The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-03-17
Guess I can help, if I haven't but one

of poesy, was hidden away in the attic
George Hanson's gift-and this she
priced beyond every earthly possession
to which less romantic maidens might,
in the love-making time of life, aspire.
Except what, sis?"
"Oh, nothing"
"Do you see this ?" cried Harry,
showing the letter and feigning to hide
it away in his pocket.
IA letter! o, give it to me! Quick"
mot much. You're too eager, by
half"
"Did George write ?"
'fHow should I know ?"
"But he did"
"How do you know he did ?'
"Give it to mew
"Say please"
fI won't.'
'Then you'd better milk the cows"
"Please, then"
Thus importuned, the boy, who was
in reality almost as eager to bestow the
letter as Madge was to receive it, pre-
sented it to her with many a warning
lest others should discover it.
Madge forgot for the nonce the bur-
dens of toll that were crowding upon
her; forgot the waiting cows and bleat-
ing calves; forgot alike the sick mother
at home, the fretting baby in the cradle,
the noisy children in the kitchen, and
the intruding guest in the chimney
corner.
The reading finished, she folded the
missive and hid it away in her bosom.
Then, resting her head upon her hand,
she sat for long time, thinking, hop
ing, planning.
'Did you know twas almost dark ?"
queried Harry, at length.
Thus reminded, Madge arose from her
lowly seat upon the bare, hard earth,
and moved mechanically among the
COWS.
"Are you right sure that nobody
knows you brought that letter except
the one who sent it ?" she asked, anx-
iously.
'Sure as guns" said Harry.
"And do you know what it contains?'
"Whars that to you? ?'
30, Harry! L want friend. Pm not
capable of judging for myself at all.
Pm not myself don't feel as l used
to. There's something happened that
shakes my entire confidence in myself
/ 1 can't live without George Hanson,
: and yet something tells me ought not
, to marry him; and yet know will.
think there ought to be an asylum fol
| everybody that's in love to retreat to
till they get their senses again. For my
: own sake I could battle against my af.
fections and conquer them. For Georges
: sake 1 cannot do it. I'm doomed
: Harry"
"-Hoa0 doomed? a.? 1 know ever Sc
: many girls on the prairie that would
give their eyes to catch Hanson. If you
t want him, it's all right"
"But Pm too young, Harry"
t "Pshaw, sis. You're most fifteen
: Look at Sue Anderson. She's not mucE
t over fifteen, and yet she's been house
? keepin' year and now has twin babies
D big as she is, almost, too"
s ga delightful picture, truly" sale
a Madge, with smile. "But if the twins
e are as much trouble accordingly as th,
}, one young Andrews that's lately com,
, to our house, wish her joy with 'em
: that's all. But do you really want me t.
e get married ?"
!, eyes, sis, do. For then I shoul,
o leave that Andrews crowd and live will
g you. George says should. He's con
siderable of lawyer, too, and he pro
> poses to get possession of fathers half
;. section of land and build new town Of
the river bank. It's splendid"
= 'I don't see how mother can spar
me-" said Madge."
k 'She has no claim on any of us, b.
:. right, since she went and got married
: George says So" said Harry.
''I don't agree with him there,
Madge replied. "Human laws canno
8. supplant Divine ones. God gave US t
" mother; man gave her to Jason. w
+ are hers by holier ties than man ca
make.n
/" "You'll marry George, won't you :?
v "rll think about it,"
e, "And you'll let me carry a letter t
Is bim ?"
% MAYBE"
, Here the conversation was interrupte
IF by the sudden appearance of one of th
h children, who came to say that the ne
IT baby was in spasms, and Madge ws
,r needed at the house.
le In an instant Madge was as one in
e. trance. Her eyes were fixed, as thong
N gazing upon something afar of, and ht
d breath came and went spasmodically.
y "Bring the milk, Harry. There's 4
ID time to lose," she said, authoritativel.
t. Rushing to the house and hurriedl
is washing the barn-yard soil from h'
N her hands, she seized tub, and empty
e. ing the new warm milk into it, strippe