The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-03-29

fections they have won by tender words
and sweeter promises, just so long will
woman fail, in her inmost intent, If not
in outward or secret action, TO honor to
the full, her holiest resolves.
1 wish ] might more fully impress
this solemn, awful fact upon the hus-
bands of the era.
Woman is a creature Of love. Fill
her soul with the reciproeated power Of
this divine afllatus let her feel that
there is one above all others to whom
her fealty is more valuable than aught
else; one who loves and honors her as
saeredly and unselfishly as she loves
and honors him, and that woman will
bravely travel even into the borders Of
the dark valley and shadow Of death
for his pleasure. She will delight IN
the sacrifice, and glory in her own suf-
fering, for his sake. But let him neg
lect her; let him give her real or imag-
mary cause to feel that her existence
and happiness are a secondary consider
alton, and that almost any one else is
of equal moment in his eyes TO herself
and it requires more heroism for her to
walk the straight and narrow path, in
thought and deed, than was ever COM
passed by any man in making himself
famous by leading an army TO battle.
''This is a dull aud stupid place, and
DO not wonder that you are weary and
hored aud disgusted, poor little robin"
said Mr.. Suydenham.
Only my youth and loneliness could
have excused me for the act but I was
so wretched, and did so need his sym
pathy! / dropped my head upon his
shoulder and burst into tears.
Very tenderly he stroked my hair and
patted my fearful face.
'Don't weep, little one" he said,
soothingly.
This was only a cause for another out
burst.
"Gerald, my husband, has treated me
badly" I sobbed.
/ don't know how it happened, but in
another moment his arms were about
me, and was nesting at his side with
a feeling Of restfulness that 1 had not
known for months.
poured out my soul to that man as
fancy is often done by the papal de-
votee in addressing her father confessor.
I am sure l did not dream OF an un-
righteous act. ] only knew that needed
a friend, aud felt that had found one.
He listened reverently, as / believed,
and as I still believe he was deluding
himself 10 fancy. And withouta thought
Of the precipice, to the very verge Of
which 1 uuconsciously lured him, /
talked and listened till the twilight
came.
My baby had fallen asleep on the
cushions I had placed for him at our
feet. The house cat purred by his side,
and the ticking clock kept time 10 our
breath and heart-beats as the minutes
rolled on.
"What If your husband should come
and see US sitting here? he asked, at
last.
/ sprang up in alarm, as sincere and
sudden as had felt on that never-to-b be-
forgotten day, more than a year before,
when ! had discovered that the little
boat, which 1 had entered in the tidal
river in the north OF England, was
Ioosed from its moorings aud was drift
ing rapidly toward the sea.
He laughed at my terror, and en-
deavored TO reassurs me, but in vain.
ordered him from my presence, as
I felt in duty bound 10 do, and for months
after I did not dare to trust myself to
enter the church and look upon him.
/ To this day l cannot recall that trial
and temptation without a shudder; and
yet 1 wonder, more and more, at the
strength Of mind and purpose that inn
PEELED me, child as 1 was, and against
my inclination, to decide and act as
did.
J And Mr.. Suydeuham was a good man
too. You smile, friend, but you needn't
He did not mean TO harm or degrad,
me. At least he did not know be meant
it, Men, as men, are not half as bad as
many women fancy. They are only
human, though, and oftentimes mistak,
their weakness for strength.
gradually grew less fond Of Gerald
my husband. Indeed, as l look back L
those long months of childish loneli
ness, wonder that my continuity wa
as strong as it proved. But did think
a great deal more than I was willing 4
confess, even to myself, Of Mr.. Suydeu
ham.
Gradually Mrs. Motley became =,
absorbed in her school that she finall.
left me, but sorely against my will, L
the sole care Of my baby Gerald. Thel
1 banished the rickety melodeon to th
school-room, gave up my studies, an
gave myself over to apathy.
It seems now that all that was yer.
foolish and reprehensible. How mucI
I needed the loving kindness OF N.
mother then.
Ah, me!
s TO be- continued.l
.
r The Chicago TiiJ,mo has an exclusiv
% r.,,rt nf tho case of a vouuu woman /