The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-07-14

house, which he owned, and accepted
the position of supercargo on an ocean
vessel.
The sea, with its troubled waves,
seemed better than solid land; to roam
his best relief Ah, we take the heart
with US wherever we go. 1t is not the
land in which we live that troubles US,
but the hearts woeful depths. Nor can
sea or sky give us relief. An unhappy
man would be no less unhappy could he
traverse space, and visit all the stars,
only we don't think so when grief
stings us to go somewhere. To be at
distance from the scene of our great
trial is always the longing of the I'M
happy.
Charlie did not say much-he never
talked of his wife. But when the ves-
sci returned to America a sick man lay
in one of the berths, tossing to and fro,
and muttering again and again wom-
ans name:
Nettie-Nettie."
"He's been disappointed in love" said
the stewardess, and cried over him, and
thought that had she been a fair white
lady, and he in love with her, he never
should have been disappointed.
When they reached the shore, the de-
lirium was over, but a pale skeleton
was borne to the shore, and to Mrs. Bos-
toms on litter.
"Take hjm to Mrs. BOston's," the
captain had said. "She is kind wom-
an, and will DO what she can for him."
and Mrs. Boston, who had boarded more
sea captains and ships officers generally
than one could count in a lifetime,
opened her hospitable doors and gave
81 1sxI L, -. l..
81 don't mind sitting up nights; and
Nancy is a real good girl-she'll II help ~
said Mrs. Boston.
Nancy was shy young woman, with
brown hair, short on the neck, and her
features were deeply marked with the
smallpox. She wore the plainest pos
sible dress, and never seemed to be
happy; but, since she came to Mrs.
BostOn's door and asked for work, she
had been invaluable.
"Nancy Smith is a treasure" said
Mrs. Boston; "and only wish knew
what she cries about so much only
can't ask questions no more than if she
was lady"
Poor Nancy Smith She was ner.
vOus, no doubt, when she had stood be.
side the young mans pillow a moment
She turned pale and gave little cry
He was in sort of stupor and did moi
hear her; but Mrs. Boston said:
81 hope you amt overset by the sight
of sickness, ma'am."
"Oh, no! Pm a splendid nurse. Dc
let me nurse him, Mrs. Boston. I'll dc
my work all the same"
And thus it came to pass that night
after night Nancy Smith sat up with
the invalid. He slept or was insensible
even the doctor was not quite sure
which, or that he might ever open his
! eyes again.
And when Mrs. Boston had gone tt
| bed, and all was silent, that strange
girl, Nancy, behaved most strangely
She knelt down by the bed and kissed
! the pallid hand that lay so gently upoI
the counterpane, and whispered owe
and over again, 80, my darling! o, my
darling !"
Had Mrs. Boston seen her, she woulC
have thought her mad.
So the night wore away. The treaC
of passing pedestrians and the rumble
of vehicles died away. Silence lay OIL
the city, and the light of the late-riseI
moon fell white through the crevices o
the green shutters and the lace of tn
dropping curtains. A night lamp burned
in the room and showed a face will
closed eyes. The clock on the mantl
ticked slowly. At the appointed time
medicine was to be given. 1t wa
dropped between lips that never resist
ed, and lay always just "a little apart.
HE is dying" the watcher thought
''he is dying"
But toward dawn a change came
The head turned upon the pillow. Th
lips parted.
"Nettie," whispered the voice; "Net
tie, want you"
Then this girl-this Nancy Smith
knelt beside him. Her face was clos
to his when his eyes opened, and b
looked at her.
"Nettie," he said again, "Nettie,
then burst into a feeble, quiverin
laugh, and clasped her about the neck
my darling" he said.
And she cried out:
80, Charlie, do you know me and low
And he took her head upon his breast
"pve been very sick, haven't 2" b
asked.
"Yes," said she, every"
"Ive had dream or been crazy" h
said. (which is it? 1 thought yo
were dead. o, Nettie, it was horrible
| thought | was at seal Why, hoy
!, can it be a dream? Pm crazy now
Yet this is Nettie."
He passed his hand over her head.
'Nettie," he said, ''your hair is cut
} yOur-your pretty face has marks on
J that it never had before. Nettie, wha
: does it mean ?"
She turned the light high and LITE
} it and held it to her face.
'YOu see plainly ?" she said.
"Of cOurse,n said he. ''WhV, m
J dear little girl, 1 haven't dreamed tina
part of the letter. You've had th
smallpox, but you did not die. Wha
does it all mean? Am L entirely crazy
Have 1 been ?"
"And you love me ?" she persisted.
"My precious little wife, how can
help it? It's part of me to love you,
: said he.
"Then it means that 1 have bee
: crazy, not you," said she. 80, Charli,
you know you said you could not Low
me if l was ugly. So, when 1 found
| should be so terribly marked and los
all my hair, just wrote to you that
was dead. [ meant to kill myself bu
hadn't the courage, so 1 went away
l was a servant here when you weT
brought in, and 1 didn't think ths
you'd know me-"
"Then have lived that year of mi.
e ery," said Charlie. 30, Nettie, Nettie !
8 Then he cried out, almost angrily:
( "What fool | was l made no in