The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-05-19


never a particle. Any time since her
fifteenth birthday, she had but to say,
az love you," to make Tommy the hap
piest of men. Yet she never did say it
never intended saying it. True, life |
was unsatisfactory. One dream after |
another faded; still there was hope of |
her becoming something, being some |
body; tied to Tommy, that was gone. |
AS Mrs. Whittlesy, her days would be |
bounded on the east by breakfast, south |
by dinner, north by supper, and west
by basket of undarned stockings.
No, she never had said yes-never in
tended to say accomplishing her res
olution in angles and triangles on the
soft soil sparkling with its myriad par
ticles of mica.
Was there ever-no, there never was
such impudence? Tommy Whittlesy
and one, two, three, four feminine
WhittIesys, walking in upon her seclu-
sion quite as a matter Of course. Yet
no, not altogether so. Tommy swayed
awkwardly from side to side for an in
slant, then, with lift of the hat and
scrape meant for a bow, turned as red as
the Giant of Battles, and dropped upon
| the other bench, also upon her shawl.
''This is Miss Denver, children" and
! Tommy almost stammered in his en-
barrassment. "Come and speak to the
lady"
To rise and leave would be an ac-
acknowledgement of weakness; so, out
wardly cool, yet inwardly burning,
Melinda kept her seat, turning her at
tention to the children. A pink-dressed
brood, each one trifle overgrOwn, like
their father, staring at her with his
eyes, and making not the slightest pre-
tense of manners.
"Who fastened your clothes ?" she
asked, seeing that Amanda's and Lucy's
buttons began too soon and ended too
late.
'HThe woman we board with"
''You're big enough to fasten them
for each other. Come here, both of
you"
After having Strengthened their backs,
as Lucy atterward expressed it, she dis
missed Amanda with, "NOw look after
your little sister, and turn your toes out.
What's that on your dress?" to the
third girl, who, singularly enough, re-
minded her of her own child-self.
81 don't know"
|, "Its shame to have that pretty suit
spoiled. [ wonder if ammonia won't
take it out? What's your name?
J melinda Denver Whittlesy."
; Melinda senior actually flushed.
"My names Melinda Denver; did you
!, know it? Keep your fingers out of your
mouth p' and the sharpness of the tones
betrayed unusual emotion of some sort.
! Very shortly the oldest girls strayed
J away. Melinda said at once she must
!; go, but taking Winnie, who had got
, something in her shoe, delayed her.
, There proved to be nothing in that tiny
pink boot. A hole in her stocking,
through which peeped a toe as pink,
caused the difficulty. Miss Denver
rubbed the little foot, and was so long
getting on the pink boot that the
blonde, baby head nodded against hel
breast, and at length found itself era
, died there.
Tommy, sensible to a degree Unparal-
: leled in his history, asked to be excused
for reading, and became so engrossed as
t to forget to turn his paper.
; Below the river ran, tioWer-fringeC
rocks leaned out to catch a sunbeam
green boughs intertwined, the voices o
unseen pleasure-seekers, mingled with
t bird songs, made music in the air; diI
! of shadow, dart of wing, wind whispers
t how sweet it was!
While Melinda sat there with Tom
my's youngest in her arms, and the mai
t himself opposite, there came upon he
a feeling that just such scene was en-
p, acted once before. 1t was like the turn
], ing back of leaf and finding the SAM
b. passage, word for word, upon it. Sh
!, was almost tempted to speak to he
r companion, and ask him about it, wheI
: all of a sudden there was a f1utter O
1 pink dresses, and Amanda and Luc,
n appeared before them, breathless.
It as Melinda here ?"
She was not, that was quite certain
g Tommy took himself off, listening t
Y their hurried explanations as he went
e and the only woman in the world b
e ever loved was left alone with his baby
d The trio returned without the missin
s one. Thought there was a chance c
IS finding her there. Their united voice
arousing Winnie, Melinda gave her int
e TommY's arms.
- "rll go and see what can do" sh
+ said, with the mien of a conguerol
n "Children, you come right along wit
= me. You're to tell me just where yo
r. went and when you missed her. Tommy
1t you stay about here; there's probabi
D, ity of her finding her way back.n
,r Having issued her orders shor
sharp, decisive-Melinda hurried away
.e to be met by Tommy half an hour late
'; completely crestfallen. Her search ha
n failed. Tommy looked ready to droI
- the girls sobbed bitterly, declarin
er "M'lin" was drowned in the river
while Melinda scanned the horizon fc
70 guard whom she had not already col
e. suited.
a Suddenly a voice: MADAM, there's
II little lost girl at the mansion, dresse
n like these; is she yours ?"
- "Yes, thank you, sir" replied Mis-
v Denver, promptly, and headed the part
TO that went toward the place indicated {
t. fast as feet could carry them.
es "We all go the same way" said NJ,
~ linda, holding fast her namesake
It hand, "and may as we'll start home 1
IN once"
so lone word, Melinda. When the gel
h tleman asked was this your little CIR
1 you said yes; is she ?'
of "Of course replied Miss Denver, h,
,h cheeks in a blaze. 'TThese childre
J. need somebody to take care of then
I'd and Pm the one to do it,"
IN melinda Denver-excuse me, Mr.
le Whittlesy, should say-Pm surprise,
to completely sop and the light of IL
new society shook her head sadl,
Us "You told me again and again yC
u, never meant to marry that man."
81 haven't married him. I've ma
er ried the children; that's ALL"
Still, Tommy looks as radiant as if
E. were himself.