The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-03-22
CHAPTER XII.


all the landscape. The bright green
color Of the summer foliage gave place
to sober hues of russet brown, and as
the days wore on, and the pure and bril-
liant sunlight Of October came to play
upon the air, bright gold and gorgeous
amber tints We'd with scarlet tinges and
variegated shades Of gray aud purple,
that radiated from forest, hillside, plain
and dale.
The great and sudden trial that had
transformed Ellen from a free and bright
and joyful girl into a defiant, restless
and exacting, excitable woman was
ever uppermost in her vivid imagina-
ton. Instead of the genial companions
ship of trees and birds and flowers and
animals, which had been to her child
hood such keen source Of delight, she
now seemed to delight in their destruc-
tion. From a gay, kind-hearted crea-
ture, who would not willingly torture a
housefiy, she had grown into a morbidly
cruel sportsman, and following her own
wild will, had taught the birds and
squirrels of the Darcy estate to dread
her as their most deadly enemy.
Grandfather Darcy, after Ellen's de-
termination to submit to the engage
ment, which so singularly set his mind
at rest, appeared perfectly contented.
His wife, clearly perceiving that he was
afflicted with a monomania, which her
wifely heart excused with due benevo-
lence, calmly awaited the course of
events and prayed in secret that some
avenue Of escape might yet be opened
for her daughters child. 1t seemed that
her prayers were answered, for Ellen at
last grew tired of her cruel sport
Grandmother, this is October 1st,"
said she, coming in from the fields with
a brace of wild birds dangling at her
side. 81 threw my rifle over the cliff,
and it was all l could do to help going
over after it. Even Grundy, here" pat
ting the head of her canine companion
for whom she had gradually acquired
much affection, sis getting tired of de-
stroying life. pve killed my last bird. -
''What are you going to do now, dar-
ling?"
'Pm going to be kitchen and dairy
maid, ma'am."
"But your grandfather. What will he
say?"
Grandfather may think and act and
talk as he pleases. He is under contract
to grant me perfect freedom for the next
four years. But two months of my pre-
cious time are gone already" and the
poor girl sighed hopelessly.
"When will you begin this work, my
dear?"
''NOw. Any time.n
'But you'll get very tired of it."
az get very tired of myself"
"Well, do as you like; but I think a
day or two of kitchen work will satisfy
you that it is not such occupation as is
best suited to your taste"
'Tn risk it,"
Aunty Harris was busy in the fruit
house. Great barrels of sunny apples
lay awaiting their turn to be peeled and
placed upon the Stats TO dry. Vegetables
in another department were ready TO be
carefully assorted before being packed
in the cellar for winter use. Seed stores
for coming gardening purposes were yet
to be properly arranged and assorted.
Certainly there appeared to be work
enough for half dozen pairs of hands.
"Aunty Harris, don't you want an
apprentice >"
''Why, child" pausing in the act of
peeliBg a Rhode Island Greening, "who
wants to become my apprentice ?'
"Your humble servant"
"Are you really in earnest?"
''Try me and see."
''How long do you want to work ?''
''Until you pronounce me a faithful
and efficient housekeeper, perfectly able
TO work for myself
"But, child, it isn't at all likely that
yowU ever need the business, even il
you do learn it"
''That's my affair, Aunty, not yours
Just look at grandmother She de
scended from decayed, English aristOc
racy, you know, and will not assimilat'
with her New England neighbors. Sh'
is and always has been as helpless as {
baby. Now, want to get able to taxi
care of myself"
"As heir to the darcy estate you vii
always be able to live without taking
care of yourself"
"Aunty, would you accept the darcy
estate with the ineumbranee which
shall be compelled to take with it?"
"What incumbrance?r ?r
''That old singing, grinning ghoul
whom my fastidious grandfather ha.
chosen for my mate"
'I would if I'd agreed to-"
"That settles it, then. did hone vol
would aid me-"
appeal to your grandfather, child,
"Appeal to the-his Satanic Majesty
Grandfather is as mad as March hare f,
"Then don't see that you are unde
any obligation to obey mad man,
Across Ellen's earnest face there sud
denly flashed a gleam of gladness.
'fDo you really think, Aunty Harris
that could honorably escape from m,
engagement?"
"'Tain't for me to say, honey. hav
my own notions about such things; bu