The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-12-25

WIS
"Poor child ~ said Matte as she bent
over her for a second. t"But why need ]
say of her poor chiId% She's better of
than I, for she isn't conscious of her
troubles"
Again the Observation-Disclosures bro
gans and skirts were changed for the mo-
rocco shoes and inevitable blue delaine.
Her hair was loosened from the hood,
and fell in a luxuriant golden maze over
her bust and shoulders, and the cheap
lace at her wrists and throat, frightened
by knot Of delicate rose-colored ribbon,
transformed her from n shabby drudge
into a perfect marvel Of beauty.
The doctor was drying his boots before
the fire when she went below. His
look of gratified surprise, as his eyes
noted the great change few moments
at her toilet had wrought, was met by
Matte with flashing eyes and deep-hued
bushes.
"The double task of being both drudge
and lady is excessively becoming to you,
Miss Armstrong"
"Not in my own eyes, doctor, and
hold that my first duty is to please
myself. Do you think that you could,
for any consideration, no matter how
great, be induced to spend your life as
am spending mine ?"
mot exactly. / should want, If
were a sweet woman, to have happy
home, kind husband, loving children,
and plenty of friends"
ain order to possess these, wOtild you
be willing to work sixteen hours out OF
twenty-four, with never q prospect fol
any remuneration, except a pain in the
side, tired feet and a rufiled temper?'
"Tou are cynical, Miss Armstrong
No woman ought TO overwOrk. My
mother never does. And no woman ha:
need of other remuneration than com.
Portable home and the society of hel
loved ones"
"WOuld such work and such condi.
tions satisfy you ?'
mot being n woman, l should say
no."
"Aud not being "A woman, respect
fully submit that you cannot he eompe
tent to judge woman's needs"
"What are your brightest aspirations
Miss Armstrong ?"
al hardly know, sir. Sometimes
fancy should like the law, then physi,
attracts me, and then authorship. Again
/ fancy the platform sometimes mil
linery or dress-making, and then again
teaching. But do what may to schoo
myself to it, l never can like house
work. 1t spoils my clothing, makes m,
hands rough and my temper ugly
makes my back ache and my feet tired
and nothing ever stays in order, no mat
ter how hard l work. The worst of j
all is, there's no money in it, and cam
get along comfortably without cash"
The doctor looked annoyed. Tn
worst feature he could see in the case a
Matte diagnosed it was, that there wa
foundation for truth in her decisions
and yet, he saw no way TO make thing
better.
Supper being over for the others, cIeal
plates were placed upon the dirty tabl
cloth, and Matte and the doctor sa
down to tea.
"What supper ~ exclaimed Matte
"But then it's always the way with
woman. She may toll till ready to dro
dead in her tracks, and then fail to &c
anything fit to eat unless she cooks it..
"Women ought not to work so harC
Miss Matte. 1t does seem TO me tina
some basis of operations might be de
cided upon by the sex which would saw
them from so much drudgery."
'"rhetrouble is that women are power
less" replied Matte bitterly. "If
owned this ranch and all that's OH IL, L
soon bring comfort out of all this confu
sion aud take care of myself in the bal
gain but dear-a-me ! Pm nothing bu
a woman, with no prospect ahead but
marry Ziek Woodwork, and let hir
smoke in the corner while wade in til
milking pen," and Matte smiled at th
absur,lity.
"Have you forgotten your other ma
rimonlal chance :" and the doctor leane
across the table, over his cracked tes
cup, and looked meaningly into he
eyes.
"As IGue ~ cried John, as he bounde
into the sitting room "Doc.'s poppe
the question heard him And Ms
blusled like sheet lightnin'. saw it a
through a crack i'm the door,"
Ziek Woodwork took the hint. .
possible match between himself an
Matte had been talked of confidential
between the gentleman and her fatht
upon several occasions T; but this eveI
ing, when on the eve of departure, Ill
dissatisfied suit0r remarked 10 his er,
while prospective father-in-law, al guei
she wouldn't suit. When a woman ge
stuck-up notions in her head about h'
} duds an duties, and other sich nonsens
she's not apt to make a feller n ver
J agreeable companion"
When the evening had grown lat
and Matte retired to her chambe
} where for the last night Nettie was to
+ its inmate, bearing in her hands tl
bowl of porridge which the sleeping IL
| valid had just walked to need, two heart
at least, were happy.
} Doctor Harding rode along the flint
way to Stonehenge in the deep SHADOW
, - sko ,,,0onI;f ,,f.rI,f That la ~,