The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-04-26

CHAPTER XIII
san Francisco grew marvelously in
size, wealth, and substantial improve
ments; yet the canvas portion Of the
city was by far the greater part, occupy
ing, as it did, the entire water front,
save here aud there wharf, studded at
its edges with Shiny piles, and OCCASION
ally public structure for the retention
Of outlaws, who gathered themselves to-
gether from every nation under the sun,
intent alike upon gain and Incidence,
aud caring not as TO how they were to
compass them.
In six months from the date of the
beginning Of my partnership with Mr.
Lillienthal I was the happy possessor of
ten thousand dollars in gold dust, in ad-
dition to the entire business, the re-
naming half Of which purchased for a
like sum, aud my prosperity was at its
highest tide.
I had developed from a shy and awk-
ward, verdaut aud yet determined coun-
try maiden into a business woman Of
tact, skill, and experience. I was not
unhappy, though I sometimes longed
for the compauiouship Of my own sex.
But I was too busy for reflection, regret,
or introspeclion. Baby Ethel grew rap
idly, and developed into a strong,
healthy, aud promising child. But
Gerald did not grow. 1t was a long
time before 7 could bring myself to real
ize that he was to be afflicted with
curvature Of the spine; but the fact
forced itself upon me at last, aud be-
lieve my trouble was even greater over
it than when, in after years, after he
had inflicted upon me untold agony
through yet greater misfortunes, 1 COM
posed his misshapen limbs and laid him
away in a silent village Of the dead in
the deep, dark woods Of Oregon.
But l had no time for mourning. The
demands upon me were so arduous and
constant, aud came from so many direc-
tious, that the weeks aud the months
sped by as ou the wings Of the wind.
Spring, summer, fall, aud winter are 80
much alike in san Francisco that no
extremes Of heat and cold mark the
changes Of seasons as i'm many other
parts Of the world, and was astonished
when a year had flown, bringing baby
Ethel out Of long clothes into walking
slips, and creating a demand 10 baby
Gerald's miud for boots and trowsers.
The boarders idolized the children,
yet their influence upon them was not
always good. They would slyly teach
Gerald to swear and smoke, and they in
itiated Ethel into all manner Of saucy
tricks, from which had no proper time
to shield her, and from which I was
compelled TO break her, though 1 often
had 10 whip her severely in after years
TO DO It,
But il the children had scores Of real
admirers, I had hundreds Of would be
ones. Increased prosperity had enabled
me TO indulge in the qualification Of ex-
pensive tastes, and my wardrobe was as
fine upon state occasions as any lady
could desire. There were many partie,
and festivals of different degrees O
gaiety, to all Of which was as regu
larly invited as though my presene,
had been Indispensable. And really j
was very nearly so, for respectable
ladies were scarce, and their company
in consequence, was in great demand.
There was as much travel between tb
Australian continent aud San Francisc
as between that city and other foreigl
ports, and ] was not surprised TO meet
during one Of the city's festive Seasons
on an occasion shortly after / becam,
sole proprietor Of the Azara House, Ia,
identical magnates aud their title,
ladies who had boarded my husband
ship al Melbourne, aud by their speecl
and manner so aggravated my then pc
culiar disturbance Of the nervous system
as to throw me into mysteries, whicl
well nigh caused me TO be iucarcerate
Ina an asylum for the insane. / say
was not surprised, for it was commo
occurrence every day to meet sOmebod
from the uttermost parts Of the earth
but was agitated, annoyed, aud angry
! was the acknowledged queen Of th
ballroom. True, danced but seldom
for l was usually tired enough TO prefe
an easy chair on such occasions I'm
there was always bevy of peptlan,e
near me, to listen or join in eouvsrs.
tion, in which ] was never a laggard i
my younger days.
All, me
Ny lady Fitzsimmonds, wife OF H
Grace the Collector Of the Port at Ne
bourne, waddled up to me, leaning upC
the arm Of an escort with an eye-glas
and introduced herself
"You surely have not forgotten 10
Mrs. Grey" she said, speaking throug
her nose, as though suffering from a 5
we're catarrh.
''No, madam" with accent on Il
last syllable; 81 have cause 10 rememb
you we'll"
'Is the Captain here to-night?"
"My husband ?n
"Yes; Captain Grey"