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


ing anxiously up the highway, appeared
in the limpid moonlight.
The cabin was rs still as death, except
that, as they entered, the feeble wailing
Of a fretful infant of six months struck
upon EIlen's soul like the wierd notes of
a funeral dirge.
A tallow candle shed n siekly light
through the shabby room; and sitting
beside the bed, whereon the scarcely
breathing form of the half conscious
sufferer lay, sat poor Ziek Hamilton, q
sad victim OF his own false notions of
life, himself at last reaping the bitter
reward OF his own mistakes in his pros
pective bereavement.
Aunt Betsey, with motherly solicit
tude for suffering infancy, which her
fast increasing infirmity in no way di-
minished, went quietly to the cradle
and began cooling softly to the wailing
babe.
Ellen, speechless with cOntending
emotions, took seat beside the bed
head and planted a fervent kiss upon
her dying sisters brow, as she lay
breathing audibly, while at short inter
walls her gurgling life blood came froth-
ing from her throat.
Sarah, evidently with much effort
aroused herself to consciousness.
"Sister," she whispered, "you are just
in time. I've lain here for many weary
weeks, wondering if you wouldn't come
and be mother to my babes. Pm ready
to die now. But remember what 1 tel
you, darling-don't you ever get mar
ried."
A deep blush suffused poor Ellen:
face, and bending over her sister she
whispered, half audibly, "Your admoni-
ton comes too late, my darling. I am
married already, but will do my best
for you and yours"
"Hope is dead, then, sister, for a wife
has no right TO life, liberty or happiness
unless her husband wills it. What
made you get married, dear?"
'I was compelled to marry; but don't
worry about me. All will soon be well
with us. Have you any message to be-
queath to your children?"
81 have a sort of diary. You viii find
it under the pillow. have written il
at intervals during many years. If il
contains anything which you think the
world would be the better or wiser fol
seeing, you may do with it as seems
best to you. AT any rate, show it tc
my daughters as they grow older"
Several moments of exhaustion fol
lowed, and the patient sufferer agaiI
opened her eyes.
"Aunt Betsey, are you here 81
The good old woman tottered forward
bearing the now quiet infant in he
mOtherly embrace.
''What dye want, honey ?" she asked
sobbingly.
81 want to thank you for your low
Aunt Betsey. If it hadn't been for yO
1 should have died long ago. You'N
been my more than mother. Help f
len to take care of my poor childrel
will you?"
Aunt Betsey did not answer, bl
clasping the dying woman's hand, 81
sat beside her, the image Of despair.
} Soon Uncle Jacob came in sight, a
companied by DIR. Goff. The bevy
: hounds, that had been absent on a hu
r when the other friends arrived, we
now at home, and rushing out pell-m'
) upon the new comers, made din al
= racket that Jared discordantly on t
: air in the death chamber.
: 'T'm glad I'll soon be out of heari
e of those hounds" whispered Sara
'PThey've annoyed me all my life"
, Ziek Hamilton aroused himself fro
o his apparent lethargy and, going o.
: commanded the beasts TO be quiet. j
d to Ellen the bay of a hound never af
!, lost its sad remembrances.
DIR. Golf looked inquiringly at ELI
8 somewhat contemptuously at her b.
: band, and anxiously at the closed e!
ID and pallid lips Of the dying woman.
lie ''Alrs. Hamilton, Sarah, do you KIN
ID me?'
G, "fes, Doctor. 1 thank you for co
er ing to see me die" and sweet sn
i'd lit up her emaciated features and pla,
on over them like dream Of ecstacy.
''Can do anything for you2i
ng ''Yes, you can promise me to co
,e. sometimes to visit Ellen and Ziek .
he the children. That's all. / don't su
of any more"
er After this the dying woman gradu;
ed sunk away into complete unconsciC
Id ness. Throughout the long hours of
ng night she lay breathing Tranquil
I'd while her large family of ten child
-es were sleeping like litters of pigs, u
m, piles of bedding in the cabin loft,
tn Ellen Dowd was calmly reposing by
d. sisters side, with all the Others keel
of silent vigil.
ed Morning, with her bright spring
LET shine and clear, limpid air, arose U
the earth. Just as the slanting
ch beams entered the low, patched win
Dor panes and kissed the sunken eheel
-ou the unconscious sufferer, her spirit
elk, its flight, leaving the rent body
ing and motionless, yet beautiful eve
ian its total wreck of health and vigor.
Ziek Hamilton's faculties were
Pc nigh paralyzed. Ellen, who had
aeh porarily forgotten her morbid int
no in herself at sight Of so much other