The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-12-26
How Two Men Got Rid of Gaze.

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little fragile thing, a girl Of not partieu-
larly strong mind, not quick at any kind
OF work, not by any means "a woman Of
faculty" Only a sensitive, loving
creature, craving nothing in the wide
world but love, and quite untitled to be-
come the wife Of Simon stacy, who
loved only himself aud whatever min
istered TO his selfish qualification.
He was poor man-poor in pocket,
poor in mental attainmeuts, and abso-
iutely bankrupt in his moral nature.
But he had pair Of bright black eyes,
AN iusiuuatiug manner, a smooth
tongue; aud with this he had made the
snseeptible Annie Wright believe he
loved her better than anybody else ever
could, aud she, poor thing, believing it,
married him, only To find, as the years
went By. how Woelully she had been
mistaken.
Instead Of her society, he chose that
OF bar-roOm lOungers aud gamblers, and
Instead of providing for her a'comfort-
able home, most Of his earnings went
for rum, tobacco, and "Biack Crook"
entertainments.
Blaming her, instead OF these habits
contracted long before he knew. herr,
,or his poverty and debts, saying TO
himself: ITS no use, Annie don't know
enough to get a decent meal; wastes
more in a day than ] can earn in one;
she'll never be anything but baby that
wants petting all the time" he failed TO
see that she had some good traits. All!
aud il only Simon had tried that remedy
of petting for her incapacity for, poor
little woman, she did belle her name,
for, try hard as she could, il did seem as
though she never got anything right
who knows but in time she might have
become a tolerable helpmeet?
At any rate, he had only himself to
blame, for her friends had told him be-
fore their marriage that she was no
wife for poor man; and he, with the
perversity of a wilitul nature, had in
sisted on marrying her, aud did, as the
sequel proved, more from willfulnes,
than love.
On this Monday morning OF which
write, he arose despondiBg and reckless
He had slept of over the Sabbath bis
Saturday nights debauch, and had {,
resume work-a thing always distaste
fol 10 him. The Goals were out; rem
due; and his butcher clamOrous. il,
had a solitary dollar IN his pocket-al
that was left Of months paw, the mos
OF which had gone 10 minister 10 hi'
vile habits.
"Pll endure this no longer" he said
to himself, as be hastily dressed and
started for the door.
"Are you going without breakfast
Simon 2' said the pale little wife, who
for week had been nearly sieeples.
from anxiety.
YES" he muttered, ss he banged &,
The door.
Slouching his hat over his eyes, dodg
ing around the corner TO escape III,
landlord, he darted into miserable
rum-hole just in time 10 escape hi
butcher, aud calling for glass o
brandy, he gulped 10 down, tossed it
price on the counter, and escaped by
side entrance as the butcher cam
through the front door after him.
Eauidly taking the way io O. wood OF
the outskirts OF the city, he was soon IL
its deusest part. Fiingiug himself o
the ground, be pondered few minute
the purpose that brought him there
DE sbrauk from death with all hi
wicked, cOwardly nature. Equally b
shrauk from life aud his duty; shran
from giving up the habits he loved an
becoming an honest man. He took ou
a pistol with which for weeks he ha
Terrified his poor wife into obedience &
his eXactious by threatening TO take hi
life with il, dallied with il "a moment
and placing il against his heart, fired.
The report was heard by farmer a
work In bis field the other side OF M
wood 4 search was instituted, aud th
dead body of the miserable man found
recognized, and buried at the expense q
friends, as there was not an uumort
gagged article IN the house whereof
money could be raised for funeral ex
penses. The shock was too much 70
the already broken spirit Of the misera
bic wife, and she was carried mania
TO liuger "a few months in public hos
pital, when death released her frou
life's burden.
James Granger rose that same Mon
day morning on which the suicide too
place, with an equally heavy heart, an
almost az hopeless as Stacy. He had a
invalid wife and two young children
House rent due aud the months bills {
meet, aud very little TO do 10 with. II
had but his hands 10 provide for hi
family; aud until sickness Overtoo
them, had managed TO keep out Of deb
with the strictest economy. No none
Of his went for rum or tobacco OF Ques
tiOnable amusemeuts.
But two months ago they had mOve
10 lower their rent, unfortunately, int
a damp locality, where the wife ha,
conlracted,a rheumatic complaint tina
rendered her almost helpless. Thel
there must be help hired, doctor bill
met ana, at last, poor Granger fsuu,
hilnseH deeply IN debt, and though bi
M4ie haa i' .rHa .n as to be able. viii
the alo oI d younger sister. TO crayV
ABOUT the house aud lust dn the i'm
dispensa0le duties Of il, vet ,b.rs Wa
much so oppressively di.,onr,.,,i,,, !,
the prospect this moruiny .,iJ -
James was so worn out viii ~. ~
and constant struggle Of his d.. -.
feel utterly unable To bear il 80.
alone, and like a drowning mar. -
about for even a straw to catch AZ !
save himself from sinking. Poor ri
lOwl With his wife disabled from
fresh attack of her complaint, expert
encing torture if she moved a finger: m
younger sister tired and cross from owe
work and care; the other children clan
Oring for breakfast, James would hay
fain dropped his bead upon his pillo
and wept. Should he give Up, grow de-
peTate, take 10 bad courses and shil
wreck all?
No; he rose, dressed quickly, kept
calm cOuntenance, even spoke cheerful
to the children, dressing them th