The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-03-01

I clOuS eggs IIlAl IEMdlhCh lAAclI searches
in the miniature murdoch forests.
Ellen had expressed such decided dis
appreciation of the idea of a governess
that for weeks, which at length gathered
themselves into months, she was permit
ted to roam and gambol at herwill, there
by gaining such strength of nerve and
muscle as was much needed in the liv-
ing trials of her after years.
But the weeks and months wore on,
and at length the storm king, who for
many days had threatened the peaceful
valley with a siege, gathered his allies
and, swooping down upon the unguard-
ed dale, took sole possession of the soil
and trees and air.
The cold was as intense as any that
Ellen had before experienced; and
Bouneer, being well stricken in years,
grew more and more rheumatic, until
his kind owner, fearing for his life if left
in his outside kennel, prevailed upon
Harris, the hired man, to give him win
ter quarters under the woodshed in an
outside chimney corner of the kitchen
fireplace, where he daily baked his stiff
ening joints and enjoyed the luxury Of
high life as though he had been to the
manor born.
Ellen was standing at the parlOr win
dow in the dusky twilight. The snow
was falling in binding fury, filling pthe
door-yard, making pyramids upon the
gate posts and loading down the elms
and larehes with a weight under which
they creaked and groaned most dis
mally.
A well muffied footman made slow
progress through the deepening drift
and halted at the gate as if uncertain as
to his locality, while the jingle of sleigh
bells was family heard in the distance.
Grandmother, do come and lookr
said Ellen. "Here's a man muffled to
his eyes in a great fur overcoat, coming
a-floundering through the snow; and l
do believe he's coming here! And l
hear sleigh bells, too. Come quickp' and
the excited child danced before the win
dow in perfect fiutter of expectation.
mo wonder you're excited, child, we
so seldom have any company; but We're
expecting a lady and gentleman here
! who are to take you through a regular
course of study"
5 Ellen's eountenance fell. 'T don't in
: tend to like 'em-that's settledW she ex
e claimed. "pn have no more long
: dreamy days in the woods; and Pll hav
TO be on my guard forever, lest l say o
e do something to displease them whel
they put on airs"
|. "Ellen, Ellen, s'huSh! Don't let you
s grandfather hear your complaints. w
d are considering only your own best in
4 terests."
: The old gentleman tied his comforte
s about his ears and advanced to meet tn
/. travellers, who, preceded by the driver
It who had been hunting out the way o
: foot through the snow for several mile:
s now stood upon the broad, stone doc
n steps, stamping their feet to restore tn
e benumbed circulation.
+; Wraps We're removed in the cute
e hall, and the two teachers entered tn
d large, square room with its low ceiling
y wainscotted walls, deep windows an
II wide fireplace. AS they stood before th
: cracking fire of logs, shivering and rut
l. bing their hands, Ellen, who wa
crOuehed in the dark corner behind til
q jambstone, carefully scanned their fea
d lures.
: The lady was pale blonde, evidentl
n upon the shady side of thirty, queenl
e and beautiful, but there were lines
thought about the forehead and mOut
!, and a sort of spasmodic expression
: the tight-set lips that betokened sadne
and suffering. The child intuitively fe
a that they would become friends, and IL
II idea of having a ''governess" lost Ia
e its responsiveness.
The tutor was a stOOp-shOuldered, Ii
e tie old man of sixty, with a shining pa
;. and snOw-white side locks. As he r
e moved his cloak a hideous lump upC
IS his back revealed the cause of his stOo
" ing, and when he smiled a distorted 70
of teeth, in all stages of decompositio
,r gave a hideous expression to an othe
wise pleasing mouth. The eyes were
D, beautiful, beaming blue, the chin pc
20 feet in outline, and the nose, as if natu
had made an effort to establish an eqI
lie librium in his form, boasted a hu
" lump, which would have made it X
w man nose had not the effort been so ba
r. ly overdone.
Do "Catch me ever learning sums or m
sic of n ghoul like thatw said Ellen,
b. herself.
n. 'eWhere is my little charge?" ask
er the lady, pleasantly.
a 'sEllen! Ellenw called her graz
Us mother.
a "Ah! here's the chickr' said the graz
father, rubbing his hands. "Mrs. Br;
Ie- don. my adopted daughter, Ellen d.
nd cy."
,e- The child drew back as if struck W
on a whip. "My name is Ellen Dow
on she said.
ne, Darling" said her grandmother, Il
GER vously, ''your grandfather has adop
ks you as Ellen Darcy, and that is n
at your legal name. 1t was the maiC
out name of your mother, who died to 6
to you life. Will you not wear it?'
sa- 'It was not my fathers nal
der thought