The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-02-23
CHAPTER XIII.

"Aunt Judy, I really believe you are
in love-" said Edna, as soon as the old
gentleman had departed.
"The idea T' replied the good woman,
with rosy blush. "Do you suppose I'd
fall 10 love at my time Of life ?"
''You look and act a good deal as I
did when was in love-" was the arch
reply; and then a shade of sadness, not
unmingIed with modification, passed
over her face as she listened to the
heavy breathing of John, while she sat
down to quiet the cries of the year old
baby.
'People ought to marry, and they
ought to be happy in the marriage rela-
tiOn," said Aunt Judy, musingly.
81 know they ought, auntie; but they
should know what they are about before
assuming the relation, and then, there
should be no one-sided power, but
united head. can imagine a perfect
marriage, yet confess neversaw one"
30, Edna, have seen happy matches
not perfect ones, because there is no
perfection to be found in this world of
imperfect conditions; but 1 have seen
husbands and wives who are perfect
them begin life without property, with
no earthly possessions except loving
hearts and willing hands, and being one
in aim and effort, have watched them
orrnuyinur FNarfaofIxr hIaScn6 IN
years rolled on; have seen their chill
dren prove a blessing and joy; and,
though the years of toll and care that
came and went left furrows on their
faces and made them gray and old, there
was still the same love light in their
eyes as when, in the trusting and loving
years of their youth, they stood before
the altar and took upon themselves the
solemn vows of coDjugal fidelity.n
"WeLL, Aunt Judy! Don't say to me
that you are not in love! You are
growing as poetic and dreamy and fool
ish as was at boarding school,"
The old lady blushed and worked Wig
orously at her rolling-pin and pastry,
but did not look up or reply.
"Your picture may be perfect one
ut least, know it ought to be-" contin-
ued Edna, shut L confess that 1 have
never seen such couple as you have de-
scribed."
~ am sure your father and mother
love each other dearly, my child" said
Aunt Judy.
"But my mother is not happy and
the Squire is not satisfied" said Edna.
"She is discontented because she endures
so much unrequited toll and has no
power to carry out some of her dearest
ambitions in regard to her children;
and he is unhappy because one-sided
power brings no lasting happiness, even
to its possessor. He has had his own
way till even tyranny brings distaste
and now, when they ought to settle
down to reap the happy and contenteC
recOmpense of a united life, my mothe
goes signing and toiling through her de
clining years, away from her child
companionship, and the Squirrel will
ancholy, and feels abused only becaus
he has had his own way till he's dissat
isfied with everybody, but most of al
with himself. There might be man,
happy homes, auntie, if only there wer
perfect equality there. But you dom
seem at all curious about our new neigh
bors. You have no idea of the strang
suspicion that forced itself upon me as
heard that woman rave. believe tha
she and Sue Randolph are one and tn
same person"
"Why, Edna! You shock mem
'T am shocked myself, but 1 do be
lieve it is she. True, she is blear-eye
and thick-tongued and an awful sinner
yet it seems to me that she is MOI
slnned against than SHINING, after al
Her story is a true one, am sure, an
that man Young is a dreadful repro
bate"
"But what of her husband ?"
''He only did what the laws of me
justified, in order 10 protect his imag
nary honor. Sue Randolph might hay
been imprudent; she was a youn
harum-scarum sort of body, with L
more knowledge of real life to begi
marriage than Ihad. She did not loI
Hal La Sale as did," and again Edr
blushed as though confessing Grim
mo man is ever loved by more tha
one woman as I loved him; thoug
doubtless should have loved him le
had 1 known him better. Sue marie
him without reflection, and you kno
they appeared to be happy enough whe
we saw them last. But hard tim
came, with toll and drudgery; and wit
her determination to make the best