The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-08-29
VOLUME VII


terview with my new despoiler, and
Ethel and I entered the house with
hearts so full OF indignation and outrage
that we could neither talk nor weep.
Alice, more impetuous than either of
Us, readily found her tongue.
"Men talk about the freedom aud JUS
| tice Of American institutions I" she ex-
claimed, hotly. "Why, I'd rather be
the blacklist slave that ever picked cot
I ton in Cuba, or the poorest chimney
sweep that was ever stified in the fiues
OF Edinburg, than to be the wife Of any
man in Oregon 20
"Why, Alice ?" asked her sister, who
for obvious reasons did not harbor her
objections to matrimony.
because in marriage-take mothers
case, for example, woman loses her
identity and becomes only the legal
mistress Of a manw
Absurd" said Ethel; "you shock
mer'
81 speak the truth, sister. How do
you know but that your adorable George
may wrong you some day just as badly
as my father has wronged my mother p"
al know he won't because I've tested
him, and l rely upon him as a man of
honor and philanthropy"
"But suppose he fails you? what
then2 What redress have you? You
surely will not want to seek relief in the
divorcReourts ?i'
George Mcdonald will never betray
my trust," )" replied Ethel, loftily.
$50 my mother once imagined" +" an
swered her sister, quickly "But when
be did betray her trust, she had no pos
sible redress under the law, as his wife.
Her only hope for Justice lays in the
/ IN the probability Of his death, or the
] disgraceful disclosures Of his meanness
that will make her grass widow. Sup
pose the man who had so wronged her
had not been her husband. Don't you
see that she might then have restrained
or, through the law, compelled him to
respect her rights? /, for one, will never
marry till a woman can be herself and
yet be a wife"
While we were discussing this ques-
tioni George returned. His face was
pale aud his lips compressed, and
knew he was suffering from intense ez-
element.
Anything new ?7 asked, tremu-
lously.
He shook his head.
81 wonder where father is, p said Ethel.
"Of somewhere drunk and asleep, as
usual" exclaimed Alice.
Il was Idle for me to reprove that girl.
You might as well try to stop a whirl-
wind. And yet wasn't sorry that she
had so much spirit. IL made me hope
that she would never be imposed upon
as had been.
Gerald had not been at home for sew
eral days; but his absence was nothing
unusual, and we were generally only too
glad to get rid Of him to concern our
selves about his return. Just now, how
ever, we wanted to see him badly.
e 81 think" said George, "that he is
over at the village. You know that's a
great place now for drunkenness, fol
there's a host Of miners in to spend tn,
], coming winter. Guess I'd better take
{ horse and 90 aud fetch him"
$ None of us objected, and he was sool
D mounted upon one palfry and leadinI
another toward the distant village.
As soon as he was well out Of hearing
e the new proprietor and legal owner {
our real estate approached the house {
D take a closer view Of the appurtenance
T. belonging 20 his farm.
1t must be admitted that his in
( ventory was pleasing one. Every on
e Of our rambling rooms was CAREFUL
e papered aud primitively finished. Th
B, walls were frescoed with autumn leave,
d and the windows festooned with grow
;, ing vines. Comfort and thrift rule
e everywhere. How our hearts throbbe
e with Indignation as he consulted wit
his stoical spouse, admiring this, crit
s cising that, and exulting over som,
t thing else.
e There's no use in talking" sal
d Alice, vehemently, as she watched thei
: boorish behavior al knoU that n
IA man has any more claim, in fee simpl,
e. upon the acres Of God than he has upo
he the air of the globe. Under a uatur,
'e and therefore equitable ruling Of earthl
affairs, possession and cultivation Of III
De soil would constitute the right TO occup
I'd and control, but never to otgn H.: an
never under any circumstances sboul
le one person be permitted TO drive a,
I'd other from his own home because
10 some written technicality that III
e hidden away in the archives Of son
=" stupid court. There is in this bro,
II country land enough for all, and Il
I'd only reason this fellow wants to Occur
=" this homestead is because we have il
Is, proved it; and the only right he has
ke it is vested in a false conception Of hon
ed and justice"
Ire Her words attracted the attention
ce, the legal proprietor of our homestea
and be, knowing there were no no
upon the premises to protect US
ire physical force, grew suddenly brave al
u virtuous.
NJ miss, do you mean to insiuuate tn
an am not h0nest3" he asked, with
be lordly air.
Ok 81 don't mean to insinuate, but 1
To- Il 49,, a