The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-10-09
CHAPTER Xxx.


John Ainslee sought an early inter
view with Henry Lee, whom he found
very busy with editorial work in the
Office Of the EUery Morning Gazette.
At first that literary luminary re-
ceived his visitor eoldly, but when he
fairly realized that he was talking to
maternal relative Of great, ancestral
wealth, instead of the sporting loafer
whom he had known but very slightly
years before, the young mans face
frightened, his voice and grasp became
cordial, and his conversation exceed
ingly confidential.
why is your sister Annie in jail ?''
queried the uncle, abruptly changing
the conversation from political topics to
personal ones.
Henry Lee arose from his chair, paced
the floor nervOusly for a moment, and
then, casting a painfully embarrassed
glance at the stern face of his relative,
dropped his eyes suddenly, and said:
"Amie Lee is not my sister, sir. 1
claim no sister who has stains upon her
reputation"
"But she may be innocent"
81 fear that she can never prove it if
she is"
"And if she be innocent and cannot
prove the fact, her brother, with whom
she grew up in babyhood, will join in
the general bounding and drive her to
desperation, will hep"
"You put it very strong, uncle. Annie
began to form evil associations short
time after we came to Portsmouth to
live. It wasn't much wonder, poor
girl, for she did have rather hard time
Of it, but she was not altogether pru-
dent and 50 she got talked about was
very young, very ambitious aud very
needy. 1t was all I could do to stand
myself, and if I had tried to stand by
her, we should all have gone down to-
gether. I did try to expostulate with
her once, but she fiared up, as nobody
but woman can, and would never notice
me afterwards. It is very strange that
women are so easily led astray."
"Strange, indeed n' exclaimed the
uncle with a sneer. "Strange, indeed,
when men, their natural and political
protectors, never sin, and never can be
induced to neglect their duties"
'Uncle," said Henry desperately, 81
know you are finding fault with me, but
I have done the best l could. l have
risen from poverty and obscurity. The
son Of a brutal, drunken father, the
marks of whose cruelty bear upon my
back to-day; but the hope and joy of the
best and truest mother that ever bore
martyrdom for her children's sake, 1
came to this city homeless, friendless,
ignorant and penniless. i have edu-
Gated myself, worked my own way in
the world, risen TO the first ranks of jour-
nalism, and have just been elected State
Printer, with an income of twenty
thousand q year. I know a thousand
boys of my own age who have had ten
thousand advantages, but are not worth
gill of beans, and never will be-"
"And know young woman, named
Annie Lee, of whom you possibly have
heard, who came TO this city about the
same time, who has reared, educated
and maintained the younger brothers
andsisters of prosperous Henry Lee, and
who has built up the finest fashion en-
pOrium in the city. This young woman
is beautiful, intelligent, enterprising
aud true as steel. She has had many
heavy bills to pay in the shape of fiues
and damages for the besOtted brother OF
Henry Lee, and when I to-day asked
her why she had not long ago abandoned
the poor fellow to his fate, she said, He
is Henry's brother, and will do what
can for his sake and our mothers, TO
keep his degradation from the knowl-
edge Of a censorious world. Henry is q
rising man, and would make his paths
straight
"And yet, uncle, this same pattern o
perfection is herself a prostitute anC
thief! She's in Jail this minute for steal
ing the jewelry belonging to the daugh
ter Of my first benefactor," and thu
virtuous young man breathed like al
infuriated and much injured walrus.
"HerUy!" hissed the uncle betweeI
HIS lctAlg II gON NNAO ASN NHS SSA "
my beloved sister, I'd fell you TO tn
earth. How dare you to accuse you
sister of such crime ?"
isn't she now in Jail awaiting he
trial? And amt l mortified to death be
cause that blasted BugIe keeps he
paraded before the public as a notorious
sister of our illustrious State Printer p
"Why don't you protect her, sir ?"
"How can when she is guilty?n
"Do you k3aoO she is guilty ?"
81 believe it, and 1 know il will h,
proven. Oh, uncle John, you have n,
idea how wretched l am. l have offere,
to release her on bail, Through otbe
parties), but the obstinate vixen will
not bulge peg unless she's proven in
nocent. If you could only induce he
to come out on bail and leave the conn
try, you'd do me an inexpressible favor
Won't you, uncle John?n
"Amie Lee will stand her trial lik
the moral heroine that she isr' ex
claimed the uncle hotly. "She is nc