The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-01-30
CHAPTER TX.
rFAxr-rAKISn.

LEAyE-TAKISG.
One bright November day, two
months after the visit of Mr.. Shultz
spoken Of in the last chapter, there was
an unusual. stir about the premises Of
Jack Miles; a constant coming and 90
ing, litter of rubbish scattered about
the entrance TO the house, and, more sig
nihcRnt than all, heavy wagon stood
ready 10 receive such household gear as
the Western ''mover' takes with him
wherever he goes-beds, cooking uten-
sils, chests of necessary clothing, sup
plies Of coffee and sugar.
Some early showers had fallen
enough to start the grassland on the
first appearance of verdure Jack Miles
had given the order to prepare for Jour
neying. He would not even wait for
such of the neighbors as promised to ac-
company him if he would defer his start
until the spring.
Pears like yer in a powerful hurry,
Jack" they said to him; ''most ov folks
don't start ter go on sech mighty long
journey fore the feed gils up right smart
in the spring. 'Tain't safe, nuther,
traVlin by yerself through the Iniun
country. Better stop till spring an git
good ready"
'pve got all the ready I want.
thank'ee," Miles returned. "Reckon
thar'n be feed huff fur nay stock; an
'beout the Injuns-the more ov us thar
be, the bigger the dust tharIl be kicked
up; an Injuns is alters a-watchin' -eout
fur big dust"
"Waal, hope yell slip thru Arizony
'theout maxim any-that's what I
hope"
Such was the general comment on
Miles undertaking. On the whole,
Miles had the respect of his class, and
their sympathy, too: for the neighbors
guessed his feelings about Boone, though
he never spoke of them. He had no
need to speak of that which his emaci-
ated appearance and constant melan-
choly made patent to all. The women
sympathized as much with Judith
as they could with one who de-
manded no sympathy, and lived upon so
much more elevated plane of thought
and sentiment than themselves; mani
Testing their feelings by frequent and
long visits when Judith was most occu-
pied and least desirous of company.
Miles had disposed of nearly all of
his stock, only reserving so much of a
herd as would be needed TO provision
his family and the two or three men
who accompanied him to take care Of
the cattle, with a few COWS and calves
that were to commence stocking another
ranch in Texas. His land he had dis |
posed Of in way which he chose to keep
hidden from Judith, all negotiations
concerning it with the Speddens having
ceased with the destruction Of the wheat.
Nothing was left unsettled; but the
abandonment Of California was final.
Meantime what about Mr.. Shultz ?
Two months had passed and he had not
put in an appearance, as we had right
to expect that he should, at the residence
Of the Miles family. In these two
months Judith had gone through many
changes Of feeling and OPT ion, as was
natural she should. We can guess. too.
that they had not made her any hap
pier, or left her with any brighter antic-
ipatlons for the future. She was now in
that mood Of mind where any change
was desirable-no possibility much
dreaded; state which with some nor
sons is falsely denominated resignation
but which We recognize in this case as
despair. And unhappily for her. the
future was really as dark as it seemed
But on the afternoon Of the last day Of
grace something happened, which was
this: Judith was alone, sorting over
some lastarticres which had to be hacked
and fighting over for the hundredtb
time the battle in her thoughts whether
to take or not to take her little chest of
treasures derived from Mr.. Shultz.
Should she do herself the DESPITE Of
leaving them TO fall into vandal hands,
as pride dictated, or smuggle them into
the wagon, thus securing consolation
for some lonely hours in camp, as incli-
nation and feeling dictated? In the
midst Of this mental contest there was
an arrival, and Judith listlessly dropped
the articles in hand TO see what officious
neighbors were this time come to occupy
her time and attention with their-to
her-irrelevant talk. But the coolly-
CIVIL welcome half-formed upon her lips
was forgotten, unuttered, when she be-
held, standing in the Uttered MASSAGE
way, Mr.. Shultz.
"Ah," said he, as if they had met but
yesterday, 81 did hear that Won vpers 90.
ing tomorrow, and have come 70 sou
goodbye. see that it is true and thot
you are indeed going.u
I'VE are indeed going,u echoed In
dith, more occupied with the attan,,,,
TO seem uncOncerned than viii, r.
words. She did not invite him 70 80
but waited as if expecting to be informod
of the further occasion of his visit T.
her heart Indignation was eontendinr
with an irrepressible pleasure at agoio
seeing his face and hearing his voice
"You will not stay? All, we'll II "a
good that I, too, am going away. While