The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-06-12

sues Au lBlOIdulf ANSbiC vi uure
Melvin Hastings, who had counted
his conquests among maidens by the
score, had suddenly met a new expert
enee. He fully believed that with
honied words and tender glances he
could WOO this girl and have "good
tlme'i in gratifying his vanity by max
ing love. Her direct, practical ques-
tions disarmed his tongue of its fiattery
and he was silent.
"You spoke to me this morning of
Maud Muller and matrimony," said the
dAuntless girl. "You don't repeat that
nonsense now"
"Oh, Amiew said the young man,
desperately, "you are so different from
any other girl ever knew. You seem
to have no heart for love. Everything
with you Is as plain and practical as
though you were fifty years old"
"And why shouldn't be, pray ?"
because you are young and beautiful
and intelligent. Your frame is slight,
your natural habits dainty, and you
need as much care and petting and love
as my sisters canary"
$50 does my mother, poor darling,
but she never gets them"
"Amie, won't you love me, just a
little?"
The girl was struggling hard to retain
full mastery over her own feelings.
Love him! Why, his thought had be-
come part Of her very existence, and
had not her good, native sense assured
her that she would be no fitting COM
panion for q cultured, wealthy man Of
the world, in whose presence she should
always feel her own dependence and in
feriority, provided he would marry her
which wasn't at all likely-she would
have yielded to the sweet allurement of
his smiles and fully acknowledged her
Observation-Disclosures. AS it was, she
evasively answered, "I will love you
sometime, maybe; that is, will, if ever
can feel myself your peer in culture and
refinement. know / am already that
in native mother wit" rising with a
light laugh and shaking back the curls
/ from her face with peculiar grace.
Melvin Hastings was annoyed. For
once he had met his match in love-
making.
"And now, sir knight, as 1 trust we
fully understand each other, l hope you
will leave Black Stump Farm without
any more delay"
"Upon my word, Amie," looking
sorely troubled, ''this is very sudden.
What have done to merit this per-
emptory dismissal ?''
Annie burst into tears. "You were
kind to my poor brother, sir, but you
struck my drunken father. He has
gone Off to-day after a magistrate, and
don't want you dragged before our half
drunk Justice of the Peace upon trial for
assault"
"But won't run, Annie. That fellow
isn't over his spree yet, and he might
kill some of you. What should l do il
he were to strike my lamb ?" catching
her passionately in his arms as he
spoke.
Release me, sir! This is not proper"
as with face suffused with bushes she
.struggled to be free.
so, Sisp called frightened voice
which Annie recognized rs Sues.
Stepping out of the shade of the
bushes, Annie revealed herself to the
child, who, armed with the visitors
gun, begged him to accept it and depart
before her father should return with {
warrant for his arrest.
"If you love me, you will go" sale
Annie.
"But / have no notion Of running
from justice. l should like an oppor
tunity to prove, before 4 court, the crue
treatment your father visited upon thi
boy"
''It would kill my mother, sir TAX
your gun and go"
"without one parting word, IN!
dear?"
"No; / will say goodbye, and ma.
God and the angels bless you" frank,
extending her hand and looking sorrow
fully into his eyes as she spoke.
The presence OF Sue fortunately re
strained the young man and prevente
another outburst OF passionate tender
ness OF which both might live to b
ashamed.
"For your mothers sake l will g
little one, bat it makes me feel like
culprit to go skulking Off like this"
Great was the rage of the head of tn
Lee family when he found that the ma
who had dared to interfere with h
legal rights had given him the dOdg
The weary woman on the bed Of illnei
was accused at connivance in his escap
and all of the household shrank an
> covered before their legal protector as
he were n wild beast in whose la
they were unwittingly compelled
abide.
t Henry kept out of sight all day. Jill
/, had managed to send him luncheon
the woods, and when night came ar
e the head of the family lay in q drunke
o sleep upon the bed behind his mothe
!. the boy came in, and stealing up to he
!. held long and earnest conversation
d a guarded undertone.
o "I will stay If you command m
a mother. You have always been kin
II and gentle with me, and I am so sorry
have ever been impatient and cross, b
y that drunken dog"
uSton darlincy or ,-c,, ,,.;tt h,.oaI- -