The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-04-14

necessary legal steps to divorce me from
bad man."
''Has he been cross to you ?'
mo"
"Has he deserted you?"
mo"
"Has he neglected to support you?"
"He never has had the opportunity to
try"
"WelI, I cannot assist you. I must
say, however, that, although you talk
like an oracle on some topics, you act
like maniac upon this question"
"Listen to me, Mr.. Morrisonl If
George Hanson mad proved to me that
he was sincere; had he continued to
impress me that he was the soul of
honor; had he kept me convinced that
pure, unselfish love for me was the
only motive that prompted him to be-
come my husband, would have died
for him I loved him far better than
my own existence, but can love no
man after I find that he is not my equal
in honor. When L saw my mother
throw her life away as a sacrifice upon
the altar of a man whom she could not
honor, vowed that, come what would,
I should be true to my own self. 1
married George Hanson, believing
foolish child that 1 was its strange
how old pve grown since then-I mar
ried him believing that he loved me, as
purely, disinterestedly, devotedly, and
honorably as I loved him. The illusion
is all dispelled. I Irepudiate, utterly and
altogether, every shadow of a claim he
has upon me, just as he would repu-
diate every claim might set up to him,
were he to learn that before marriage to
him was a mother, and, instead of the
, virgin love which had promised to be-
stow upon him, had only widowed
heart to lay at his feet"
{ "George Hanson! did you say ?"
gasped the new acquaintance.
In her excitement Madge had not no.
, ticed the change her vehement speech
had wrought in the face and manner of
her only auditor.
'Yes, that's his name, sir; and he has
moral duty to perform in another di-
rection. Before God am not his wife,
, no matter what the laws of man may
: decree. I should knowingly commit a
t nameless crime in the eyes of God and
the angels, if 1 should submit but l
: won't p'
: "My poor lady," said Mr.. Morrison,
2 as he with difficulty restrained his emo
= tions, "you and have henceforth a load
D of shame and sorrow to endure in COM
5 mon. That mani somehow suspected
e it yesterday-is the destroyer of my
? youths dream, the perfidious wreckeI
d of my life's happiness"
o "Was your affianced named Sara Per.
8 kins?"
r "Yes; but how did you guess it p"
e "Her foster-mother is here. She i:
the grandmother of Jason Andrews
first set of children, and, of course, hi!
: mother-in-law."
S al had never met her, or I should
o have recognized her yesterday when
IS came to dinner. 1 am glad she did no
! know me. 1t would have spoiled all
Let us keep our own counsel, madam
Y We must be wise as serpents, but I an
~ by no means certain that it is our dut!
?, in this case to be as harmless as doves
"You now think ought to live will
:. him, don't. .you ?' and there was a relic
r, in Madge's sarcasm that revealed itsel
n in her voice.
E. "T wouldn't live with him if I had t
a turn border ruffian p' was the decide
s. reply.
a, ''There isn't any black cloud floatin
,r over you," said Madge, "and Pm nc
ye afraid to confide in you. Here's m
r, hand on pledge of fidelity and homo
" Do you accept the pledge?"
re az do, with gratitude; and assul
j. you, madam, that if the strongest test
shall prove you unselfish and pure an
lie good, shall gladly retract my standin
declaration, made in agony and ange
e, that all women are selfish deceivers."
II. mo more of that, sir. All wome
1 are not bad, and all men are not, eithe
a You said so a while ago, remembe
1 Never did a nobler human being liV
than my poor father was. believe m
th brothers are growing up in his footstep
&C. too. 1t will take a stronger specimen
e. mental and physical manhood tha
ge George Hanson-such a one as yourse
as for instance-to cause me to lose fat
ad in human nature"
"Don't attempt to flatter me, madar
I understand the wiles of your SEX"
lis "And what motive, pray, would il
ci- duce me to be trying 'wiles' upon yo
an sir, even if they were in my line? II
If compliment was honestly given, but
raj see it was out of place, and beg yo
I'D pardon"
to ''You're an anomaly"
ms az know it."
INT "You puzzle me-"
Did az don't care. And now, sir, if o
he compact is to be kept, we mustn't indul
no in sparring. It is quite time you I
der tired, sir. You see my mother does n
need watchers, and fear that our ia
ion will disturb her. You will need rest