The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-04-05


am 90 I asked, mentally, as I surveyed
myself reflected in perfection from the
polished plate.
wandered down the path toward the
wicket gate, hard by the long, low
building where Mrs. Motley taught her
missionary school. The hour was al
ready late, and swarms Of natives were
+ lounging about, waiting for their leach
/ er's presence.
"You can all 20 home" said, ad-
dressing a lazy fellow whom knew had
never liked ME. "NIrs. Motley is en-
gagged to-day. Her husband is at home.
I You may come tomorrow"
Evidently he doubted my word, but,
after some further lingering and parley-
ing, they all reluctantly betook them
selves to the bayou, and seated myself
on the gate-post, as any child might,
and waited long for my husband
Hours passed, but he did not come.
heard footsteps coming from the cottage
and down the gravel walk. Ny heart
bounded. / knew Mr.. Suydenham was
approaching. I wanted to fly, but re-
treat was cut Off
"Poor little hungering dove" he said,
tenderly.
I burst into an agony OF weeping.
Were not these the words my mother
had spoken in my dream?
"Don't cry, poor bruised heart" he
added, his voice husky with feeling.
To have gone to him, as a grieved
child might, and poured out my sor-
rows i'm his sympathetic ear, would
have afforded me consolation unspeaka-
ble. It seemed to me that what had
dreamed Of in Gerald / had found and
realized in him. But / would shun the
very appearance Of evil. would stand
alone and grow brave and strong. What
lesson for a child Of my years! ]
wonder that was not wrecked.
He saw that would not talk to him,
and he cast upon me a reproachful
glance, mingled with compassion and
eagerness, that thrilled me through and
through.
81 would be alone, Mr.. Suydenham.
Don't disturb me, please"
"pidu't you promise to be my sister,"
All, the temptationl l assure you,
reader, it was terrible. But / knew my
husband, whatever his own shortcom-
ings, would look without the least de-
gree Of allowance upon even an imag-
mary transgression from his wife. I
was wholly in his power, too. I was
many thousand miles from home, with
a helpless baby on my hands for sup
port, and knew nothing Of business Of
any kind, and, if / had known, there
were no avenues Of honorable oceupa-
tion open 10 women then. / have told
You that I feared my husband. In adj
tion to this, ] now dreaded him. Why
could he not come home to me sober,
and after a twelvemonth's absence, too?
eco, for heavens sake, Mr.. Suyden-
haml My husband is coming nowr'
exclaimed, hurriedly.
"Let him come. I'd be pleased to
meet him." was the very natural reply.
So he fingered till Gerald came, and /
was frightened till acted like a guilty
wretch, instead Of the happy, hopeful
wife I ought to have been.
had so hoped that Mr. Suydenham
would never see him intoxicated. But
there was no Use in hoping now. There
he stood, staggering, maudlin, and silly,
his tongue thick, his eyes inflamed, his
voice unsteady.
"Why don't you speak to me, little
woman ?" he exclaimed, in a maudlin
way, that only a Toodles might have
equaled.
"Is it you, Gerald ?"
"N-y-yes! Are y-y-ye g-g-glad ito
/ see me2r
advanced to meet him, and he fell
upon the ground, sprawling.
"W-w-wot ye g-g-got a beau for {?
Amt ye married ~ be asked, as be
vaiuly attempted to get mp.
Mr.. Suydenham laughed. I was as
. furious as I was humiliated
"If you have one spark OF the chiv-
airy Of manhood in you, you'll go home,
where you belongw - / exclaimed, feel
ing that was compelled to say some
. thing.
Again 1 was answered by that look Of
/ pityiug eagerness.
"Gor' I shouted. "Leave me to my
I worsa than Ieadf Tan, ready "a ct1rsa
God and die. ] had so much faith in
Gerald, and loved him so. o, God, is
there nothing on the face Of the earth
but sham ~
MY dear madam, ! beg a thousand
pardons if have given you trouble, -
said Mr.. Suydenham.
And then, much to my relief, he
bowed himself away, and Mr.. and Mrs.
Motley came to the rescue.
It was now high noon, and all day
long my husband, whom l had wor-
SHIPPED with a mad devotion for which
no well-balanced human brain can be
excusable, lay upon the sofa, sleeping
of the deep potations Of the morning.
. Once only did he rouse himself to take
notice Of our boy. Oh, how 1 dreaded
that inspection. True, my baby was
beautiful and intelligent, and loved
him and was proud Of him. But ah
that look OF Elder Chalmersl What
would my husband think Of me and my
child?
IL Al