The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-05-04
CHATTER XX.

CHAPTER Xxx.
Edna passed a sleepless night. Both
babies were unusually unwell and fret
ful, and what with her own troubled
thoughts and their continued restless
ness, the morning dawned ere she had
closed her eyes in slumber. To rise
with the peep of dawn was one of the
necessary contingencies of her business,
and it was with heavy heart and heavy
eyelids that she appeared at breakfast
to wait upon a long line of hungry
boarders, all of whom had learned of
her determination to try to live without
further interference from a drunken
gambler, no matter what the law might
demand.
And, in truth, the better class of men
in Idaho Flat were in open sympathy
with the struggling bond More
than once had numbers of them held
private indignation meetings wherein
they had half resolved to lynch the vag-
abond who ruled over her, but the feel
ing of respect for the lawful rights of a
husband, let that husband be never so
worthless, was as deep rooted as the
prejudice against a separation for other
than nameless causes was firm.
Edna moved nervously about the
breakfast tables, serving each in turn
with her accustomed alacrity, pausing
now and then to give a word of advice
fn ,o ind ha al,
in a room adjoining, when John Smith,
the legal head of the family, and conse-
quent lawful owner of the premises,
came sauntering in beside young limb
of the law who had recently displayed
his shingle in the Flat, and was solic-
itous of securing legal business to coun-
teract his board bill.
ga half-dozen eggs, we'll done! I say,
wifer' exclaimed John Smith, in loud,
commanding key, az propose to see
whether or not I can rule my own
household r'
Eggs are a dollar and a half per
Dozen" suggested Edna, falteringly.
81 didn't ask the price of eggsV' was
the loud rejoinder; 81 want 'em well
done W
'Then buy them ~ replied Edna,
turning to the lawyer for his order, and
further ignoring John.
- nice breakfast, please. am not
over particular" said Mr.. Brief, com.
placently.
"My rule is money in advance, as yoJ
are aware, Mr.. Smith," quietly re
marked the trembling wife, while he
soul seemed to fash through her great
rabbit-like eyes.
"See here" cried John, in a sort o
sibilant whisper, "You just hurry VI
that provender, and do as I bid you, o
Pll break every dish on this cussed ia
bic w
"And get fined for your palms," sal,
Edna, quietly.
as that it !" he exclaimed, giving tn
table a kick that made the dishes clat
ter.
81 say, Briefg' he added, after Edn
had left them to enjoy their breakfas
minus the eggs, "isn't it jolly joke fo
a mans wife to talk about .Jfning hin
no matter what he does ?"
81 should say it was" said Mr.. Brie
THE fact is, women are getting a grea
deal too saucy, and they need chec
upon their growing spirit of indepeuC
ence. If 1 were you I'd go over to th
saloon and run the biggest kind of
bill. Debts of honor, you know. ThG
is, I wouldn't call them that, exactl,
for they've got new Territorial Judg
over at Boise, and he's playing sa
havoc with many of our pet project
He's one o. your white-cravated kind
sticklers for morals and all that sort
thing, aud he's working to keep divorce
out of the Legislature and before t.
courts. That part of it is well enoug
for the lawyers, and Pm not complain
ing at all, but he rules out all debts Fl
monte or faro, or anything else of IL
kind, SO we must call it something els
Now, 1 have it, by jingo! She refus
to give you board and lodging.
course that's noonshine, for she can
help herself, seeing she's your lawf
wife, but you can make it pretext, al
you can board and lodge in the EureI
and get your drinks and amusements
the bargain. Of course pI have a gaC
round fee against you, though pn
reasonable, 'pou my word. But tn
legal business always costs like sin, W
know"
''Yes, know; but what next?'
John was SO deeply interested in tt
profound illegal advice" that be almC
forgot his food.
"Well, 1 was going to say that I
board along with you at the Eureh
and that'll make the bill bigger"
"What then ?'i