The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-02-20

Ing NJ ner tuat Ieally WOulu not nave
her move"
Judith looked up and smiled at her
friends. "What is it, Doctor, that am
to do to-day ?"
''Talk. DO you feel like talking 4?
There is q matter of business waiting
your return to business habits"
Judith looked ineredulous-or rather,
questioning.
mo, you do not know anything of it;
am aware of that, and therefore have
to tell you. 1t relates to your past his
tory, and We have never talked about
that, have We? Well, do you think you
could tell US what it is necessary for us
to know ?' asked the Doctor with grave
politeness-
"About myself? o, please ask me
questions. 1 should not know what you
thought necessary to learn about me-
that you do not know" replied Judith,
with dawning comprehension of some
thing to come that she should shrink
| from.
Remember that you are not to let the
Doctor talk about business unless you
wish it," said Mrs. Stewart, bringing
her camp-stool close TO Judith's chair.
''There is time enough, is there not,
Doctor?n
30, but wish to understand the Doc
tor at once. 1t is something important,
or he would not ask me-" said Judith,
anxiously, in return.
Important to yourself, not to us, my
dear Miss Miles. 1t concerns some prop
erty which belongs to you, and which
you can now sell for the cash, If you
choose. We presumed you would like to
dispose of it in that way"
az don't understand have no prop
erty-nothingri answered Judith, q
sudden comprehension of her poverty
and dependence rushing over her, bring
ing with it the old customary sense of
care. Mrs. Stewart saw the little cloud,
and brushed it away with a touch and a
smile.
81 am glad to tell YOU" pursued the
Doctor, "that you hare something of
your own, and may have a still larger
portion. The wagons and most of the
stock belonging to the train you were in
have been saved and are in the hands of
the Quartermaster. These are things
for which the Government has use,
and you can sell your own. II Is also
understood that the other wagons and
stock belonging to the train are to be
given to you, as they are now without
owners, and it is not probable any
claimants will ever appear. Shall it be
so ."
Judith had no reply-no expression of
thanks for this kindness. The picture
of that hour when she had last known
anything about these things was re-
storing itself on her brain, and she was
trying to face il without shrinking. She
closed her eyes and laid back on her
chair in silence, looking as if she were
fainting. Mrs. Stewart made move
ment of alarm, but the Doctor whis-
pered "wait," and prepared something
in the medicine glass which the patient
WAS invited to drink.
ave thought it best" continued the
Doctor, giving Judith little time to re-
: cover herself, "to have this matter de-
cided, for your sake. You will be want
ing some things-you ladies are always
wanting things-and means to take you
to your friends, when you wish to go, as
no doubt you sometime will. We have
thought of all of this for you, and only
{ wait your appreciation"
Judith put out her hand, seized Mrs.
r Stewards, and holding it fast, gave way
2 to violent fit of weeping-an indul'
p gence in which she was encouraged by
! both her friends, who knew that "aftel
, storm comes q calm" When these
natural tears" had had their way, the
: power of speech returned. Feeling tha
reply was expected, Judith summed i
all up in one brief sentence:
:, "You are very kind; / will take wha
is my own; have not a friend in tn,
world that know Off
Mrs. Stewart gave the Doctor a lool
4 which said great deal, and might b,
: Interpreted as follows: "Poor thing
? She is on our hands; what shall we dC
with her ?" but she answered Judith
!, ''You are not to distress yourself abou
your affairs. Just trust yourself to you
= friends here, for the present; by and b.
!, will be time enough to consider wha
shall be done. There is no occasion t
) worry, dear-not the least in the world.
: ''Not friend in the worldr' repeate
!, the Doctor. "Do you wish to be under
! stood as having neither relatives @
a other friends ?"
= "I do" answered Judith, with an e
fort to command the muscles Of he
- face. "You think that strange, pei
\ haps. 1t does not seem strange to nj
had so few, and lost them all at once.
- "Tell me something about them, can
- you ?n asked Mrs. Stewart softly, holC
!. ing Judith's hand and stroking it gentl.
a. f'The Doctor and l have been so vel
v. interested in you, and wish so much
Sc learn about your life before you can
r here"
en- Thus gently entreated, Judith state
in few and simple words, the history
rs her life up to the time of the massaeT
u, only reserving such facts in the recO
Ak oil the past year, as filial respect and pc
n gnn1l dolfaonxv -