The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-08-04

LOu NOh lOOh eOlC AOA ouSh "OAhi
said the girl.
81 have seen better days." was the
quiet answer.
And then-oh, sufficient reward of all
her efforts-this real lady, this fair
young girl with the soft hands and the
pretty bathing dress, actually replied,
81 thought So"
"Here, give me an oar" she added,
still painting. "But, my dear soul,
we'll never be able to row down to that
point, where 1 left my clothes, and 1
can't walk to the hotel. Pm awfully
tired. Can't you put me ashore at your
place, and send word for me down
yonder ?"
The little dark cabin on the shore
frightened up with an unwonted luster
as the widow sheltered her young
charge, and changed wet garments for
some of her own.
"If my Tom would only come, I'd
send him for your things"
ooh no matter. I'll wrap your
shawl about me and walk down myself
after Tve rested bit. I'm not hurt,
you know, only scared. Dear me how
[ was scared My old nurse used to
teach me not to scream; but, if 1 hadn't
screamed, where should l have been
now, wonder ?''
Mrs. Minton would gladly have
parted with the last shred she pos
sessed, and gone shivering the rest of
her days, to see her worn-Out gown
donned so handsomely by the bright
lassie.
"They have seen better days, the
clothes, miss, and rll not deny that
they've been in good company in their
day; but they're not fit for lady now"
Her companion laughed a pretty,
mischievous laugh. She read the
weakness of her rescuer, and treated it
tenderly.
"Whatever a lady has worn is fit for
lady to wear" she said, and forth
with wrapped herself, smiling, in the
old gray shawl.
! At that moment Tom, with his red
shirt cleaning in the setting sun, and a
string of fish on his shoulder, stood in
the doorway.
He stopped when he saw the guest
standing upon the hearthstOne, bright
fire behind her, and the kettle boiling
cheerily. She nodded to him famil-
iarly. Tom thought he must be dream
ing;
said
"Are you >" responded the astonished
widow.
"Yes," said the girl. "I've watched
Tom many a time walking along shore
with his red shirt, and once he took me
and father out rowing. Tom, your
mother saved my life"
"Saved your life ~ echoed Tom, who
never, in all his life, heard of his
mothers doing anything before.
Tom, stupid and staring, was hurried
off in search of the missing garments.
And meanwhile his mother betOOk her.
self to making a cup of tea for hel
DrOteqe. 1t was wonderful how a little
warmth of human feeling had reused
this woman to life and activity again
When Tom returned, laden with va.
rious articles of apparel, the two were
quietly slipping their tea together a.
the old round table.
=. He did not return alone, however
Following him came Il tall, grayheadeG
gentleman.
"Here's father ~ cried the girl
springing forward. "Oh, father, thi:
lady has saved my life!"
Lady! The widow MintOn wanted
to kiss the beautiful rosy lips that pro,
nounced the word.
"Well, my dear" said the old gen,
teman, good-humoredly, pinching the
plump cheek, "she has done it very
, thoroughly. You certainly don't lOOl
very near death just now"
Whereat, the story, with due Ell
largement and variations, was told hin
with pretty pOut.
The father smiled, but also he fur
lively wiped away tear.
J "Well, madam said he, courteOusly
, "accept my cordial thanks for lOokinl
after my little mad-cap Belle. She
my only child, you see, and as full o
: pranks as any Dozen"
J Belle pIayfully put her hand over hi
: mouth. al won't have my characte
! traduced where they have been so gOot
to me,n she cried. "And, oh father
. isn't this a beautiful place-such a viey
2 of the water | mean to come dow
/ here every day and do my sketch
, ing"
e tPm afraid" said the sire, shaking
I his head, "that this good lady will
t have cause to wish she had thrown yO
! overheard"
a "Oh, no, father; she likes me, and
like her. And l have fallen in Low
/ with Tom long ago, you know"
Tom blushed painfully. Somethin
r strange and new stirred in his mind
! Compliments did not sweeten hi
: thoughts as they did his mothers, 70
f Tom had never seen better days, and b
a felt as if he were being made jest o.
Y A week passed, during which tn
e young girl strolled almost daily TO tn
2 cabin. When she was there Tom sci
: dom entered the house. He had grow
s shy and sulky. He sat on the shOr
4 darkly brooding, or went off silently
his fishing.
4 One morning Belle and her father de
\ parted. Belle kissed the withere
a cheek of her friend, and that was al
/, For, when mention had been made {
d helping substantially, the widow ha
drawn herself sharply up, all the lad
!. shining in her eyes:
v 81 have seen my best days." said sht
a "but | haven't come down to that ye
V And, if l need any reward, / have
/. now," she added, as she felt the he
b bloom mantlIng on the cheek tha
d Belle had kissed.
e Long after the two had left, Tom wer
:, about with cloud on his face, and i
u his ears were ringing these mockin
u words: "Tm in love with Tom" !
!, disgust for his fishing life, and for him
= self and all their miserable surround
t ings of poverty, filled the lads heal
e with an unwonted bitterness.
It "Mother," said he, one day, as he SO
d darkly brooding over the hearth, "yo
A said YOU were born lady. Why didn
q you make gentleman of me?'
/ l. - loft n WVT