The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-03-27

laughing.
sDid Mrs. Brszee propose that to you
as a calling?" asked the Major. "Tell
me what you and she did say. am
curious to know how ladies' set about
business"
With increasing courage, and some
sallies of gaiety, Judith recounted the
mornings conversation. ''But it is
quite serious" she added, at the last,
"becaAse Mrs. Brazee is going away in a
week or two, and must find something
to do before that time"
'T am curious to know Mrs. Brazee, /"
was the only reply to this revelation.
"Come in and be introduced, for here
we are at the house"
Mrs. Brazee had just come in, and re-
eeiyed the Major impressively, having
a great respect for military men. She
laughingly reproved Judith for going
out alone with so little knowledge OF
the city, though to be sure, she said in
conclusion, "You may as well learn to
go about alone; and your not being
afraid is good thing"
'But was horribly afraid, at first"
returned Judith, smiling at her hostess,
and running up stairs to put away her
things.
Mrs. Brazee seized the opportunity to
say word behind her back.
'I WONDER" she said, 'if Mrs. Stewart
knew what kind of a girl she was throw
ing upon my hands ?"
81 beg your PARDON" returned the
Major, waiting to be further enlight-
ened.
81 mean how helpless and deplorably
ignorant. Positively, there is no situa-
ton she can fill-that 1 know of-ex-
cept that of a childis nurse. She would
do very well for a princess, with heI
beauty and her style; but for SER
vant!-" Struggling her shoulders.
81 could not imagine Miss Miles in
that capacity" returned the Major,
smiling, Except as Cinderella"
"Really, however, she is not fitted for
anything else; and she is forced to earn
her living. 1t is a great pity, is it not,
that a girl should have grown up with
out any sort of useful knowledge ?"
and Mrs. Brazee looked intelligently
shocked.
"She can become fitted for something,
no doubt" replied the Major, ignoring
the question. "Should you not say she
has rather unusual intelligence And
certainly it could be put to some use,
and made to furnish her with a respect
able living ?"
''But who is to do it, Major Floyd ?''
elevating her eyebrows. "I cannot.
In few days my house will be shut up,
and a couple of hundred miles away
from here.n
"She has letters to Mrs. General Cool,
and to Mrs. Levison, both ladies of high
position, so Mrs. Stewart told me. Will
not these ladies do anything to give
Miss Miles a start in life? 1t seems to
me they might.n
Mrs. Brazee reflected. She had a
slight acquaintance with Mrs. Levison,
but none with Mrs. General Cool. Here
was an opportunity to make the ac-
quaintance of the latter lady, to whose
receptions she would then be invited.
She might owe something to Judith
after allan eRtree to the military set,
which had long been her secret ambi-
tion.
''I was not aware" she said, ''thai
Miss Miles had such letters; though
there is reference to Mrs. Cool in Mrs
Stewards letter TO me. Perhaps one o
these ladies may be able to suggest
something. Pm very glad you men
toned it, because it really would have
distressed me TO have had to go away
and leave the dear girl unprovided for
Do you know lowering her voice mys
teriously, "the Judge, Mr.. Brazee
wished to adopt Miss Miles. He isquit'
taken with her grace and talent"
''The wish does credit to his taste
returned the Major. "Does she know
it?p
al should not tell her unless it wa
decided upon. But 1 objected upon th'
very ground of her attractions, dom
you see? The young men have eyes a
well as the old ones, and we could no
expect to keep her long. Have you !;
family, Major2i
AT that moment Judith re-appeared
and the Majors reply was lost i'm tn,
pleasant little commotion Of her en-
trance. She had stopped to brush n,
her short eurls, and place tiny butter
fly bow of pink ribbon over her left ear
bit of coquetry that was not unnotice,
by her visitor, who observed her closely
She had certainly never appeared t
greater advantage. This crisis in he
life called every faculty and feeling int
stronger play, and she was, as he ha
told her, looking radiant. The very fac
, of being surrounded by elegance an
beauty made her more elegant an
beautiful, as it does all sensitively ol
} ganized persons. The delight, th
charm, the sentiment Of such thing
were absorbed into herself, and radiate
again through her in every motion
smile, expression. The same effe'
would have been apparent in the pre-
enee Of striking natural beauty or sui
Unity. Reflected in her face woul
have been the sentiment it inspire'
But this absorbent quality Of certai