The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-01-28


grow too old to appreciate a compli-
meut.
Looking up into the well-shaven face
of Jason Andrews, and for the first time
in her life imagining that there was
something rather attractive about him,
she blushed and said:
"You think so ?r
EYES," hitching a little closer, and
allowing his elbow to attempt forward
motion, as though the whole arm were
trembling with a desire to clasp and
shield her.
Mrs. Morrison's heart beat trifie
quicker. She had no intention of being
caught, but it a0aS little enjoyable to
play thus with edged tools. So she did
not resent the proffered advances,
though she closed her lips tightly, and
gazed straight ahead at the plodding
oxen.
"I'm tUrribLe lonesome O. late years."
said Jason.
"Are you ?" asked the widow, still
gazing at the cattle.
at was never ordained of heaven
that two, like you an me, should live
alone"
"You think SO ?"
''I know it,"
"Then why didn't Mark and Mary
live to keep US company ?'
'I'm no scholard, an don't purtend
to understand that, but I know I'd be a
heap happier if you could see your way
clear to become my wife. want some
body to love me-"
JasOn's voice was low and full and
tender now. Pity the widow did not
remember how grating and cracked it
used to he when Mary Andrews was dy-
ing for the tones to which she was now
listening as in dream. AS she did not
repulse him, Jason leaned heavily
against her for an instant and whis-
pered the old, old story, which ever is
and ever will be sweet to wOman-a story
to which she so often will listen, and
try her best to believe it true, because
it is so sweet, and so much a part of the
needs of her nature, even if her better
! judgment tells her that it's fruit will be
SOdom apples in her hands, its taste, at
last, the taste of ashes to her soul.
~ LoUe yOu. can't live without you.
Won't you try to love me, dear ?"
The widow gazed at the oxen, but an
swered never a word.
Emboldened by her silence, Jason
Andrews, with sudden, passionate i'm
pulse that was perhaps excusable under
the circumstances, unbent his elbow
and threw his arm around her.
"Pm so happyr' he whispered.
81 was dreamingT the widow ex-
claimed, abruptly, as she half-rose to
her feet, to be suddenly remanded to a
sitting posture by the low wagon bows.
"Mr. Andrews, don't speak to me of
marriage. We're better off as we are.
Keep your arm to yourself, sir. was
both weak and wicked to forget"
81 don't ask you to get married, all at
once, darlin'. It's too sudden for ye, of
course. But want ye to let me talk it
over with ye now an then, till ye git
used to it, like. Our pardners is both
dead; Alice is married an gone; it'll be
Madge's turn next the neighborbOod's g
a-settlin' up pretty thick lately, an it
amt the prudentest thing in the world
for a man an woman like you an me
to be livin' just as we are"
az wonder if that isn't the black
cloud Madge saw this morning? ?" said
the widow, musingIy.
"Of course that's it p exclaimed ia
son, eagerly. Scandals always black,
ye know. She said, too, that ye seemed
to have no will to avert it. Ye recol-
lect ?n
To tell the truth, Mrs. Morrison was
in no condition just then to comprehen-
sively recollect anything. If she had
remembered Madge's timely warming,
just as it was given, she would have
been little more likely to heed it. 1t
came to her, however, not long after,
but when too late to be of service, and
then it rang i'm her ears like the echo OF
a prophecy that had changed into a
malediction, "Be careful about trying
any new experiment. You'll rue it il
you do"
II think it's my turn to ride awhile,
now" exclaimed Harry, as he brought
the oxen to a halt. "pve walked six
miles, if an inch"
''Is it possible ?" asked his mother.
Possible and true H' growled the boy.
"Pll give ye quarter for drivin' an
other mile" said Jason.
The boy had never earned, or at least
had never been allowed to possess q
'quarter" in his life, and as Jason held
up rusty coin 10 view, his eyes kim
died with delight, and he forgot that his
legs were aching with fatigue, as be
cheerfully Plodded on.
Deep silence Teigned in the wagon fol
a minute, and was only broken then by
the heavy breathing of the wife-hunter,
Again his arm was seized with parox-
ysm, and before Mrs. Morrison could
have spoken it was tout of place"
ave might be happy together
mightn't we, darlin' ?" he murmured