The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-07-24


and Annie should have opportunity to
fill brilliant position in society. But
1 am less independent to-day than you
are"
81 can't make that out, by ginger m
"Well, I'll help you. TO begin: l
have neither trade nor profession. 1
cen shoot, row, play ball, sing, dance,
and, If necessary, do little jobs around
the house, but am to-day more inca
pable of doing for myself than your sis
ter is. Ihave no capital upon which 10
go into business, no experience if had
capital, and no taste for business il had
both capital and experience. My father
and mother have made bargain with
the united O'Toodles' head to couple my
fortunes, matrimonially speaking, with
the only daughter Of the O'Toodles fam
lily. The match will join extensive tracts
Of grazing land, and combine vast mining
interests in the hands of Hastings senior
and O'Toodles Tere. 1 haven't been
consulted any to speak of, but Pm the
victim of q matrimonial engagement,
and that is why have not dared to visit
Annie Lee"
Henry raised his broad, awkward body
to its fullest height, and his breath la
bored heavily.
"Are you a man, when you endure
the like of this" he cried, furiousIy.
'T think you're putting on rather
lofty airs, was the faltering reply; ''but
as 1 asked you to have this talk with
me, I'll not be too severe. But really, I
do despise my situation and myself for
accepting it, though don't see any way
TO help it,"
"Will you take little advice from
me ?"
"I'll listen"
"And you won't complain against
me, and get me thrown out of a place p"
mo"
"Well, pll tell you what I'd do, if
there was a prospect of my trying to
pull in double harness with that Net
O'Toodles. I'd simply say to her, I'm
not suited with this arrangement, by
ginger! an when want to marry, I'll
make my own proposals."
"And-get laughed at for your pains,
my boy. Miss O'Toodles belongs to
fashionable society, and hearts aren't
trumps in her game"
"Why, you can't even respect her, nor
she you"
"We'll be even then, for I assure you
that I don't respect myself"
"And l swear to you, Melvin Hast
ings, that I'd rather be the despised or
phan of John Lee, the murderer and
drunkard, and be chore-boy in my pres
ent place, than be your fathers son.
You have to-day better cause for run
ming away from home than 1 had"
''Why?"
'I'm astonished at you for asking
why. John Lee laid no lashes upon my
soul, except those that were felt through
sympathy with my lacerated back
Melvin Hastings manacles your spirit
and you tamely submit, and quietly
agree to wear the fetters all your life.'
Melvin gazed helplessly around thu
sumptuoss apartment for u moment
and then dropped his eyes and gazeC
r upon the floor abashed Gathering
courage from Henry's silence, he said
suddenly:
'sYou take it pretty hard because
! don't visit your sister"
'If Annie knew what you have jus
told me, do you suppose she'd took a
you?"
Melvin started as if stung by a wasp
The thought that Annie Lee, with he
independent, upright nature, her dee
intelligence, sweet wealth of affection
and heroic devotion to duty, should
even in her present humiliation, be dis
posed to despise him-and he did s
, richly deserve 1.-THE thought tina
when his secret soul so urgently wen
out to her, she wouldn't even look a
him, was so painfully humiliating, tina
q he covered before the honest, indignan
gaze of his mothers servant.
e "Amie Lee may be compelled TO breal
:. cobble stones in the street with her bab.
d brother on her back, because there's n
/. other place on the earth for her or him
n but she'd never stoop to look at a ma
who processes TO love her so dearly tina
"a he'll be miserable all his life withou
n her, and yet goes Off and engages him
n self to somebody that he has no regar
or even respect for, just to join men
>, interests in grazing lands that belong {
= right to cattle that alone can use them.
10 "'Pon my word, you're very plai
with me, Henry; but what would yo
have me do ?'
- "Do right; that's ALL"
a "But what would you do, were you
n my place ?"
"Do you really want me to tell you
az do"
"WeI, I'd go to Net O'Toodles, as
: told you before, an say wern't suite
bv oinqery and that I'd humbly b'
. pardon for havin' consented to the a
20 rangement."
% nBut remember that would raise
J. regular society scandal. The brid
{. trosseau has already been ordered, al
ID public gossip has fixed the weddin
to day"
N 'Does public gossip own you, tn
you are compelled to bow down to it
re Melvin Hastings was learning a vel
al useful lesson. To see ourselves as son