The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-08-15

CHAPTER XVIII
It must have been three o'clock in the
morning when Gerald, led by two team
sters, came staggering into camp. 7
will spare you the recital Of the events
that followed. As he had been wholly
abstinent for some time previous to this
unfortunate occasion, the fiery liquid
the teamsters had presented him under
the guise Of hospitality wakeued all the
slumbering demons in bis disease-pol-
luted blood And the agonies Of that
morning are simply indescribable. l
could not recount them if would.
After several hours of frenzy, he was
so far sobered as TO be able to tell US
where TO look for our new location. The
older girls were crying and begging me
for money to take them back to Port
land, Oregon City, or anywher else
where they might be able 10 get a living
by going out TO service. was chilled
through and through with the unusual
exposure, and my bones ached till every
movement was exquisite torture. But
this desire upon the part of my dangh-
ters to leave me and provide for them
selves was a new chapter in my list Of
agonizing experiences. For, strange to
say, the thought that I should ever be
separated from them, except by death,
had never before dawned upon me.
/ told them that I could not let them
go; that we must suffer and struggle to-
gether.
"If you'll get rid OF the horrid incubus,
whose only claim upon you is the, TO Us,
unavoidable and melancholy fact that
be begat Us, I'd be willing TO live and
die for you ~ exclaimed Ethel, who had
been reading Shakespeare.
I was inexpressibly shocked, but in
my heart I could not much blame the
child. For bad she not spoken the TRUTH
"He is your father, darling, and you
must not forget that flial obedience is
your highest duty" I said, reprovingly.
"The parent who fails to command re-
spect need not grumble If he fails to re-
ceive it," was the very pertinent reply.
"We'll not discuss that matter, child"
said, my heart sinking anew. "pm
going over TO those teamsters and see if
I can't hire them 20 remove our effects
to the new rancho. You keep the camp
un I return"
60, mother r' exclaimed the girl.
"Surely you do not intend to humiliate
US any further before those menI There
is a young gentleman travelling with
them who spoke 10 Us last night, aud
assisted us while we were carrying
water. I DO hate so badly to have him
know Of our poverty and helplessness
1t is bad enough in ali conscience fol
him to see that our father is a drunken
maniac"
A pang, so deep and deadly that 4
seemed I should never breathe again
shot through my burdened heart. VERY
suddenly I remembered my own youn.
life and my first experience with loves
young dream.
Ethel had bl1sbed scarlet, but seei nl
the effect Of her words upon me, 81,
turned pale with sudden apprehension
'Mother, are you ill?' she asked, ten
derly.
''No, darling; it's nothing" I an
swered. as soon as ] could speak.
you're making quite an ado abou
nothing" " she retorted, with an uneasy
laugh, as she saw that my breath suC
speech had returned.
ado YOU know that young maa'
name or parentage, Ethel ."
The child looked at me with a suddei
start. The bushes that at first ma,
overspread her face now covered he
ears and neck, aud extended in fairl,
livid hue TO the roots Of her beautifu
hair She turned away and did not an
swer me.
"Is il possible that she is 10 be doomet
TO endure matrimonial experience lik
my own ," ] asked myself, as the mem
ory Of the fall tide Of my married year
swept through me like a tornado.
But had no time TO indulge in th
luxury of sorrow. The proprietors {
the snlps Of the desert, apparently a
unconscious Of the domestic storm the
had unwitungly brewed in nv camr
were harnessing their mules rranar,tor
10 taking their departure.
My husband had fallen aslaaD an
while his stupor lasted I would h.. r..
to act upon my own responsibility.
"Good-morning, gentlemen" I sal,
with a smile, the best could comman
though ] had a painful feeling tina.
smile under such circumstances W
very like grimace.
The men. thus addressed, brouzed a
bearded and shabbily attired as tn
were, suddenly assumed the deterrent
manners of gentlemen.
Anything we can DO to serve yC
madam ?" said one.
And as he raised his bat aud bowed
instiuetively felt that he was no
other than the traveller Of whom q
daughter had spoken.
1 felt my own cheeks tingle as the b
blood mounted to myslace, and feeli