The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-08-29
A Woman's Courage.

The blood red light Of sunset was mir
roring itself in crimson splashes in the
turbid tides of the great Western river;
the blackbird was sounding its sweet
whistle through the old primeval for
ests; and Jonathan Beers, sitting by
his cabin door, smoking his solitary
evening pipe, thought vaguely Of
the church-bells that used to ring at
evening time in the far-off Eastern viii
lage where he had been born and brought
up, with the roar Of Penobscot Bay in
his ears.
sTd like to hear them bells once again
afore / die" unused old Jonathan.
"But it amt likely Pll ever go back
now"
Even while these disjointed medita-
tiOns passed through his mind there was
light step on the cabin threshold, and
the rustic of stiffiy starched pink calico,
and his niece Dorothy came to the door.
''Tea's ready, uncle, dear" said she.
"And pve baked real New England
corn-bread, and some ginger-snaps, such
as grandmama used to make. And see,
uncle, Pve sliced up the little red
peaches from the tree you planted your
self on the south side of the hill. Israel
Esmayne said it wouldn't grow, but it
has. / mean to keep q saucerful and
show him."
Old Jonathan laid down his knife and
fork.
'iDo you mean that Israel Esmayne
is coming here tonight ?"
''Yes, uncle,n said Dorothy, STOPPING
to recover teaspoon she had DROPPED
a slim teaspoon with an antique silver
shell carved on its handle-and coming
up very rosy from the search. "Why
not ?"
''Take care, Dotty. That's allp'
"Uncle, what do you mean ?n
81 mean, child, that I'd rather lay
you in your grave in the new burying-
ground, where there's only one mound
vet in the shadow of the church-spire,
than to see you married TO man who
drinksl That's what 1 mean, Dotty"
Dorothy's head dropped over her
plate.
"Uncle, that is hardly fair. Because
man had bad habit once"
"And has it nOww
The soft eye glittered into defiant
fash.
"You are mistaken, uncle. Israel
Esmayne has not touched a drop of ar
dent spirits in year. He has promised
me never to touch it againm
"I hope he never will, my girl" said
Jonathan Beers, although his tone be-
trayed no very sanguine feeling. "But
it amt safe thing TO do. It's mad
ness, love of liquor is, and nothing short
It's liable 10 break out at any time. Is.
real Esmayne's n good fellow enough.
hain't anything agin him-but IT AIM
safep
Dorothy was silent. Why was it, SHE
asked herself, that men were so severe
in judging one another? Why did they
always look at the blackest and leas
promising side of things? Israel haC
promised her. She believed him. AnC
that was enough.
And while she tripped lightly bacl
and forth about her household duties
her mind was full OF the underlined fu
ture. She could see herself shadowy
and underlined as a mirror, moving
about a bright little home wher'
flowers bloomed in the easements, anC
birds sang, and a clock licked, HE i
coming! he is cOmingn'
zone of these daysn' said Dorothy Il
herself, as she put away the saucer o
peaches and the little pitcher of thicl
cream on a whitley secured pantry shel
tone of these daysW
She was thinking of the future. AnC
OldJonatban, smoking his pipe, was liv
ing i'm the past.
1You've somethin' to do with the
railroad, stranger; havn't you ?'
'I reckon l have" said Israel rs
mayne, indifferently, "pm switchman.'
at don't take up much OF your time
guess ?'
ats got to be looked after just the
same, though said the tall Westerner
as he lifted the last monster log from
the cart he was unloading to the thrifty
pile at the north end of his house.
"What time does the train come by p
"At nine O'clock"
"Do you suppose I could 60 to Mel
lenville and see the lumber dealers
there, and get back to the station by
that time ?n
Israel looked refectively at the othe
shore of the river.
"Well, you might" said he. "But i
would be pretty tight squeeze"
"pm a good walker" said the strang
er; and as he spoke, he drew a fla
pocket flask from his pocket, uncorkeC
il with his teeth, and drank q copiou
draught. Israel Esmayne watched hin
with eager, glittering eyes, like those o
some famished wild animal that SCENT
blood.
"Have q drink, friend,n said tn,
stranger, prOffering the flask. Israe
Esmayne shook his head, with set teetl
and livedly pale cheek.
81 never drink said he, hOarsely.
You would, guess, if you could ge
such stuff as this,n said the man; "sof
as oil and strong as fire. My father i'm
ported 1t. There's not much like il il
the country. Taste if you don't believ,
men
Israel stood for a moment. hesjtating
Then he cast an eager glance to the righ
and to the left, as il half fearful les
some one should see him, and grasnin,
at the bottle-drank! ''''
The fevered blood mounted to hi
cheek, a strange sparkle came into hi
EYES.
"Have you got more like that?n h
whispered, approaching his burning lin
so closely 70 the mans ear, that he i'm
voluntarily started. ''More ?"
'pve got another flask, but"
''Will you leave it behind? pll pa
you a good price for it."
"What for?"
IsraePs eyes fell gHiltily. 'In-i
case of sickness, you know. We can
buy such liquor here-and it's lionel
spot"