The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-03-24
CHATTER XIV.


brilliant retinue of stars kept watch and
ward above her chariot of clouds.
Everywhere in the heavens, except in
close proximity to the queen of night,
the ethereal vault was as clear as crystal.
Once under the brow of the gentle
slope on which the Morrison-Andrews
cabin rested, and Madge paused to catch
her breath.
"Why am 1 fleeing, like a guilty
thing?" she asked herself, involun-
tariIy. otis strange, when this earth,
and all that sorrounds it is 50 sublimely,
grandly beautiful, that man alone must
hide so many deeds from the light of
heavens own day. pll go back to my
mother. Tll take her into my conf
dence. Tll show her my precious let
ter. She will tell me what to do, and 1
will abide by her decision"
All! Madge Morrison if you only
had done so But what are resolutions
to maid in love? Alas that the best
are so often made to be broken!
Suddenly George Hanson stepped out
from under the shadow of clump of
stunted trees.
"Oh p' cried Madge, in terror, as she
turned to flee.
"Don't be frightened, precious lamb
kin. Do you think that Z would harm
you ?"
There was no mistaking the melody
of that well-remembered voice. Madge
paused and came back, reassured, to the
friendly shadows. +
II have horses here" said Hanson.
''The parson is in readiness down at the
post office. We don't need any license
to marry in this country in these prim-
tive times, and we'll have all the law
there is on our side in fifteen minutes.
Then we can defy opposition. Oh,
darling! I have so longed for this
blessed, blessed moment ~ and he folded
her in passionate embrace
mo more OF that, if you love me,
George. I've come to go with you and
be married; but you must be civil, and
you must consent to one condition, too"
'Name it, my sweet"
"As soon as the ceremony is over ]
. will return to my mother, and ouI
wedding is to be kept secret till she re-
covers from her present illness. When
she is well, you may come and claim
me-"
"Pshaw, Madgey! can't consent tc
that"
"Then Pll go home"
"Pledse, darling do go with me !
cannot live without your love-"
"Do you want me to be my mother
murderer ?p
"Ofcourse not, little sweetness. You
who have always been your mother
support and stay-what nonsense +,
suppose that you would be her mur
derer, in any contingency! You'll
murder me if you don't go with me
though, by precious little bundle of dew
drops ~ and again, in spite of her pro
test, she was clasped to his heart.
"HaTk ~ she exclaimed, suddenly
"What was that? I heard a rustlinl
noise 90
"only the wind sighing through tn
trees, dearest. But we mustn't Iinge
here, or somebody will discover us
Let's go and be married at once. Wei
have plenty of time to talk then, an
We won't be afraid of anybody"
"But I can't marry unless you vii
promise to let me go right back to m
mother, that may nurse her throug
her sickness"
30, come along, do.n
"But you haven't promised"
promised what2n E
"To take me back to mother as 500
as we are married"
Nonsense, Madgey."
"Then good-bye.p
"You needn't think to escape me thi
easily" said her lover, desperately, 8
he kissed her again and again.
az don't want to escape you, Georg
I want to live with you, and comfoI
you, and love you always. But I owe
duty to my poor mother that I mu
discharge. Only let me have my wa
this once, and I'll do anything else j
the world to please you. I want to G
now and be married. Then 1 will /
your aOJe," and Madge hid her face j
his bosom, as though frightened at h,
own voice. "After we're-one-I ma
go back to my duties for few week
1t won't be long. I'll trust you, an
you surely will trust me-"
'tAnd you won't go with me on an
other condition ?" aa' 'a
'sNot tonight"
''Then it shall be as you say" '
Every well, then.n
The couple mounted the waitiF
horses, and, speeding over the plai
soon found themselves before the wal
ing clergyman in a rude cabin on Il
border of an evergreen wood tn
skirted the fields for miles. ysl 3.
The ceremony was brief and simpl
Madge spoke the responses in clea