The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-01-11

thropy. For / didn't want him to know
me. My business is TO say to you that
II you want a legal separation, and God
knows don't blame you, you've but to
sign this document, agreeing to the con-
ditions proposed, and in less than three
months you will be a free woman.
There will be no publicity and no scan
dal."
To be free from bonds that were ut
terly repulsive had been for years her
one ambitioni and the reader who has
followed her fortunes thus far cannot
blame her for the aspiration. But il Is
strange, knowing this man johnson as
she did, aud having had so little cause
20 trust aud honor meb, because OF ali
her sad experience, that she was not
more wary.
She glanced at the paper, and, after a
moments hesitation, willingly affixed
her signature, which was duly witnessed
by the mans accomplice, who had
scarcely spoken during the call.
Remember you are to keep your own
counsel concerning my identity.
have good reasons for remaining iHc0g."
"And have good reasons for desiring
your arrest. But, upon condition that
you are to get me the divorce, and re-
serve for me the custody and control Of
my children, I will waive all prior
claims upon you, and abstain from pros
ecuting you as ought You know that
my brother overheard all when you
made that nefarious bargain with
Thomas Jones to rob me Of my city
home. II did not prize liberty above
gold or rubies, would turn you over to
the authorities. As it is, ! will let you
Off But how soon am 10 be free2"
"A- soon As I can return TO Washing
ton and manage the affair properly"
That night, before he slept, the willy
Captain had written TO Jones, giving a
detailed account Of the interview.
"She signed the paper without pro-
test, ," he wrote. "Of all unsophistieated
fools in creation, a woman is the worst. z"
After the men had gone, Martha held
a long counsel with her sister-in-law, in
which it was agreed that they should
not trouble Gus with the facts ia hand,
because Of his burdensome duties in be-
half Of the commonwealth, such duties
being none other than the occupying,
. for three or four hours daily, a revolving
chair, elegantly upholstered. with his
feet upon handsome carpet hard by an
elaborate spittoon.
Major Marbiehead pcre was resolved
henceforth to abide in the retired shades
Of the Chehalem farm, and spend his
Sundays IN the little church. where be
bad formerly been an oracle. But this
purpose did not suit his ambitious
spouse, who returned 10 Washington TO
wage a crusade la her o'gn way against
the enfrau rhisemeut OF her sisters.
A woman OF finer sensibilities, who
had met like reverses, would not have
cared to expose herself to the criticisms
of the society she had outraged, but Mrs.
Alarblehead was equal to any emer-
gency where stolid impudence was the
principal requisite. The care OF her
sons children was a matter Of smallest
moment. compared 10 the schemes she
had in hand.
And so il was that when Captain
johnson returned to the Capital, with
the black hair aud whiskers he had as
sumed for his visit TO Martha at the
home Of her brother restored TO theii
natural pulu color, Mrs. Marblehead
mere was there before him, as ready fol
intrigue as when, years before, she bad
caused the marriage she was now pre-
pared to annul.
Thomas Jones had new Federal ap-
pointment. The comparatively new
Territory Of Montana had been recently
districied, and be had received a COM
mission as one Of the judges Of the Ter
ritorial courts.
Let the divorce go till you get &c
Montana, and then you can manage the
affair even better than here" was 10,
maternal suggestion.
Meanwhile Martha, now that hel
step mother was absent, aud Gus wa,
the custodian Of too much dignity to af
ford her further shelter, had returned tC
the home Of her father, on the Cheha,
lem, where she applied herself assidu,
ously to the work Of educating aud rear.
ing the deserted children Of her pleas
ure-seeking lord.
This was great relief 10 Colone
Marblehead. who did not know that th,
whole community was discussing him
and that, try how he might 10 Disguise
the fact Of his close relationship to q
grass widow, the public knew all about
IL, and censured him, by common con.
sent, for his neglect Of his wronged an,
meritorious sister.
So il was that Martha Jones nee Mar
blehead once more took up the line o.
unpaid drudgery upon her fathers farm
The younger children Of her owl
mother, for whom she had toiled 81
faithfully before and after her unfortu
nate marriage. had scattered from be
meath the home tree, and she bad nov
the care Of her father, who, soured. dis
piriied, and almost skeptieal, went NUT
teriug about the house, difficult t'
please, cross to her children, ans
J troubled with rheumatics.
A year passed, leaving her with occa
sioual gray hairs in her temples, and {
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