The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-10-06

1t did not occur to her that she ought
herself to make such a asuggestion. She
only realized that John was weary of
her. Her pride did the rest.
The single change of clothing she had
brought to the new copartnership was
away at the wash, and she would not
attempt to wait for it.
With a great load of suppressed emo
ton tugging at her heart strings, and
deep sense of unutterable humiliation
Overpowering her whole being, the
young wife turned her footsteps from
the fleeting, unrealized dream of her
marriage into the aching void of an
other rash endeavor, which, let For
tunes wheel turn as it might, could but
add to her present perplexity.
John did not believe that she would
go. Edna did not mean to go when she
had first threatened. She thought he
would have said something By way of
urging her to remain and bear with his
bad humors, or give him opportunity to
amend them, while he fancied that she
would break down and weep and beg to
be reinstated.
Both reckoned without their host, as
we have seen.
With firm step Edna descended the
broad stairs and directed herself toward
the consummation of the second great
folly of her young life.
A few hours ride and she beheld her.
self in the little mirror of her mothers
great farm kitchen, as pale as a corpse,
and painting like a frightened hare.
Mrs. Rutherford dropped the roll of
butter she was moulding and instinct
lively wiped her hands.
"Oh, Edna ~
mother, may come home to stay?"
Mrs. Rutherford was almost as badly
shocked as she had been over her
daughters elopement.
"You don't mean to say you've left
your husband, Edna?"
"Yes, mother"
"Why ?"
"He says he can't support me-"
"My child, you should have taken
that part into consideration long ago.
But come into the parlor, dear. want
to talk to you. As Mrs. Smith, I am
willing to do what can for you, though
God knows that's very little; but 1 can
not harbor you as a fugitive wife,
daughter; not even if my heart-strings
break with longing to do it."
"Why, mOther?"
because, child, you have taken upon
yourself the marriage VOWS. If your
husband casts you off, and refuses to al
low you to remain in his custody, you
may come to me, of course with your
fathers permission. I have no rights
of my own in the premises. But, if he
will not harbor you, there is no alterna-
tive. You must look out for your own
support"
"Mother, were you always of this
opinions"
"Hes, my child"
"Then, why in the name of common
humanity did you not keep me out of a
boarding school and bring me up in the
kitchen ?"
"Alas, child! I had great anticipa-
tions for you. I thought your accom-
plishments would enable you to marry
rich and honored and titled gentle.
man. You spoiled my dream and
thwarted my hopes by runaway and
inferior match. 1t would not do fol
your father to see you here: There i.
no telling what he might do or say"
Before her marriage Edna would have
willingly risked her own influence ovel
her father in any common emergency
Now she was afraid to meet him, anC
not without reason.
Mother" she said, sternIy, for sh,
seemed suddenly to have launched, full
fedged, into experienced womanhood
"you can help me, and you must"
"How, child?"
"You must loan me. some money"
~, Edna? You must he crazy. Why
Pve never had control of dollar in al
my married life ~
"Do you think father would he'll
me ?"
"He swears he will not Oh, Edna
} if you had only remained at homev'
"My mother dear, I'll not reproacl
: you; but I cannot forbear declaring tha
you and my father are more to- blam
for my life-mistakes than I. Yo
brought me up a hot-house plant, whe
you knew would some day be trans
: planted to the weather-beach You sc
cluded me from the society and &C
quaintance of men, though you kne,
that such associations were natural an
that through all my after life I'd b
thrown into the powef of a husband.
= I have made mistake, my parent
should help me bear it,"
Solon Rutherford had entered unpel
e ceived and had heard his daughter
5 truthful speech.
: "What now ?" he asked, merely as
: matter of form, for the news of job
Smiths disinheritance had alread
reached him.
r Edna approached him in tears.
e "Go to the devilp' stormed the e.
cited father.