The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-07-14
CHAPTER xxx.

uau entered Cne room, INTENDING 10
throw her weary body upon a bed and
indulge in hearty cry, the only avail
able panacea for a protected wOman's
wrongs. But she saw, at once, that
other work than resting or weeping lay
before her. Her mother was as one dis
tracted. Her education had been such
from childhood, that the thought of al
lowing any human being to pass out
into the next life when any known
remedy except the gaIlows and a jury
could rescue him, was to her no better
than murder in the first degree.
''pd give a thousand dollars for pint
of brandy !" she exclaimed, frantically.
"What do you want brandy for ?''
asked Madge, who could but wonder
why her mother had forgotten to in
quire after the verdict of that jury in
whose power another human life had
just been condemned to be murdered by
law, in accordance with that "first
degree"
Because, believe a pint would save
Jason. Oh, MadgeI if he ever does get
well, I'll be so much more patient and
humble than I ever was Somehow, l
feel almost as if had stood by and seen
him murdered"
"Mother ~ cried Madge, sternly,
''you're a confounded fool! Forgive
me, 1 didn't mean it, and shouldn't
have said it, but I've endured so much
to-day, and you make me so awful
mad If Jason dies for brandy, let him
go. We ought to stand it if he can."
'Then let his murder be upon your
head, daughter. L wash my hands of
the responsibility"
(which is very kind and self-sacri-
ficing of you, truly. But your affec-
tionate, faithful, sober, and provident
lord and master shall not die. Let's
get him upon this cot, and take him
into the open air."
'It's raining, child ~
"Obey orders ~
Madge's voice grew deep, and her
manner authoritative.
Alice, her mother, Sam, and Harry
combined to do as they were hidden.
Indeed, they were powerless. to do 9TH
erwise. The insensible invalid was
soon lying in the open air, with his
face barred to the falling rain.
"Bring me a basin of water" said
Madge, undoing the fastenings that
bound her tattered sleeves to her sin
envy wrists, and barring her broad arms
to the elbows.
"What in the name o. common sense
is Madge going to do ?' asked Alice.
"Hist ~ said her mother, under hel
breath, "the powers on her. Let hel
be-"
And, sure enough, the power
which a few intensely spiritual mel
and women have recognized in all ages
possessed Madge in a remarkable de-
gree. Mrs. Andrews, devout Christian
woman as she was, though sometime,
distrusting these strange manifestation
in her strangely organized child, was
on this occasion, fully and suddenly
imbued with Madge's spasmodic faith
''Its the will of the Lord and tht
gift of His grace that she possesses,
she whispered in the ear of Alice.
"Its f1ddlesticks ~ said Alice, con
temptuously.
But Madge neither saw nor heard
With her eyes fixed immovably upol
the patient, she dipped her hands int
the basin of water and began sprinklin,
his face and hands, already growing
'clammy with the death-damp.
''She'll kill him v' cried Alice.
"He'll die anyhow, and she'd as wei
have her way" said Harry.
After the sprinkling had continue,
for several minutes, the new doctor
began thorough manipulation of he
patients face, head, arms, and chest
pounding him almost severely in tn
region of the lungs and stomach, and
Initiating her cheeks, pulled hot air int
his face and nostriIs till his contor
tions, which for an hour had been fear
ful, seemed lulled under some mysteri
GUS spell. Circulation in the extremi
ties was then equalized by the sam
pounding and rubbing process, and i
an hour the man sat up, saved from hi
malady, and thoroughly cured.
''The evil spirit has gone out of th
man." said Madge, "and whisky wi
tempt him nevermore."
Jason Andrews lay down again upo
the cot, as feeble as a babe. He weI
like a child. His thin hands wer
'clasped as in prayer, and soon the word
he breathed became audible.
"Take me to Thee, o, Father i
Heaven, for am too weak to walk th
EARTH" be cried, pleadingly.
"You are not to die, but live, and do
clare the goodness of God;" said Madg,
Then, turning to the family, who ha
witnessed what, in their simplicit,
they claimed to be a miracle, though
was but the operation of natural Law
she said, "Carry him into the hous