The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-07-31
and, in a bold, manly chirography
penned the following:

situated.
Ny father and the father of Miss oToodIes
had decided that should form a matrimonial
alliance, that was distasteful and even disgust
ing 20 me and !, weak craven that was, sub
mitted TO an engagement because was too
timld, indOlent, and fond of fashionable folly
to resist. The match, like Byron's ideal and
never-consummated one, was to "have Joined
lands, broad and rich," but. unlike that one,
would not shave Joined, at least, one heart;v
and though might have managed 10 endure
1t had not known you, the very thought OF
such union became insupportable after We
had met, though only for an Instant, in the
city. Do you remember?
will be honest with you, Annie Lee. Your
courage and heroism inspires a spirit OF man
hood within NE which makes me ashamed OF
the enervated, inefficient, fashionable fool that
! have been and now confess TO you that
should have once been satisfied with filtration
with you and the entire possession OF you, soul
and body, without legal form or ceremony;
and would have willingly looked upon you as
the legitimate love-prey OF a rich mans son.
But your noble, self-denying devotion TO duties
for which you are wholly irresponsible, but
from which you will not shrink, even 10 save
your fame and name from undeserved odium,
has awakened a new and better purpose within
me.
Annie, darling, best and dearest, I love YOU
as a man may fondly love and honor the
woman whom he fain would call by the sweet
tender name of WIFE. l don't profess to be
worthy OF you now, but have taken the first
step by which 1 hope to become worthy.
have broken the engagement made for me by
my father, and have been disinherited for the
act And so, to-day, when the steamer sails,
shall take my departure, never 10 return TO
Portsmouth, except 10 claim you. When your
eyes meet these pages, I shall be tossing on the
billows, whittier bound / cannot tell. God
knoweth.
do not ask you TO be true to me. thrust you
and am content; but oh, Annie, IL only could
meet You once more, for one short hour,
could endure all the rest. go out into the
world as penniless as yourself, and will not
seek an interview until am ready TO offer you
the boon OF a self-sustaining manhood, which
is not mine to-day to give you, but which
please God, ] shall possess ere many years
have passed away.
May angels bless and guide you ever, is the
earnest prayer Of Yours only,
MELVIN HASTINGS.
The letter was sealed and dispatched
to the post-oflice..
Ah, Melvin Hastings, it is passing
strange that you did not think to send
it by messenger. The precious mis-
sive, which would have been such a
choice blessing to the sore-hearted girl,
lay unclaimed in the Office for weeks.
Annie had no regular correspondents,
and did not expect letters, consequently
she did not send for them, and there was
no mail delivery in the city of Ports
mouth.
The parting conversation between
Mrs. Hastings and her son was deeply
affecting.
"Here, my darling, is n diamond,
worth several thousands. Your father
won't miss it, or, il he does, can play
that lost it."
Nonsense, mother! can't take your
property"
ats nothing but trash, my son.
haven't worn il twice in five years
You can sell it to jeweler when you
reach the great city; and you can use
the money it will fetch to get into some
kind of profitable business. Pm sorry
it isn't more, but it's all have, and i
your father knew it-but he needn'
know, and it's no difference"
Alice assisted her mother in packing
the trunks and generally supervising th'
wardrobe OF the family pet, who haC
never bestowed care upon himself il
these matters, and was, in consequence
an object of keen solicitude to the of
fectionate motherly and sisterly interes
that overhauled every shirt and pair o
hose, adjusted every button, and ar
ranged collars, cuffs and neckties in la
belled boxes, scented with lavender an,
: wrapped in tissue paper.
. ave put ball of darning cotton an,
some needles and spools and a thimbl
in this casket," said the mother
. through her tears, as she displayed
gilded box, inlaid with ivory and pearl
"And here's your comforter for the sen
side. 1 made it for your next birthday,
displaying a snow white, fleecy marve
of crochet work and perseverance. "Bu
I won't see you on your birthday, 8
it's fortunate that it's finished now"
, "And here" said Alice, "are a doze
t hem-stitched handkerchiefs; my owI
t stitches. Your name is wrought in th
S corners"
] Melvin wept, in spite of his deep el
forts at self-control.
: 'You pay me too much attention." b
{ said, bitterly. 81 wonder if the gov
ernor' will speak to me before 1 CO."
D az don't know, son. He's very Bit
q ter"
"T can stand it if he can; that's som
r comfort. But if ever have a son an
e train him up to be dependent, like
g woman, hope he'll turn me out on tn
: town in my old days to enjoy deserve
humiliation for my folly"
n "Father has done no better by m
t than YOU" said Alice. "He think
n Bert. O'Toodles must marry me, an
1 intend to rebel, too, when the prope
It time comes"
y ''But woman isn't expected to be ID
o dependent. She can't look out for hersel
II like a mana
d Nonsense, brother. Thousands {
/ women look out for themselves, an
;, their husbands and children in the bal
n gain. Pm just as independent by Ms
d ture as you are. Am just as capable
It taking care of myself, too, and don
see that you have any more TO complai
n of than have"
= ''Well, never mind, Sis; when q