The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-04-21

to put on; and this ungainly body needs
plenty of furniture to cover it out of
sight. What contrast there must be
in his sight between my homely form
and those melting blue eyes, snowy
shoulders, aud golden curls-ah, me :"
Mrs. Perkins suddenly interrupted her
meditations by appearing upon the
scene with the little ones at this juno
ture, and Madge endeavored to forget her
own heart-aches in her efforts to sur
round her mother with such conditions
as should enable her to wake from her
slumbers restored to mental strength.
They had not long TO wait. The tiny
babe was gently laid in the invalid's
bosom, and her feeble hands for while
unconsciously caressed it tenderly.
"Pve had the strangest dream,
Madgey, darling" she said, as, with her
eyes half closed, she lay there, still toy
ing with the velvety cheeks and fingers
of the sleeping iedgeling.
"Did you, mother dear ?" and Madge
bent low to kiss and reassure her.
''Let's hear all about it, please"
81 thought you had dwindled into a
little baby. Then I was confused a
while; but it seemed that you had run
away from me and got married. It's all
confused and in a jamble. I don't un-
derstand it; but it's strange"
"Don't try to tell us any more mother;
that will do. You were delirious, and
imagined many things; but you're too
weak, now that you are better, to try to
tell US more about your vagaries.
1t won't be a week before We'll have you
you up and around the house. See how
gloriously bright the weather is; not too
hot or cold, but just comfortable. And
there's been good harvest, too. The
men were very lucky with it, and they
say there is an advance in the market.
AS quick as the river rises after the fall
rains, We'll sell the wheat at the new
landing, and then We'll build new
house."
'If Jason will let u.s." said the mother,
sadly.
"Don't think about that" replied
Madge, with an ill-concealed gesture OF
disgust.
ats no use ~ answered Mrs. An
drews. "He can upset any calculation
we can make; or he can incur any in
debtedness he may choose and we can't
help ourselves. Dear Madge, how glad
1 am that you are not married ~
Madge raised her finger in warning
way to caution Mrs. Perkins.
GAS long as you're not married." con-
tinued Mrs. Andrews, "you have some
say-so about your own affairs. After
marriage, you have babies, and opposi'
ton, and trouble, and debt"
"Don't say any more, please" inter
rupted Madge, putting her hand owe
her mothers mouth with an attempt al
playfulness that poorly concealed the
painful blush that overspread her fea
lures. 'I think it would be ever 81
splendid to have a good home and ;
kind husband and rosy children, anC
, somebody to love and somebody to love
. you"
"I had all that once" sighed he
. mother, "but it's over, now, forever
Lightning never strikes twice in tn
e same place."
"There, mother. You are not to sa.
! one single additional word. Your feve
r will be up again before we know ii
You're getting along splendidly. Blu
if you talk and throw yourself into a re
q lapse, the bad dreams will all com
r back"
q Mrs. Andrews looked searchingly int
q her daughters face. 'Poor child, yo
Y work too hard" she said, pityingly
"And you look shabby, too. If Jaso
d would only let me, I'd get you some
9 thing decent to wear"
"You must not talk-or think r erie
4 Madge, desperately. "Do you see thes
roses? 1 gathered them on purpose fO
n you. Pity you can't see how pretty the
}. make you as they nestle against you
d cheek"
e "Don't you think Jason will be HON
n before long?" asked her mother.
: "pIl not answer, or you'll keep o
asking" said Madge. "And now, th
e baby is quiet and comfortable, and S
f are you. You've had nice bath and
J. good breakfast; your fever has left yo
ar and you're all right. Mrs. Perkins an
n 1 will leave you alone while we get dir
ar ner."
r. "And Pm not to lose you ?"
,r "No, mother. Don't think of such
NJ thing. Well lose you, though, if yO
r will persist in talking"
ii "Oh," said Madge, addressing Mr.
er Perkins in whisper, as soon as the tW
in were alone in the kitchen, ''if we ca
in only keep her ignorant of my misel
er till the danger of relapse is over, she
ye be better able to bear it then"
as "But what will you do if your hu
m band returns and claims you ?" askt
rs Mrs. Perkins. "You know be is lab
d. to come at any time"
le Sufficient for the day is the ev
lt,aroofI OrOpJf hOrrou, trouhla ~ co