The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-10-24

lhe Librarian OF congress az Washington City-l
CHAPTER ~.
"Mnther 90 exclaimed Grace, her face
suddenly ahame with modification,
chow can you talk so eoarsely ?"
sit was the language you was raised
Oh that ! was usin', child. Maybe
you'd like to teach your mother man
ners"
$50 1 would"
"Then, maybe you'd like 10 teach me
that it amt the best manners in the
world for a feller to make himself too
fresh on short acquaintance, even if be
is from the city, aud the son of rich
pap"
Grace rose from the table in high
dudgeon, aud abruptly left the room.
Lille began to feel that the loss Of her
city beau was not going to break her
heart, after all. John Anders grew ex-
tremely busy, and somewhat hurried in
the use Of his knife aud fork. OF the
number that comprised the breakfast
board, none appeared at ease except the
city suitor. Ia the sublimiiy Of his i'm
pudence he was a match for the emer-
gency.
Your daughter-my aiIianced wife, /
mean-iutends 10 offer you no dis
courtesy, my dear madam" he said,
with "a bland aud self-satisfed smile.
81 beg that you will overlook her ex-
treme modesly and consequent con-
fusion After she has become accus-
toniel to the novelty Of her new engage
ment, and has had time to get better
acquainted with me, she will overcome
her maidenly timidity."
"Ny darter needs none o. your de-
fendiu', sir She haiu't done nothin' to
complain Of except 10 git spooney over
the likes o. you. But her pap'll be
home afore long, aud In bet a horse
he'll take the wind out o. yOUr sails"
Alouzo rose from the table, aud, going
close 10 where Mrs. Emerson stood, be-
side the smoking stove, laid his lily
hand in earessing manner upon her
greasy arm.
81 wish you'd let me be your son. I'd
dearly love TO call you mother ~ he ex-
claimed, in tones Of touching tender
ness.
Ms Emerson bad weakness, and
a'auzh Suowden had divined it. Her
ma.H.r heart ached for the gift of a son.
Once only, and that was in the long
ago, she had been blessed for a briel
season with the presence Of IA blue-eyed
baby boy. This child was her frs
born, and he bad gladdened her hom'
and heart for short, single year, an'
then Que day the angels took him, leav
ing her bereft indeed. Twice since hi
death had children made their adven
in her home, and, to her bitter disap
pointment, they had both been girls
So, when Alouzo asked, in the patheti
tone he knew so well how to command
II be might be her son, the fountains q
memory were stirred, and the good sou
burst Into tears.
John aud Lille left the kitchen an
entered the disordered sitting room
leaving the two to their novel tete q tete
"Do /, then, appear so terribly bad IL
your eyes, that the prospect Of my be
coming son TO you grieves you lik
this ." aud Alonzo looked the picture O.
injured innocence.
"No, il isn't that r' was the sobhing
and almost convulsive reply. "But
was thinkiu' of my pore baby tina
died. Il was nigh onto twenty year az
that God took him. 'lottei on him s
much, too. never see a young ma
but l measure the might a beens wit
the whats is"
The young mans pecunisry condiiio
was such as precluded the advisabilit
Of honest action, else be would hav
turned away in compliance with the r,
pulsiou he experienced through ues
proximity to the greasy, but iufiuentii
and illiterate dowager. He shruggt
his shoulders aud curled his lip; but !
glanced eovetously over the broad acr'
from which the fiy-stained little vii
dow Afforded an ample and commando
view, and remembered the bills pa
able over which his father agoniz,
heavily, aud upon settlement
which matrimonial endowment III
the one in prospect so much depende
He could not afford to be over particul
under the circumstances.
"Dear mother" he said, eoaxingl
81 felt, when looked into your face
the first time, that you / ad known 81
row aud bereavement. Aud l could
help wishing that it might be my lot
supply, as best could, through the
maiuder Of your days, the vacant pli
that death made in the long ago, wi
you we're young aud fair and beautii
like my precious Grace"
With this the young man knelt
abject meekness at her feet, aud III
up his lily hands in an attitude Of 81
plication.
Mrs Emerson was unused to hOma
Away back in her unmarried years
had been a rustic belle and beauty, &
the husband Of her heart bad Il
offered her adulstion that was !