The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-06-09

j
ans business to keep man in the paths
of rectitude, if be isn't strong enough to
walk there without her aid. 1 know
that dOwdy-Iooking girl you're speak
ing of so slightingly, and know she's
a martyred angel. 1 harvested in her
mothers fields last summer, while"
"She isn't girl at all, but a UOnlGl"'
broke in a familiar voice. "She was
married at my house, and only lived
with her husband a day or two. I'd
say she was Tartar, and the less man
had to do with her the better. But how
did you come to know her ?"
Madge and her step-father, from their
place in the little parlor over the sa-
loon, could hear every word of the con-
versation below, and Madge fairly
quaked with indignation as she recog-
nized the deep-voiced parson who had
married her to George Hanson, and
who now, as sheriff of the new county,
was doing all he could to curry favor
with the irresponsible rabble who rule
America in every quarter through
the power granted them by the elective
franchise.
Tartar or no Tartar, she's a brick"
replied the other, "and Pm ashamed of
my country and ashamed of my sex
when think upon our shortcomings in
our hollow show of supporting and pro-
tecting women"
"You talk for all the world like that
fellow Morrison that's in Jail up in Mo-
lalla for killing George Hansonp' ex-
claimed a half-intoxicated man, with
an unseemly oath.
Morrison, did you say? What's his
other name ?"
"Morris, believe"
"And is he in Jail p"
! ayes; and awaits his trial on a very
grave charge v and the double-bass
voice of the parson grew deeper than
ever.
"For killing q naanS did you say ?"
eyes. A very aggravated case. Nor
rison was in love with the girl that
Hanson married, and it made trouble.
I've no doubt but he's guiltyw
"But, my God, man! I've known
Morrison for many year, and know
he's above everything mean. And, as
to murder! bah ~
''Thank God ~ exclaimed Madge, in
voluntarily.
"Sh-se-ser ~ said Jason Andrews.
"Itll go hard with him !" continued
the preacher politician. There's girl
at the widow Perkins that's been par
ticularly fortunate, for there's two of
her," attempting to speak facetiously,
land she will depose, when the trial
comes of, that she's seen Hanson since
his disappearance. Not likely, how
ever, for hat and coat he used to wear
were found in the creek at the bottom
of the gulch. The men were known to
be enemies, and that's against Morri-
son. He made threats, another proof.
The girls unchaste, and of course her
testimony won't amount to anything;
and, take it all together, he's bound to
hang"
Sand you, being sheriff, will get the
job, suppose"
81 talk of it,"
"But they say Hanson's wife will
testify that she has seen him since the
alleged MURDER" said another bar-room
lounger, whose voice Madge had not be-
fore distinguished.
"And what will that amount to ?"
asked the sheriff, hOtly. "She's Han
sons wife, and can't give testimony in
court concerning him. Besides, there's
a strong suspicion that there's some.
thing wrong between her and Morrison.
She can't be chaste, anyway; for she's
down here now with old Andrews, run
ming about on the streets with him, anC
doing various things that are so bold
that no reputable woman would attempt
them"
"Are you aware, sir, that Mrs. Han.
: son could sue you for slander if she
should know you were thus traducine
= her character ?1
! az know what Pm about, sir-per
fectly. She swears that her husband il
not dead, and so, being a wife by he
own confession, she's not an individual
and not eligible to sue or be sued. Th,
fact is, I know her to be an unchast,
, woman.n
81 can bear no more !" cried Madge
4 in frenzy. Jason Andrews, if there
2 spark of manhood in your compost
/ tiOn, / conjure you to defend meI'
= Jason rose to his feet.
E But stay! can't let you go ~ sh,
/, cried. 81 forgot, and Pm sorry. Go t,
s your room, aud I'll defend myself
You're suffering now for liquor, and yol
shall not be exposed to temptation
But, Oh, my God! what am 1, that
have no rights that men are bound t,
respect? What have done, of my owl
accord, that men should deprive me o
the rights of an American citizenP Cal
! 1 depend upon them to protect and sus
: tain me? o, Morris Morrison! True
= noble man that you are But for vol
even as you lie in prison tonight, await
!, ing trial and sentence for a crime yol
never thought of committing-but 70
you, should curse all men and dieu'