The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-09-05

lhe year lol2 by Mrs. 4. J. DuniWay, in the Of
ice Of the Librarian OF Congress at Washington
Ciiy.l
CHAPTER Y.
DIR. Goff was growing old. The weight
of years had long sat lightly upon his
brow, but his gray hair, failing eyes
and STOPPING walk now bore evidence that
he was rapidly ripening for the better
world. Heavy membranes of this
worlds goods had never molested him.
The benevolent habits acquired in his
youth, and followed.continually to the
fullest extent of his limited income, had
served TO keep his finances remarkably
low. And now, as he was nearing su-
perannuation, he began to cast about
for the best possible means of subist-
ence, when he should be no longer able
TO endure the fatigues of his profession.
But there seemed no opening ahead for
the arranging of such a plan. Indeed
he had no plan. Accustomed for many
years TO his humble and recluse bache-
lor apartments i'm the woody suburbs of
Mackinaw, from which he never
emerged except upon missions of mercy,
he seemed to have lost the art of look
ing ahead for himself. The rigors Of
approaching winter were to him a mat
ter of deep concern. He had grown
rheumatic and strangely feeble of late,
and the first frosts Of Autumn found
him unable to leave his room. For two
days he had endured his sufferings
alone. No one knew of his illness, and
as he lay upon his bed, watching
through the window the falling maple
leaves in the daytime, or listening at
nightfall to the ceaseless chatter Of the
katy-dids, blissful dreams of days de-
parted were born anew in his soul.
Reaching for a crevice in the rude wall
behind his bed, he took down an an
tique leather pOcket-book, and select
ing from numerous assortment of odd
looking manuscripts a letter, yellow
with age ard b-o.,sn la the ioIGs BY
time and decay, he opened it cautiously,
after having furtively glanced through
the apartment, as if to satisfy himself
that he was alone. The letter was dated
"DArcy Homestead, July 10, IS"
and was penned in a quaint, cramped,
schoolgirl hand. 1t read as follows:
"Dedr j. G.:-I should like to go with
you ever so much, but my father doesn't
approve of so young a lady keeping
gentlemen's company; so I cannot go.
/ live SO much alone in this great house,
and get so tired of il, that I have half .
mind to run away and marry Peter
DOwd. He's good-loOking and good-na-
tured, and wants me dUfully. I don't
know that love him, but Pm going to
try to. hardly ever speak to him, for
mamma is not willing that / should as
sociate with men beneath me in the So
cial scale. could be happy with you
always, but you'll think Pm a very
bold, naughty girl for saying such a
thing, so please forget that 1 said it. /
shall dream Of you to-day-and the nut
ting party. I am sure father might let
me go in company like other girls.
"Good-bye. ELLEN D'ARCY.n
Having read the faded missive over
and over again, the Doctor fell into q
reverie that soon found vent in audible
solilOquy.
''The problem of life is one that hu.
manity has scarcely yet begun TO learn
Some progress has been made with tn,
present generation, but the great mas
Of the people yet ignore their most vi
tai interests. Had the young life of m,
Ellen been unconstrained and natural
as it should have been, instead of falls
and conventional, rs it was-had sh
even been permitted to accompany ths
nutting party in the long ago-oh,
was boy then, but I loved her NOR
than all the world! But it's no use
lost her"
A heavy knocking at the door arouse
him. Hurriedly thrusting the lette
beneath the bed-clothes, as though
We're something too sacred for the pre-
fanation Of other eyes, DIR. Goff rC
sponded with q faint 'eome in"
The visitor was Polly Dowd. He
heavy black hair, now streaked wit
gray, was combed back from bro,
wrinkled with over-work and care
Her form had acquired bent an
shrunken outline, in striking contras
to its full vigor when first introduced {
the reader, years ago. Dropping hel
self wearily in a chair, she exelaime
anxiously:
"What, Doctor? You sick, and nc
body here to care for you? Some
Gods angels must have sent me her,
But if Pete should know it there woul
be an awful muss."
at is true that ] am disabled, MADAM
but l am sorry that you came if yo