The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-07-10

devil"
81 always thought it was poor boys
that saloons and dead-falls and courts Of
death were open for. It's news to me
that girls are the parties who are in
dangerW said Annie, tossing her head
saucily.
"But women always abound in such
dead-falls, and, as their average life in
them is four years, the ranks must be
filled from somewhere" was the wise
reply.
"Ips no use arguing the question:
said Annie, decidedly. We've got to
have food and clothes and education and
shelter, If We fetch up in the bottomless
pit to pay charges"
So 1t was settled, as the elder sister
decreed, and Annie, with heavy heart,
yet full of the spirit of expectation
which the young so readily inhale, set
tabout the final preparations for re-
moval from the home which, humble as
it was, was yet endeared to her by so
many familiar remembrances that it
was hard indeed to leave it.
Spring, verdant, gorgeous and glori-
ously beautiful, was smiling upon the
answering earth. The refreshing green
of vines and ferns went trailing over the
blackened stumps, and the dead trees
held their skeleton arms sloft above a
wilderness of tangled verdure that over
run their roots and climbed around their
forms as il seeking to hide the cruel
work of the fire-fiend. Homely and
crude as were the Improvements upon
Black Stump Farm, the place had be-
come so deeply endeared to the orphans
that it was hard indeed to part with it,
The meager effects of the household
were crowded into a primitive wagon
the property Of the Sykes family, and
when. all was ready for a removal, and
the lazy oxen stood leisurely chewing
their cuds in the yoke, while dozen
neighbors thronged around to see the
family safely off, Annie took the baby in
her arms and paid farewell visit to the
trysting-place, where the last well-re-
membered interview was held with
Melvin Hastings.
'Tfs no use dreaming Of happiness y
she murmured. Between that man
and me there is great gulf fixed. Fate
and Fortune have made the chasm, and
a maiden's holiest love must not pre-
sumo to cross it. Farewell, sweet mem
ories. A practical girl like Annie Lee,
whose hands are tied by poverty and
duty, must stifie every pleasant dream
and face her destiny with iron will"
"What We dreamin' about, Sis ?'
queried Henry, as with boyish stride.
he stalked along little in advance o
the plodding team.
"of days departed" was the SAT
reply. a
"Neyer mind, Sis; when we get snul
an settled in Portsmouth, your prime,
will come to claim yOu.n ur
"No danger of that" starting on
+ with the heavy child clinging to he
neck. ''I'll never be patronized by any
man. My work is before me, and III
9 devote my life to it, no matter how irk
some it is"
/ "Come, Annie, get in the wagon will
j. little Dick! He's too heavy for you L
d lug up hilIw called Bill Sykes, as h
2 trudged beside the oxen, and brough
: his heavy whip to bear upon them wit
0 loud and oft-repeated crackings Of th
7 cruel lash.
'rNot yet" said Annie, 'T must see M
: mothers grave"
8 When opposite the primitive ceme
6 terry, the wagon was stopped, and th
weeping family clustered around tvs
!. sunken spots that marked the resting
t places Of their parents.
o "Wheneyer 1 can spare the means L
! build a monument to these remains, an
o Pll inscribe upon it nothing but til
words, "Ti0as t0hisky did itn" sal
d Annie, with husky voice, while her eye
were fearless and her whole frame quiz
II cred with her mental suffering.
!. Reaching the city of Portsmouth {
nightfall, the family took refuge in
IS little den of building, situated in a
o open lot, without a bush or tree near i
g where the great desideratum, chea
rent, could De procured.
It Henry's wages as a servant in Il
10 Hastings mansion brought to the fan
g lily and himself the sum of twenty do
lars per month, and, though this pi
to tance was their only visible means
ID support, yet three-fifths OF il must 3
regulurly in ddUdnce to Hastings semi,
E. for a poor roof to shelter them, and
y, spot Of mother earth upon which
le tread with their presumptuous plebia
or feet.
th No mention was made Of the depen
I'd ent family to Henry by the semi
Hastings or his regal wife.
a Melvin had deigned upon one occasi'
xe TO inquire after Annie, but he did u
offer to call upon her, although the po
OF girl had secretly hoped, against the q
cision of her better judgment, that
in might be induced to do so by his o'
desire.
D. The summer dragged wearily on, a
O. the family were reduced to the strict'
le possible straits of economy. Had An
been versed in the art Of refined be
ging, so adroitly persisted In by ocC
ke sional claimants upon public bounty
IL would not have been difficult for her
'e, have secured aid from one Of the ma
re mutual admiration societies for eharl