The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-08-07


judged all wOmankind, except his mar
+ tyred mother. Here, indeed, was one
] bright gem of womanhood, whose lustre
memory never dlmmed, a gem who's,
bright reflections alone saved him, in
the years of a maturer manhood
: from becoming total castaway upon
the reefs of his perverted Imagination,
"What is the reason women are 50
easily led astray, wonder >" mentally
queried the sagacious boy.
And Henry Lee forthwith began the
manufacture of a series of theoretical
laws for the government of women-s
code Of ethics which led him, in after
years, when fame and fortune and posi-
tion crowned him, TO walk the streets OF
the great city surrounded by his lordly
associates, not deigning to notice Annie
Lee, as, with faltering step and weary
brain, she met him daily in the street
after having piled her needle far into
the night, for months in succession, for
the possession of sum not equal to
that which her virtuous, tConlan-pro-
tecting brother would spend in n single
hour of manly recreation at the notori-
Gus "Walk In and Welcome"
Forgive us, reader. We were getting
ahead of our story.
Calmly as Annie had received her un-
expected visitors, so far as outward ap-
pearanees indicated her feelings, they
were no sooner gone than her pent i'm
petuosity overleaped its bounds. Pac-
ing the floor, and nervously clasping
the volume Of poems-Melvin's gift
when last he met her at the well-re-
membered Black Stump Farm - the
girl burst into perfect torrent of tears
''To think that Melvin Hastings, for
whom would have braved ignominy
and destitution aud death, If by the sac
rifice l could have added ought to his
happiness-the only man ever saw
whom could honor as my second and
better self-to think that he should win
my holiest love and then dash it from
him as not worthy of possession, and
then, to add insult TO mortal injury, his
mother aud sister come here, and con-
fronting me with my meagre poverty,
offer me a situation as a servant in his
home Pi
"But you have sought upon the street
for weeks for just such position, Annie
Lee" said conscience, reprovingly.
"But not in his home-not i'm his
home And OH, it was 50 cruel for them
to come here and try to humiliate me.
l do wonder if Melvin sent them? III
thought he had-but I lcont think so if
can help it,"
Dick was awake now, and jim, and
Fannie, and Sue, and the twins, and Tot
would soon be home from school. Il
was no light task TO keep this family
clean, clothed, and fed, and when Annie
was not out at service, or, as the others
expressed it, "when she was at home all
day, idle" no help was deemed neces-
sary by her ravenous and noisy brood.
So, sitting the choking grief and indig-
nation that for an hour had held sway
over her, the girl busted herself with
preparing the evening meal.
While in the midst of her duties, the
dreaded proprietor Of the intelligence
office, who had loaned her the much
needed hundred dollars, suddenly ap-
peared upon the scene, and, in peremp-
tory tones, demanded his money.
'I can return half of it, now," said
Annie, with quiet dignity. "I did not
suit the proprietor of the walk In and
he discharged me. do not know when
l can refund the remainder, sir. spent
it for provisions and clothes before l
entered the service of the public at the
saloon. will repay it whenever I can
get employment that will enable me to
do So"
The man gazed at her with a wanton,
audacious, admiring stare, that sent the
hot blood rushing over her temples,
cOloring her brow to the roots Of her
hair.
Hitching his chair up close to hers, he
said endeavoring to be extremely agree
able, "You needn't be in any hurry
about the money. A pretty girl has
need Of all she can get"
"Then why did you come here and do
md'sd it, as you did, just now? ?"
81 wanted to test your mettle, my lit
tie charmer," and he seized her hand
and kissed it passionately.
"Unhand ME! you white-livered viI-
lain ~ screamed the girl. "9ou pro-
fessed to be my friend, you dog! You
loaned me money, because 1 needed
protection, you said, and now you come
here proving yourself a low, contempti-
ble enemy to truth and honor"
Mr.. Green pursed up his mouth, and
INDUCED in a sauey whistle. "Pon my
wordr' he exclaimed, at length, "you
put on precious airs for a beggar. I'll
have you arrested for obtaining money
under false pretenses."
"Do your worst 1 defy you, dog
that you are Leave my roof this min
ute, or will summon the police"
"Go slow, little puss," rising and TAX
ing a firm position in the open door.
''You couldn't prevail on the police to
trouble me for any ordinary offense.
Pm too valuable an auxiliary in cleo
tions. suppose you understand" and
the sensual lips rolled apart and dis
played a vicious row of teeth, deeply
stained with tobacco.
"Who in thunder are yOuw bluntly
inquired honest Jim, as he headed the