands and
shuddered. Then, as if a new idea gave
her courage, she exclaimed, Gambling
debts are not legal ones! He cannot
compel you to pay such a debt! But oh,
how could you"-
"Hush, / say! rve suffered enough
already, and will not bear reproach from
you. borrowed money to pay debts o.
honor, and that man is my surety. He
will cancel all my obligations if viii
cede to him the whole of the darcy
possessions and with them the jewel o
my heart, my darling Ellen"
"But in that event what would be
come of HsF
1--WE would remain here with ou
child"
"And him! o, fatherr'
81 tell you that we must endure il
wife"
"But how did you come to get int
such habits, dear? You know 1 neve
could have believed it possible that yo
would be guilty of such conduct if yo
hadn't told me so yourself"
''You don't know anything about tn
temptations that surround a politician
wife. 1 was induced to play in the effoI
to win money to carry out some yer
important schemes. was at first sue
cessful, and then luck went against me.
"As it always does"
'Yes, YES, as it always does. 1 migll
have known it, but then you were nc
. with me, wife. A man is often but
baby i'm his efforts to resist temptatio
when he is alone. You won't despis
: me, will you?"
"Despise the lover of my youth, IL
y husband of my lifetime, the father
my child? Oh, husband, you don
: know what you are saying when yc
r ask me such question:"
The poor man wept like an infant.
}, "Can Ellen, won't you ~ he asked,
length.
e "Why, father, it is almost midnigl
r Let the poor child sleep"
4 But Ellen had heard all. She had e
tered unperceived, and stood crouehil
A behind the heavily eurtained bed VIII
the confession was being made, a
now, hearing her name called, she sly
e disappeared, and rushing through t
r corridor and groPing in the darkne
v through the wintry air, while the 10
winds tolled out the walls OF the stol
}, spirits, she gained her chamber al
hurriedly unrobing, sought refuge
!, tween the ice-cold sheets, where, shiv'
e ing like a frightened deer, she lay un
; morning, without for an instant losi
herself in sleep.
V The D'Areys were not early risers, |
u Ellen this morning was astir bef'
1t daylight. Cropping her way to
=, - '.,,,,,yisad IN find Hen