The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-09-26
VOLUME VIII.

stood ehurning.
"Get out, Towser. Sneezer and
Ragged Tail - exclaimed the dowager,
while Lille bit her lips in annoyance,
as she thought Of the contrast between
the pleasant city homes where she had
met Mr.. Snowden and her fathers rustic
surroundings, her mothers cburn, and
the three noisy dogs with the eupho-
nious titles.
81 detest the country, and every
thing in it % she exclaimed, under her
breath. And the reader will bear her
visitors witness that it was little
wonder
/ Captain Emerson might have made
his country home a veritable paradise
II he bad chosen. He had taken up his
abode in the far-famed valley Of the
Willamette at an "early day." when
his indulgent paternal government had
endowed him and his wife, Jeanette,
with a square mile Of the very "pick" OF
the country. And the Captain was a
lucky man, in the most felicitous ac-
ceptation of the idea. Everything be
managed turned to money. The Cayuse
war, which had "broken" many an
eager aspirant for fat government con-
/ tracts, had resulted in the usual luck
/ for him; for, when other men held on to
their scrip in the hope to realize its
/ face in greenback dollars, he had sold
] ten per cent. short, and thereby realized
double the profit that legitimate sale
would have brought if he had bargained
them off in the usual way.
But Captain Emerson had no taste"
Do not understand 10y this that he was
not an epicure. No one could excel
him in that direction. Perhaps it is
better TO say that he had 10 ideality, 40
eye foT the beautiful; for, should his eye
ever fail upon these pages, and he
should read himself devoid OF taste, be
would at once infer that the thought to
be conveyed was gastronomic discrimi-
nation, aud then he would be augry,
and justly so.
But, if the Captain was devoid Of
ideality, he certainly was not devoid Of
acquistiveness, as any one could see
who was Ct all a physiognomist. lie
was short, stout, pigheaded, thick
skinned aud rubicund, and there was no
limit to his desire for the possession Of
Gods acres. Neither was there any
check TO the complete fulfiilment Of his
own fancies, so FAR as his means per-
mittei. Ills ~ lie .nG children were 80
many machines To contribute % bis
gains. They made butter and cheese
for market. They dried apples, gath
cred berries, raised poultry, kept sum
mer boarders when they could get them,
and often cooked for hired farm-help
wheu wives and daughters Of men less
fortunate were enjoying books, music
and recreation.
But never a thing Of beauty found its
way into the Emerson farmhouse, save
only the two daughters, Grace and
Lille. Oddly enough, these girls were
exact opposites of each other. One, the
heroine to whom the reader has already
been introduced, was a blue-eyed bru-
nette, and the other, whom he is yet ia
meet, was black-eyed blonde.
These young ladies bad many suitors
as was natural in laud where women
were held at premium because Of theil
scarcity, and especially so since it wa,
known that Captain Emerson held
mortgages knee-deep on all the square
mile tracts Of land that joined his own
Alonzo Snowden aud John Anderi
were alike ignorant of the existence o.
Grace Emerson, and both had ventureC
to visit Lille, and had happened upor
the same errand at the same time
hence, the assurance OF the one, accord
ing to his temperament, and the reti
eeuce Of the other, for like aud yet op
posite reason.
Towser, Sneezer and Ragged Tai
were quieted at last 10y the vigorous ap.
plication Of the dowager's broom, anC
the young men were permitted to entel
a low, cramped sitting-room, with bar,
floors and two bedsteads, the former moi
over free from sundry grease-spots, anC
the latter resplendent in gorgeous bu
dirty patchwork, surmounted at the
head with narrow pillows, enclosed il
soiled cases as scant aud diminutive a
themselves.
"Mr. Snowden, I believe" sale
I Lille, her face flushing hot.
That gentleman offered his hand.
"a charming day, Miss Emerson; an'
what a lovely home you have here, u
be sure. No wonder your cheeks ar
rosy"
Lille Emerson was a sensible girl
and she saw the fellows irony, yet sh
liked him, after all, for saying some
thing agreeable. She did not often hea
pretty speeches in that house.
John Auders stood expectantly. Ev
identity Lille nad forgotten him.
, "Wul you not introduce your friend y
Z, sne asked, indicating the bashfu
u An forgot. Beg pardon. \ road
sue aequaintanee, merely. Fxcus
d me. Did hear You saw vo,,- noa,
was'- SouE nam
% "Anders'' said the young man
Ie promptly.
70 "Anders? Anders? Where b.--
met you ~
p "At The ferry, probably" interrupte
j Mr.. Snowden. at is his business 1
S tend the ferry boat"
e John Auders blushed, aud felt pair