The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-09-27
CHAPTER XIII

We viii pass over the three following
weeks in the city, which were spent in
amusements Of various kinds, aud meet
the Hewitts once more at their summer
home.
IL is the lovely month of MAY again,
and as blooming as when We first intro
dueed our friends 10 the reader Yes.
the bright sun has again warmed the
earth and caused it to bring forth and
blossom, thus to please the eve and
charm the heart Of mankind How
Kind is our Creator, thus to diversity
the seasons; for We're they always fair
and beautiful, We should not be able to
appreciate them, but would consider
them nothing more than right and
what we deserve, when alas poor NOR
tails! We are deserving Of nothing. But
after the cold and ofttimes dreary win
ter, We look forth to the return Of
spring with joyful emotions, and feel
an inward thankfulness rs we gaze upon
its budding beauties and enhale its soul
reviving breezes. Thus it was with
our fair young friends, who were assem-
bled upon the sloping lawn at the back
Of Colonel Hewitt's mansion.
The Colonel and his lady sat upon the
yerandah, gazing with pride and effec-
tion upon their graceful and blooming
daughter as she fitted TO and fro among
her guests, herself the loveliest Of all.
There was but one thing wanting to
make their joy complete, and that was
the presence of their son, from whom
they were expecting a letter daily.
Blanche was reclining upon a little
lounge, drawn out expressly for her, for
she was daily growing weaker, though
the fresh spring breezes had famed her
brow, and was unable to participate in .
the merry games OF which she had once
been so fond. She had therefore re-
mained TO keep Mrs. Hewitt company,
as she watched the others enjoy them
selves.
a few young people Of the neighbor-
hood had met together at SOnora's invi-
tation to celebrate n May festival, and
among them were Andrew Golfer and
Claude Montrose, who were rusticating
at a farmhouse but a short distance
from the ColonePs.
But who is that handsome young ma
val officer whose blue coat and bright .
brass buttons cause the hearts of some F.
Of the country lassies to fiutter? Let us
introduce him as the nephew of Colonel I
Hewitt, Lieutenant Robert Hewitt He
has accepted the cordial invitation of
his relatives to spend the summer with
them.
All were present who had been in
vited save Clarence Pierpont.
Though a true and upright Christian,
and bearing no malice within his man.
ly heart still he could not forget the in
suit which had been heaped upon him
enough to again become guest beneath
the roof with one who had scorned his
poverty, resolving either to become
equal in wealth before he placed him
self in the way Of temptation or never
again enter its portals. And who of
our readers blame him? Was he not
right? Though a minister Of the Cos
pei, he was but human, and subject to
the same passions as his brethren.
Having heard the details of SonOra's
unfortunate betrothal to Norman Burke
and its termination, rs well rs the
change in Mrs. Hewitt's feelings, he
had written to Sonora, informing her
that he still remained the same as ever,
and stating that if all he had heard had
been misrepresented and she was true
to him still, TO answer his letter and let
him know her feelings. He received an
answer i'm return from her, which not
only contained the joyful intelligence
that her heart had never deyfated from
its first choice, but also that she had re-
eeived her parents full sanction to their
union when he should become settled.
and informing him also OF the hanpv
change in her mothers opinion of him.
Upon the reception Of this epistle,
which found him still at the Stuarts',
Clarence had returned South with the
bright beam Of Hope once more within
his breast Consequently Sonora had
not the pleasure Of his society on this
festal day nor Mrs. Hewitt the oppor-
tunity,Of telling him her full apprecia-
ton Of his generous conduct
Within the few weeks which we have
been absent from our friends in the city,
Claude and Cordelia had made rapid
progress in each others affections, and
it was not until he asked her hand in
marriage that Cordelia began to think
OF what she was doing. Then came the
thought, "What will mother say ." As
yet Mrs. Marsh was almost in ignor-
ance OF affairs.
As the day had been spent in out
door amusements, the evening was TO
be spent in the house, where old grand
pa and grandma Marsh, with their
daughter-in-law, were invited TO mar
take OF the sumptuous supper that had
been provided for the occasion.
Claude who had been uncommonlv
attentive to Cordelia during the whole
day, was now nowhere to be found i,s,
as the evenings entertainment began
and when his society was missed the
most.
Andrew Golfer, who seemed rathe,
glad Of Claude's absence than otherwise