The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-09-17

lilies lOF eaCu OIueE ueIei Will llnSe1 III
the world to come ?"
tMost certainly. Aunt Mays quotes
They neither marry nor are given in
marriage as her proof of an opposite
theory. freely admit the force of that
clause of Divine inspiration, but my
reason for it is this: Our Master says
nothing without cause. The world of
happiness is SO much more perfect than
this land we will not have the clog of
mortality to obscure our mental vision),
that each can read the thoughts of the
others second self, and the attraction
will be mutual and instantaneous. No
marrying or giving in marriage will be
necessary, for we will possess the intu-
tive knowledge of the 'angels of God ia
heaven.'"
"Don't you ever expect to get mar
ried ?''
''Not unless 1 find that I can be a
blessing to some one during life. A true
marriage is not-for me, unless the first
object of my regard should find me,
hulCu iS al lLu pTODdDlIlly.
Numerous voices of happy and dis
satisfied girls were heard in the hall.
The driving rain had saturated their
cloaks and hoods, making fine fun for a
few, and grumbling gdiscontentform many.
Miss Martin replenished the fire, and
called the noisy group to order.
Florence took her usual seat, and as
she glanced at the plain, neat dress of
her teacher, and marked her subdued
but pleasant smiles, she wondered that
she had never thought her pretty before.
She knew that she had taken to teach
ing on account of reduced circumstances,
and thought that the faint lines of sor-
row dimly visible about the mouth and
eyes resulted from peeuniary disap-
pointment.
Mr.. Mays, her uncle, had become in
solvent after many years of Intellectual
gold-hunting and other speculations,
and Martha, rather than be a burden on
his hands, had accepted her present sit
uation. She was styled "old maid" by
all of the girls when her back was
turned, but Florence now thought that
if they could hear her story as she had
heard it, they would speak derisively of
her no more
'I WONDER" she thought, ''if all 'oId
maids have so great a cause for continu-
ing in state of single blessedness' as
she has q? She wouldn't be called 'old
maid anywhere but in Oregon. Most
girls here think they must be married
before they're fifteen, or they'll be
doomed to irremediable spinsterhood.
1 guess, too, that they have been af-
fected to some extent with the mania
that has infected the bachelors. They
used to marry to hold their land. I, for
one, am not sorry that the Land Act
has expired"
Herbert and Effie were sitting in a
bay window of one of Mrs. Cards par
lors. Efie had become absorbed in
'Dombey and Son." while Herbert was
trying in vain to become interested in
"Bayard Taylors Cyclopedia of Modern
Travel" book well suited to his taste,
and which at any other time wonld have
engaged his entire attention. Mrs. Card
was experimenting dinner, and had left
them alone for an hour.
Herbert shut the volume with a ner-
vous, heavy stroke, that aroused his sis
ter from her abstracted dream over the
printed page.
''Efie, do lay aside that book and talk
to me! My head aches How heavily
the time drags to-dayn
'I'm sorry to hear you complain ol
the tardiness of time, my dear brother.
1 was just getting ready to havea hearty
laugh at 'Mr. Toots. Here, lay your
head on the sofa pillow, and I'll try my
powers of mesmerism upon you. Iguess
the 'magnetin my fingers'-as DIR. Muse
calls it-can drive or allure the pain
away.n
"You are the dearest sister mortal
ever had" 81
"You're successful fiatterer. be-
lieve 1 am the dearest sister you ever
had, II do admit it myself"
care you jealous of Florence, sister
mine ?n
"What question I don't expect to
occupy her place in your heart. I shall
stick most adhesively to my Sisters cor
ner;' Pm almost as deeply interested in
your success as you are"
"Well, rll have to confess that I felt
pang of jealousy when you first wrote
to me about Hubert Munson."
He paused, for shade of sadness
which of late had often mantIed his sis
ter's brow, had settled over her features.
"How long since you have received a
letter from Hubert ?"
"Over four years.
"Do you believe he has been false ?''
81 do not. shall always believe his
regard for me was all that he expressed
tito be. He may be dead; Idon't know.
L have ventured to ask his father about
him sometimes, but he treats me SO
coldly when I speak of his son, that /
never persist until get satisfactory
answer. If he lives, he will return some
day; if not, I can go to him"
Herbert kissed her with a brothers
fondness, and seeing that she grew sad
der still, he adroitly changed the subject.