The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-10-30

We're is his lawful wife. She and Uncle
John Ainslee have aided me in tracing
your present troubles to him."
'sButI will never leave this prison till
am honorably acquitted"
"Melvin will be at home next Tues
day. You surely don't want to be In
Jail when he comes :"
az surely will not leave until a Court
shall pronounce me not guilty-not if
by staying I lose Melvin's love and your
regard, and gain the whole worlds
plaudits.n
"You are mad, my sister"
''Not so, my brother. am speaking
words Of truth and soberness. Men
have placed me in prison. They claim
the right to protect women, and now,
having gotten me into this dlsgracefsl
predicament, I propose to give them
opportunity to see me safely out of it."
"But it is quite common for prisoners
to be released upon hdbeds corpus"
"To be looked upon by the world as
criminals at large, Henry. Men may
endure the like. can't and won't"
swell, If you won't, you won't, and
that's just like a woman. Is there any
thing that can do to serve you ?"
"Do you know where poor brother
Jim is ?''
Hes at work in the chain-gang. 1
saw him this morning as was coming
here to visit you"
ibid he recognize you ?"
'T don't know ?"
30, Henry, how could you let him
come to that 2"
There's no help for it, Annie. God
knows I've been troubled enough over
it. But if 1 should try to help him out
of his drunken sprees, I'd only involve
myself and do him no real good"
"Are you quite sure.that you are in no
danger of falling a victim to intoxica-
tion, Henry? Stay don't get angry.
You know, alas, too well, what a victim
our poor father was. 1 am certain that
safety for you lies only in total absti-
nence."
Nonsense, Annie. A teetotaler stands
no chance in politics"
'Then-you-tippIe ?"
Occasionally"
80, Henry g'
"What now?'
"How can you? What would our
mother say?"
"Don't be alarmed about me, sister
Tn all right"
"Father thought he was all right
once, and so did Jim. Henry, we have
all inherited our fathers appetite.
Strong as 1 am, should not dare to
tipple."
''of course you wouldn't. You're a
woman"
"But why, if it is wrong for women to
become drunkards, it is right for men to
become such ?"
"Pshaw! sister! pu never make a
drunkard. 1 always know just when I
have had enough"
"That is Jim's argument, even when
he's crazy with drink. o, Henry, is it
possible that you daily with drunken
ness"
"Don't worry, sister. never was in
toxicated in my life"
THAT is no sign you never will be.
Remember our mothers iDjuctions, do.n
"Well, 1 promise total abstinence on
one condition"
'fName it,"
THAT you will come out of prison or
writ that shall procure at once fol
your release"
"How like all men that is 90 cried
Annie, rising to her feet, tossing back
her raven curls, and with burning cheeks
and flashing eyes confronting her hand.
some brother. They're always willing
TO save themselves by some act of self.
denial, provided some woman who
loves them is willing TO do violence to
her own personal intuitions TO coax
them into the measure. I, sir, respect.
fully decline the conditions"
$50 you think more of your own
whims than of my salvation, do you ?'i
"I think more of my own individual
honor, than you do of yours, my
brother. That is ALL"
81 do not understand you"
81 will try TO explain. Drunkenness
is hereditary in our family, upon both
ancestral sides. You know this as well
as /. One member of our generation
has already fallen victim to its ravages
and another is in danger. / would save
that other one. You say TO me, Lose
yourself and you may save me, other.
wise will continue to run the risk.
Countless multitudes of women hav,
done this thing. have learned better
I have learned that every woman-likr
every man-belongs primarily to hersel
and secondarily to others. Having 81
learned, 1 have resolved SO to act. Nam,
any conditions with which I can com
ply that are not in conflict with my owl
sense of honor, and will gladly accedi
to them. But have resolved never Il
leave this Jail till honorably acquitted
and TO save my dearest idol from de
struction 1 would not, could not do 1t.
"spoken like a Spartan ~ said th,
brother, warmly. "But where did yol
get these notions ?"
"From the school of observation ant
experience. Ionce believed, as Away
did my mother, in the self-abnegatiol
/ oF xror,o, 7 have laornad IN haiiava II