The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-06-02
CHATTER XIV.

of all things necessary for human sub
sistence, had taken her departure, leav-
ing autumn, benignant and balmy, in
undisputed possession of the golden har-
vest that smiled in the sunlight upon
the brown bosom of mother earth,
while husbandmen were occupied in re-
moving crops to market by the slow
teaming process yet in vogue in many
rural regions.
Mrs. Andrews was well-nigh crazed
and wholly stupefied by the burdens of
her life. The advent of Sara Perkins
had resulted advantageOusly, inasmuch
as it had enabled the grandmother of
Jason Andrews children to secure for
herself little home-very humble and
unpretentious, but sufficient for her
present needs, and quite superior to Mrs.
Andrews own; and Jason, being, for a
wonder, disposed to be affable, had al
lowed her the custody of his four
younger sons and daughters, thereby
leaving the apathetic mother of Madge
Morrison with a comparatively small
family, and much reducing her daily
toll.
But it seemed that misfOrtunes beset
Mrs. Andrews upon every hand. Her
daughter Alice, who had been for sew
eral years wife and mother, returned
to the maternal home widowed aud al
most destitute, with three children de-
pendent upon her for support, and no
means at her disposal until letters of ad-
ministration should be properly filed
and otherwise acted upon according to
the laws of men who claim to be the
supporters of women, so the drunkard's
wife's respite was brief and unreal.
Hasn't Madge gone back to her hus-
band yet ?'' asked Alice, as soon as she
could so far forget her own sorrows as to
pause to consider those of her sister.
mo-" was the apathetic reply. "She
don't seem to consider her bargain bind
ing in any sense"
'I am sure" said Alice, "that if I
made bad bargain, I'd stick the closer
to it,"
"And that's your advice to me, is it,
Alice? ?'
"Yes," interrupted Jason Andrews,
who had not forgotten his old habit of
coming in upon the household when
least expected, in the hope to overhear
something not intended for his ears.
"That's what I'm allus tellin' Nance.
She rides a high hoss sometimes, an
swears she won't stan this nor that,
but she allus comes round about fodder
time"
Mrs. Andrews turned away with ar
ill-concealed shudder of loathing.
"Thars no tellin' what's went O.
Madge," continued the step-father, "but
s'pose of course she's come to some
bad end. When a woman forsakes hel
rightful master thar's mighty little
show for her to come to any good.
want to know what ye propose to do fol-
livin', Alice? Ye surely don't expec
to git yer grub off O. mer'
Alice, poor child-woman as she was
overcome by recent bereavement, anC
weak and i'll from long watching beside
her sick husband and helpless littl,
ones, of whom the youngest was an in
fant of three months, looked up with al
expression of anguish that was pitiable
81 don't see where could come if no
to my MOTHER" she said, through he
tears. "There'll be something left o
the estate after the law has gon
through it, maybe, and then rll Sc
what can do. But must have som
place to stay, and you wouldn't dare t
object to my staying here if my mothe
were not your wife"
"pd have no right to object if sh
wasn't my wife, of course"
"But what right have you to objec
now?" cried Mrs. Andrews. "I ha
more property before I married yo
than L now have. paid my way Il
the world while a widow, and with les
effort, and far less suffering, than hav
endured since l was married to you.
earn as much as used to, and fail t
see by what code of ethics you judg
me when you treat me as pauper."
"Highty! tightly! 1 haven't hear
sich yaup since Madge run awayW sal
Jason, angrily. "See here, ole woman,
he continued. 'If it makes We so darne
obstreperous as this to have yer Morr
son brats comm round, Pill drive th
whole batch of 'em out o. doors 90
81 didn't mean anything, Jason
pleaded the wife, in alarm.
"Ye'd better take it back ~ exultantl
exclaimed her legal protector. "Iwar
ye to know that rll have no wome
lordin' it over mew
Mrs. Andrews rocked to and fro upo
her chair, soothing her nervous babe, &
it clung in its tender helplessness to b,
aching breast, while it sobbed as thoug
grieved beyond endurance.
"Why don't ye talk, woman? ?" e.
claimed her excited lord.
81 have nothing to say" was the ap
thetic reply.
"CO.oardt are ye? Well, ye'd bett