The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-09-12

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Winter in California. Black clouds
sometimes hung low over the Golden
Gate, or now settled themselves in vap-
orous masses over San Francisco and
the Bay; and then a stiff breeze would
roll them back and pile them in fantas-
tic heaps, now upon the ocean, and
again upon the distant mountains. The
Dalmy sun shone down upon the velvet
verdure Of the emerald-colored earth,
and countless flowers opened their pet
ais TO admit the amOrous embraces of
the limpid air
a staunch old steamer had been tele-
graphed for hours, and among the many
anxious hearts that waited wearily for
wind and tide, none throbbed more
wildly than Ellen Dowd's. Sunset
closed upon the scene, and midnight
came before the signal gun was fired,
and the great, unwieldy vessel moored
herself at the dock. Long lines of car
riages were in waiting. Hotel runners,
with the impudence and enterprise of
their class, filled up the gang-way, and
making night hideOus with their hula
ba-loO, well nigh distracted a rustic old
physician, who, having spent the whole
of his years Of manhood upon very
different frontier, was not prepared for
the noise and hustle that he met.
Cruching down upon a seat in the vi
cinity Of the smoke-stack, whose warmth
was very welcome to his rheumatic
frame, he sat and waited, feeling more
home-sick and helpless than ever in his
life before. One by one the weary trav-
elers filed off the ship, leaving him at
last alone. \ dumpy steward, rough
and tacitun, moved rapidly back and
forth upon the deck, condescendingly
giving grufT, monosyllabic and unsatis-
factory answers to the old mans que
ries concerning his San francisco
friends. The old doctor was thoroughly
miserable. Why he had not gone tC
4 hotel while he had opportunity was G
mystery, even to himself, and his yer.
dancy, or oversight, had produced 6
very frigid effect upon the steward, who
soon changed his monosyllables to very
important grunts.
Meanwhile Ellen and her husband
had almost despaired of finding theil
friend, although his name, published in
the list Of passengers, had led them to
expect him with certainty. At length
they ventured to accost the steward, who
directed them to DR. Goff7s retreat. II
Is useless to attempt description of the
meeting. The Doctor had failed so rap
idly since the reader last beheld him
that it will be difficult TO recognize in
his infirm form and tottering gait th,
strong, able-bodied man who was frs
introduced in Peter Dowd the Firsgs 10,
cabin, where for several days subseauen
TO the birth of Ellen Dowd the Secon,
he, with good old Aunt Betsey Graham
had kept watch and ward for days wit
gaunt, grim poverty and life and death
"How did we happen to miss YOU
Doctor?" was Ellen's anxious query
1--WE should have gone home and give
over the search as fruitless, only / tc
that you were not man who would 70
low those deafening hotel runners Will
you had any hope of meeting friends.
81 was out on the decks watching th
scenery and thinking of winter in Cal
fornia rs compared TO the winter whe
you were born, my child. I suppose
that you would come to meet me, so
was not anxious, or indeed 1 scareel
thought Of myself until the confusio
and hustle were all over, and 1 foun
myself alone"
1--WE inquired for you everywher,
We tried every state-room and failed [
find any trace of you, and then my hui
band consulted the ships register. w
feared that you had fallen overheard. -
Commend me to a woman for voll
bility," laughed her husband. "TI
first thing for us to do is to get the Do
tor home. The wee small hours of Il
morning are already upon us. You ma
talk all day tomorrow, but now yc
need some rest"
"Spoken like a man of sense,v sa
DIR. Gof; with something of his O