The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-10-22
CHAPTER xxi.
THE WEDDING EXCURSION.


81 wish you happy visit" said Ada,
as the quartette mounted their restless
steeds, bound for trip in the mountains.
80, Ada w replied Efie, pushing her
pretty riding-hat to one side of her
fairy-like head, and peeping from be-
meath her breeze-tossed ringlets, chow
I do wish you were going with us We
have been troubling you with our pres
ence for more than a week, and now we
are going off on a visit that you can't
enjoy"
"Birdie," looking archly at her lovely
friend, ''if you say another word about
trouble, you and will quarrel. shall
enjoy the trip, for shall often think of
the pleasure you are SEEING"
They parted with their friend, and
after proceeding a short distance, met
Maurice. He had been to see the wife
of Silas Hill, who for weeks had no:
been expected to live. She had adopted
Ada's mode of life during the early part
of summer, and for a while all had been
well; but her husband began to think
that so much outdoor ''play," as he
called it, was useless; and as she no
longer complained of the racking pain
in her side, he had ceased to be atten-
tive about the children. Harvest time
brought dozen men to cook for. The
weather was hot and the baby fretful.
Before harvest was over she had worked
herself into dangerous fever, and for
two months, eschewing Maurice's ad-
vice, she had been taking medicines
prescribed by DR.. Stanton. She arose
from the bed of sickness with diseased
lungs and worn-out constitution. For
awhile she had resumed her duties, but
was compelled to give them up again,
and for a fortnight her death had been
daily expected.
Query: Does it cost as much to hire a
cook as to pay doctor? Or will all
the boarded gains Of lifetime pay for
the suicide of a mother? What will it
profit man if he raises hundreds of
acres of grain and loses the mother of
his children, or how will the vacancy
be filled when she has departed?
The doctor had been sent for in the
night, and as he had not returned,
Maurice had gone at dawn to see if they
needed assistance. The invalid was in
death stupor, and Maurice was retreat
ing. homeward to inform Ada of the
looked-for decease ofher neighbor, when
he met the gay quartette.
"What news, Mr.. Stanton ?n
''The worst. I am going to make an
entry in my diary of another victim to
overwork.'"
"Is she so far gone ?'' Florence asked.
'I am sorry-no-gIdd to say that
she is"
"Why, Mr.. Stanton p'
lam glad-:fdct !-for her life has been
a constant scene of toll and suffering,
and she'll rest when in the grave. She
says that death has no terrors.n
awe ought to stay, Floy, and see II
we can't be of service to them," said
Efie, forgetting her anticipated pleas
ure in the hope Of doing good.
sit isn't necessary. Her mother, and
enough kin-folks to nurse her to death
are there now"
81 must see her." interrupted Hubert
"Was her name Peggy Norris before
marriage? ?" -
II believe so; they were married
about four years ago. Silas had been q
bachelor neighbor to us before that
time"
THAT girl lived year at our house a.
a domestic" pursued Hubert. 'T re.
member her as healthy-looking, awk.
ward child, who was willing to do what.
ever she could, but was so ignorant
about work that my step-mother finally
bade her leave the house. She after
wards lived with Mrs. Clinton. VIII,
kept her until her father, who was a ma
chlnist In the city, moved on farm.
wonder if she win know me-"