The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-09-07

Fty6T Ollc0 anu ueiiNel IL W INC CulbOl
in person. Say to him that you know
its contents to be genuine, and here's
quarter of dollar"
81 never tells lies that cheap, mum.
Not for nobody"
"Well, tell him the name of the real
author accompanies the letter, and Pll
give you a dollar. And, mind you,
don't say word about me to anybody,
or I'll see that you lose your place. Do
you understand me ?'
az do, num-"
The next days Flyer came out brist-
ling all over the editorial page with par
agraphic lines of such cutting nature
that the Major well-nigh lost hope of
heaven in his rage. His well-knOwn
peculiarities formed theme for dozen
witticisms of personal nature, and his
threatened attack upon his wife, who
was spoken of as a remarkably brilliant
and beautiful woman, who kept her
lord in petticoats, was graphically de-
lineated.
To a man accustomed to newspaper
life, who has seen his name in print so
long and so often that its recurrence
makes no perceptible ripple upon his
thoughts, such irresponsible squibs
would have amounted to nothing ex-
cept to provoke laughter and witticisms
among his friends, heartily seconded by
himself.
A really clever person likes joke,
even at his own expense. But Major
Marblehead thought he was ruined.
Was he not the great 81 Am" of his
neighborhood And hadn't he always
punished every scapegrace who had
dared to ridicule him?
Mrs. Marblehead noticed his per-
turbation with inward chuekles and
outward unconcern.
"Maybe he'll feel like threatening to
wallop me again ~ she thought.
"I'll find out the author of these at
tacks upon me, if I die for ~ cried the
Major.
"And get a second newspaper drub-
bing for your palms," quietly replied his
wife.
"Mrs. Marblehead, have you no re-
spect for your husband? ?' he asked, Sc
verely.
"Precious little," she answered, with
quiet laugh.
Again he was baffled.
"Confound-"
"There! I wouldn't swear, Major. l
more than half suspect that somebody
overheard you yesterday, and that was
why you found yourself cut up to-day
in the Flyer"
"What shall do, then ?"
"Why, mind your own business.
You're public property now, for you're
a servant of the government. The dear
people expect to compensate themselves
for your salary by newspaper squibs.
Never mind 'em. And see here, Major,
that pompous piety of yours was first
class thing to utilize and hold the peO-
pie of your parish level, for they either
! believed in it or stood in awe of it. But
the world does neither. You are before
the public on your own merits now, and
must expect to stand or fall, as the peo-
pie shall elect. Bless your simple soul
you haven't a particle of tact. Just
leave the management of affairs to me
Do as tell you, and you'll keep out o.
scrapes."N
"Well, woman, it's almost breakfast
time now, and Pm ready for my frs
lesson"
Don't say grace at public table, fol
one thing"
"Whdt? Would you have me set al
ungodly example before wicked anC
gainsaying wOrld?"
Nonsense, Major; you know that'i
cant. Very well. Pursue your owl
course; it's immaterial to me-" anC
Mrs. Marblehead began lively tattoo
upon the windOw-sill with her fan.
The Major looked "sheepish" at din
ner but he did not make himself con
spicuous by repeating an audible prayer
Whether or not he uttered one in hi
heart deponent does not know.
The steamer sailed at the appointe,
hour, and. Major Marblehead accom-
panied his wife to their state-room, a
thoroughly subdued as the most un
scrupuIous consort could have desired
Thomas Jones was a trifle moody. T.
do him justice, he was not Indifferent t.
his wife, and he dearly loved his chill
dren. But he was in the tolls of hi
mother now, and she had no regard 70
any other emotion than ambition.
TO be continued.1
BYRON's FIRST LovE.-"She was hi
life-the ocean to the river of hi
thoughts" That Mary Chaworth re
IL.