The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-09-18
CIIAPTER XVI.

The political club, Of which Henry
lee, Esq, was a leading, and indeed
the leading member, was to give a grand
banquet in his honor. The Democratic
party, long in the minority in the State,
had lately, and mainly through his
powerful influence as editor of the
Eccry Morning Gazette, achieved an
overwhelming victory; and the public
receptions, bonGres, serenades, speeches,
toasts, whisky and buncOmbe with
which the successful candidates had
been Jcted, were to cease for the pres
ent with an unapproachably aristocratic
supper at the Saloon de Delmouico.
\ Henry Lee had no notion of remaining
in his pristine verdancy in matters per-
tanning to such palaces of pleasure as
the notorious "Walk in and Welcome"
and for the purpose OF cultivating his
mind aud manners, TO meet the requi-
site standard of a successful man of the
world, he had become an habitual fire.
quenter Of the gorgeous saloon, where he
soon learned to play cards with the
"best Of them, " smoke cigars by the half
dozen, and drink champagne by the
quart.
Often, in response to the urgent solici-
tation of such men as Robert Green,
ESD, and Melvin Hastings, Senior, was
he strongly tempted TO yield to his own
carnal desires, and go still further down
the road to ruin; but, though he spent
nightly large sums in the qualification
Of his inherited tastes for smoking,
drinking and the society Of fast women,
the same still small voice that had
warned him so strangely, when first on
the eve Of visiting anecessary % place
Of resort for gellticDc13, seemed ever at
hand and ready to whisper in his ear the
words, Bcrare; lcicted steps take hold
on he'll.
He was sitting at one Of the tables, en-
gagged in an earnest conversation with
Madame Rosa, when Mr.. Green came
up to him, and with a familiar tap on
the shoulder said, "Halloo, old boyl you
seem to forget that you're to have a re-
ception tonight at the Delmonico The
guests are already assembling in the
back parlor. What's the matter? Got
the blues?" Henry did not answer, but
arose mechanically, as if to follow.
''May have the privilege of attend
ing the basquet ?" queried Madame
Rosa.
Mr.. Green smiled graciously and shook
his head. "This is to be a party for
gentlemen only" he answered, half
abashed.
"And why for gentlemen only, pray?"
because much Of the conversation
that occurs at such places is not suited
TO the taste or appreciation of ladies'"
ain what respect is it different from
the conversation in these parlors?p
sit is political, ma'am, and ladies dc
not understand politics"
"Why3n and the great, brown eyes
flashed strangely.
"Because-because, you-ahem! YoU
really must excuse me, ma'am;
haven't time to explain"
at doesn't matter" replied the wom
an, haughtily, as she bowed the gen
tlemen out, and turned to converse Will
frail-minded companion, who was toy
ing with the silken tassels at one OF The
gilded windows.
'Tl attend that banquet, and takt
phonetic notes of everything 1 hear
said Rosa, her eyes flashing with deter
mination.
"Td like to see you get admittanee, >
replied the girl. They'd call the polio,
If you intruded, and the Gazette woulC
contain a virtuous column against vol
in the morning. while you would b,
lodged in Jail on an iron bedstead
among gray blankets and vermin,u an,
the girl shuddered as though she dis
tinctly remembered more about tn
lodgings ofthe city prison than she care
to confess.
"At any rate, I'll risk il. Come wit
me to my apartments"
The girl obeyed, and when the ROOF
was reached, the woman exhibited
complete suit of gentleman's attire,
the most expensived description, in which
with the girls assistance, she soon a
rayed herself, removing the wig th;
had efectually concealed her short cur
ing hair, and attaching to her lip pc
feet artificial mustache, she stood b.
fore her companion, completely di
guised.
'fNow, I shall go to the club meetin
and give the appropriate signs. They
admit me, and I'll be Colonel Adolpht
Jones, Of the late c. S A."
"But you're going to political bar
queti you'd better be of the L. S. Az
f'Nonsense, child; I know what III
about. These Northern politician
dearly love to toady to the official Of
shoots Of the dead rebellion"
"How ! wish I might accompar
you" said the girl.
"You'd spoil everything if you did.
know all the signs and secrets of II
Order. Never fear but Pll tell YOU faitl
fully Of everything you ought to know
and the woman dOnned an eleea
beaver, and bringing gold-headed ca
from the bottom Of trunk, pursed h