The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-06-08

]
tertained for her. But, alas, she did not
know; and judging men on the one
hand by John Smith, who represented
one and the lowest class, and on the
other by the Jealous and honest but i'm
practical missionary, and later by the
! learned Judge who had dealt out his
stereotyped advice to her without the
least regard to its adaptability to her
case or circumstances, the reader need
not wonder that in spite of her naturally
warm heart and affectionate nature, she
had deluded herself into the belief that
she hated men.
! The lecturer smiled.
'"The lady has struck the proper
chord" he said, in a modulated voice
that had tone of tenderness in it that,
in spite of her efforts to repress it,
caused her to fall into an uncomfortable
! fit of weeping.
"Evidently my interlocutor has been
thinking only of women as outlaws"
the speaker continued, turning his at
tention to the questiOner, who was
breathing heavily. "And he seems
also to forget that God never ordained
two codes of laws, one for men and one
| for women, but that all that we see to-
day that is wrong in human society is
the direct result of a one-sided state of
law and ethics. Bad women, who toll
not, neither do they spin, abound in your
midst only because there is a demand
for them and that demand exists be-
cause the moral atmosphere is vitiated
through the absence of that equilibrium
that the feminine element only cap
supply. Gentlemen, have been a resi-
dent of this village for only fortnight,
yet 1 have learned lessons here that
never can be forgotten. Every man of
you who is here without his family
should see to it that his loved ones are
brought to him at once. And, if any of
you cannot bring them here, L advise
you to 30 to them"
''Have you family in Idaho Flat ?"
asked the champion questioner, amid a
general litter.
"Notyet, nor anywhere else; but please
God intend to have some day, and 1
shall not support bad women, either! I
am not here to consider the rights of
women as outlaws, but as wives, moth
ers, sisters, daughters, sweethearts, and
friends"
Edna listened with deeper and yet
deeper interest, and when the converse
tiOnal tone was abandoned, and the
speaker went into logical dissertation
upon the status of American represen-
tation, he fired up with an illumination
of inspiring thoughts that led the null
titude into complete sympathy with his
theme and purpose.
Many a man that came to ridicule
went back to his couch to mediate; and
many a husband who had almost for
gotten the duties and obligations of his
far-off home resolved that, come what
might in the line of fortune, he would
not remain much longer away from his
family.
Edna listened to the entire discourse
as one in a dream. The looks, voice,
gestures, and intonation of the speaker
were perfectly familiar to her senses,
yet where and when had she ever met
any one like him? To save her life she
could not tell.
"Mother," she said, at the close of the
lecture, "let US stay and speak to Mr..
) Shields. I am determined to become
acquainted with the woman's friend"
"But John will talk" replied her
mother falteringly, though, in truth,
she wanted much to address the stranger
herself
"That will be something new for
John, certainIyr' exclaimed Edna, bit
terly.
''In a moment they were couversing
with their ch lmpion, while his eyes
beamed and his countenance radiated
with happy exultation.
"How much I thank you for your
/ golden words" said Edna, feelingly.
r "Oh, that's nothing! Pm not q
, speaker! This was my first attempt al
oratOry. I only tried to do my duty
} That was all. This morning had moi
thought of making an address. 1t wa:
: the trial to-day and the Judges decision
that prompted it. Have you any one tc
accompany you home"
"My mother, thank you. I woulG
not dare to accept the escort of any one
else, for the lord who holds the chains
of legal bondage upon me is watching
constantly for an opportunity to accuse
me, that he may rob me of my children ,
They bade the lecturer goodnight
and reached their lowly home to fine
John Smith installed therein with s
bevy of boon companions, who hat
helped themselves to Edna's pies til
satisfied, and were now engaged in play
ing cards upon the dining table.
"You thought you'd lock your hus
band out, didn't you ?' cried John with
riLald laugh. Remember that
:. man has a perfect right to his owl
? home hereafter. Everything do is un
der legal advice. Eh, Mr.. Brief2'
That dignitary bowed.
y Edna sat down in a stupor of bewil
. derment. She had seen daylight through