The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-06-28

CHAPTER XXI
When again 1 grew conscious. n,
husband was bending over me. ready l,
catch The first CLEAN of my returnin.
reason. Nr. and AIrs. Motley were ais.
near with my children, and DIR. Suv
deuham was not far away. But ] dil
not realize that had been in OF uncou.
scious. Everything was confused il
my brain, and ! thought was in Mel
bourne. I had forgotten all about Ga,
trial.
Gerald, isit you and are you sober
and do you love me 2'' asked, my voic,
SO weak as TO be almost inaudible.
''Ies, my precious darling; I am here
"a sober man and free. ] was honorably
acquitted, thanks to your dreams ano
endeavors, and call God TO witnes.
that I viii never again allow myself tc
touch OF taste or handle the intoxicat-
ing cup"
IT was great blessing TO me that ]
believed ia my husbands earnest prom
ise. lt gave me hope aud strength and
courage, and enabled me to convalesce.
as I could not otherwise have done.
But it would have proved a far greater
blessing bad he only had sufficient
moral and physical strength TO have
successfully resisted bis diseased appe-
tite to the end.
.Ah, me-
Very gradually recovered my accgs-
TONED strength, aud yet more gradually
my shattered memory. For long
time everything connected with the
trial under which I had sunk uncon-
scious was TO me as more than half
forgotten dream. But gradually glim-
mers of the past came back, and among
the first Of my confused remembrauces
recurred that vision ofthe coal-black eyes
and pale blonde hair that had haunted
me before my mercirul season OF tempo
rary Oblivion bad occurred, to save me
from hopeless insanity.
At esq tried inr- -full.-. ...tsI
questions, bot 7 soon saw that the task
Of untangiing my dilemma through
him was destined to prove Intellectual.
He was uniformly kind to me now, and
sought 30 anticipate my slightest wish,
but his only reply 10 my numerous in
terrogatOries was:
"Wait tin We get well and strong be-
fore we ask too many questions"
But my mind was not 20 be thus ap-
peased. The curiosity Of my sex which
is said to be Inherited from our mother.
Eve, is possessed by me, i'm common
with all the sons and other daughters Of
women, and the more 1 pondered over
the vexed question, the more anxious
grew 10 unravel it, until finally would
be put of no ionger-at least so far as
Mrs Motley was concerned.
"You treat me as though 7 were noth-
ing but half-witted childu / said.
sobbiug idully, and accompanying the
complaint with the usual exclamations
Of bitterness INDUCED in by peevish
persons.
"But we only want to restore YOU TO
health, little one" was the cooing au-
swer, as the good woman sought for the
hundredth time to pacify, without satis-
flying me.
"Bgt Tm not an idiot, 3Irs. Motley.
aud I know 7 can't get well tiIl the rnys-
terry Of that murder is cleared mn
said, bursting again into tears, and call
ing my best ireud heartless aud anrea-
souable.
"WeIi, lit,le woman, more than half
believe you'H get well all the more
quickly from knowing all about it. but
the doctors order is imperative, YOU
know. He said We must not talk to YOU
nor let you ASH questions"
Aud Mrs. Motley looked so exceed
iugly wise. mysterious, and discreet
that saw was gaining my point.
"And you won't tell him if tell YOU
all?'
"Of course I wou't.n
"Ihen, my dear to begin at the be-
ginning, DO you remember anything
about Elder Chalmers ?''
'Acmembery O, Mrs. Motleyi Can
1 cease 10 remember the fact that 1 20 .
loathed him that cursed my dear in
nocent baby Gerald with his looks and
mauuers? Aud can forget that Ger
aid, my husband, made the poor child ,
hopeless cripple in his drunken rsoo
because he could not bear to see ~,
striking resemblance 10 Chalmers. for
which he alone was to blame ~
There, little woman; I feared to talk
TO you, lest you'd get excited, just as the
doctor said you would"
And Mrs. Motley placed her hand
playfuily over my mouth with
"sh-e-e-e," after the fashion Of school
children in their glee.
Isubdued my rising temper with a de- /
termined effort, and smiled family.
"What Of Elder Chalmers ?' / asked, (
as patiently as I could school myself to
speak.
"That woman, Isabel Martinez. was
his friend aud ally, aud it was proved
during the progress of the trial, and in
directly through your dreams and raw