The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-07-27
VOLUME vi.

'pd like you to go over with me to
the widow Joneses tonight, daughter"
he said, as soon as supper was over and
the young children had been slowed
away in their beds.
Martha was astonished. It was the
first time in her life that her father had
invited her to accompany him any
where.
"I do not want to CO." she thought,
"for that young Jones is perfectly OBJ
noxious to me. But if 1 don't go, father
will be angry. Besides, King has for
gotten me, else he'd write. He knows
my post office address, and there's no
excuse for his negligence"
"Any letter from King, Sis ?" asked
Gus, in bantering way.
"Noun answered the Major, quickly,
while Martha's heart beat hard. 'Tve
no doubt but the fellows married al
ready. Such a jackanapes as he never
has any trouble getting wife. If one
fool doesn't take him another will.
Come, Mat, hurry up! The widow'll be
looking for u.s."
Thus commanded, the daughter
obeyed, while a feeling of apathy and
stony-hearted bitterness crept through
every fibre of her slender frame.
"If he had only cared for me, he
would have written ~ she thought.
The suspicion that her father had de-
ceived her did not for an instant cross
her brain. She had Inherited from her
deceased mother a guiltless, uHsuspeet-
ing disposition and unwavering conf
dence in Major Marblehead.
Had she only known-but, alas, she
did not know.
The widow Jones was more attractive,
and Tom more attentive, than ever be-
fore. The Major squared himself in the
chimney corner for whispered CONVEX
sation with Mrs. Jones, who was soon
oblivious to all else but himself, and the
young people were as much alone as
though there had been no other Occu-
pants of the CHEEKY little cabin.
Thomas Jones was decidedly awk-
ward at love making. 1t was especially
hard to renew his advances since Martha
had refused him once.
"The old folks are getting along ia
mously," be whispered, with a half-sup-
pressed litter.
"Its perfectly absurd ~ answered
Martha.
81 don't know as it is" was the quick
reply. Weren't we young once our
! selves?"
The ludicrous aspect of the situation
provoked an outright laugh.
Matte, dear" he whispered, draw.
ing closer, couldn't you and I be happy
here? You know how hard it is for yoU
to get along at home The children are
so obstreperous and numerous, and thii
little place is so quiet and cosy! If only
you and were in it, it would be bette
for US BOTH"
"ButI don't love you, Thomas jones'
'pll be so kind and attentive, an,
make you so happy, darling, that yOl
can't help loving me-"
All, Thomas! what a fool you were
and how blindly you were sowing seed
for future disafectiOn! What a pit,
you did not know that where love is no
reciprocated your very kindness will be
come BURDEN!
t But heaven help the young people
= No wonder they make mistakes, sine
i older ones are always setting unwis
/. examples. Men and women will lear
: nothing about matrimony, even by eX
4 perience, so foolish and blind are they
: 1t was late, very late in the nigh
i when father and daughter returned I
e their own cheerless abode.
s "Whatever the widow Jones can Sc
: that's inviting in this shanty, anon
n these children, is more than can imal
r ine," exclaimed Martha, as soon as the
: were safe at home.
}, ."She sees me, childm
e The girl laughed, sneeringly.
d "Take that" exclaimed her fathe
p giving her a sound cuff on the ca
If THAT simpering giggle is just like Kin
It Greensborough's Because you've el
1t joyed my society all your life, you ia
d to appreciate it! Look at my physic
n frame-my muscles, chest, head, hand
e, Why, child, could marry anybody"
l. Martha thought unutterable thing
10 but in the tumult of them all she can
le to the conclusion to accept Thom
Jones and get away from her father
As authority.
E. "My poor mother always said tn
N getting married to escape trouble W
er like jumping from the frying pan in
lie the fire. We shall see."
n. The poor girl erept into her bed wi
d. a bruised head and wounded heart.
is "Tn stand the indignity of blows
s; longer" she said, emphatically. "T
lr morrow Fll accept Tom, and I'll te
E. the memory of King from my heart,
fe die trying"
ty "She'll marry when do" said t
lie Major, in soliloquy. "There's nothi
D. like making a girl know her place a.
p keep it,"
Martha lay awake through the lo
ed hours of the slowly expiring night,
tening sadly to the ceaseless monOto