The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-01-25

Martha, as, depOsiting her money in a
safe hiding-place, she busted her mind
and body in hurried preparations for her
forthcoming flight.
This modern Rachael was not without
flial affection. Her fathers very help
lessness was a strong tie that bound her
to him; and, but for the last unkindest
cut, which separated her, through his
personal selfshness, from the children
of her peril, she would have cared for
him while his life lasted without one
grndging thought or deed.
For the last time Martha disrObed the
trembling Major, aud listened to his
garrulous complainings in silence. Be
cause she had not fulfilled her threat to
go when the children were taken, he
had concluded that she would remain;
so, all unconscious of her pending
flight, he scolded, as was his wont, till
balmy sleep overlook him, and the
sonorous snoring that had been his noe
turnal habit for half a century loudly
asserted that his senses were in repOse.
Martha stood bending tenderly over
the old mans PROSTATE form for a sea-
son, and her tears fell thick and fast.
Woman naturally needs something to
cling to, somebody to love. The abuse
Of thousands Of years Of womanly affee-
tion has failed to crush out this innate
attribute, this emanation of the divine
that she inhales and expresses.
"Who will care for the old man
when / am gone ," she asked, half audi
bly,.
Then, as though the question had
been satisfactorily answered through
her inner consciousness, she smoothed
the bed-clothes tenderly over the sleeper,
as a mother might, aud imprinting q
kiss upon his furrowed brow that had
more Of the instinct of the mother than
the daughter in it, she gathered up her
little bundle of clothing and started out
in the wide, wide world, alone.
The crescent moon hung low in the
heavens, with his horns downward, as il
in mourning. The stars beamed upon
her with a cherries radiance, and the
FIR trees sighed farewell. The old house
dog, who, since the departure of her
children, had refused to be comforted,
was startled from his ftful slumbers,
and essayed TO follow her, whining pite-
ously.
$50 back, Ring, and stay with grand
father" she said, STOPPING to caress his
shaggy coat, and bursting into tears
that, till now, had been denied her.
"Ring, poor fellow, there's no selfish
ness in your affection" she exclaimed,
through her sobs. "You would love me
still, though you knew you'd never
gain anything by it. But 90, good fel-
low, and take good care Of grandfather
He has nobody now but you"
The faithful dog whined a mournfu
aequiescence, and returned, with droop.
ing head, to the old doorstep, where b,
howled till long after midnight, mourn
ing as only a faithful cur can mourn
for friends that have died or deserte,
him, but for whom he would have die,
had they but let him.
Why Martha chose the night for he
departure she could not for her life hav
told. There was nothing TO hinder he
from going where she pleased, since sh
had the necessary funds for present per
sonal expenses at command; but sh
cOnsoled herself with the idea that a dc
sire to save a scene with her father wa
the motive that had prompted the ae
All night long she wandered on tn
high road. Sometimes the awful still
ness Of the deep evergreen woods Wa
broken by falling limb, or the cracl
ling Of the thicket, through which
deer or rabbit ran, would startle he
but these disturbances were for an il
slant only.
"rlI reach the base Of the Cascades b
noon o-morrow, and then I'll tab
stage for my destination" she salt
over and over again, as If the assertio
might revive her courage.
But the way was longer than she hs
imagined. Sometimes wonder If thel
isn't heaven for the faithful horse.
there isn't, am sure there ought TO b
for certainly, were il not for him, b
younger brother, man, would hay
great need to double his pedal extrem
ties and elongate his spinal vertebr;e
enable him to perform, on all fours, IL
work the equine quadruped perform
} for him without a murmur or a protes
Martha did not reach her destinatiC
! as a pedestrian the next day, nor q
next. But she found lodgings at mig
= at wayside country homes, and in ol
instance met an experience that she f
: was much needed by her in her prese
tribulatiOn, as a lesson Of Importance.
The mother where she obtained lod
fngs on the second evening, and whe
footsore and weary, she was almC
ready to drop with fatigue and discou
, | agement, was the sole support OF
brood Of little ones, and was herself
7 pale, puny, baek-bent consumptive, vi
Il vas staggering about the wretch
= cabin performing labor far beyond b
3 strength, and attending constantly up
y the wants Of the little ones. To I
I number Of the last another was add
II during the night, while the husba
is and father was in a drunken revel.
II long INDUCED in that delirium trem,
!. had possession Of both brain and boC
1 and be made night hideous with his