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

she paced the balcony, with the hal
lowed glory Of the gorgeous day vast
ing It's beauties upon her unheeded.
The door-bell rang with sharp, sud-
den, successive peals that startled her.
fastening to the parlor with fiutter-
ing heart, and wondering much at her
trepidation, she found herself face TO
face with a stranger whose handsome
eyes cleaned familiarity upon her. He
was tall and dark, with beanaing kindly
eyes, and singularly melodIous utter
ance.
"Have the honor Of addressing Mrs
darcy Dowd 7'' extending his hand
and looking wonderingly into the eyes
Of his hostess.
"You have guessed my name, sir, but
I do not recollect you"
Ellen was trembling yislbly. She made
great exertion to control her nerves, but
an unaccountable agitation possessed
her. Where had she seen those eloquent
eyes? Had they come to her in dreams
when the dull realities of life, as she
had found 1t, clothed themselves with
the bright, pure habiliments Of that
which might have been?
"You don't remember me?" queried
the stranger, speaking slowly and gaz-
ing at the bewildered woman with a
mute appeal to her recollection, rem
dered doubly impressive by his own
poorly suppressed agitation. Ellen
clasped her hands over her face and
stood for moment in silent reflection.
81 had hoped, though why cannot
tell you, that you would recognize me
at once. 1 am sorry TO bring up remin-
iscences which / would to God you
could forget forever, but do you remem-
Der the foreman of a certain jury, who,
in the long ago, dared in the face Of al
most Irresistible circumstantial evil
dence to add the weight of his humble
convictions 10 the eloquent plea that
certain prosecuted little woman made
so ably in her own behaIf?r
'Mr. Worth, is it possible? 1 have
never met or even heard of you since''-
Ellen stopped abruptly. A marriage
ceremony that she would have fain for
gotten, with its unpleasant associations
as well, passed before her mind In dis
tinct panorama.
"Yes, remember" said the newly
found acquaintance. Business in the
East required my presence Immediately
after that time, and when returned to
the West found that you had taken
your departure for the setting sum-"
"And you didn't forget the poor, SLAM
dered, prosecuted, sick, but impatient
and rebellious grass widowg Oh, how
hate that term Of reproachl 1 have
said many time that l would rather
die than be called by such an epithet.
But couldn't die, neither could 1 longer
endure my bondage; 50 1 found the epi-
thet fitted me more lightly than the
yoke. But how did you happen to find
me? 1 supposed myself securely hidden
from all old associations until very re-
Gently"
81 have never lost you, madam-at
least never In my own imagIuings.
You have blossomed into Just such a
woman as knew you could become the
first moment that met you. No doubt
you have had many eligible offers of
marriage. fain would add my name
to the lIst. You may think my woolng
very singular. I did not intend to speak
to-day, but it is done, and cannot re-
call my words. VIII you be my wife p,
'Mr Worth, be seated" was Ellen's
calm reply, although her face was crim-
son and her eyes downcast. Her voice
was steady and her manner firm. "a
cannot give you an answer now" she
resumed, after pause. "My heart an
swers yes, but prudence and good sense
cay walt Let us talk Of something
else"
Repelling the advances of her agitated
suitor with an imperious wave Of her
shapely hand, once dishgured by the
most uncongenial toll, Ellen proceeded
to inform him Of the presence Of her
mysterious governess in the house.
Edgar Worth sprang to his feet.
/ "Is my mother here? he asked ex-
r citedly. "She escaped from me at the
, hotel In less than an hour after the
; steamer landed. have had the police
on the look out for her ever since she
got away. Why, Ellen, she Is as mad
; as March harev
'Is my old governess your mother
[ Edgar Worth? Will wonders never
! cease? Tell me all about her, dop'
"Yes," said a voice, "and old XII.
| lingsworth, the singing, grinnine
ghoul you used to talk about, is Edgal
Worth's father. am not mad, my sot
( Edgar. Ny mind is shaken, know
and sometimes say unreasonable
things, but IL can make my home will
Ellen darcy Dowd, and spend the rem
nant of my days in atonlng for the sor
rows that your wretched father causeC
her, shall be sane enough. Edgar, be
cause loved you I permitted that oil
man, who, being your father, had a lie
gal right to take you from me If die
, not do his bidding, to contract with thi
poor child's grandfather for her hand IL
marriage and the DAIRY estate. HI
, said our marriage was false. He threat
T ened me with exposure and disgrace
t never lived with him one hour afte
he declared that was not his lega
,,yff.. t.,,t r., ,y.-.atanad IN take ggo1