The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-10-29
CHAPTER XIII.
THE AUTHOR.

Hubert's cottage was finished and
furnished complete by the following
July. Effie was delighted with her new
abode. The country air and outdoor
exercise had given her perfect health,
which she well knew how to appreciate.
She had been installed for week in
her new home, when upon a warm,
sultry afternoon Mrs. WeIden, Mrs.
Stanton and Florence paid her a sur
prise visit.
''I have a whole catalogue of news
and some little gossip for your enter
tainment," said Florence. at the tea-ta-
BILE, when Maurice, Hubert and Herbert
were present. "You remember Miss
Martin. She is to be one of our neigh
bors.n
'Indeed! had not heard it. Is she
married? Where is she going to live?"
asked Ada, as though excited.
"You seem very anxious to know"
replied Florence.
"Simply because I am interested in
her. wanted to gain her confidence,
for I am certain that the well-spring of
her inner being has either been wasted
upon an unworthy object, or that she
has been the victim of circumstance" !"
"The latter supposition is right. I
would not abuse her confidence, but to
reconcile you to an announcement that
may surprise you, will read you let
ter of hers that received to-day"
"DEAR PUPIL AND FRIEND:-I am coming to
live near you. have studied a dozen ways to
break the news gently but at last it has
dropped from my pen, just as you see it: Wal
lace Stokes is dead. 1 received the intelligence
a few months since in an Eastern newspaper
will not comment further upon that circum.
stance at present. Il is a relief to know of a
certainty what has become Of the object o.
loves young dream Where will you live I?
I hear you ask. Do you know Mr.. Silas Hill ?
Don't start and say he worked his wife to
DEATH, and dozen other disparaging things
He needs a wife, and needs a mother for those
helpless little ones. He might have had 8
wife, if he had taken care of her hear yoU
say, Indignantly. Now don't be rash. He has
come to me and said the same, with the sin
cerity Of deepest regret. His wife was thor
strength, and he was thoughtless, not cruel
blame him, it is true, but can forgive him, for
believe he is penitent. A true marriage, as
told you once, is not for me. can be useful il
the life have chosen, can think we'll enough
of my husband to live with him agreeably, anC
my yearning heart has so long sought some
body TO love, that those pretty, bright-eyeC
children already seem as near TO me as though
they were my own. God helping me, they
shall never know the want of a mothers love-
'"This is an age of progress" inter
rupted Efie. "rve heard of marryin,
for love, for home, for beauty and fo
money, but the idea of marrying for th,
sake of a widower's children, is some
thing new"
"That clears the mystery" said Ada
"Silas has been building additions to hi
house, and has furnished it tastefully
suspected that a match was brewing
but had been trying to select his bride
Miss Martin is the last person 1 would
have thought Of"
"Read this, Floy," said Herbert, hand
ing her copy of the Oregon --, anC
and pointing to a paragraph:
"Married-Upon the Sd inst, at the house Q
the BRIDES father, by the Rev. --, Nj
Hugh Waters, of Portland, TO Miss Eliza Gran
dali, of Oregon City. Also, on the evening Q
the same day, by the same, Mr.. George Gran
dali, Of Oregon City, TO Miss Fanny Waters, c
Portland"
81 wonder why we were not invited, ,
said Florence. 'I don't care for tn,
weddings, but don't see why they shoulc
slight us, when they were our brides
maids.n
Herbert drew letter from his pocket
"Here, Floy, this will tell you abou
it.n
She opened the letter and glance,
at its contents.
''This is too bad"
"What, Floy ?" said Efie, as sb
glanced over her shoulder. 'eWhy. thi
letter should have been received a weel
ago. We were all so cordially invited
and they will think our absence was in