The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-04-03

"Why should you tell me all this ?"
inquired Judith, feeling pained, and
despairing. "Can it help me, to point
out so many dangers at once-to alarm
me before my strength is tried? Do
you mean to deprive me of all courage,
and drive me to suicide next week ?p
''Suicidew and he looked at her down.
cast face, half frightened at the sugges-
tiOn. ''AIy dear Miss Miles, so ugly
word does not befit your lips, nor SO
ugly thought you heart and brain.
Don't think or say such very disagreea-
BILE things to a nervous person like my
self, beg of you"
'rYet girls better educated, and more
accustomed TO self-dependence than /,
have thought it, and done it," returned
Judith. "An Apache bullet might have
saved me great deal of trouble"
''Thank God that it did not! For
there is, in your case, a way out of your
trOuble-even way TO your hearts de-
sire; and when we get out where we
can look at the seals and the surf, you
may ask me to point it out to you"
But when the Major drew up his
horses at their destination, he found all
the world there before him, aud every
part of the building thronged. The
weather at the beach proved to be unus-
ually fine, and crowds of people filled
the piazza which overlOoks the sea at
the Cliff House. This, together with
the music OF the band, made any private
conversation impossible. The novelty
of the scene, indeed, proved so powerful
an attraction to Judith that her COM
panion was content to see her enjoy it
without interruption as long as the in
terest of it lasted. For himself he de-
sired nothing more interesting to con-
template than Judith, with her keen,
appreciative sense of everything new,
beautiful, or wonderful. Novelty of
scene, place, people, was long past with
him; but the vivid charm of this young
girl was ever flesh and piquant. So they
sat for an hour, much observing, and
much observed, talking in an undertone
of the music, the ocean, the seals, and
the people; of ali ocean steamer going
in at the Golden Gate; of the white
winged ships going out to sea; of the
sea-birds swooping down upon theiI
prey; and now and then of bits of his
torical romance, in which the Spanish
galleons sailed along this coast two
hundred years ago, or were cast by
storm upon the rocks outside the unseen
harbor.
"Oh! how beautiful it isr' exclaimed
Judith in a half-whisper. al used to
dream of such scenes, and now / know
they are reality. | wish could dance
she said, seeing the walters keeping
time to the music.
Directly 4 couple whirled out of the
throng, so that the garments of the lady
"a young, pretty woman, with dark
hair and blue eyes-brushed against Ju-
dith's. She looked up, and her glance
caught that Of the lady's partner Her
heart beat violently, mist passed be-
fore her eyes, and Mr.. Shultz was speak
ing to her.
as it possible! Miss Miles Mein
Gott, is it possibleW
Judith had risen, pale and purpose
less, not knowing what she did, nor
what she expected. Before she could
recover her presence of mind, Mr.. Shultz
presented the lady on his arm as his
wife. Then Judith's face became as
flaming red as it had been ashen pale
before. There was an instant more oil
blindness and confusion, and suddenly
she remembered to present Major Floyd,
They stood in group together talking
polite nothings at first-for the parties
most interested in the meeting were al
loss for words in the surprise of it.
az did never think to see you in Sar
Francisco" Mr.. Shultz remarked tC
Judith in partial aside, when the lit
tie nothings were exhausted. ~ did
think you were i'm Texas. There i:
much to ask notwithstanding at the
Major-"about you, and little Kate, the
Hebling-how is she?"
Judith tried to say"she is dead" but hel
lips formed the words in silence, and il
was only by the greatest effort that she
controlled the tears ready to burst forth
InvoIuntarily she appealed by glance
to Major Floyd, who, taking Mr.. Shult7
by the arm, walked away with him
while the two ladies were left to look a
each other in helpless awkwardness
one not speaking a word of English
and the other not word of German.
Directly Mr.. Shultz returned with ;
countenance expressive of grief ant
sympathy.
"Ah Heavenr' he cried, "what a erue
fate. am q thousand times panied TO
you. But you did not write to me, a
you promised, when you were in trouble
/ know not what to say. 1 am dis
mayed" And he looked indeed like {:
man who was consciously in the wron,
about something.
az think we ought to go home" sait
Judith, turning to her escort with de
sire to escape.
"Yes," he replied, looking at hi
watch, "it is time to CO." and drew he
away.
The road to town was thronged will
vehicles; and fast men behind fast horse
made driving critical, which was reasol
enough why the Major could not Civ
his Thoughts to conversation. Wh!