The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-05-26

now, a fugitive-nobody knows where,
and nobody cares but me. Some day
he'll see the folly of his present life, but
I'd gladly spare him every sad expert
ence if 1 could"
"Then you're not made of my metal"
said Madge. "Just let any man prove
to me that he's not the soul of honor
and I'll cast him from my heart or die
trying"
"That's because you're not woman"
said Sara.
Madge blushed painfully.
"What shall say to Mr.. Morrison ?"
she asked, abruptly.
"Say would rather not see him."
"But I implOre you to see him,
madam"
mo, no, Tommy. He'd only inflict
another of the long moral lectures upon
me with which he tired me out so many
times while he was sending me to school.
He's good man, Tommy; too pure and
good to look upon poor mortals like me
with the least degree of allowance.
was his affianced bride for years. /
thought, till 1 met George Hanson, that
1 loved him. He was my patron, my
guardian, and friend. He forgot that l
had a will of my own, and lie sought
constantly to mold me to his liking. 1
was willful and ungrateful, and in every
way unworthy of him. But 1 was
chaste, Tommy. If l could not be true
to him, 1 was true-alas, too true-to
George Hanson"
"But Hanson isn't worthy of any
woman's love-"
az know it, Tommy; but love him
because cannot help it. He's crea-
ture of ircumstances-mOret to be pitied
than blamed. Don't speak evil of him
in my presence again."
"Very well, ma'am; but let me go to
Mr.. Morrison, and ask him to visit you
/ here"
ITO receive one of his sanctimonious
lectures? No, Tommy, don't ask it.
Tell him that feel deeply grateful for
his many acts of kindness; that 1 always
will revere and honor him; that tried
my very best to love him and be worthy
of him, and could not"
"What do you intend doing for live
lihood, ma'am? 1t mayn't be a fair
question, and you may have an annuity
or something, but if you haven't, it'll be
necessary for you to be looking up en-
ployment; I've had bitter experience in
that line myself"
'But you're boy, Tommy. and boys
can always make their own way in the
world. My foster mother is out in this
country somewhere. IF / could find
her, and we could keep house together,
1 might get our living with my needle,
and she could care for little George.
But I don't know. She never has been
friendly since disgrace came to me. O.
George Hanson! I wonder that I dc
not hate your and the poor girl rocked
nervously to and fro.
$50 do 1 WONDER" said Madge, impa'
tiently; land if should speak my minC
rd say you haven't the highest princi
piles in the world, or you aUOuld hatt
him ~
: "Can the leopard change his spots
or the Ethiopian his skin ?" cried Sara
bitterly. 81 know ought not to lov'
him. I always fought against it, but
never could help it. Tommy, Pm sur.
1 shall some day see him with his inne
, senses so aroused to duty that he will
realize the oneness of our lives. He
under a cloud of bad habits, but there
a good at the bottom-I know there is.
e it were not that feel so sure that will
some day save him, l know that
l should die.n
"Foolish girlu' thought Madge, con
u temptuously. "The dog isn't wort
saving. 'Twould be better for you if
milestone were about his neck and b
= were cast into the sea-"
;, But she abstained from further com
o ment, and bade the wretched girl good
night, plying even while she fairly Ell
y Wed her the freedom she so much II
gretted. Yet one was bound by huma
law, from which no escape seemed pos
sible, and the other by an absorbin
love which resisted alike the disgrace
the world and the scorn of its objec
o Was not one as free as the other?
1t you've been gone a long tim
Tommy" said Morrison, as Madge rt
turned to the parlor.
1t al beg pardon, sir. 1 was trying
persuade Sara to see you, but she wi
not. She is blindly infatuated wit
George, sir, and she firmly believes thi
l. he will yet love and honor her. POI
D. girl! But oh, Mr.. Morrison! what
es wonderful, subtle, sweet, and dWf
N thing love is ~
1r "Why, Tommy ?"
ct "NOthing. was just thinking"
n. "And so was 1, Tommy. Since ha'
N been waiting here, letter has bee
handed me conveying the WELDON
Sc news that my mining claims in Cal
fornia are yielding large returns; SC
10 am no longer poor. 1 want to ASST
r. Sara in some way, and want you to
bit the messenger between u.s."
"But can't reveal myself to her, sir