The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-04-05
CHAPTER XIV.

Ellen, assisted by Aunty Harris, had
slyly secured and packed away such ar
tieles of clothing as the old housekeeper
in her superior experience considered
necessary for her comfort. These things
We're tied up in linen pillow case, for
which a cover Of dark calico was made,
and her unique travelling trunk was
ready.
81 feel dreadfully miserable, dearie,n
said the good woman. HWhen your
mother ran away the birds were singing
in the llacs, and the springing grass
was green and beautiful. The warm
sunshine lit up everything with sort of
hazy brightness, and the white clouds
lay back in great rolls, showing deep
dark patches OF clear blue sky. She
loved your father, dearie-that was her
sunshine-but you don't love your Pc
ter Dowd. It's no wonder the sky's like
lead. The weather is so cold and bitter
Pm afraid you'll freeze" and she
warmed her wrinkled hands over the
cracking log fire and moaned aloud in
her solieitude.
81 love her well enough to win her af-
feetions in time, Aunty. You don't de-
spise me nO1C, do you, darling?" and the
man, with tears in his voice, gazed with
dry eyes into the half averted face of the
troubled maiden.
"PeteT Dowd, I'll love you if I can.
Please say no more about it now. I am
going to marry you because I must.
You made the offer and accepted the
conditions. will fulfill my part of our
contract to the letter Look to it that
you live up TO yours"
Peter Dowd brought up his horse to
the kitchen door, and mounting, seated
Ellen behind him, and in the darkness
Of the early morning the twain set out
upon their journey through the snow
drifts to the border of a neighboring
State, where the local laws would not {
prevent legal marriage. '
Aunty Harris, at parting with her I
dear young friend, had presented her s
with a package, accompanied by the in q
junction that she was not to open it for ]
a fortnight. This package contained a t
roll Of bills, and was securely hidden in
her bosom. v
Peter DOwd's worldly possessions con- /
sisted of good, substantial suit of O
clothes, the sOrrel horse they rode, and t
twenty dollars. a
Many young couples have started out
in life with peeuniary prospects far less s
hattering, who have made life's voyage I
successful Let us with hope and solic- 1
itude pursue them in their flight, look
ing, as they do, to the brighter side of i
life's vicissitudes.
'Come, Sorrel, hurry up, or we shan,t t
make the border by daylight" said Pc
Ter, encouraging his horse. {
"What will you do if they discover ]
us|' queried Ellen, anxiously.
I'D like to see them help themselves" i
was the exultant reply. ''They may {
not see anybody from the village for a
week"
"But Aunty will send Grundy to the
neighbors' with letter.
Peter DOwd bit his lips and said moth
ing. He had slyly given the poor dog a
bait which had sent him into death ago
MES, before the quaint gables and many
paned windows Of the old mansion had
faded from their sight.
The travelling was excessively tedious
and difficult. The frost-laden air was so
piercing that to breathe it almost froze
their vitals.
Elleni with her head enveloped in (
quilted hood, lined with fur, a pair of
home-knit mittens, the gift of the good
housekeeper, protecting her shapely
hands, with overshoes of sheepskin on
her feet, and large, heavy, fur-lined
cloak enveloping her slight form. vet
shivered in the biting air.
Peter Dowd sat in the saddle, moody
and silent. Evidently he was very anx-
iOus to reach the border, for he soon be-
gan to urge his steed forward through
the drifts with pitiless haste; and the
poor beast, that for two months had |
been unaeeustOmed to fatigue of any
kind, became enveloped in frozen foam. |
He stumbled and fell to his knees, and
Ellen became so sorry for him that she
declared her intention TO walk, and thus
relieve him of his burden. But her pro-
tector would not consent to her PROPOSE
tion; neither would he walk himself.
"Peter Dowd," said Ellen, sternly, |
you're cruel as the grave. Remember,
this horse is the only piece of property |
you possess. You will kill him before |
we reach our destination. Besides, it's
wicked to overWOrk him sO.u
THAT'S my lookout, my dear. But
yohder Is the spire Of the village church.
Day is breaking now, and we are almost
there"
Upon nearing the village the road be-
came more passable, and lust as the
morning sun, in lurid garb of molten
atmosphere, gazed forth upon the lpr;d
landscape, the young couple halted in
front of the tavern, next door to the in
telligence Office, where, a few short
months before, Ellen Dowd had mot bor
fate.
The drowsy landlord was aroused with
difficulty. Evidently he was not accus-
toned to early rising.
Ellen was ushered into a square apart
ment designated as ''the parlor," where
the air seemed even more intensely cold
than the frOst-laden breeze outside.