The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-10-01
CHAPTER Xxx.
HUBERT's RETURN.

HUBERT'S RETURN.
The same excitement and hustle that
had characterized the preparations for
the former exhibitions, were repeated
in getting ready for this one. Mrs. We'll
den and her children, Florence and Miss
Martin, Maurice, Ada and Dr. Stanton,
took lodgings that Herbert had secured
for them for three days in town.
Much progress had been made in the
school by many of the students, for Mr..
Barton was not content with superficial
accomplishments, but required careful
and thorough investigation of every sci
ence, while the art and practice of elo-
quent speech and composition received
a due share of his judicious attention.
Eh1e had read her composition and
had taken her seat upon the stage, while
waiting for Herbert and Eliza to finish
a dialogue, which, from its very singu-
larity, was attracting the undivided at
tention Of every one, when a shadow
darkened the doorway. She looked in
voluntarily at the intruder. Surprise
drove the blood from her cheeks; her
vision was dimmed for a moment, but
the hot blood suddenly mounted to her
face again, giving deeper hue to her
sunny curls, which at that moment
were suddenly Furnished by the suns
rays that darted from behind a western
cloud through the open window. The
1iff1a fol, oh, -
fully adjusted to suit her youthful ap-
pearance, for, though now in her twen-
tieth year, she appeared but little Older
than the girl of fourteen who had SO
deeply interested the audience, or part
of it, more than six years before.
The stranger, noble-looking young
man, apparently twenty-six years OF
age, silently took seat, attracting no
particular attention from any one but
Efie. Hubert Munson had grown a
little in stature, and his slender figure
had broadened into the symmetrical
proportions of well-built frame. He
sported luxuriant whiskers, and had ac-
quired something of the air of an Eng.
lishman, by a residence in London
where for several years he had lived
and dreamed and studied. He looked
hard at Effie for a few moments, auC
then his eye sought his fathers, whC
averted his face, though Hubert knew
he had been recognized.
In compliance with his wife's request
Mr.. Munson had once written to hi
son stating a report, which, to do hin
justice, had acquired something of thu
semblance of truth, that Effie was sooI
to be married to Ralph Holmes,
brother of Winnie's, lawyer, who be
fore Winnie's marriage and removal t,
California, had paid her marked
attention.
Hubert was advised to write to her NJ
more, for his father stated that she wa
getting spoiled by flattery and attention
and his continued writing would only
add to his causes for modification II
the end.
Alas for the boasted firmness of hu
man integrity! Notwithstanding hi
protested faith in his betrothed, he ha
bitten his step-mother's bait from hi
fathers hand, and had been caught il
the net of distrust. Mr.. Munson be
lieved that what he had written woul,
come true in time, for to him the ide
that city belle who received attractive
offers Of marriage almost daily woul,
reject them all for the sake of a first Low
from whom she had heard nothing 70
years, was preposterous. He advise,
his son to settle in London after hi
travels were completed, where he coul,
have ample opportunity to drown hi
modification in Amusement and study
A sudden desire to visit hischildhood,
haunts had prompted him to seek one
more the abode of his youth. After
brief sojourn in the interior Of Vermont
where his mother had lived and dIeC
and hasty visit among his eolleg