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

riage?"
The minister tried to smile, though in
truth he was little frightened.
II should like to be enlightened" be
said, falteringly.
"Well, I'd treat everybody who mar.
ried as we did as outlaws till they'd
come to their senses. I'd keep them in
penitentiaries on bread and water al
hard labor till they had had enough ol
each other, and then, if they wanted to
continue the relation, I'd let il be. sane
toned by law, and if either wanted il
discontinued, would grant them am
nesty and send them forth, like other
convicts whose time had expired, to be-
gin their battle with life anew, feeling
sure that the experience had made them
wiser and tanner"
"WOuld you like to accept such a dis
cipline, Mrs. Smith ?"
'Indeed L would! I'd volunteer to
live in the State prison as many years
as have lived with John, if by so do
Ing coulu get rl0 OF him."
"Then, pardon me, but you are very
wicked woman"
del ?'
II trust that am brave enough to do
my duty, madam. You sought my ad-
vice and confidence, you know"
"Why do you think I am wicked ?n
because you are willing and anxious
to revoke your vew."
Edna blushed. Poor child! How
could she make the humiliating confess
sion that she had married the wrong
manP She could not, would not do it.
He might think as ill of her as he liked,
but he should not know the worst and
most unfortunate part of her rash and
foolish life-venture.
"'Thy desire shall be to thy husband,
and he shall rule over thee," said Mr..
Handel, solemnly.
"Pray, don't"' cried Edna, with su-
preme vexation. 'rYou'll make me
bate the Bible, denounce all good, curse
God and die, if you succeed in making
me believe that divine inspiration au-
thorizes my present troubleg
"Then, my poor sister, what do you
propose to do ?"
81 shall be driven to the stage to earn
my bread, SIR"
"WhGtr'
1t is pity that the printed page can
not produce the tones that burden a
voice when betraying the most Mortified
establishment. That "What," as the
missionary uttered it, was the acme of
everything tragic that human excla-
nation can express.
"You do not mean to be an actress ?u
he continued, gazing at her in a sorrow
ful, reproachful way.
II am an actress of the worst patterpvp
was the vehement reply. "There is moth
ing real in my life! 1 mean there is
nothing honest in it. 1t is all sham y,
"You are trying to walk in your own
strength, my poor sister. You should
seek for wisdom from on high to guide
you into ways of perfect peace"
"But, sir, the wisdom I receive from
on high is baked and hindered at every
turn by laws and usages of men. I can
not mock Almighty God by approach
ing the throne of grace with suppIica-
ton when 1 know that am daily lead
ing life of loathsome, cankering. fes-
tering sin."
"Are you not true to your marriage
vows ?"
Edna gave a gesture of impatience
and disgust.
"My VOWS are in themselves an abom-
ination, from which my better nature
bids me flee with my children, while
the laws of men give my legal lord the
power to snatch both babes and earnings
from me-"
"But ruin awaits you if you go upon
the stage"
"And respectability and competence
and happiness await me nowv' she said,
with bitter smile.
"What Will you do with your babes,
If you endeavor to put your rash resolve
into execution, Mrs. Smith ?''
''Take them with me and take care of
them, SIR"
"Alas, poor child, you are as ignorant
OF public life for women as you were of
married life when you embraced itP'
~ know it. But there is one great
advantage of which 1 am aware"
"What is it ?"
II shall not be legally compelled to
remain in a hateful bondage if 1 find
the stage to be unbearable. No slavery
is absolute except it be matrimony.n
1t was all in vain that the good min
lister expostulated continually. Edna,s
mind was made up. Already the min
ers had rendered her benefit, and she
had agreed to give a second eIocution-
airy entertainment on a stated evening
week hence, when her songs and reci-
tations in character were to be well pat
and munificently rewarded.
Right here good Mr.. Handel made a
sad mistake. Had he encouraged the
poor desperate wife, and directed her
entertainments, choosing their tone and
character, he could have prevented all
the evila ha draodad h., r.,,;J; - -