The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-09-12

aud monstrous proportions grinned al
him from his chamber walls. Snakes
hydra-headed and venomous, writhed
ia his bed, aud fastened their fangs in
his fingers ends. His suderings were
as real and intense as though fact, IN
stead Of Imagination, had portrayed aud
inflicted them. Sometimes be would
escape from his room in spite Of our
I vigilance, and inaugurate a reign of
terror in the house that would only
cease when daylight came, bringing
with the blessed sunshine power TO
exercise the demons that held the once
strong man in thrall.
Alice remained at home to watch
over her father and prevent his taking
my life till a dark-eyed stranger came
a-wooiug, and then she fell in love, and,
in spite OF her boasted strength Of mind,
got married and left me. But did not
blame her. Let her lot be what il
might, I knew that she could hardly
worst it by getting away from home.
/ But what, now, was to become Of me :?
My twin daughters, who bad grown up
/ like two beautiful lilies, were away at
school, for / had decided to educate
them for a station beyond my own, and
had only my youngest, my Elise,
with me, aud she was now tall and
/ graceful child, almost vergiug upon the
edge OF what Americans call her
''teens"
You may judge, good reader, that my
life was hanging upon a thread. ! per-
formed prodigies Of daily labor, such as
I would not now dare to speak Of were
it not that I could, If necessary, bring
the testimony Of hundreds of eye-wit-
] nesses in proof Of my assertions. Could
/ I have handled my entire income, I
might have been able to employ needed
assistance. But Gerald grew very cum
/ ming about getting the money from
travellers, and ! was often in desperate
straits in consequence about the neces-
sary means to pay current expenses and
keep the twins IN school. SO I econo-
mized by making four-fold drudge Of
myself, not caring, save for my
children's sakes, how soon my thread Of
life might break and release me from a
detestable and literally uncomfortable
bondage
But we cannot always die when we
wish, else a thousand, yes, thousands OF
women who read these columns to-day,
would long ago have breathed their last
as their only visible way Of escape from
conditions and surroundings they have
outgrown.
+ ! wore out my old clothes and was uu-
able to purchase new ones, so ! grew
ragged, as well as wrinkled and prema-
turely old.
F George aud Ethel were very consid-
crate Of me for a long time, but your
own children soon find their own fami-
lies, and then they feel that they have
enough to do without looking after YOU
to any extent. And ] never expected
any help from my sons-in-law, and GER
tainly never asked for il. I have no
complaints 20 make on that score.
They could not have taken Gerald in
their homes, for 1 would not have per-
. mitted il. Aud il was not profitable for
them 10 assist me much while he was
r on hand TO squander whatever he could
lay his hands upon.
One evening the weekly packet
landed at our little wharf, and mar
and woman, who somehow impressed
NE as though they might have beer
known to me in the long ago, cam,
walking slowly toward the house, il
search Of lodgings.
They entered my little Office and reg
istered as Thomas chatham aud wife
and ordered their meals sent to theii
room.
For several hours I was too busy az
my own cook, dish-washer, scullior
and chambermaid, to pay their room 8
visit and ill their orders, but, after long
waiting I raped at their door, bearing
aloft a loaded tray containing a choice
supper Of quail on toast and other ex.
tras, for which was resolved to make
them remunerate me literally.
I started when the door was opened
aud well I might, for before me stood
Elder Chalmers fand the black-eyet
70 blonde, for whose supposed murder my
: husband was once on the eve Of being
- hanged.
E "Elder Chalmers 9" I exclaimed, IL
} establishment bordering on terror.
r as il possible, or do my eyes deceivr
, me? Surely this is not Mrs. Ethe
Grey ?" he said, forgetting the meas
r ured monotone in which he had ad
dressed me in my youth, when hi
/ greatest endeavor had been to impres
me with an overpowering sense Of hi
/ own superior holiness.
] "Itis the wreck Of Mary Ethel Graem
y that you behold, sir, who, but for yO
e aud this strumpet, might be a prosper
e Gus and happy woman :" / retorted
e s1''oeiy knowing what said.
>, Inc oiaek-eyed blonde, upon whom
d years and dissipation were making rio
II orous inroads, uttered a LITTLE go, = :
defiance, but turned away as 49,,
d conscience-smitten. And ,vali -
j. might. There I stood, a worn-on, -.
e ken-down rack Of bones, INV cboal
y suuken, my back bent and elotbs
{ thTead-bare, and she and this man ba
8 ..--H 49, r,r,.t,or,E 4 ss q. 1-.-,n A.