The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-08-01

The little boy was restored 10 his
mother, and became drudge on Peters
acres, partaking much OF the disposi-
ton of the mother and amply paying |
his way with his toll.
Gathering her children about her for
their evening devotions, which Ellen |
Dowd had religiously observed from
the first day of their reunion, she in
formed them that she had decided, i'll
they were willing, to go in the spring
TO California. She had been offered all
her home was worth by spectators, and !
had arranged through DR.. Goff to re-
ceive q certain sum from their father in
lieu Of the annuity which the Court
had granted her for their maintenance.
This, with the sale Of her farm and
other effects, would give her fair start
in life, and in the sunny cline of the
far Pacific she hoped to rear her chill
dren unmolested by associations OF the
past. The children were, Of course, de-
lighted. They dutifully obeyed their
mothers Injunction to keep their own
counsel and when April, with its tear
laden breath, awoke upon the commun-
ity, great was the surprise Of the gos-
sips when it was announced that Ellen
Dowd was going overland to California.
Ok teams instead of railways were in
vogue on the great plains in those days,
and with an outfit of two covered wag-
ons and two strong hired men, accom-
panied by her children, and the fearful
hopes and congratulations of the people
who had forgotten their evil suspicious
of the dark days when the spirit of
scandal ruled them, were now rendered
her in profusion. Quietly she pursued
her way, taking little heed of anything
but her children and her business inter-
ests; and when at last the last goodbye
was spoken, and with her own children
and the son and daughter of her sister
Sarah, who had decided to accompany
her, the two solitary wagons with their
teams Of oxen started down the high
way leading past the spot where she
was born, and where for so many years
she had hopelessly struggled, she buried
her face in her hands and lifted up her
voice and wept.
The teams were halted near the home
of Peter Dowd, and Ellen bade her chill
dren to visit with their father at the
house, while she fingered at the last
resting-plaee of her long dead parents.
Twenty years before she had stood in
the same place, taking last long look
at the silent mounds, that now were
sunken in the earth and overgrown with
weeds and briars. A whippoorwill
sounded its sonorous notes in the maple
tree that hung its protecting arms over
the mOss-grown ruins where she was
born, and which had been her home for
so many years. Kneeling upon the
soft, spring grass beside the lowly
graves, and overcome with retrospect
|. ton surcharged with olden memories,
the poor child Of strange vicissitudes
poured out her soul in long, fervent
/ prayer. Her dear old grandparents, the
Darcy estate, her faithful Bouncer and
his equally faithful successor, the strange
1 old music teacher and mysterious gov
I erness; the gypsies and their wierd
5 wild augurles, which were so striking il
d their strange fulfillment; her poor sistel
s Sarah and her sad, hard life, the victim
: of mistaken ideas-all these passed be
e fore her like a panorama and thei
came the thought, "Are men the natu
r raj protectors Of women? II so, VIII!
+. am / so much better Off to-day thai
: when was under the tutelage Of hus
Y band ?"
t She was not conscious Of having
a spoken aloud until the friendly voice @
: DIR. Goff, in response to her inquiries
answered.:
t because your marriage was not c
y your own choosing, poor child. Me-
!, are naturally the protectors of women
= but they very often 60 astray from na
l ture's promptings. But you are in dan
T, ger of falling into a grevious errol
I, child. Because one man or ten me
e with whom you may have dealings faI
to do their duty, that is no proof tina
there are no good men,"
II "But the laws all favor bad men. VIII
't are laws made to screen wicked hu:
T bands, Dr. Gof? Good men need n
laws. Bad men should be punished b
to them"
m 81 think, my child, that the law di
ne very well by you. 1t gave you all yo
M asked, remember
ed 'It was not the law, but my own s:
n, gacity, if you will pardon the egotism.
of "Audacity, the community consi,
sh cred it, my child. But 1 think yo
x will admit that all good men have q
ed instructive desire to protect women"
/ ''Then good men are scarce" she r
:" piled bitterly.
be at is little wonder they are scare
q my child. Men look upon women
en- property. My wife is just as much Il
property of most men in their own id
1T as is my horse or my dog"
We aWell," said Ellen, starting up, 18th
n is q strange time for such convers
ton as this. II is the last time we shs
be ever meet"
d. Taking her hand the old man bless
rs her in kind, paternal way, and said:
10. tTn the glad regions Of the life etern
Mt I hope to-meet you, child. Live up
- -s.-f.N