The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-11-17
ed. Marry in haste and repent at

fed. Marry in haste and repent at
LEISURE"
''I know it; and Pve heard it till Pm
ready to die"
"Where's John?"
az neither know nor care"
"Why, Edna ~
"I dOntr
"Worse and worse !"
"Maybe 1 did wrong, mother; but, as
you know, for this contemplate old hut
of Aunt Judy's, we wouldn't have even
temporary roof over our heads; and,
but for her bounty, we'd have no food.
She left us here for while to give us
an opportunity to4iearn to wOrk-to
form our own nucleus, as she terms it.
Pm doing my best, Pm sure. pve eX-
perimented till can cook anything
there is here. I can make butter and
wash, and you know always could sew.
Well, I'm trying to do my part, but
John doesn't see the necessity of doing
his. l want him to spend some of his
spare hours in fixing up things comfort
ably for Aunt Judy. Winter is coming,
and she needs some kindly offices that
he could as readily as not pterform for
her, when he's doing nothing but live
upon her bounty. He turns up his nose
at our surroundings, but think beg
gars shouldn't be chOosers. What do
you think ?'
81 think it's very naughty for my
daughter to be talking thus about her
husband" said Mrs. Rutherford, dryly.
"But, mother, you know that L never
was a member of the angelic sisterhood.
If had been, 1 shouldn't have married
John Smith. That's certain ~
In spite of herself Mrs. Rutherford
mentally agreed with her daughter.
"Where is John, did you say?"
'I didn't say"
"But do you know where he is ?''
'No. We bad a tilt at the supper
table, and he left the house pOuting.
He'll be back before morning, though,
for he hasn't a cent to buy him bed or
breakfast, and never will have, unless
1 can contrive some way to earn it for
him"
"How did he live before you were
married, Edna:"
"He had an allowance; but that was
cut off as soon as old Rutherford cut me
off penniless."
"Why, Edna! How dare you speak
thus disrespectfully of your father?"
"He's no father of mine ~
"Have you mother, child?"
"Yes; since she's visited me.
thought an hour ago hadn't"
"What are your plans, child ?"
81 haven't any"
"Whatr'
= 'I haven't any 1 want to go to the
Pacific Coast, but we've no money mol
outfit, nor prospect of any. If L only
had wealthy father, might borrow /
thousand dollars; butPve onlya mothe
and mothers never have any money"
"Would John take care of money i
he had it ?''
He'd mean to, but he wouldn't know
how. 1 don't want money; that is, no
much. l want wagon and team, ant
/ complete outfit across the plains
r That's all. And l want to winter here
if John will work enough for Aunt Jud.
7 to pay our expenses. Itisu't much lik
your home, but it's better than none
only I don't want to sponge it,"
a "Do you think you could be happy
e you should go to California ?"
y 'I don't know and 1 don't care. Lif
> is nothing but husks"s
Mrs. Rutherford resolved to say moth
: ing to Edna concerning the crisp roll c
e bank notes in her pocket until after an
a other conference with Aunt Judy.
e To place thousands of miles betwee
v herself and Edna was a terrible thing
e think of; but, with mothers usus
S self-abnegation, she was ready for an
/ sacrifice for her child's happiness, an
$ she heroically resolved to endure th
separation at whatever cost to herself.
e John came home, moody ana sllen
r Like all incompetent husbands or wive
1t be considered himself a badly injure
e individual.
IS Mrs. Rutherford was frigid and cain
r Edna was fearful and cross, and, take
b altogether, a more unpromising pro
l. pect for connubial happiness could NJ
or well be imagined.
n ITO be continued