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

ASSi " hiiit Vi hdIu Stuuy ana
faithful attendance upon his duties
around the Hastings home, had sue
eeeded, not only in securing for himself
n valuable circle of friends in the family
of his employer, but was rapidly becom-
ing great fayorite with his teachers in
the public school. It is wonderful
sometimes to note how obstacles that
rise in the path of SOME persons but
stimlate them TO deeds Of excellence,
and quicken their intuition and judg-
ment into vigorous growth.
The Hastings family were seated at
the breakfast table on the morning fol-
lowing Amie's dismissal from the grand
saloon, and Henry, who had answered a
summons from Melvin in regard to some
proposed plan of occupation for the COM
ing Saturday, had just bowed himself
out of the room, when the senior said,
eyeing his son sharply:
'Henry has pretty sister, hasn't he,
Melvin ?"
The son blushed scarlet, and answered
simply, az believe So"
81 understand that she is very beauti-
full" continued the senior.
Nobody replied, and Alice secretly
nudged her brother under the table, and
smiled meaningly at her sister May.
''Ihey say she's been employed lately
at the Walk In saleon."
" IHhat?" said Alice, in surprise
"Does Henry know?"
"He couldn't help. knowing, and
couldn't help it if he did know. The
girls got to have something TO do, said
pater.famlids.
''But the idea of that beautiful young
girl going TO that place is terrible ~ ex-
claimed Melvin.
'T guess they'll not spoil her particu-
larly," said the elder Hastings with a
shrug. "'Birds of feather will flock to-
gether.' But / hear that she has an
uncle or cousin or a .feIlow, or
something of that sort in town, now,
and probably she'll not live common"
Melvin junior arose and left the room.
He was heart-sick- No other woman
had every stirred his selfish affections,
and awakened the fashion-enfeebled
better emotions of his soul as had the
guileless maiden, Annie Lee. He went
to his room, and, throwing himself upon
the bed, buried his face in his hands.
''Have done all I could to save that
radiant and guileless creature from des-
titutiOn? Was it not my duty to visit
her, and render what aid 1 could in her
great trials ?" he soliloquized, as her
tear-stained face haunted him with its
expressive, unutterable memories.
"If I could have gotten rid of Nettie
O'Toodles that day when met her on
the street." he continued, "but then
hadn't the courage to face the world and
befriend my darling"
"Melvin Hastings, your fathers ricl
man, and you're a rich pauper. Yot
are bowling to fate, and allowing your
self to be fettered by fashion and Gus
tom; and you're a coDGrd, or you''
visit Annie Lee, and be her friend il
spite of what the world would think o
you" said conscience, in a still, small
voice.
A timid rap on the door startled him
"Come imp was the response, an,
Henry Lee stood before him, shaking
from head to foot.
whats the matter now, bOy?'
Haven't you heard ?"
"Heard what 81
THAT Amie's been and waited ol
men in the Walk In and because sh
wouldn't make men drunk, the proprie
tor turned her out Of doors ~ =
"Why did Annie think of engaging il
such business? 1 am overcome witt
modification ~ said Melvin, with tn
air of one who had been badly abused.
"What else in thunder could she dc
Pd like to have you tell me ?' said tn
boy, Indignantly. "Nobody would EN-
ploy her in their homes, because sh
had an incum6rance, a baby brothe
that pious people couldn't have aroun
'em. She could tend saloon at nigh
and stay at home daytimes and kee
Dick, and so she went to the saloon"
"But such employment, or even Il
suspicion that a young lady has eve
entered into such place, is ruinous
her reputation"
"Yet girls are there-plenty of them
"I know IT," said Melvin, though
fully; "but if 1 should happen to s
Annie there, 1 should die with mortific
tion."
81 don't think you have any mo
business there than she has" sa
Henry, hotly. "She went to the saloc
to earn money to help me to keep ol
brothers and sisters from starving"
'But, Henry, you must rememb
that it wasn't necessary for her to choo
that kind of business"
'But tell you it 1Cas necessary. Yc
have been kind to me, and /, knowir
you loved my sister, had every reason
believe that you would use"your inf
ence to get her respectable employmeu
1 don't like to complain, but it won
have been a little thing for you to do
visit her, and you haven't done ev,
that"
"Henry, my boy, sit down. You a
much younger than ], and our soci