The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-09-11
CHAPTER XVI

ia J A-as \
The preparations FOR May Hastings
bridal were going on apace. Such mar
Yels Of silks and laces and Jewels had
never before been exhibited in Ports
mouth.
1t was also well known that Miss
O'Toodlos was soon 10 become the bride
of Mr.. Fitzfoodle, who belonged las he
said 10 a very fashionable family with
very uncertain pedigree. He also Jas
he once Inadvertently acknowledged
lisped slightly, and had little halt or
singularlty in his speech which vulgar
minded people likened unto brngue.
These attractions made the young gal
liant a general iayorite among fashiona-
BILE bellies, and the O'ToOdles disappoint-
ment over the Hastings estrangement
was more than compensated by the
Fitzfoodle pleasure in securing for life q
partner with well-balanced bank ac-
count, Of which, in truth, he had often
felt the need in his soft-fngered struggle
10 keep up the proper Fitzfoodle appear
anees Of gentility and style.
The pretty French milliner with the
brown complexion, who had become
the general iavorite among the many
expensively attired ladies who thronged
Miss Lees Emporium, had finished the
last fanciful design OF bridal millinery
required 10 complete Miss Hastings and
Miss O'Toodles' outfit, and, after leaving
the different varieties upon exhibition
for day or two, thereby awakening a
desire for matrimOny among half the
silly girls who visited the establishment
merely because getting married would
possibly enable them 10 crafty morbid
longlngs foF expensive flnery), the
brides elect sent orders for the whole
paraphernalia 10 be carried to their
homes
"Pm going to risk taking Mays bon
nets home myself this afternoon" said
Alice.
Aren't you afraid they'll discover
your identity ." qneried Annie, appre-
hensively.
mo" was the dreamy answer; "I'm
not afraid now. couldn'tquite get the
courage TO go the day that May invited
me, and so sent Sue with an excuse;
but last night, as I lay in bed gazing
out into the starry heavens, / expert
enced very peculiar sensation. twas
a sudden desire to fly to my mother,
and somehow the feeling has remained
with me all day"
81 don't wonder that you want TO 60"
said Annie, with far-away look. 81
know that II l were you, and your
mother were my mother, I'd 60 to heI
and reveal my identity at once. l re-
member we'll that my mother often told
me that a secret that l did not dare tC
divulge TO her, was a dangerous secre
for anybody to keep"
Dreamily and abstractedly Annie
moved about, gathering up the various
tasteful mystifications Of their art tina
May had ordered, placing them In band
boxes convenient for Alice to carry.
'I feel as ii n great crisis in my lif
were near at hand, she said, "and an
oppressed with a strange sense Of sad
ness. Last night dreamed that wa
In 4 room so dark and close that / cOul
only get my breath with the creates
difficulty. The room seemed a kind G
dungeon, so like-Alice, did you know
that once spent a dismal night in tn
city jail ."
"why, Aaie: OF course didn'
know 1t, Is il possible 20
"Y'es; and the husband elect Of you
Imperious sister, whom we have bee
puzzling our brains TO appropriated.
adorn for her approaching nuptlals, wa
none other than the man who cause
me TO be arrested"
"Why did you never tell me this be
fore?n
II couldn't"
How did it happen ."
at was when / was driven TO Ill
Walk In in quest Of employment |
keep my helpless family from starving
! was rudely treated there, and NJ
Robert Green caused the police TO a
rest and cast me into Jail. rs no oI
appeared against me the next morning
was discharged; but, oh, Alice wht
I think of your sister becoming the las
ful wife Of such a mani sltudder fro
head to Jootr'
Alice was really alarmed at Annie
pallid and haggard look.
80, my more than sister!" she e
claimed, what have you not suffer-
from the tender mercies Of cruel men?
have always been taught TO look upC
men as our protectors, and yet, car
help seeing that only the wives aI
daughters Of the rich and fortunate a
protected, while every unfortuna
woman who really needs such prote
tiOn Is considered the lawful prey OF Il
law-making and purse-holdlng half
humanity"
'Pve long known this 10 my sorro'
Alice, and feel to-day as though son
great burden was just ready 10 fall up,
and crush ple. But / want YOU 10 90
your mother. You'll gain admIttane
of course, with all this finery, aud wi
/ hope, have opportunity to reveal yo
identity, and thereby relieve her sore
troubled mother-heart."