The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-07-31
bel, at all hazards. I'm going 10 Sc
eede.D
81 don't understand you, SON."
81 mean that Pll take the steamer to-

I
'How can you, child? You haven't
money to meet your expenses, and I
have none to offer you"
"pn go as deck-hand, cabin-boy, scul-
lion, or anything. But Pm bound to
60"
tBut think moment, my son. The
gossip that would be in everybody's
mouth, would annoy your sisters, and
mortify me, and enrage your father.
I'd rather see you buried than dis
gracedn
'Father boasted to me to-day that he
began life without any aid, except that
of his brain and muscle, and he taunted
me with my own inefiiciency, just as if
he weren't to blame for it. Henry
Lee, our stable boy, shames me
every day by his dignity OF soul.
Nobody dictates TO him. He makes his
own bargains, earns his own money,
and is educating himself. Tll go some
where where can initiate his example,
without compromising the respectable
ity of my mother and sisters, and when
Pve become a man, in independence as
well as stature, you may see me again,
but never until then"
The mother could only weep in si-
lence. Indeed, she comprehended her
boys situation, and was comforted by
his exhibition Of manliness. Her great
est trouble was concerning that awful
bugbear society" and the gossip that
would be set afoat about the broken en-
gagement and its cause.
"Motherr ~ said Melvin, suddenly, "T
believe you love me, truly and unsel-
fishly. Have you ever seen Annie
Lee ?"
mo, my son; and from what your
father said of her this morning, never
want to see her."
Mother, that girl is rare girl. She
is as firmly devoted TO her duties as a
roman can be. She is not an outcast.
1 love her as love my life ~
go, Melvinl That awkward, untu-
tored, poverty-stricken saloon girl ?"
"Husl, mother. If you love me, you
MOu GDlDAlNGl Jul laol
talk by defaming Annie Lee"
"But you were present yesterday
morning when your father told us what
he knew about her"
'tFather didn't know the truth,
mother. Henry came up to my room
and told me all about how she had
struggled to keep the family from starv-
ing, and how nobody would give her
work because she had a baby brother
that Christian women wouldn't have in
the house, and how she went into a sa-
loon to earn money to keep the wolf
from the door. But she only stayed one
evening because she could not deal out
wines to make men drunk without pro-
test, and so the proprietor discharged
: her. She found n relative at the saloon
her mothers brother, who went home
with her, and promised to try to get hel
e something respectable to do. But the
man is poor, and has been a drunkard
> and / fear that he can do but little fol
: her. Besides, q scandal is already Out
] among the men, and my honored fathe
gives it currency, TO the effect that she
has found felIoD, and Pm sure dom
S know what will become of her unles
d you can protect her while I am gone Il
n seek our fortune"
o ''Melvin," and the mother grew hys
r terical, "you don't mean to say tina
a there is any prospect that you will eve
}, marry that girl?"
az mean to say that am going ou
into the wide, wide world, to see if
r cannot make myself worthy of her
Shall have your blessing?"
. Sharp was the conflict in the mother
mind between pride and duty. But tn
t latter triumphed. "pm proud of you
f in spite of myself, my son." said she
5 with deep emotion. 81 will see Ami
as soon as you are gone, and aid her al
J. ! can"
'Then, mother, it'sall settled betweeI
o us. You'd better leave me now. IL
: nearly morning, and we mast both tr.
5 to get some Sleep
II The mother knelt beside her son, and
for few moments, poured out her spiri
; in fervent supplication to the grea
o Ali-Father for His guidance in thi
/ time of trial, and then, seeking her owl
: chamber, found her lord and maste
d snoring heavily, as he slept of the ei
IS fects of his regular potations, taken a
the "Walk In and Welcome"
n The morning brought much sorrow t
the Hastings household. Melvin was
n great favorite with his sisters, who woul
g have been 10th to part with him unde
Of any circumstances, but the deep disgrac
g of breaking his engagement, and bein
Is disinherited for it, affected them so SER
+ ously as to make them i'll.
n Alice alone supported her brother i
ID his resolves; but May declared tbs
J. Alice did it more from obstinacy tina
er common sense.
N HTm afraid 1 rather blundered las
j, night when 1 talked with mother,
l. Melvin said to himself. "I led her
a believe that all that was necessary fC
." me to win Annie Lee, was to so in an
Ell possess her; when the truth is, that, a
though she loved me in the wilderness
to she has had good cause to despise me /
e. the city. 1 haven't the face to go an
d tell her all, but can't go away withol
O. writing an explanation"
Having decided what to do, Melvi
e. went to his desk-his now no longer