The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-04-24
CHAPTER XXI.
Ak OLD FRIEND ~ A xrw Ilcur.

WHAT Juultn IN her ignorance had pic
tured il; orcould she ali at once fix upon
herself habits of study that were salts
factory either to herself or her teachers.
However, by much faithful effort, she
was gradually making her way in the
elementary branches Of education, and
gaining much faster in the knowledge
Of social requirements, and the popular
art of pleasing. She had discovered by
the end Of six weeks that it is compara-
lively easy TO learn to be an elegant
lady; but a much more difficult task to
become well grounded in the solid
branches of learning. She computed
the time that, at her present rate of
progress, it would take TO fit her for the
duties Of a teacher; and her courage de
clined as she thought of being for such
length of time dependent upon the
bounty OF Major Floyd. At such mo-
ments she was tempted to relinquish
his favors, and resort, after all, to man
ual employment, for the sake of inde-
pendence.
But an interview with her patron,
who usually called at Mrs. Brazee's on
Judith's stated home days, seldom
failed to set her mind at rest; for Major
Floyd had talent for making things
seem as he wished them to seem; and
he wished TO make Judith feel that she
was doing the very best for herself pos
sible. Then he brought with him al
ways that comfortable sense Of protec-
tiop, and assuring air of being equal to
all things, which made Judith long for
his presence when her Judgment mis-
gave her. And once she ventured TO
confess TO him her doubts and fears, and
to propose relieving him of the burden
Of her support.
''If, in the event Of my death, were
to leave you heir to my bank stock,
should you decline the inheritance ?" /
he questioned, with his protecting
smile. "Pray, give me the satisfaction |
Of liUing to see you enjoy It. You would |
suffer compunctions Of conscience / :
know, if you could be made aware of
the danger Of my committing hdTi kari,
should your scruples continue"
The result Of this conversation was
marked accession Of hOpefulness and
high spirits during the next fortnight of
study.
The change in Judith's mode of life
was so great, that the wonder was, not
that she accomplished so little, but that
she accomplished so much in the mo-
notonous routine of school exercises.
Besides, the difficulty of settling down
to measured duties after the excitements
of so long period, was still farther in
creased by the introduction into her life
Of a new element, hitherto curiously
always omitted-the eompanionship of
girls of her own age. The young ladies
at Madame Ms were at first as much
a study TO Judith as her arithmetic.
Their enthusiastic friendships, and
equally violent dislikes; their coquet-
ries and rivalries; their avoidance OF
plain duties, and small deceits; their
silly talk about gentlemen, and hints at
intrigues against school discipline; and,
withal, their general amiability and
terested our single-minded Judith. For
tunately for her, her beauty and bright
ways, together with a certain romance
which pertained to the reports of Ju-
dith's antecedents, whispered around
among the girls, gained for her their
good will, and left her undisturbed by
their criticisms, where it did not make
Of her prominent favorite.
Thus the first six months OF school
life passed without any disturbing
events, and with no variety except thai
afforded by the interval of the winter
holidays, when Mrs. Brazee ctapcronec
her young lady to several parties an,
places Of amusement, including an even
ing of festivities at Mrs. Cool's, wher
the military were in full force.
Judith had several times had glimpse
of Mr.. Shultz in public places, an
never without quiekening of the puls'
and a nervous desire to avoid hi
vicinity, as well as a secret curiosity
discover from his appearance how b
was affected by the loss of his wifi
Seeing in his manner no signs of h
bereavement, but only the same cheel
ful demonstrativeness of deportmer
which had once been a cause for adm
ration and confidence, awakened in ht
mind now the opposite feeling of disIik
and distrust. The resentment she fe
at this seeming Indifference, Judit
charged entirely to the account of th
dead Mrs. Shultz; but we strongly sn
pect that unconsciously to herself a
old account Of her own was inelude,
'It was like him. she said to hersel
''tO forget his wife in six months. ar
be saying just the same kind and falsel
fiattering things to any other woma,
What Il fool she had been in the o
time - At which her cheeks blaz,
with color, thinking of that day VIII,
he had kissed her, and told her he cou
not live without her. "Not live wit
out her, indeed II looked like that