The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-08-22

as we'll.
In two years from the day we first
broke ground upon our new rancho, we
had it all under fence, as above de-
scribed, good house and barn Of the
materials before mentioned, and many
elements of rustic beauty surrounded our
home. HollyhOcks, chrysanthemums,
mallows, tanzy, featherfew, pinks, and
marigolds adorned our door-yard; vines
clambered over the outer walls, and
house plants hourished in the windows
our vegetable garden was a model Of its
kind, aud our wheat and oat fields
groaned with plenty.
But where, all this time, was Gerald,
my husband? Sometimes be would
absent himself from home for weeks at
a stretch, and again, with his liquor
carefully hidden away where none OF US
could find it, he would lay around the
house and barn, a terror to every one Of
us.
But how he did hate George McDon-
add Not a day passed, when he was at
home, that he did not heap the entire
blame Of his own degradation upon my
devoted head. He declared with many
an oath that had made him what he
was. He said l cared more for other
men than for him; and he abused me for
my lack Of love for him till it was diff
cult for me to tell whether or not the
hatred that sprang up between US was
not more bitter upon my part than his
own. Indeed, now believe it was. He
certainly loved me, but it was after a
wholly selfish fashion which could not
appreciate or enjoy.
I confess that / was sometimes as
ugly in those later days as had been
once on a former occasion But was
afraid Of him when George was away at
his work.
One day, about two years after we had
settled ourselves upon the rancho,
great burly man, with shabby, cut
throat appearance, and wife as viii
lainous looking as himself, were seen TO
enter one Of our enclosures with team
and household fixtures, and prepare for
making themselves a camp.
"What does that mean ?'' said to
Ethel, who was demurely stitching
away at a white muslin robe, which
was 20 be her wedding gown.
81 don't know, mamma. I suppose
it's somebody who intends to encamp
for the night"
"But they've broken the fence and
turned the stock upon the wheat. Go
tell your father, dear"
"What good would it do to tell father?
He's in his normal condition, and can't
be depended upon. I'll call George"
How that child did love to depend
upon George. But then ! was glad Of it,
seeing she intended to marry him.
"Never mind calling him from his
work, daughter; / will see about it my
self" 1 said, throwing on my sun-bon-
net, and adjusting clean apron as I ran.
"Good-evening," exclaimed, with a
hem and haw, and not without some
inner misgivings, as l approached the
burly sovereign of the United States.
Evenin', ma'am," he answered,
curtly, without pausing in his work
with heavy ak.
The woman sat upon bag Of what
might have been beans or dried apples,
smoking in dogged silence. ] think
that they were both ashamed Of them
| selves.
"Why have you broken my fence,
sir ?' / asked, falteringly.
"I-otu fence? Yo,uz 9' asked the
man, eying me with peculiar stare.
'Yes; my fence, or my husbands"
'Your husband, nor you, neither,
hain't no right to this claim, num-"
wondered if the man were sane. In
deed, felt in mortal terror Of him as he
welded that ponderous, sharp, and
busy AK.
"Your husband never filed on this
claim, mum, an did the day afore yes
terday, an it's mine. Amt it so, ole
woman 2n
The "ole woman" grunted an aps-
thetic ''yes," and then smoked her pipe
in silence.
'But my husband went to Oregon
City on purpose to notify upon the
claim and pay the charges. He couldn't
notify in my name, know, for the law
wouldn't give me the right to a home
stead because Pm married woman
but the claim is his, or will be, when
we have lived long enough upon it tC
perfect our title"
"Never can be yourn- now, mum
neUcr! It's notified on and the fee;
paid by Bill McCarty."
"Then pray, sir, what do you propos,
TO do ?" I asked, as the apprehension o.
a nameless terror almost deprived me o.
breath.
Take possession Of my ownw he an
s~ered, pompously.
You do not mean TO say that YOU
= ind snantiy. Ao'''' - -
mean to say that have filed upor
my o"H!' he replied, with NJ, i,,,r,5a,,,
wag Of his unkempt head os ~ - -
urely squirted a stream Of tobacco i,,i..
from his beastly mouth upon the nov
: blazing campfire he had been splittip,
a wood to kindle.
? "You needn't come about me wit
none O. your slack, p he continued, as h
helped himself to another "chaw.n "