The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-08-31

OF MS vest POCKET, anu Carefully lelculnB
up tiny package done up in white tis-
sue paper. az bought this ring for my
wife. Do you think she'll like it ?"
Martha looked at it mechanically, and
burst into tears. 1t was the exact coun-
terpart of one that Kingston Green's
borough had carried on his fourth finger
the day he came to claim her, only to
find her the wife of another. She
slipped the ring on her finger, and turn
ing over her worn hand, flashed the
stone in it in the sunlight.
ppm afraid an emerald setting is a
bad omen for a wedding-ring, Gus"
Nonsense, sister! That's an old su-
perstition. You never had any we'd
ding-ring at all, and that's what worries
you"
"Never mind what ! said, Gus. For
get it, please. Have you called yet on
Mrs. Brown?"
mo; nor shall till you tell me how
I look. Martha's all right, for she loves
me, but the old woman has no such veil
over her eyes"
Don't call a lady of thirty-five an old
woman, Gus. And, above all, never
speak disrespectfully of the mother Of
your wife"
Gus Marblehead dispatched himself
upon his mission, and his married sister
remained behind to pray for him and
weep.
He found Mrs. Brown busily engaged
in her one little sitting-room, mending
pair of half-worn trowsers for boy of
ten. She rose to her feet to welcome him.
Gus labored hard for breath.
"Dcn't you know me, Mrs. Brown ?"
he managed to articulate.
al can't say that I recollect you, and
yet your countenance is familiar. Are
you recently from the States ?"
Gus bIushed and smiled.
mo, madam; live at the Marble
head farm. Pm surprised that you do
not recognize me. lam Augustus Mar
blehead."
"Ah indeed? 1 thought had seen
you before. You will pardon me, but
you are vastly improved"
"There is yet room for Improvement,
Mrs Brown"
Then, saying to himself, al must
come straight to business, or 1 shall
never he able to muster the courage" he
hemmed and hawed and labored afresh
for breath.
"Mrs. Brown, your daughter loves
me, and love her devotedly. Win you
let us marry ?'
The lady laughed.
"You are joking, Augustus" she re-
piled, bIdshing at the odd conceit of the
boy.
"Never more in earnest fn my life,
madam. We are engaged, and have de-
cided to be married. But we don't
want to marry against your will"
"Have you spoken to Mr.. Brown
about this ?"
'No, but told my sister, and she
counseled me to come right to you. She
says a man that's worthy of the woman
he loves will always tenderly regard
the feelings of that woman's mother"
Again Mrs. Brown was forced to
smile. The idea that Gus should speak
of himself as a man, and of her daugh-
ter as a woman, when both were but
children in her eyes, was too absurd foI
serious consideration.
"Will you give your consent to oul
marriage, Mrs. Brown?'
'In few years, maybe"
"But we intend to marry now"
"You are only children"
"We can't help that"
"But time will help it,"
81 know. We are growing older every
day."
"Well, what's your hurry? What,
the need of marrying now? You'll have
plenty of time to regret it if you marry
dozen years hence"
"Aside from the fact that we are un
happy when Separated, Mrs. Brown
there are financial considerations which
wise man cannot afford to overlook
was riding across the valley the othel
day, thinking of Martha and hunting
for cattle, when came upon a section
of unclaimed land which can be min,
and Martha's if we will settle upon it
She wants that place for home, and S,
do 1. Very soon the probation season
for land claiming will expire. Shal
we not claim the land and build US up
homer"
"I must have time to think about it
my son. You have my blessing, an,
some day you shall have my consent
But you must talk to Mr.. Brown"
Gus seized the lady's hand and ksse,
it reverently. The sublimity of his at
E tachment filled him with proud self
r consciousness, and he no longer appeare,
awkward.
t "Can 1 see Martha, and tell her tha
you do not discourage my suit ?" b
e asked, while tears stood in his eyes an
his changing voice cleared wonderfully
D Mrs. Brown left the room and did no
, return. Martha entered and stood be
e fore him.
4 He advanced towards her She hesi
S tated.