The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-04-19
CHAPTER XVI

Ziek HamiltOn's heart was touched.
Never before had he been frightened
about the precarious state of Sarah's
health. And now, as he stood bending
over her, with look of intense solicit
tude changing every Iineament of his
fishy features into an expression of con-
cern and tenderness, the long dormant
better side of his humanity was reused,
and he called her by the old girl name
in soothing, gentle tones.
Then, turning to one of the barefoot,
uncouth brood of sun-browned, sturdy
boys, he directed him to go for Aunt
Betsey, Ellen and her husband, and
send Jacob Graham to the village for
DR.. Goff.
The setting sun was tipping the ma
pie forest with tinge of splendor, light
ing up the fieeey clOudlets in the eastern
sky and shedding a pale halo of glory
over lawns and eOrnfelds.
Ellen DOwd, arousing from her stu
por, sat in an easy chair beside Aunt
Betsey's window, toying with her trans
parent hands and drinking in the quiet
beauty of the rural scenes, when hel
nephew arrived, all breathless from hi
haste, and proclaimed the news of Saral
HamiltOn's sudden hemorrhage.
81 thank Thee, oh my Godr' said Fl
len, fervently.
Her husband knelt at her feet, as
founded.
''Ellen, darling, are you erazy?"
"Crazy, Peter? Nog am happy I
realize that my poor, enslaved sistC
stands with her blistered feet upon tn
portal of eternal freedom; that the don
ination of her stupid master will 500
cease forever, and that the carking car
oflife are left behind her. Let us go
her" and starting up with renewe
strength and yigor she began to mai
preparation for the short journey to h'
sisters home.
Jacob Grahamis two-horse wagon W:
placed at their disposal, and Aunt Be
sey, Peter, Ellen and the nephew d
parted for poor Sarah's home, while III
Gle Jacob, mounting another horse, roo
of in quest of DIR. Goff.
Ellen continued in a placid, ferver
hopeful mood, and yielding herself
old time memories, gazed with abstra
tion upon every object along the shad
road with which, in her early childhoo
she had been familiar.
Crossing the ford below the foot-lc
they came out in full view of the Nc
lected graves Of Ellen's parents a
the tumbling down old cabin hol
where she had, for the first time, oper
her wondering eyes upon the fiiekeri
uncertain light OF a primitive sau
lamp and gazed upon the most squa
poverty which the mature imaginat
can conceive.
The moon had risen, and was cast
pale glory over the sloping landsca
The maple tree that stood near
rough chimney, which was the objec
Ellen's particular veneration in
childhood, had acquired much increa
proportions, and as it spread its emer
foliage in the mild spring air cast
shadows of blackness upon the sw
below, and throwing grotesque figu
upon the mOss-grown roof of the cal
from which a screeeh owl sent fo
warning notes, she ferventIy exclain
'My eyes have seen the full frnitio,
long cherished dreams. I have II
long enough! Dear Aunt Betsev.
me diepp
"Why, honey, whoever heard Of :
a thing? Die, indeed, when YOUR
sister is at the pint O. death, an,
the only blood relation, 'cept old 2
TO look after the house full of yo
ones. You have more to live for I
anybody else know Off
The horses were urged onward by
ter Dowd, who, in his anxiety to n
the scene of suffering, evidently fel