The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-08-10
An Experiment.

An Experiment
'rTo go, or not to go, that is the ques-
tion," said bright little Mrs. Gregory,
one August morning at the breakfast
table.
"Go, by all MEANS" said the husband,
breaking a roll.
"But it is so much work to get ready.
don't feel well enough to make the
effort"
"Don't be foolish, Emma; you will be
well enough, as soon as you get out of
this house; you haven't eaten enough
to keep a chicken alive, for the last
week; you are tired out with care and
mOnotony."
'If we could go straight off without
getting ready" said, 'there would be
some fun in it.n
"You can, if you choose. Women
make half their troubles. Pack tray
eling-bag, and start tomorrow after
noon.n
Emma Gregory looked wistfully into
my face.
81 will, if you will" 1 said. awe
have been schoolgirls together, and
many wild frolic have we inaugurated,
without stopping to get ready"
1 saw by the Frightening of Emma's
eyes that the old spirit was rising.
"Do you really think we could get off
that way ?" she asked.
"Of course; what is to hinder? Surely
we dare do it. You are not afraid of
Mrs. Grundy, hope"
Emma's spirit was piqued; to suggest
that she was afraid of anything or any,
body was to put her on her mettle.
"Pll CO." she said, with an emphatic
toss Of the head; "but we've not a min
ute to lose ~
Already felt myself stimulated by
the mere thought of hap-hazard jour
ney. No trunks, and no destination
How delightful AS for Emma, worn
out as she was, she ran singing up
stairs, gayer than L had seen her for
weeks.
"Pve made out my programme al
ready" she said, when [ followed her, a
black silk skirt, with gray overskirt
and basque for travelling, linen duster,
and waterproof in shawl straps, for
emergencies, a bag containing linen,
under-collars and cuffs, handkerchiefs,
and couple of nansook over-dresses, for
hot mornings. A hat, half rustic, with
scarf of yelling, and two or three pa
per-covered books"
"Bravo," replied; 1--WE might start
in two hours, if we chose. The only
trouble will be, how to pass the time
between now and tomorrow afternoon"
"Won't it be jolly" exclaimed the
little woman, ignoring my remark alto
gether. 1--WE will go up the Hudson to-
morrow night in the moonlight, and
enjoy it as we used to do when we were
on our way to school,"
Well, we carried out our plans to the
letter. We packed according to Emma's
programme, started for Albany on the
'St. JOhn," and forgot the moment we
were in sight of the Palisades that we
were getting toward middle-life, and
had responsibilities. AS we steamed
along, watching the soft, rosy light on
the green landscape, Emma said:
81 shouldn't have taken any Journey
this summer, if a fortnight's dress
making had been the condition. But 1
never dreamed that we poor slaves could
snatch freedom at this easy rate"
"'Who would be free, himself must
strike the blow" quoted /, rousing
from a revery.
We f1Osted on; the pink light faded
out; the dusk deepened, and the crescent
moon shone in the blue heavens. All
the little waspish cares that had stung
us into irritation had been left behind
in the hot, worrying city. How insig-
nificant they seemed, now that we were
out of their reach. How strong our
spirits had grown already, In this new
atmosphere, with natures peaceful
beauty winning us so tenderly. We
were silent long time, really and truly
resting. Every moment we grew more
refreshed, more in harmony with the
serenity of the night, long time COM
muning with our own hearts. The
moon sank toward the Highlands, and
lost itself behind the highest peak, to
emerge again with weird effect, as we
passed on.
"Why don't we do this oftener ?n
burst out Emma, at last, in her abrupt
way.
because we are FOOLS" said 1, "and
wisdom is not in u.s."
We went on planning then for the
rest OF our trip, and before we went to
sleep we arranged card something like
this:
From Albany to Saratoga, where we
have friends, living in quiet cottage;
draughts of mineral water, and as many
drives as we wish; the Adirondack rail-
road and stage to Schroon Lake, a trip
across the lake to Schroon village, where
we have friends again; a private con-
veyance through the wooded roads,
from point to point, to North Elba;
few days in the wilderness, if we meet
the right party; Lake George; and home.
All this we carried out, and the
namby-pamby creatures that started
for Albany on certain hot night were
lost somewhere on the road. Certain it
is, they were not seen again that sum-
mer.-PhreT1oLogicdL Journal
OF the two hundred and nineteen