The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-07-31

lulO DuSAueSSi i IA SSht AoA sNui anu
give you a place in my Office as clerk"
"Are you i'll earnest?"
"Never more So"
''Then I'm not sorry you are going
away"
But her tears told different story at
the final parting on the steamers deck.
"Call on Henry's sister, won't you,
Al? She needs friend, and you can
help her with sympathy and love if you
have nothing else to offer"
"Why do you want me to bestow par
ticular attention upon herr"
'For my sake, sister. Do you under
stand?"
"Yes."
"Will you promise ?"
Certainly"
"God bless you, then. You're worth
a score OF common sisters"
Mrs. Hastings parted with her son in
his little box of stateroom of the
steamer cabin. The knowledge that her
only boy should be compelled to leave
the paternal roof under ban, disgraced,
disinherited, and for no fault except the
natural and manly assertion of his in
alienable individuality, while it was
fault, If one at all, of which she was Sc
cretly proud, was nevertheless n morti-
flying concession to make to society,
added to the maternal feelings that
struggled for the mastery. Contending
emotions would have thrown her into
violent Mysteries but for the presence of
mind and enforced calmness of Melvin,
who drew glowing picture of the near
by future when he should return, with
fortune, to engage in vast speculations,
to be envied by his father, whom he
''never 'gould forgive, no, neUer."
But the gong sounded for all friends of
passengers to so ashore, and the mother
departed, leaving many an unspoken
''God bless you" behind her.
There was one who fingered till the
last moment to get and give parting
word; and that one, though less demon
strative than the mother and sisters,
suffered as keenly as they.
"How can I.part with the only friend
have in Portsmouth ?'' said Henry
Lee, as he grasped Melvin's trembling
hand and sobbed goodbye"
81 haven't been the friend might
have been had been free" was the de-
cisive answer "But never mind, my
boy. Pll never be in leading strings
again. Al pawned an Etruscan locket
to get money for me to travel upon, or
I'd have been the scullion Of this voy-
age; and mother gave me jewel of
considerable value, so Pm not penni-
less; but don't peach to the governor, or
he'd be ugly with the ladies. Just do
your duty, boy, and take good care Of
Annie"
The plank was to be torn up now, and
Henry hurried away, reaching the dock
just as the ponderous vessel was loosened
from her moorings and began to turn,
creaking and groaning with the effort,
into the current of the winding river.
Mrs. Hastings and Alice drove away
with no deeper feelings of grief aud des-
olation than swelled in the breast of the
young coachman as they bowled along
the streets.
AS they were passing the O'Toodles
mansion on the way home, the mother
Of the Tilted girl stood at the gate and
beckoned to Henry to stop the carriage.
He deferentially obeyed, and she began
TRADE Of abuse upon Melyin's mother
and sister, to which the same woman's
attack upon poor Annie Lee was as
chlld's play in comparison.
"Drive on, Henry" said Mrs. Hast
ings, calmly. "Drive us to your sisters
residence. want to call upon her"
Henry's heart sank within him at the
thought of his proud and beautiful sis
ter's poor surroundings, but he knew
, that expostulation would be both use
less and unbecoming.
"If Annie was only expecting them r
he sighed, as they neared the door. al
she only had little warning to be dig
nified and on her guard I'd feel better
"You must come in and introduce US
Henry" said Mrs. Hastings, kindly.
Annie was seated upon stool, will
her raven curls dropping forward upor
her face and bosom, and so deeply alb
sorbed in volume of poems that sh,
did not heed the approach of her guest:
until their shadows darkened the door
way.
Dick was asleep in the battered boz
cradle, with one chubby hand resting
upon his peachy cheek. The scan
furniture of the room was severely nea
and methodical in its arrangement. AL
this Alice and her mother noted at
glance.
e Henry introduced his friends in 6
d bashful, awkward way. The name o
a Hastings sent a sudden blush of beauti
e full confusion to Amie's cheeks.
d Giving her curls that tSpeculiar, grace
full toss which always sent them bacl
e to their proper place, as though they in
8 telligently -obeyed a silent command
d Annie closed the book and received he
r visitors, offering them the few rougl
chairs the little room afforded with
= charming air of easy welcome which as
I, tonished them.
Airs. Hastings had called with he
# roic determination to sacrifice her owl
d prejudice against having children il
: the house, intending to offer Annie po
+ sition as chambermaid in her mansion
4