The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-02-22

himself by drunkenness, in order 20
avenge his wounded honor? Is any
man justified before high heaven for
thus stultifying his boasted manhood
because he fancies that his wife has in
jured him? But / did not consider
these questions then. How could L?
Gradually it dawned upon me that it
was, somehow, culpable thing to be
woman, anyhow.
Mrs. Motley, seeing how grieved and
wretched was, came close to me, and
putting her arms lovingly about me,
said:
"Never mind the he-dragon, little one.
His wife, / mean the old one, poor
thing, who buried eleven children in
the bogs Of Ireland, and then died her
self to get rid Of him, was a martyr TO
the awful severity which he mistook for
religion; and the present wife, who is
young, fragile. and sympathetic, is go
ing the same road, only more rapidly.
Thank heaven, you are not his wife.
Don't mind him. But-hsrk-"
a low, rumbliag sound, like the bel
lowing of distant thunder, reached our
ears. The heavens were suddenly dark
ened, and again the electric hush which
a while ago was upon the air broke out
[ in a convulsive burst Of sheeted light
ming, that filled the gathering twilight
with lurid flame, suggestive of Pande-
monium.
was frightened into a nervous chill.
Naturally l am not coward; but then
1 was only child, and, under my pc
culiar circumstances, 1 needed the full
est expression of conjugal love and the
dear, sustaining arm Of my husbands
protection, which had been so cruelty
denied me, and 1 was desperate.
rose with a shrek and essayed to cast
myself headlong over the vessels side
into the CLASSY, vivid, lurid waves that
for an instant remained motionless and
smooth as a mighty mirror.
I was recalled to consciousness by the
voice Of my husband.
"Ethel, darling, speak to me-" he
said, tenderly.
forgot the fearful storm that had
been raging all through the furious
night. was no longer afraid Of any
thing. The clouds had burst and disap-
peared, and the tropic sun was shining
down in fiery fervor upon the yet heav-
ing and turbulent sea. My state-room
window was open, and caught all this
at a glance, but what cared for sea OF
sunshine, storm or darkness, now9
Gerald was bending over me. Love
and tenderness were in his eyes and
voice, and he was calling me "Ethel,
darling"
All, what will not a woman do for
love?
81 thought was dead, Gerald. How
came l here :"
"NIrs. Motley caught and saved you
sweet. But o, Ethel, how came you tC
attempt so rash an act as suicide ?"
nestled closely to his bosom as re-
piled:
"OnIy love me, Gerald, and tell m,
= so, just as you did before you marie,
me, and 1 will bear anything for you
e sake; but cannot live and face you
displeasure, or feel that you are ashamel
= Of me-"
= Nonsense, little one! 1 loved you
else we would not have been married
= would we?"
"But marriage isn't always a sign @
t love, Gerald. Look at Mrs. Chalmers
9 for instance"
}, "Her affairs are not ours, darling, an
we will not discuss them. We hav
= had fearful night. Istood at the helm
d from the moment after your rescue oil
u you awoke to consciousness just now
= Thank heaven, you did not realize th
d force of the storm. In your conditio
that would have been most unfortU
}. nate"
All, Gerald, Gerald Grey! Had 70
realized that a physical storm was
matter Of no moment whatever, com
o pared to the awful mental storm I
=. : which you had ignorantly and wicked
}, subjected me, first by laying uhwise an
e arbitrary commands upon me, and aftel
ward pHnishing me by getting intOx
Gated, wonder if you would have acte
5 differently? But a child of fifteen
e not a deep logieian. The surface Of h'
d thought is easily gilded over by an
/. passing happiness aud now there wei
It two emotions to monopolize my after
:, ton, each of which was powerfI
n enough to drive away all inner logic.
j, Ny husband loved me; he was tend
= and he was tired; he had been thrOug
i a great danger, and now I must comic
j. him. All, how happy 1 was, as
e watched him in his deep and tranqu
n slumbers, not daring TO stir lest l shou
= disturb him. And how handsome
Y was. If he had died-then.
e Ah, met
,e ITO be contnued.l
J. Tho Rav nr Iustin Eulton whflO