The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-11-13

being Mrs. Bob Green" was the ready
reply.
"Well, my pet, miss is as good as a
mile. You're just as safe as though you
had never met him. Let the dead past
bury its dead"
The wedding banquet was feast Of
reason and a flow of soul. The festivi-
ties were prolonged till late hour, one
of the most noted features of the occa>
sion being the absence of champagne.
James Lee, who for two months had
sacredly kept his pledge, was welcomed
as an agreeable and gifted guest.
"How happy 1 am tonight I" said
Annie to her husband, as she looked
with a radiant smile into his face.
"How happy am, and yet, IL this con-
vivial throng were drinking wines,
should be miserable, for I should
know that both James aud Henry who
inherit appetites for stronger drinks
than wine would fall victims If tempta-
tions should be cast in their way"
''We have had a speech from Mrs.
Hastings tonight, and we now demand
one from her husband" exclaimed q
gay Lieutenant whom Annie suddenly
remembered as Bill Sykes, and who
had recently returned from a protraeted
experience in West Point.
''My wife makes the speeches." was
the laughing reply. 'The most elo-
quent and loquaeious member of the
family must wear the laurels of ora
tory"
IA speech from Henry Lee, then ="
cried a voice. "Oratory runs in fami-
lies"
'T yield the palm to my gifted sister,"
said Henry gracefully.
"You might give US another disserta-
ton upon the spheres of the sexes" ("
laughed Clara Morton Hastings, and
the merriment grew general at Henry's
expense.
"Oratory runs in families" repeated
Mrs. Ainslee, archly. "I insist that my
nephew, Mr.. Henry Lee, shall honor US
with a speech upon the Woman Ques-
tion."
"Cousin Clara, Iappeal TO you !" cried
Henry, blushing and trying to smile.
"You got me into that 'scrape' over at
the Delmonieo-you know you did-and
if you don't help me out, Pll tell"
Enough ~ was the quick reply. al
request you, Mrs. Ainslee, to excuse
your nephew, Mr.. Henry Lee, and allow
me to introduce his equally gifted, but
very modest brother James,"
The young gentleman thus called,
Annie, who had always regarded him as
a mother might Sn epileptic child who
was ever ready to fall through his own
inherent helplessness, grew pale and
tremulous.
"Speech-making isn't my forte" said
the young man bashfully, "but since
you've called me out, I'd like to ask this
august and happy assembly to untangle
the matrimonial snarl in which my
uncle and these other love-blind friends
have foolishly involved themselves.
Alice Hastings, my beautiful relative, !"
bowling low as he spoke, "has become
the aunt of her brother and sister. My
brother is the brother-in-law of his
uncle and the nephew of his own sister
My sister is the sister-in-law Of her
uncle and the niece of her brother-in-
law. Miss May Hastings has disap-
peared and in her stead has risen Mrs.
Henry Lee, who is the sister-in-law of
her uncle and the niece of her own sister.
Uncle John Ainslee is the brother-in-
law of his nephew, the uncle of his sister
in-law and the brother-in-law of his
niece. Thequestion hinges not so much
upon how are we now to distinguish our
relations, but upon how these foolish
people are to answer to the rising gen.
Grafton of Ainslees, Lees and Hastings,
for having entangled them in this mex
tricable labyrinth of incomprehensible
snarls."
"Didn't tell you that genius runs In
families ?" queried Mrs. Alice Ainslee,
assoon as the merriment had sufficiently
subsidized to enable her to be heard.
But reader, why prolong the story?
If in perusing these pages from week
to week you found aught to sympathize
with aught in human law or custom,
which you could wish to change, abol-
ish or ameliorate ; aught in the charac-
tsrs portrayed to emulate or initiate or
shun If in pursuing the fortunes OF our
ideal and yet real characters-ifin think
ing over their lives and lots you have
been amused or benefited, our labor
for many weeks and months has not
been performed in vain.
Indeed, there is little more to tell; for
our story has followed its characters
down to the living, acting present, and
as we take reluctant leave of them, let
us Introduce you to three new, grand and
stately homes in Portsmouth, where our
friends are living in peace and plenty
having profited by their trials, grown
philanthropic through suffering, merci.
ful through prolonged bitter experience
liberal through privation and purified
by repeated disappointments.
Melvin Hastings junior has been re
instated by his father, has become s
silent partner in the paternal business
and is also somewhat famous as al
artist. Annie, his gifted and peerless
wife, grows constantly in favor as {
graceful and gifted writer, whose pro
{ J..t;.,,. 80 &, ufaadv dapaaud ao,one