The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-04-06
CHAPTER XVI.

Edna was more deeply than ever dis.
gusted with John. Not that his idea
that she might make her newly awak.
ened talent profitable was not in har.
mony with her own thoughts, but she
had suddenly conceived the scheme, OF
premonition of it, with view of rem
dering herself independent of him,
rather than with thought of adding to
his support.
Edna was not "strong-minded," that
is, as men view strong-minded women.
She was a timid, nervous thing, with
no natural desire to protect herself or
children, aud she shrank, as sensitive
women invariably do, from the contact
with the world that rendered her life a
routine of business and drudgery. How
hard it was for her TO face the abrasions
of conflicting business interests, and
grasping the nettles of her own timidity
so tightly as not to allow them to pierce
her shrinking spirit to the quick, go
forth to life's earnest battles, no one
may know who has not sometimes been
in similar positions.
Had John opposed her new idea, she
would have openly defied him. Had he
feared that her rising popularity weuld
result in his own humiliation, as MANY
weak-brained husband so situated has
done, she might have scorned his puerile
boasts of masculine superiority; but
here was a dilemma for which she was
not prepared. John was not only will
ing but anxious to place her before the
world as a target alike for the vulgar
witticisms of the rabble and the wise
commendation of the thinking classes.
To make money out of her toll or talents
was his highest aim.
II have fortune in you, Edna ~
How the words rung in her ears
How their memory stung her with
acute modification Yet how should
she get rid of him and his newly aroused
expectations 1t seemed that her
chains were growing tighter, and that
continually they were fostering deeper
in her flesh and spirit.
Then the menory of poor Sue Ran
dolph'swords were like poisoned arrows
to her soul.
'She is right ~ she said to herself
u am no better than she, and I am
guilty of every charge in her indict-
ment. But how am to help it?"
Mr.. and Mrs. LaSelIe were SO happy
In each other that they seemed to forget
poor Edna and everybody else. The
bridegroom had arranged and fur
nished his miners cabin with what
skill and taste the rude region afforded,
and thither they repaired after the cere-
monies were ended, leaving Edna so
desolate and lonely that the poor crea-
ture was well-nigh distracted.
Her dream of independence had met
cruel stab, and more than ever did she
ponder over the problem of getting rid
of John. To cure him of dissolute hab-
Its was hopeless task, with rum shops
to the right and left of their Iowly home,
vile dens wherein every device to entrap
him yet more deeply into sin was con-
stantly in action, with no home for in
ebriates within thousands of miles. and
no law to compel him to enter it for the
cure of his disease if one were near. To
leave her children to the tender meroies
of an incapable father was not to be
thought of; and to remain with them,
and him, and run the certain risk of full
Milling Sues prophecy was a fearful
prospect. What was she to do?
1t was the next day after the wedding.
The bride and groom had gone to their
own cabin, the miners had dispersed to
their business, and the relaxation that
naturally follows excessive mental and
nervous effort was telling fearfulIy upon
Edna's spirits, when Mr.. Handel called.
John was away at the gambling den,
the baby Ida was asleep, and Edna was
engaged to her elbows in her pastry
cooking, while the younger babe was
squalling vigorously for required ma
ternal care.
u am glad to see you," said Edna,
"for am sorely in need of a friendu
10 make herself heard above the yeII-
ing oaoy's din was no small effort, vet
Edna was blessed with excellent lungs
and succeeded in raising her voice to
the required pitch to make her utter
ances audible.
"Let your work go for a while and
take care of the baby" suggested the
minister, speaking at the top of his
voice.
1t was easy to say '1et the work ge u
out II was quite different thing to put
In practice. The only revenue of the
family was her pastry cooking, and they
could not live without food, let the the
ory Of letting her work go be ever SO