The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-05-01

were married. She brought him a
handsome fortune and loving heart,
poor girl! And now that she is hope
less invalid, he has abandoned her"
And the two ladies moved on with the
throng.
Judith looked up inquiringly to her
companion, too thunderstruck to take
in the whole meaning of what she had
heard. She expected him, too, to con-
tradict 1t, to show that there was an
error in the lady's statement But in
stead of that, he stood there silent, with
a bIanched face, and bent brow, biting
at his beard, evidently a man detected
in something he was unwilling to con-
fess, but confessing his guilt by his
silence.
Judith rose up, her bright looks all
gone, her face as pale as his. Ef tl
Brute was the nature of her thoughts.
But it was not for her TO charge him
with anything. His case was different
from Mr.. Shultz's. The only thing that
was quite clear, was that there could be
no more of the old familiarity, no more
patronage, no bachelor friendship here.
Once more the world had slid from
under her feet, and she stood alone, on
nothing. The sigh with which she ar
rived at this climax of her thoughts re-
called Major Floyd to himself
az would not have had this happen
for the world,n he said, vehemently.
"Oh, the deviltry of gossipI Tell me,
do you believe ?" he asked, suddenly,
as if there still was a chance of evading
exposure.
But~Judith was too. generous TO say
what she feared. 1t was for him to tell
her what to believe. If it was true, he
must say so.
"You are silent, and your face speaks
for you. This is no place to explain,
You must go back to your guests, and ]
must go away for tonight. Tomorrow
1 will come and tell you the story. You
will not return to Madame Ms to-
morrow ?''
''No," said JUDITH drearily, thinking
Of the impossibility of that now.
Judith" whispered he, rapidly,
''don't you lose faith in me. Keep
what you have heard to yourself until /
have seen you again. / will tell you
now that there is some truth in it; and
quite as much falsehood; but you shall
Judge for yourself tomorrow. Will you
not give me your hand? Well, then,
goodnight"
How abasing is disaster. How it
humbles the proud man, and annihilates
the humble one. AS Major Floyd babe
Judith goodnight, with that deprecat-
ing tone, and hurried away out of the
house, it seemed to her as if this man
was stranger, so different was he from
the assured, critical, easy-mannered
gentleman she had known before. She
followed him with compassionate eyes
as long as he was distinguishable in the
throng, and with compassionate
thoughts long after. 'For," she said to
herself, 81 will pity him while can.
Tomorrow may be compelled tc
blame him." Blaming her friends was
what Judith always deferred doing as
long as possible.
Recalling as well as she could hel
company looks, she got through the
remainder of the evening without be
. traying her secret uneasiness. 1t was {
! relief to find from Mrs. Braces ques
tions concerning the Majors early de
) parture that she had not heard tn,
rumor. Perhaps no one had overheard
, the gossips but themselves, and it Nigh
t not be repeated. But that did not alte
[ the fact. The fact itself, and all it
consequences to her, occupied her hea'
and heart to the exclusion Of ever.
other consideration.
I ~ congratulate yOu," said Mrs. Bra
zee, when the family were left to them
selves in the empty, disordered rooms
~ could not be more proud of you if yol
, were my daughter"
"Thank you," said Judith; 81 shoul,
in that case be proud Of my mamma
IA mutual admiration society,"" sal,
the Judge, looking from one to the othe
with critical eyes. "You both look ex
tremely we'll; but do not see the us
: of so many furbelows on ladies' dresses.
r ''That's what makes them look so ex
e tremely well, suppose" put in Maste
Freddie.
p "Smart boy" laughed Judith. 'Tha
e is what they are for"
g 'Td be willing to be girl, if 1 eoul,
e look as handsome as Miss Miles, How
y ard declared, examining that younl
n lady through a telescope of his ben
I hand.
s az wouldn't" returned Freddie, scorn
= fully, "they are good for nothing but t
look at; and prefer to act-'to do, nc
Y to be-"
: 'tDid not do your sums for you las
evening, and ought not you to be a III
0 tie less high and mighty, Master Fred?
!, retorted Judith.
"What took the Major off so early ?
e INQUIRED Mrs. Brazee. But Judith di
not feel called upon to account for h
S movements, and affected to be busy re
e cuing from peril a choice vase that stoo
q tottering to its fall on the edge Of IL
etdgereS.
''The Major is getting to be an o.
a bachelor said the Judge, looking slyl
= at Judith, ''and cannot endure the rot
- z -. IA :. E;.,,o he ua