The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-03-27


"Hou will remain with us to lunch ?"
asked Mrs. Brazee, as the Major rose to
take leave, after few formal words
with Judith. But he declined.
"Then we shall insist on your coming
to lunch with US tomorrow. 1 will ask
Mr. Brazee to come up; or if more con-
venient for you, come to dinner, when
my husband is sure to be at home"
The Major promised to come TO
luncheon, and departed.
Then Mrs. Brazee attacked Judith
upon the subject of her letters, repeating
what she had learned from Major Floyd,
and playfully reproving her for not hav-
ing mentioned the matter.
"Why should 1 wish to know Mrs.
Cool % demanded Judith.
"'Why p Because she is q person of
influence whom it is well to know; and
because she will invite you to her house
and give you access to agreeable So
ciety."
''But / do not wish to be invited"
said Judith, refiectively. Then, seeing
Mrs. Brazee's look of protest, added
with pretty confusion, 'It is not, of
course, that object to Mrs. Cool, but
that she may object to me. You know,
dear Mrs. Brazee, that have got my
living to earn, and cannot go into the
society Of fashionable people. shall
bava nathan fba fip,a nor ffa ,,,opa., -
she said, thinking of all her wasted cap
ital, "even if they wanted me, which
they will not, when l take my proper
place in the world" and in spite of a
great effort to seem coolly philosophical
the tears rushed to her eyes; for it is not
such an easy thing for youth, beauty
and good taste to renounce the pleasant
things of life, and play Cinderella in the
ashes.
''AIy DEAR" said Mrs. Brazee, remark
ing the tears; "let us go fortify our
selves with a cup Of tea"
Judith did not take tea, but she inn
proved the interval of getting to table
in reducing her rebellious disposition to
q proper condition of humility.
81 fear you are too impetuous in your
feelings and conclusions" Mrs. Brazee
began, when she had helped Judith to
several delicacies. az should not say
you know yet what is your proper place
i'm the world. You are little discour-
aged now, because We could not fix upon
~ oil af apoa en1 ocSup,a that "a z, ~,
inferior one. But you do not know
that, and what / propose is to make the
most Of your opportunities. Major
Floyd says he cannot imagine you fill
ing such a position as you intimate"
''He may not have lively imagina-
tion," returned Judith, with a sad
humorousness; "but whether he has or
not, l do not see how that affects the
real facts of the case. have few days
in which to select some occupation by
which can earn an independent living.
If have not then determined, / shall
be forced into the street; and once in the
street, who would have me? should
do as that young American lady in
London did, kill myself; 1 know !
should"
"Why, how you shock us, Miss Miles!
Do you know it is wrong to talk in that
way? / must have Doctor Flaxman to
converse with you" But Judith only
laughed little at this threat, thinking
DIR. Flaxman was a surgeon, like Doctor
Kellogg.
"By the way,n said Mrs. Brazee, re-
minded of her religious views; "do you
believe in the doctrine Of Election ?"
"Of election by ballot ?" inquired
Judith, innocently, and at a venture,
not knowing much about elections of
any kind, and still less about the doc
I t-ine of election.
Mrs. Brazee rang the bell sharply,
and rose from the table. She could not
quite make out whether this sharp
witted girl was quizzing her or not, but
she thought it safest TO quit the subject.
"Well, Miss Miles," she said, return
ing to the former topic, az do not want
you to feel, as you say you do, that there
are only so many days to arrange your
affairs in. You are not going into the
street, as you pretend with such serious
absurdity. Tomorrow we will have
the Major to lunch; and next day we
will call on Mrs. Cool and Mrs. Levison.
In the meantime make yourself COM
Portable. By the way, where did you GO
this morning ?"
Judith was strongly minded to tell q
fib about her mornings excursion, but
she remembered that she had resolved
not to be ashamed of doing what was
necessary to be done, and frankly con.
fessed the truth. She had this kind o.
courage, to be herself, no more, no less
without shame; though the lessons she
was receiving were making it all the
time more difficult to be true to herself
Mrs. Brazee elevated her eyebrows al
the narrative. This was rather a strong.
minded young lady after all, and she al.
lowed Judith to see that she did NOT an.
prove OF such decided steps-not vet ai
all events. And Judith, endeavoriue te
read, Kept thinking all that Afternoon
how to prevent the frittering awav q
precious time; for her mind was mad,
up about going into any more fashiona
BILE families as guest, where she shoul,
be continually more and more unfitte,
for the stern realities of her lot. f
must not permit myself for one momen
! to forget what have to do" she said Z