The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-07-21

the blue ribbon at its throat.
Suddenly a carriage stopped below the
house, upon the street. Madge's soul
was with the music, and she did not
hear. A man ran hastily up the walk,
glanced furtively through the drapery
of the open window, where Madge, in
snowy robes, sat lingering the keys of
the superb instrument.
Whispering to himself, "I'll have the
old one yetw the stranger grasped the
little one and ran speedily away.
Pearl, though astonished, was not
afraid. No unkind word or look had
ever. been inflicted upon her, and she
naturally trusted every one.
"Drive like heILr' said the abductor,
who was none other than the legal
father of the child.
"By G-dv' he exclaimed, as soon as
they were started, 'I'll pinch this pup,
and then the mother will be glad
enough to come yelping to my kennel.
But, Jehosophat! Gus! You ought to
see the old one! She's living as elegant
as Cleopatra, and by my soul, she's
every whit as voluptuous looking!
Quite a contrast between the elegant
grass widow of to-day and the rustic
simpleton who yielded to the enforced
existence of this yellow-haired whiffet
with so much resistance more than
three years ago. Did 1 ever tell you
all about it, Gus?"
"Now
"WelI, it was the jolliest joke! The.
rustic simpleton fell in love with me.
Not the first woman, nor the last one
that's done it, either. A fellow can't
help it if he's deuced handsome, you
know. 1 didn't intend to marry the
charmer. She was as ugly as mud, and
as awkward as a mud fence! She was
smart, deuced smart! but the disposi-
tion of the very old Harry possessed her,
and I was only in for good time. But
the vixen would be married according
to the law of the land before she'd allow
me privileges! She even made De
promise that I'd let her go right back to
her mother as soon as the ceremony was
over-an old bag with a young one, you
know. / Gagged my bird with pretty
promises, but Lord, couldn't hold her!
She stayed with me, though, under lock
and key, for three days, under the ROOT
of the parson that tied US up-precious
scamp, that parson-and then ran away;
and she's avoided me ever since. But
I've struck rich lead now. I've got
the pup. POSSESSIONS nine points in
law. The old one will be ready to ca.
pitulate pretty shortly"
And then the two lawmakers anC
protectors of the voiceless and powerles'
half of a sovereign people laughed Ions
and loudly.
The little one began to cry.
"Dry up" said the tender parent
: sternly.
, az 'ant my mamma w lisped the child
"Ddnln yOur mamma! You're no
hers, but mine! She's weaned you, an,
there's an end. Another squall ant
e you'll catch itu'
s The mans coarse language was Greel
s to the child, but his manner terrific,
: her into silence. All the afternoon ant
e night they drove, reaching Portland b.
r the next days dawn, where the fam
= ished baby was given over to the tende
a mercies of an old dowdy woman VIII
] kept third-rate boarding-house, an
a dispensed cheap food and villainou
whisky.
= Pearl had been missing for sewers
t minutes before Madge was aware of he
= abduction, so absorbed had she been i
r her music. Suddenly, however, tn
/ truth flashed upon her, as though tele
$ graphed from an unseen world.
'Pearl! Pearl! my precious jewel !
e she cried, in terror, "come to mamma!
y But mamma called in vain. The lii
d tie one was the legal property, and ws
= now in the sole possession of its fathe
IS who had never bestowed upon it a
IS hours thought or moments love. TIL
er whole truth fell upon Madge like
"a thunderbolt. She understood as by il
10 spiration.
er "Pll consult lawyer ~ she cried.
"Run! Jason, run! Tell'Squire Law
le maker that I must see him at once
III But stay! I'll accompany you. Con
r onw
ID Jason could not keep pace with IL
We bereaved mother. She ran like IL
wind. Bursting into the lawyers off,
ye like a whirlwind, she stood painting
t. fore that worthy, her white robes SOLE
OF with trailing in the dust, her hair di
es heveled, and her lips colorless.
be "Be seated, ma'am. Well see VIII
st, can be done for you," was the coud
ul scending remark of the limb of the lav
n "Of what age is your child ?"
Oy 1.-TWO years and half"
y. "She is weaned ?"
us ayes"
''Then, madam, as friend, allow q
fe to suggest that the best thing possib
ly under the circumstances will be qui
submission to your bereavement. ]
ne the law of the land the child belongs
n your husband. He has an inalienat
1t, right to its custody, and your only no
, q of avar saainu If hareafter vvilI dane