The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-11-14

II took but few minutes to put sun
per on the table. Then she sat down on
the doorstep 10 watch for her husband.
worrying ali the time lest he let some
thing happen to Sammy. When at last
be came, the effects of the liquor We're
wearing of, and he ate his supper and
smoked his pipe in sullen silence. She
could not eat mouthful, but she dared
not let the tears come, for she knew that
would make him angry. So she fed
Sammy, laying her face on his head
once in awhile, to force back the chOk-
ing lump that kept rising in her throat;
then she hastened 10 rock him asleep,
lest his fretfulness should disturb his
father.
The first peep of dawn found her bus
lily preparing breakfast, for she knew
that John wanted an early start. The
sound of the coffee-milI awoke him from
his heavy sleep, and he lay quietly
watching her by the light of the dim
grease lamp, as she moved quickly back
and forth from table to stove; from
thence to the little row of shelves, in
lieu OF a cupboard, setting on the dishes,
watching the bacon, and taking the
crisp corn-dOdger from the oven. Ssh e
is dear, good wife," thought he;
IlHF
feel so badlyw He knew that he had
been rough to her the night before. He
wished that he could remember what
he said. OF course he never got dead
drunk, but he wished that he ever could
let whisky alone.
His breakfast was Just to his liking,
and his wife as cheerful as if he was
the best man in the world. He wanted
to say something pleasant to break the
awkward silence, but he did not know
how TO begin. He had an uncomfortable
feeling that he ought to beg her pardon;
but being man, Of course he did not
condescend to that. At length he be-
gan by saying: "YOu was right peert
about your breakfast this. morning,
| Nancy"
ooh, / allowed most likely you'd
want to get off early" she answered.
"Nes, Jones wants US there ag'in sun
rise. It's only a fifty-lOg raft; reckon
we can get it down TO LeavenwoTth
ag'i in the night train starts, and I'll get
right on, and be back to AtchisOn afOre
day. Don't catch me fOolin' away an
other day round that old fort"
"Oh, joint Pm so proudn-she paused
abruptly, for his eyes dropped with n
look of conscious shame. What mood
was he in? Would il do to speak then?
He had moved back from the table, and
there was a serious, far-away look in his
eyes, but nothing sullen or forbidding.
She went around and dropped on her
knees beside him, slipped her arms
about his neck, saying: "Oh, John, I
wish you'd promise me you'd never
drink no more whiskyn'
That's most too hard on a fellow; but
- - IL. l.
much a'gin,n he answered.
''But / am afeaTed that wouldn't do no
good"
"You talk like you thought 1 hadn't
sense enough to stop when I've got
enough, if I try" he exclaimed.
"Oh, John, don't talk so! You know
you promised me that nigh onto a year
ago; but you think you'll Just take one
dram, and then just one more, and
afore you know it, it's too much. If
you'd only promise now, that you'd
never taste nary drop ag'in.n
Still he kept his eyes steadily turned
away from hers.
"Don't you mind now" she went on,
show your mother said one time, Il
/ reckon, Nancy, you count John a
mighty rough chap, but he's all right
at the core;' and don't you mind how
she used to pray for you in them old
times? Don't you mind the evenin' we
heard her praying down by the old
spring? II she's watching you among
the stars, how proud she'd be to hear
your promisel And John" she con-
tinued, dropping her voice to a whisper,
81 pray, too, sometimes. l haven't
never told you, but I've been feeling
right serious here of late. Tve taken
to readin' my Bible, and I've made NJ
mind to live bettern I used to; anC
pray for you, too, and it seems like Goo
hears me.n And she laid her head Oh
his shoulder to hide her tears.
/. His arms slipped around her, but h'
still kept his eyes turned stubbornly
} away from hers. At last, laying hi
face against hers, he spoke earnestly
"Yes, Nancy, / promise
Presently, starting up, he exclaimed
"If havn't stayed plum till daylightr
"Oh, John! come and kiss baby afor
you gO-he looks so sweet. Sammy
sammy! wake up, honey, and kis
paPgy." - n,,...,
man! rll bring him some candy Whel
l come home ag'in."
All day Nancy went about with sucl
a light, CHEEKY heart as she had no
( carried I'm her bosom for many a day
singing snatches of old hymns, an,
thinking happy, hopeful thoughts o
him who, all those long hours, wa
working his rudder against the stronl
current Of the Missouri.
That evening the stars shOne brightly
down upon her when she knelt by TIN
little window, and asked Gods blessing
on her husband and his good resolutions
But she was awakened, a few hour
alterward, by a rush and confusion,
+. shower of glass and hail across her bed
| aud catching her baby in her arms, sh,
e sprang up frightened and bewildered
g lt was a terrible storm-one long TO b
S remembered by all who felt its terror:
5 The deafening roar of the wind and hal
5 almost drowned the loud thunder-clap.
a binding flash of lightning Shove
= the trees almost bent to the ground. an
: the house rocked to and fro like
: cradle. She suddenly felt q new, strang
!, feeling, as if she was flying, fioatin
e through the air. She thought she wa
e dizzy, and caught hold Of the bed.
T terrible cTash-she never knew how
j, happenedi Her baby's cries arouse
S her. The wind and rain chilled n,
Y through. She started TO spring up. bt
0 something held her down. a shock {
, pain darted over her, and putting OF
], her hand she felt great beam lyiu
t heavily across her limbs. It seemed A:
d though il was crushing her. Som
s thing struck her, then another, and al
= other. How they stungi o! was b.
e child unsheltered from that pitile
y storm? His screams grew louder.
K she must see himi She could see not
-. ,b.o,,,,b tba thick darkness n