The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-07-25


wanted a cook for harvest; so I went TO
his house, an though my baby was a
great deal o. trouble and cried o. nights.
/ kept up pretty well with the work. |
was willin' to DO anything just to be
with my baby, but one day the farmer
said il I'd swear to the father o. the
child, he'd have TO allow me money 10
support him. l oughtn't to a done it.
but winter was comm on an | was
afraid couldn't get work, an l felt it
was nothin' more'n right that Harry
should do something foI his boy. So l
went into court an l swore-I tell YOU
that court an them lawyers made de-
mon o. me with their awful questions;
Pye never cared for nothin' since-an'
when it was proved about the child, the
the law jist took him from me, an its
ten years come August, an never seen
him since. Peter Dowd said he'd marry
me when he should be divorced, an it
was all settled. He's rich, you know,
an when l got money then was goin'
to steal my boy"
Ellen Dowd placed her hand compass
sionately upon the head of the poor out
cast.
"DOn't touch mew she shrieked.
" You're innocent, know, an Pm more
wicked than you can think"
Ellen rose TO her feet.
"Polly Jones, look at me-" she said
haughtily. al comprehend it all. You
and Peter Dowd are guilty Of that Of
which you have been accusing me. You
are suffering the fearful consequences of
an awful sin. 1t is not just that you
should bear it alone. Had you succeed
ed in disgracing me, as you and he ex-
pected, you would have been legally
married, and the world would have
overlooked if it had ever known your
guilt. But you have failed, and now
you are at my mercy. Listen TO me.
This home is mine and / will share il
with you. care nothing for the opin-
ion of the world. You are fellow crea-
ture, and too well know the needs Of
women in your condition TO turn you
from me at a time like this"
The woman fell PROSTATE at her feet
and wept. Ellen knelt beside her, and
taking her large, red hand between her
own semi-transparent fingers, spoke
words Of forgiveness and hope.
Tomorrow you say Peter Dowd is
coming here to see if / will not conclude
to return TO him. Let him come. /
will meet him"
"But l can't meet him." said poor
Polly Jones.
"Why not? You are just as good as
he"
The old clock, which Aunt Betsey
Graham had so often wound, tolled sol
emnly the hour Of one before these
women sought their couches.
The next morning Peter Dowd set
about his household duties with a heavy
heart and awkward hands.
strange" he muttered, "that so
much of any households comfort de-
pends upon woman"
1t was ten o'clock before the chores
were done, and then, dressing the twins
with as much care as he could bestow,
and taking them with him as decoy,
the humbled, baflled fellow started OH
a cOurting. Smile, reader, if you will.
We know he hasn't very much Of your
sympathy.
Ellen had not seen her little ones for
months. Bidding the poor, guilty
woman, whom with her good, samari-
tan impulses she had given shelter, to
hide herself in an adjoining room where
she could hear all that should pass be-
tween herself and Peter DOwd, she
braced herself in the doorway and with
throbbing heart awaited his coming.
The little ones came tripping up the
walk 10 meet her, while the abashed
husband, with dropping head, stalked
behind them, thinking possibly of the
time, years before, when Ellen, in the
sprightly morning Of her girlhood, en-
ployed him as 4 hired man to work Oh
the old Darcy estate. He had sense
enough not to interfere while Ellen ca
ressed her children.
- mamma, can't I stay with YOU al
ways"' said Bob pleadingly.
Sitting down on the door-step with
the little ones in her arms, and black
ing ingress to the house, the mother
looked her truant husband in the eyes
and said:
81 thank you, Peter, for bringing me
my babes. You'll let me keep them for a
while now, won't you?"
"Ellen," dropping down upon the
grass before her and speaking huskily,
ppm very sorry that l ever doubted
you. You're a good woman-I know
that-and I've been thinking that
haven't always done just right by you,
and now I'd like TO prove how much
believe in your innocence 10y taking
you home and keeping you like lady"
"Peter Dowd, do you think | have
forgotten the cruel blow you gave me
when 1 sprang to save my child from
the hands of that enraged mistress Of
yours ?" Her voice was tremulous with
excitement now, and she looked ready
to tear him in pieces. ''Have you for
gotten, Peter Dowd, the nice game that
you had arranged for my beneft-to get
divorce from me for a sin of which
you were guilty, and thus cast me of,
innocent hut disOraeed destitute. child