The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-10-01

y
with longing eyes and aching heart.
Effie was too deeply absorbed in the
one great idea of the returned, to pay
much heed to the closing exercises of
the day. As'if fate had planned ro-
nance of reality in which she was to
figure as chief actress, the closing song
of the day was assigned to her and Her
bert; her part being to sing and play,
while Herbert accompanied the per-
formance with his flute. Her cheeks
had assumed a crimson hue, and the
fire of suppressed feeling had kindled a
glow of excitement in her eyes when
she took her seat at the piano, facing
the audience, and threw her soul into an
old-fashioned love-song.
Flute and piano were scarcely heard
in comparison with the deep, earnest,
musical strains of the singers voice,
who, without any effort to act her part,
warmed the subject with the fire of her
own deep heart. Power and pathos,
such as never before had so completely
crowned her public efforts, were this
time thrown into the spirit of her song,
and the listeners were entranced, until,
at the close, instead of shower of bo-
quets and loud cries for more, old and
young bowed their heads in silence, and
the tears of feeling dimmed the eyes Of
many. To cover the silence which was
beginning to grow embarrassing, Eliza
Crandall, at sign from the Principal,
took the seat that Effie had resigned,
and played lively air, which gently
lowered the listeners from the height to
which they had been carried.
A list of performances for the evening
was read, and with many thanks to the
audience, Mr.. Barton dismissed them
until that time.
AS soon as Hubert could elbow his
way through the throng of ladies and
gentlemen who were striving to gain
admittanee to the circle of successful
students, he stepped up to Effie and Of
fered his hand. He gazed earnestly into
her eyes; look that puzzled her, as
she did not know that for years he had
thought her married.
"When did you return ?n she asked
hesitatingly.
'T reached the city about an hour
ago."
"Why haveyou been absent so long ?"
mo matter now. Is your brother
present ?"
"Excuse me; had not thought but
that you were acquainted. My brother
Mr.. Munson."
Herbert looked surprised as he SO sud
denly confronted the intelligent looking
stranger of whom he had heard so much
and the thought that his sister haC
made a good selection crossed his mind
as he cordially grasped his hand.
"I will see you again, Miss Goodwin
at present, must look for father" ht
said in an undertone, as he bowed him
self away.
Eliza Crandall observed aside to Mr.
Barton, that if he wanted to hea
another romance, he might hide behind
a pillar the next morning, and sht
could entertain him with story equa
to the last one she had invented.
Hubert met his father at the door.
few words of greeting passed, and h,
asked him to step aside from the crowd
''Father, why did you write me tina
Efie Goodwin was to be married, S,
long ago?"
'I wrote just what 1 had reason to be
lieve, from Ralph Holmes attention
and her manner of receiving them
would be the result of their intimacy
"And when you found that the repor
was untrue, why didn't you inform M
of the mistake ?''
'I never thought it necessary. dar
say now, that she doesn't care a fl
for your
"That doesn't clear your skirts, dea
father. How am 1 to face her and sa.
that the blame of my misconduct rest
upon my fathers head ?"
J "Don't be concerned about that. Yo
can tell her that your studies kept yo
, away. If she cares anything about you
! she'll be too happy to ask many que:
! tions; and if she doesn't regard yo
very particularly, you needn't tell he
} anything" he replied, turning, as
anxious to get away from the scrutinil
ing gaze of his son.
, Hubert stationed himself at the dool
J intending to escort Efie to her boarding
house, but Hugh Waters, whose matr
monial intentions were secret to a
/ but the one interested, had the pos
and only stopping to receive an anxiou
smile from his betrothed, he turne
5 away, and walked rapidly toward hi
] fathers dwelling.
s "Why, Hubert! you here ?" ez
i claimed his step-mother, as he passe
= the carriage in which she was seateC
/ waiting for husband to get through a
4 argument with an aspiring politics
, demagogue.
Hubert offered his hand.
3 'rYou got the mitten, did you ?' sh
r said exultingly.
''I didn't forge letters I' he replied il
8 dignantly, with marked emphasi
"Where is Allie ?"