The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-01-21

cost that marriage brings to women if they
impose its burdens upon them while they are
yet children.
Living, was not, alas the dutiful, afec-
tionate daughter that should have been, Dy-
ing, my mother dear, allow me to assure you Of
my deep regard. Would that might live to
make reparation for the trouble I have caused
you. But in living I could not, for Jason An
drews would not let me. When am gone, he
will learn TO think kindly OF you, and then,
maybe, you can come TO my babies. The
journey is long, but you will not mind that.
I do not fear 10 die, mother God and the
angels are going with me down through the
shadows.
With more love than pen can express, but not
more than you, fond and badly-wronged
mother can appreciate, I bid you goodbye till
we strike hands upon the shores of the mystic
rious Hereafter.
Madge suddenly ceased writing, and
the pen dropped from her fingers like
lead.
'I never saw such a child :" said her
mother, as though awe-stricken.
'T guess that'll do" said Madge, alb
ruptly. AZ haven't tried to write much
since we left the Plains, where scrib-
bled with stick in the sand. used to
write in the mud sometimes, in the
same way, but pve been so busy
for long time, that rve forgotten it.
You'd better get Mrs. Andrews to sign
the letter, if it'll do. pve got to go now
and drive up the steers. If Mr.. An
drews can't find one of 'em down with
some awful disease when he comes
home, he won't know what to say to
make us all miserable, and then he
can't be happy" and the child left the
house as abruptly as she had come, TAX
ing with her an old rifle which had
been her fathers, and which she had
learned to use with considerable skill.
Mrs. Andrews awoke from a fitful
slumber to find her faithful friend bend
ing over her, ready to improve every
waking moment.
care you in pain ?" asked Mrs. Nor
rison.
''No. Pm easy and happy" she
whispered, while her face lighted up
with a radiance so often seen upon the
face of the dying.
"Aliee, run to the fields and call Mr..
Andrews and the children" said the
widow, in sudden alarm.
'Tt's all right" whispered the dying
one. "Fve had a blessed vision. Pm
happy! happy! happy! Did you say
something about letter ?'
.Madge's offering was procured, and
read.
'The very letter 1 dreamed about.
Did you say Madge wrote it ?"
eyes"
"How very strange! 1 dreamed !
wrote it,"
"Don't you want to sign it ?"
81 will try"
For years the poor woman had moi
touched pen, save once; and that vas
when a mortgage required her sigma
ture-a mortgage that had in the enc
left them homeless, and had given hel
husband a plausible excuse to remove
his wife and children to the far distant
west, in search of another home fol
which her worn-out life was now paying
forfeit.
The signature, though scrawling, wai
not illegible, and Mrs. Morrison haC
barely had time to safely conceal tn,
letter ere the troop of frightened ones
with Jason Andrews at their head, came
hurrying in. Jason bore in his stalwar
arms the next youngest wee one of hii
numerous flock. The whole assembly
looked like a band of gypsies, so un
kempt and ragged were they. Blu
their health was good, and their pros
poets for the future flattering, only fo
the bereavements that were making
sad inroads upon their ranks.
Jason Andrews dropped Oh his knee
beside his dying wife, and took her thin
white hands in his great, rough, horny
palms.
"Jason;' and the woman's tones wer
low, persuasive, and sweet, "pm goiui
away on a long journey. Pve tried t.
stay and do my duty according to you
desires; but Pm no longer useful to you
and must go to our Father. I have
dying request to make. Will you gran
it?n
Don't, MollyD' walled the strou
man. "Don't think of dyin'. 1 cam
live without you p'
"Do you lOUe me, Jason ?"
The question was asked in doubtful
anxious tone that Mrs. Morrison inter
preted perfectly.
"Ain't ye my own wife, Molly
And how can We ask me that?'
''You hsvn't been kind for so long
Jason But it's all right now. You d
care for me as you used, and that's all
wanted to know. 1 staked my earthl
happiness for your affection, and the
lost both love and happiness, as
thought. But, thank God, the clou
has rift in it now. You always love
me, but you forgot to tell me so; and
was weak and childish, or would hav
borne it better"
Very tendsrly the strong man stroke
the pale cheeks and brow on which th
death damp had settled. The pale, blu
ewes were lighted up by an ineffabl