The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-03-17
CHAPTER XIV.

tumultu Gus.
81 must have Madge; 1 must secure
this land for a town site, and L must
propitiate Jason Andrews" he NUT
tered. "What the mischief Sara Per-
kins' mother must needs be turning up
in these parts for, and at this particular
time, is more than can imagine. Once
Pm married she can't help herself,
though"
Then a vision of golden tresses and
sunny eyes, and dimpled cheeks, and
shoulders white as snow rose dim and
shadowy before his inner senses, and he
reeled and shuddered, as though under
the pressure of strange, indefinable
terror.
81 must see Madge again; and yet l
dare not,n he continued. "If she would
only marry me at once I'd be all right
But old Polly Perkins must never dream
that 1 am here, or my cake will be
dough in a twinkling. Halloo! what
have we here ?n as he stumbled upon
Harry Morrison, who was resting in the
shade by the foot-path.
"I was only thinking" said Harry,
''of the injustice of human laws respect
ing the rights of living people. My
mother was bereft of her legal protector
by death when we were all little and
helpless, and she has struggled on alone
to bring US up this far; and now, when
an opportunity comes that she might
turn the property to valuable account,
we are denied, or my mother, on the
part of my fathers children, is denied
all right to control the property TO any
advantage. Then that fool of a step
father that my mother brought into my
fathers shoes, caps the climax of the
whole absurdity by asserting his right
in the premises-just as though he had
any ~
"But he has a lawful right, Harry.
Don't be too hard on him."
"It's that very lawful right that
protest against"
George Hanson suddenly bethought
him of a project.
Dropping upon the grass beside the
boy, he entered into long and earnest
conversation, which resulted in a
mutual shaking of hands over a pledge
of eternal fidelity.
The next day, at the same hour, found
Harry in the same locality, waiting and
watching for his friend, who came al
the appointed time, and at the end of q
second long consultation, placed letter
in his hands for Madge, which was to
be so slyly delivered that none but her
self should know that she had received
it.
The opportunity to present the letter
was long in coming.
Mrs. Andrews was alarmingly i'll; the
tiny babe was fragile and cross; the
older children were clamorous and un-
ruly, as children are apt to be when the
authority of both parents is suddenly
relaxed; Mrs. Perkins seated herself al
her ease in the great armchair in the
corner, and was not disposed to assis
about the house work, and Madge expe
rienced a succession of trials that nigh
have well appalled, a brace of strong
men. But she resolutely set herself Il
work, and surmounted difficulties, a
she encountered them, by scores, in ;
way that astOnished the visitor, who's
experience with her own girls at home
who had been weakly and inefficient
was brought before her mind continu
ally as a contrast so strongly that sh
could not dismiss it for an instant
though she did not once attempt {
Tighten Madge's burdens by assistin
her.
'Madge, you must do the milking to
night" said Harry, at the supper table
81 have mashed my thumb"
"You'd better mash your tongue; nc
body would miss that" laughed Sam.
"But I can't leave the house to mil
while mother is so ILL.," pleaded Madgt
"Let grandma take care of her." sue
gested Harry.
"But who'll wash the dishes ?n
'Let Sam do it" said Mrs. Perkins
"He says he don't know how to milk.
'Catch me doing girls work r' e1
claimed the boy, contemptuously.
''Then catch me doing boys work
cried Madge. 'Ever since 1 was a yer
little girl pve worked on this rancht
doing everything from making raj
and boards and barns and houses [
milking, cooking, washing, ironing
dish-washing, aud fine needle-work.
there's to be such a thing as girls wor
and boys work considered here, PlI nC
soil my hands any more with out-doC
labor" and Madge began to stack th
dishes and rattle cutlery at fearful rat
Harry well knew that Madge, whe
once her mind was made up, was as il
vincible as adamant, SO long as an
show of opposition lasted, so he resolve
to capitulate 10 order to gain his poin
"Come with NE and help me th
time, sis" he said, ''and I'll help was
the dishes when the milking's don