The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-11-01
CHAPTER XVII

CHAPTER XVII
THE PROPOSAL AT THE COTTAGE OF LODI.
When next our heroine awoke to con
sciousness, she gazed around her with .
bewildered air, at first not being able t,
realize the past, which seemed like 1
dream to her.
"Where are we, Rissey? How came
we here?"
How comes we here? De Lord only
knows, Miss Snory; but dat great bis
ugly red-headed man bringed us boil
long 'ginst our will. 1 don't know
whar we am, but we am in de house o.
some offul ole woman, who am neidel
Niger or white folks. Oh, Miss Snory,
what viii massa and missus saw. and
my poor Jinks? promised to tell him
last night wedder I'd be bone of his
flesh or not. Oh, deari oh, deari !
specs we'll both be kilt, so 'at Wen
never lib to see muffin anymore. Oh,
golly! golly" and hiding her face in
her clean check apron, she sobbed loud
ly as her heart swelled with grief.
"Oh, 1 remember all nowpi exclaimed
Sonora, starting up. 'NIy poor, dear
father and mother! oh, where am I?
What is this for?" screamed she, as the
reality Of the last few hours rushed
upon her.
Hearing her voice, Norman, who had
assumed his former suit and thrown
aside the wig, now entered.
$50 my beautiful Sonora has again
recovered sufficiently to recognize the
husband who was so rudely torn from
her loving embrace" said he, as he
seated himself opposite her.
Norman Burkew screamed she, as
she sprang to her feet.
"Aye, Norman Burke, if YOU like that
better than Mcintosh" answered he,
sneeringly, as he sat perfectly quiet,
seeming to enjoy her surprise.
"What offense have 1 been guilty of.
that you should thus seek vengeance
upon me by stealing me away from my
home and friends?" asked Sonora, as she
seated herself upon the old lounge, from
which she had risen, while her face as
sumed an ashy paleness.
what have you done that I should
steal you? Well, like that! Under
stand, Miss, have not stolen you, as
you see fit to term it; I have merely
claimed my own property, for did you
not, with your parents consent, prom
ise to become my wife? And were YOU
not always so, when some unknown
imposter saw fit to intercept it by pro-
claiming falsehoods which are utterly
unknown to me-"
Hush Stop, Norman! Know Won
not that many have been struck dead
with lie upon their lips? Tempt not
your God again by committing that
sin. have had sufficient proof of ev-
cry word uttered by Catherine de NIidci
to make it needless for you to attempt
TO palliate your guilt. And do you but
know that 1 yielded to the wish of
my mother when promised TO becop,o
yours? Hes, to the wish of my mother
who believed you to be even better tban
you appeared. never could love vo,,
And knowing that 1 never loved vo,
why still seek me? Well did YOU know
that my heart was anothers ere I evar
saw you. Why, then, did you demean
yourself to usurp that place Norman.
if you have one particle of the feelings
Of an honorable man about you if YOU
ever expect mercy at the hands of your
Maker, beg of you TO let me return
home. Let me, oh let me 90 to NV
agOnized parents, who are now mourn
ing my mysterious lossI And poor
Rissey! surely she has done you no
harm. Let her go, for she is as dear to
the heart Of her parents as 1 am to
mine"
hissey, who scarcely eOmprehended
the matter of Norman, minus the dis
gulse' was staring In mute astonish-
ment' Throwing herself on her knees
at the ieet Of Sonora, she said:
mo, Miss Snory, do not beg for Ris,
freedom, for she will STAY wild ,,o,, %
long as yon lib, if dey don't kin ber
fust. Don't send me away; don't for
dat otful man viii kill you dead If Ris
amt long to protect you. 1 will saw
dem prayers you learnt me every day
and den de Lord will hear 'em sure and
let us CO." ''''O
"You are right, my poor Rissev. God
viii hear our prayers and delivor -
this bad man." said Sonora, casting her
eyes upward and laying her hands on
Rissey's head.
ut will be some time before the
prayer is answered as far as you are con-
concerned" said Norman, sarcasticalIv.