The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-08-07
CHAPTER XI.

Mother, that girls perfect Jewel -
said Alice, with enthusiasm, as the car
riage door closed with bang, and the,
settled themselves upon the cushion.
aud went bowling down the street
shes elegant enough for a Queen.
daughter, so far as outside appearances
goes, but pride and poverty don't 90 to.
gether comfortably" was the maternal
response
We've promised Melvin TO look after
her but Pm sure l can't imagine how
we shall be able to do her any good, -
continued the mother in a vexed tone.
'She declined the position offered her
as though she might be worth million.
l believe her brothers story about the
destitution of the family was nothing
but an excuse for her conduct"
"Well, mother, Pm going to get well
acquainted with her, at any rate. We
can't pafr0Ri-e her, that's evident. pH
drop in 10 see her frequently, and when
We get thoroughly sociable, and she
learns to lore me, I'll find out all about
her real circumstances"
Her house is not a proper place for
you to enter at all, except upon errands
Of charity, and if she won't receive aid
from US in any way, there is nothing
left for US to do, but to stay away from
her. At all events, my duty has been
fulfilled. | promised Melvin to visit
her, and Ihave done it," said the mother,
with the air Of one who had sacrificed
dignity to duty, and become a martyr
to principle.
Il saw nothing improper about her
home. Everything was as clean rs the
utmost degree of good housewifery
could make it. Indeed, never saw our
cabin on the cattIe-ranche look half so
tidy and comfortable"
"But there is no evidence of absolute
destitution about the house. Henry de-
clared that starvation was staring them
in the face, or she never would have en-
tered the walk In as 4 waiter. Pm
afraid your father heard the truth when
he was told that she had found felIO1C,
and now, come to think of it, it's no
wonder she declined situation in our
house as chambermaid. That class of
women never will go out to service.
Tm very sorry that We called upon her
Mrs. O'Toodles will blazon the fact all
over the city, aud our names will be in
everybOdy's mouth"
"Mrs. O'Toodles can't control me,
mother. And, as to your suspicious,
you wrong Annie and you wrong my
brother by harboring them for an in
slant. Men can always tell what wom-
an may be visited by their mothers and
sisters with safety, and can as easily
give good advice as TO whom they must
not countenance."
That's true enough concerning men
who are not IN lore but lot woman
once fascinate a man who has good
sense and average judgment about
everything and everybody else, and
forthwith she becomes an angel in his
eyes, and he can't be made to see any
thing wrong about her. 1 am glad
Melvin has left the State. He'll get
over his 5oyish fancy after he sees
brighter faces"
"If your hope is born of the expecta-
tiOn that he'll find mere beautiful or
intelligent girl to whom TO transfer his
affections, you might as well abandon it
at once. Annie Lee lacks nothing but a
place to bloom in. Did you note the
fuschia and geranium leaves at her
throat and in her hair?"
ayes, my child, and have no doubt
but some masculine admirer presented
them to her. Such flowers are not
found on the common. She couldn't
afford to buy them if as poor as Henry
represents her, and of course she has no
lady associates who would make her
presents. I am not at all pleased tUih
her. She assumed an air of equality
with us which was perfectly disgusting.
The more think of it, the more am
astonished at Melvin"
"Aud the more think of it, the more
deeply do realize that you and are
precious pair of fools in that we ever
imagined that Annie Lee would come
into our house rs a servant"
"Her brother Henry is employed in
that capacity"
"But he is not lover Of one of your
daughters. Besides, if he were, there is
no more comparison between the two
than there is between refined gold and
pg-iron."
The carriage halted at this moment
in front Of the Hastings mansion, and
Henry, rs he opened the door for the
egress Of the ladies, heard the mother
say softly, 'Be careful, Alice. Women
in the lower walks OF life are almost GER
tain TO be loose in morals"
Henry blushed with Indignation. AZ
these words burned themselves into his
soul. "But what il the suspicious of
his mistress in regard to Annie were
true ~ he suddenly asked himself. The
bare suggestion was so humiliatinp that
he forgot the honest indignation which
had arisens and should have remained
within him, TO repel the accusation.
and, shame upon the Joyg he began TO
secretly weigh the conduct of his sister
in the scales Of doubt and prejudice. Bv