The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-01-05

and motionless.
Bouncer barked, and somebody from
outside hallooed. Aunt Betsey's heart
gave a great thump of thankfulness.
She flew to the door, hastily undid the
fastenings and admitted DIR. Goff, whose
clothes We're dripping wet and freezing
rapidly. Bomeer entered, shook HIM
self before the fire and freed his shaggy
coat from an armor of fast forming lei
cles.
''The land o. mercy, Doctor! is this
you in this plight?"
DR.. Goff placed his fingers upon his
lips, enjOining silence.
"Aunt Betsey," said he, cheerfully,
"can't you give me some of Peters
clothes? 1 am too wet and cold TO go TO
the patients bedside as am"
"Where's Peter, Doctor? O, tell me
where he is, or 1 shall dier' said the pa
tient, starting up.
"Don't worry about your husband,
ma'am. met with slight accident in
crossing the foot-log, and thought Peter
ought not to attempt it,"
A mOurnful howl from the noble dog
arose above the howl of the tempest
A terrific scream from the sufferer was
followed by a feeble wall, and tiny Ell
len Dowd, the heroine of my story,
opened her eyes upon the earth.
The mother sank away into a deathly
stupor, emitting, at long intervals, low,
cultural groans, and breathing all the
while with irregular gasps.
"Pears to me, Doctor, that this baby
was born to see trouble. You know it
came into the world with a veil over its
face, and that's a mighty bad sign"
DIR. Gof smiled grimly. A sad put
somewhat contemptuous expression set
tied over his features, and then he
gazed helplessly into the glowing fire
"Aunt Betsey," said he, in a whisper,
''if l tell you something a'cfUI will you
promise not to start or scream? It's
something that our patient must not
know"
ayes, / promise, 'pon my faith as
Christian but what have you got to
tell me that's so awful, Doctor?"
Bouncer whined dolefully, the suffer
ing patient grOaned in cultural accents,
and the wee baby snapped its sparkling
eyes and looked knowingly at the feeble
light that was emitted from a burning
wick in n saucer of melted lard, which
was sputtering away on a rude shelf
above the firepllce and doing its sickly
best to shine.
Remember, Aunt Betsey, she mustn't
know it-not now"
"Well, you can trust me. Has any
thing happened toto Peter?"
''He fell from the log just after I did,
and we should both have gone under
the drift if it had not been for Bouncer.n u
"Then Peter is''-
"Deddg' exclaimed the Doctor, anC
great, silent tears coursed each othel
down his furrowed cheeks and settled il
pearly globules on his heavy beard.
"GOd help the widow and her seveI
chicks ~ sighed good Aunt Betse!
Graham.
The patient stirred and moaned again
and DIR. GOffi placing his finger upol
his lips, looked hard at Aunt Betsey be
, fore hurrying to the bedside.
"Peter, darling, is it you?"
The Doctor stroked her brow an
chafed her hands, but did not answer.
as my baby boy, Peter?'
Aunt Betsey brought the little wal
now clothed in faded calico and wrappe
/ in dingy, homespun shawl, and laid
/ on the mothers bosom.
, ats as likely girl as any in the 10
dear Ellen. 1t has mighty reg'lar fe'
lturs and powerful neat hands and fee
/ and what's surprisin', it's hair is heav
; and real long. See what a darlin' it is!
standing out of the way Of the feeb
: light from the primitive lamp, whicl
to do il justice, really seemed to give
= half dozen extra sputters in its effort
do its sickly best at that important M
4! ment.
p "A girl, is it?r cuddling the little il
i truder to her bosom. at would be
d Lords blessing if it would never s.
daylight"
e. "Oh, honey! don't talk like thai
Is Pears like rs if you was struggIini ag
L Providence. We're all born in th
ID world for some wise purpose; and il
is the Lords privilege TO send as MAJ
ly children as he pleases, though do co
rs fess it pears as if he might be mo
TO equal sometimes about the sex of 'el
h. But then it amt for me to question t
Id mysteries of Providence"
r "Don't preach to me, Aunt Bets,
id She'll never be anything but a slave
TO circumstances. Peter, wouldn't '
rather see her die than live to suffer a
ul toll as do?"
~ Peter was not there TO answer, and
C. awkward silence followed, broken
IL last by a deep howl from Bouneer.
sDown! BOuneer! down! Be asian
Iy of vourselfl' said DIR. Goff.
ey "Ah, Doctor, is this you' Whel
to Peter?"
lis 81 told you once, my dear mada
is that 1 did not think it safe for him
ed cross the log tonight. 1t was all tina
could do myself to make it."
", "Ah, Doctor! Something awfurs h
an penedl knOW it, I've dreamed it e
so often tonight Peters under
cl, dr;f, .nd ba,iI never see this moor. ,