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


exasperated husband. "Haven't mar
ried her, according to the laws and Gus
toms of the land? And isn't it to my
interest to take proper care of what be-
longs to me? Leave my house, say!
A pretty specimen of humanity yOu are,
to be sure p'
"Sirw said King, while a forced
calmness steadied his voice and over
spread his handsome features with a
livid pallor, 'fI have come long way to
claim my affianeed bride. To find her
thus requires explanation. AS you and
she are married, must, of course, sub
NIT to the legal mandate. See she re-
wives! Will you not let me receive an
explanation from her own lips? 1 shall
not object to your presence, yet" aside,
"if you were an honorable man you
would leave our company and let US
talk this out alone"
"Let him stay" said Martha, rising
to her feet and assuming a womanly air
that King had never before Observed
OIL ali bLab lIduC dll BIO dcb-
perately in love with her in spite of
himself. HE is my lawful husband,
and has right to our entire confidence.
1 have wronged you, Thomas Jones, in
becoming your wife. I thought, when
I told you all concerning my prior en-
gagement, that you would persecute me
no more with matrimonial propositions.
But, aided by my father and your
mother, you pressed your suit, and felt
that Twas compelled to obey. The only
alternative left me was too weak to
accept"
"And what was that, pray?" asked
the husband, with a sneer.
81 could have said no, when the time
came in the marriage ceremony to say
the other word"
"And why didn't you, Martha?" asked
King, depreeatingly.
1t was pitiable to see the anxiety de-
picted in the young mans countenance.
'I couldn't, for the life of me! o,
King! You didn't write to me. You
didn't let me know that you yet lived
and loved me. 1t seemed that had to
be married"
ayes, she had to be married, of
course" said the husband. "And she'll
learn to love me when she comes to her
Senses"
Martha" said King, not noticing
the husbands last remark, "did you
think had forgotten you? Did you
think 1 would not write?"
30, King! Did you writer"
"Of course did. Didn't L promise
that would?"
"But never got line from you af-
ter sent the last note to you by Gus
That was ever so long ago, as you know,
I did look for a reply to that! But
King, I thought maybe you fancied
had been presuming and unwomanly
because, I-I-know it isn't considered
just the thing for girl to do any of the
courting, and I was mortified aDC
ashamed"
"But, Martha, did reply to that note
and Pve kept your last precious words
next to my heart ever since I received
them"
"But Gus didn't bring me any reply
'I didn't send it by him, but by ou
mutual friend, Mollie Mcconnell"
A light began to slowly dawn in th,
minds of both.
'I see through it now," said the dis
tressed woman. "Mollie was in Low,
with you herself. She suppressed tn
note"
mo, she didn't" exclaimed Gus, VIII,
had been listening in the doorway, un
observed by all. "Mollie gave the not
from King into the hands of our homes
and honorable sire, and as we belong t.
him, and whatever's his is his own, +
do with as best pleases him, he chucke
the epistle into the inside pocket of hi
warmus, and cOnfiscated it on genera
principles"
''Then, King, you and I have bee
kept apart through trickery and fraud.
$50 it seems; so it seems" said th
young man, pacing the floor and tearin
his hair in desperation.
"Did yOuknowanything about this?
asked Martha, turning to her husban
with look of vengeance.
The husband dropped bis eyes and di
not answer.
"Our marriage is fraud p' cried th
wife, wringing her hands in despair.
Maybe you'd like to annul it p' an
swered the husband, sneeringly.
"rd like to, and aOiup' was the de
cisive reply.
"rd like to see you make a case.
said the husband. "You married m
with your eyes open; said yes of you
own accord. Pve kept my part of th
bargain faithfully. You've had suppo
and shelter, and you've never bee
abused. 1 defy you to prove anythin
against my character. But let an
trouble come up between us in the cour
and I'll testify that saw somebody /