The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-10-22

CHAPTER Xxx.
1t was pot long till Rosa Lee returned
to her store and customers, paler than
ever, and more devoted TO her growing
business.
Across the way were the well-ar-
ranged, well-furnished apartments of
Major Lindsey, comprisingsa suite in
the west wing of the, Sailors Rest,
where an aristocratic company of his
business associates usually collected
themselves in the long afternoons, to
lay plans for the furtherance Of their
comprehensive enterprise, which really
looked as though it might soon accom-
plish the desired object of connecting
Eagle Cove with the rest of the world
by trans=continental railroad 90
allow wish were a man r' sighed
Rosa Lee. tfDoes any one suppose"
she continued, still addressing herself,
for the want of more appreciative lis
tener, "that would tie myself down to
ratans and birthstone and hat-wire and
flat-irons and prepared glue and silly
customers and green apprentices and
bleaching daub if had power, as Major
Lindsey has, to go where L please and
do what please, with no ban of sec
upon me ?'
She was standing with her face
averted from the front entrance, una
ware of visitors approach, until an
impalpable shadow darkened the door
way. .a- ...s
1--WE never speak of his Satanic
Majesty but his impeomes," said Major
Lindsey, playfully. "What were you
taking my name in vain about, pray2''
The girl-woman blushed deeply.
Forgive me, sir,n she said, confused
ly. 81 was not aware that had any
other listener than my own mind.n
"And when you hold a soliloquy you
are at least certain of one sensible
hearer," laughed the Major. 5"But l
heard you complaining about the ban
of sex upon you Really, Miss Lee-'
"Don't call me Miss Lee" inter
rupted Rosa. 'I will be Miss Lee to
Eagle Covers, but shrink as if a SER
pent stpng me when you call me that"
"Again I beg your pardon. But,
really, do not understand what you
mean1by the ban of sex.'S VIII you
explain ?" carelessly twirling {. a.ehair
and dropping lazily upon it, whiN he
gazed into her pain-furrowed face with
his features bubb1ing into smiles Of
mingled sympathy and amusement.
az mean just what I say" cried Rosa
''There is a ban upon my sex thai
makes it impossible for me to work my
way into the world according to my
ability or inclination. Contrast, for in
stance, the difference between you
sphere and mine. You have a dozer
times my strength of muscle, and yet
while I am forced to toll continually
with these slender hands, among al
sorts of disagreeable things, you, being
man, can keep your dainty fingers un
soiled from years end to years end
with no other necessary occupation fo
them than they occasional placing o
your signature to document. / hope
am not egotistical, Major, but fame.
that am perfectly capable of perform
ing any of the light labor that the priv
sfieges OF your sex enable you to monop
olize, yet the ban upon mig seq debar
me from access to any place where Ia
Dor is light and pay is plenty"
"You paint the picture with yer.
blue tinge," said the Major.
'I have ambition,'' continued Ross
f'to rise to something worth aspiring tc
was always a good accountant, an
possessed of a clear-headed insight int
comprehensive business matters. In
deed, I have passion for projecting an
conducting great public enterprises. A
home-God strengthen me, i should nc
speak of home-I used to talk abou
these things sometimes, and everybod
would say, You are unladylike whe
you harbor such fancies. Women ar
supported and projected within the sa
cred shades of home by the men the
love and obey.p Butt haven't found
either profitable or safe to love an
obey men, Major. Excuse me- forge
myself. Pray don't speak of what
have said.- Pm weak to-day" e
The Majors heart fairly ached t
comfort her The more heEsaw of he
the more deeply he was puzzled; an
now as he.wstched shet deueate finger
engaged in bending .unwieldly bonnet
wire around theibrim of coarse b6cb
ram frame, their dainty pink color de
faeed,in spots By patches of adherin
glue, a shade of shame passed over hi
heart as the reflection for the first tim
was forcibly impressed upon him tbs
women were not supported and prc
teeted by menu But he was 10th, 8
are all men, when convinced of an
fact against their will, to yield th
point over his lifetime prejudices, S
he said:
"YOurs is an. exceptienal case, M
friend" -g,.-
81 might point 70 many hundreds
exceptional cases of the kind,p sal
Rosa, "but were / to. search for,
twelvemonth,I I could not find a doze
that apply to your general rule. ~ 'sa..Is
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