The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-06-02

Jason, after breakfast, as the poor
drunkard was vending his way to the
barn in quest of his dram.
"D'ye want a swig ?" he answered,
innocently.
Eyes, big one"
'fIts in the loft"
Madge looked in the direction indi-
Gated by the trembling victims nervous
digit, and hurrying away, proceeded to
demolish the cask with an ak, thus
raising perfume among the hay that
spoiled ton at least, for cattle are so
far superior to men that they will not
eat or drink spoiled food.
"Now, JASON" said Madge, as she de-
scended the ladder, ak in hand, "Pve
made up my mind to submit to no more
foolishness on my mothers premises.
Three months ago was child. 1 am
woman now, and intend to see that
you walk straight hereafter, or die try
ing"
Jason hung his head. He was feeling
bad from the effects of his nights pota-
tions, and was in that weakly, trem-
bling state induced by prostration,
which is so often, under less favorable
circumstances, the bane of the victim of
strong drink.
YOU'D never be Solomon under any
circumstances" continued Madge, "for
nature didn't make much of a success
on you to begin with, but there's more
manhood about you than you imagine,
and I propose to see that you have a
chance to prove it. Do you remember
the first time 1 saw you? Have you
forgotten the pale, sick wife who went
down to her grave, dying for the want
of the love you forgot to bestow upon
her? Do you remember how you and
1 toiled side by side to make this home,
such as it is? and how happy we
lived till you got legal claim on the
body and will of my mother ?"
ayes, Madge; 1 remember all"
"Well, Jason, you haven't got mother
to deal with now, but me. L intend to
see that you respect yourself and your
family. Not another drop of liquor
shall you bring to this rancho. If you
will be man once more, pll be your
friend. If you go on debasing yourself,
I'll see that you lose wife and children
and home. Now, mark what 1 say.
You shall have two days to sober up.
Then you'll help me to build an addi-
tion to the house, and we'll all get along
together first rate"
"Well, Madge, pll pledge my word
"Ihere! there! no pledges! You'll
break them if you make them. know
you'll succeed, for you shall. Now, you
must help me to extricate Mr.. Morrison
from his difficulty. You must go with
me to the Courthouse. 1 must see the
proper officers and make legal applica.
ton for a writ of hd6edS corpus. The
man isn't guilty. The very idea is alb
surd."
81 didn't say he aOas guilty." pleaded
JASON"
"Then who die? ?"
"The Graud jury"
"Upon your testimony"
"How do you know ?"
"I feel it in my bones"
But Jason Andrews was not able II
go to the new village that day, nor thu
next. 1t aOdS little cruel for Madge t.
cut his long-indulged potations off 81
suddenly, but she was firm and unfiinch
ing, and held her patient we'll in hand
"The very devil possesses Madge,'
, said Harry.
l "Then he's grand, good devil, and
wish he'd make a business of possessing
folks" retorted Sam.
Never, since the old days when Madg
had been inspired by the necessitie
that had beset them in the wilderness
when none but she could be relied upol
in great emergencies, had she so risen t.
meet the difficulties that beset her way
> Her mother and Alice watched ant
waited upon her plans with feeling
akin to awe. The boys obeyed her be
: hests without a question, and the worl
went on like magic.
AS soon as Madge could leave Jasol
alone with the family, for he raved fear
fully for several days if she were not Il
sight to quell him, she visited Mr.. Nor
rison as she had designed, and assure
him that he would be released, and tina
right speedily.
"Alas, poor child" he said, in reply
'I regret to say that do not join il
your enthusiasm. You will fail 70
n want of properly accredited witnesses.
. But Madge was not so easily baffied
. Repairing to the home of Mrs. Perkin
a and Sara, who were overjoyed at meet
:, ing her, while the latter was surprise
% when informed that she and Tommy
the waiter boy" were one and the sam
person, she unfolded the plan, alread
known to Jason Andrews, for the legs
!. liberation of her friend.
But, alas for the vanity of woman
u expectations, the coveted writ was nc
r. procurable. One of the witnesses, {
!. one who had essayed to be such, wa
,r the wife of the missing man, and he
st evidence could not be accepted as test