The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-08-15
CHAPTER VII

- go Ao'- DS aaIs- \. j. Duniway. IN the OF
nee OF the Librarian OF Congress at Washington
City.l
CHAPTER VII
The morning dawned in heavenly
beauty. Great sombre clouds hung
over the Golden Gate and diffused theil
dripping fringes in the masts and rig
ging that adorned the restless, white
capped billows Of the bay. They ca
ressed the spires of the many churches
and lay solemnly upon adjacent hill.
tops. Grand radiations from the bril-.
liant sunshine that illumined the east
ern valleys lit up the distant mountain
SUBMITS with gorgeous tints of gold
and amber, or, casting shadows Of black
upon the cloud riffs that they could not
penetrate, threw back bright radiations
upon the sheltered portions Of the busy
harbor. A fog-like rain that for while
had sifted its misty essence over the
city rolled itself away, leaving flowers,
trees and landscapes aglow with well
come moisture that glittered in the hal
cyon sunshine.
The mysterious patient Of Ellen Dowd
had risen from her couch, and stepping
through the open window, stood gazing
from the balcony upon the lovely scene.
Ellen watched her furtively for several
moments to satisfy herself that reason
had resumed its sway over her long suf-
fering brain, and then, ordering an in
valid's breakfast, invited her to her pri-
vate apartments to partake of It, The
old governess slipped her tea and ate her
toast in silence. Then, at Ellen's bid
ding, she disposed of her frail form upon
an invalids chair and in a low voice
began her story:
81 always felt that should find you
sometime, my dear, prosecuted child
If 1t hadn't been that loved my boy
50 well, 1 should have prevented much
Of your suffering. Ellen, in the eyes o.
God was that mans wife"
''My dear old governess, what do yor
mean? You certainly don't intend tC
say that you were the wife of that sing
ing, grinning old ghoul that was deter
mined should marry him? It cam
be possible! You were not an accom-
plice to such horrid schemer
"Ellen, listen to me. You have chill
dren; not one, but many. II somebod,
were to have a claim upon all Of you
children, and hold that claim as a con
slant menace over your head, threaten
ing to destroy those children's Opportu
mites for life by denouncing them as il
legitimate, when they were as the yer,
apple of your eye, and you had wealth.
parents who would cast them of ant
curse and spurn you II they found tina
you were not above suspicion, wha
would you do?"
81 had the trial once, or something
very nearly like It, aud I defied tn
world"
"Well, dear, you had more fortitud
than /. You are brave and was not.
fBut, my dear governess, you mystif,
me utterly. / have not the most remot
suspicion of what you would tell me.n
at Is long story, Ellen, and a fear
full one"
"Do you think you are strong enougl
to tell It? Remember you have bee
very Ill. I am anxious to hear you
story, but II you are going 10 allow 1t
excite you, must curb my impatlenc
yet little longer"
tNonsense, my child. Nothing ex
cites me now. lived for fifteen year
in an insane asylum. They put mans
cles upon me and called me crazy, but
was sane as anybody, and out-witte
them. Ha! ha! hap
The patients laugh was strained an
harsh, and Ellen, fearing a return of de
lirlum, prevailed upon her to quaff
soothing draught, from the effect c
which she soon sank into q peaceful
quiet sleep.
Satisfying herself that her patlen
would sleep for several hours, Ellen lei
her side and sought the balcony 70
quiet reverie and retrospection.
Whist Of this mystery? Rack be
brain as she would, Ellen could reu,eu1
Der Of no single act Of her governess O
tutor during the years in which the
were installed in the old mansion of tn
darcy estate that could have compro
missed the sweet, dignifed woman wh
had always appeared the very soul {
honor Suddenly, however, the though
flashed across her brain that she ha
once caught the twain in earnest, Low
toned conversation In one end Of th
long corridor upstairs; and she also n