The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-01-19

self-abnegation, and in the abnegation
imposed upon woman by precedent and
custom, I resolved to die, if need be, to
humiiate myself before John. Yet,
auntie, what's the use? The more I
am humiliated, the less he appreciates
me, and the more 1 indulge him in his
present course, the more deeply he de-
grades himself"
"Well, dear, don't see what you are
to do.n
"Nor I, either, auntie. I'd rather die
than be grass widow. And if it were
not for these children, 1 lOOuId die, by
my own hand, to get free. But it is for
these children, auntie, so I shall not die,
but I'll get rid of John"
"When a sick mother, with two ba-
bies, and penniless withal, proposes to
get rid of a drunken husband who lOon't
leave, and she can't, I confess that 1
don't see through the mountain, Edna.
If you were only back with your mother,
now ~
<1Alf ouhblGi NLlGlC GAAC 1uO II my
mother were as independent as Solon
Rutherford-and if she were allowed half
as much control over her earnings as
the laws of the United States protect
him in, she would be as independent as
he-she would write to me and say,
Come home, my daughter! Your
mothers arms ache to clasp your weary
form to her grief-stricken heart. Come
back to me ! have plenty for us both.
Together we will rear your lambs.
will be happy when you are with me.
Let bygones be bygones, my darling I
knOU she'd say this, auntie, for l
dreamed it all out last night when John
lay snoring beside me in a drunken
stupor that made me breathe the stencil
laden atmosphere he breathed. But
yonder comes your stranger. I'd give a
pie or two to know his name and his
tory"
'Its a wonder you don't hate all
men," said Aunt Judy, smoothing her
collar and cap strings, and stealing a
peep in the little cracked shaving glass
that hung over the mud fireplace.
az don't hate men, auntie. They'd be
all right if women were free. Now,
find out who he is this time, won't you?
l know he's smitten."
Nonsense, child! He's a married
man, as likely as not"
But evidently Aunt Judy did not
much believe this last surmise, for she
stepped briskly, in spite of her rheuma-
tism, and served the gentleman, as
usual, to her choicest pie.
"Are you getting through the sum-
mer with comfort and profit, Mr.. -,
beg pardon, / do not recollect YOU
name ?n she said, with a perceptiblC
tremor in her voice.
"Profitably enough, thank you
madam. My mine proves to be quartz
lead, as we get further down, and th,
prospects are favorable, when the sur
face diggings are exhausted, for an i'm
mense business another year"
az rejoice in your good fortune 70
your family's sake, as well as you
: own" said Edna, archly. at will Ger
r tainly be grand news for your wife"
"There, Mrs. Smith, you are in error
f am sorry to say that am yet bach
! elor. And now, ladies, as we are alone
and 1 have eaten Mrs. Judy's pie an
e gotten in a communicative mood owe
! her cup of tea, don't mind telling yo
o something of my past life. was ono
e engaged to be married to young gil
t who very much resembled you, Mr.
: Smith,"
d "Indeed? She must have been hanC
i some, and congratulate you upon yoU
It taste" said Edna, sarcastically, as sf
@ strove, under cover of a faded shawl,
e supply the needed lacteal nOurishmeI
e for the vigorous and tyrannical lit
,s Smith, who would never wait for con
e pany to retire before taking his meals.
n "Beg pardon, madam. 1 don't pr
1t tend to say that you are handsom
h since my saying so would displease yo
evidently; but I reiterate my declar
ar ton that she very much resemble
i. you"
10 F'Why didn't yon marry her ?" ask,
a Edna, abruptly.
ID "For the best reason in the worl
IT madam. She Tilted me-"
"And why, pray ?"
W "For a richer man, madam. The
- was young nabob came over from BE
ton to our part of the country, and
III cut swell and spent money, and t
We girls got wild; and he took a fancy
III my iadmoritd and her father col
manded her to marry him. She did,
n love him, madam; at least, you wou
he have thought, if you had seen that Ii
he parting, that she did care for me; a
ga God knows I'd have broken my nee
mr. as did my heart, for her; but she h
been taught that obedience to her fail
no was heavens first law, so she Tilted |
a. for the other fellow. L didn't stay
H. the wedding, but they were married,
Ter doubt, and I've been fugitive anC
T vagabond ever since. Not that 1
fuI been aCicked, but I've been wander
an like a stray dog, without home or m