The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-12-03
CHAPTER XVI.

why OlO you not tell me all ABOUT
it long ago, Gussie ?" queried the
Major, with an air of injured phiIan-
thropy.
',Do you remember what you told me
once?" and Augusta, now Rosa Lee no
longer, looked searchingly and anxious
Iy into her brothers face.
81 told you that wanted you to be
my sister, in deed and truth, and you
repulsed me-"
''Is it possible that you do not re-
member, or never understood aOhy ?"
"You were afraid of gossip, you said" /"
"But that was not the only reason,
Stanley. You said something that de-
tered me-"
HWhat was it ?n
"That you would stand by your sister
through anything but deserved disgrace.
And asked what if she were innocent
and could not prove it p You replied
very savagely that she could prove her
innocence If not guilty."
"Gussie, you astonish me. 1 cannot
see what you are aiming at" and the
Major assumed yet more injured air.
The sister drew herself to her fullest
and yet tiny height, and shaking from
head to foot with overpowering emo
tiOns, advanced and knelt before him,
clasping the baby Augusta to her heav-
ing bosom in speechless agony.
'This suspense is GWfuI, Gussie ~
cried the Major. ~ do not comprehend
it.n
''Then hearkenr' walled the poor
girl-wOman, desperately. "Your sister
is an innocent, yet badly, cruelty
wronged woman. Though a mother,
the woman-protecting laws of man
have denied her the title of wife. And
while your sister must endure the
agony Of denying the maternity of her
own darling child, or the yet greater
horror of public disgrace, if the facts are
known, the man who falsely married
and cruelty deceived her goes scot free,
a member of the British peerage, and s
gentleman. Speak to me, Stanley! You
must stand by me, or 1 shall go mad p'
Truly Major Lindsey's condition was
pitiable. The trouble not being new to
his sister, she was in a measure accus-
toned to it. But the proverbial family
pride of the Lindseys was undergoing a
severe ordeal. Would the sole survivor
who bore the name of his sire prove
equal to the emergency in sustaining,
at the same time, an unsullied magma
nimity and generous display of honor?
81 can't talk now, Gussie," he said,
thoughtfully. "Let me have time to
think"
Major Lindsey departed to his lodg-
ings overwhelmed with anger, indigna-
tiOn, shame, and revenge.
"WOuld you feel so terribly if the
wronged woman were some other mans
sister? ?" whispered conscience in his
soul. "Yet," continued the same quick
monitor, "the principle is the same, nc
matter whose sister is the victim."
"But it isn't my business, unless il
concerns me or mine," he argued, in.
wardly.
Why's s' asked conscience, and nc
satisfying answer came.
Poor Josiah Carson! He had been
next to his dear, departed wife, the bes
and truest friend the homeless Ross
Lee had ever known. With him anC
his wife had sacredIy rested the seere
Of her child's unlawful existence. Wher
all the little world of Eagle Cove ha(
frOwned and glowered, they alone haC
stood by her in her sorest need. Surely
Rosa would not leave him now, in hi,
widowed condition, with a helpless
family upon his hands. Indeed, whC
could blame him for feeling that hC
must secure somebody to help him rea
that mOtherless brood of little ones? 1
is a responsibility too great for AM
man or woman to bear alone. Pit,
but both. men and women knew enough
of the laws of human being and suff
ciently obeyed them, that they nigh
make no death-gaps, as they often do
in the home circle.
The dinner, prepared by Augusta
hands, with the efficient aid of th,
= older children, was dispatched in silence
As soon as it was well over, Josial
said:
"Rosa, let the young-ones wash tn
dishes, and come into the sitting-room
please. Iwant to talk to you a WHILE
Wondering at the unusual request
the girl-woman demureIy obeyed.
Very awkwsrdly Josiah advanced t
low ottoman, upon which she ha
dropped wearily, and seating himsel
beside her with supreme embarrass
ment, the poor widower gradually foun
his tongue.
It was some time before the girl
woman comprehended that he reall,
was talking, not love, but matrimony
81 shouldn't "a spoken, at least, no
yet, Rosa, for it seems she can't he dead
even now, but the children need
mother, and there's nobody left but you
VIII you have me, Rosa ?"
The man was so earnest that the girl
woman was frightened. He mistool
her hesitation for consent.
"You make me so happy !" he ex