The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-07-19

naru against the utacheueu N4NN S'A"i
rose the long, serrated line Of the Cas-
cade Mountains, guarded by their one
lone monarch, hoary and majestic
Hood, whose icy brow the rosy morn
was kissing. Could 1 find my loved
ones should I wander eastward? But
to ny mental query came no answering
response.
To the westward ran broad and level
prairie, beyond that another wood, and
still beyond the winding Willamette
River, coursing ever onward toward the
distant sea. Had my babies wandered
toward the west? The morning breezes
answered me never a word.
Toward the south lay a clearing, the
home Of a neighbor, more than mile
away, from whose cabin chimney the
morning smoke was lazily curling.
Should 1 journey southwark? Ny
heart answered, "Yes. Go anywhere to
find a human being with whom you
may take counsel"
Every movement Of my aching bones
was torture, but I did not mind it.
What is the rack OF the body to the
agony OF the mind when both are tor
turing you at once?
Twas afraid that Gerald would destroy
my children. Had he not already Grip
pied one Of them? And yet knew he
loved them, for at times he was almost
foolishly fond Of them. But, most of
all, I was apprehensive lest he should
remove them forever from my sight and
protection, and 1 knew, laying aside my
personal solieitude. that be was wholly
unfit to be trusted in their bringing up.
] reached my neighbor's house in a
state Of excitement Of which they little
dreamed. Outwardly l was calm, and
certainly was fearless.
"You are an early riser," said good
Mr.. Brown, as he opened the door, ex-
hibiting a tastefully spread though
primitive table, at which happy Mrs.
Brown and three rosy children sat at
breakfast.
"Have you seen Gerald this morn
ing?" ] asked, calmly.
"Your husband ?"
''Yes. and my children"
''No."
go, my God ~ walled, throwing up
my hands in despair.
"What has happened ?" asked my
neighbor, feelingly.
"Gersld has taken the babies and
gone" 1 cried, for the first time be-
traying the least agitation.
Impossible :" said Mrs. Brown, look
ing lovingly upon her own chubby
little ones, as a tear stole down her cheek
Every woman in our community bad
struggled to prevent that accursed keg
of ardent spirits from being brought
into their husbands midst. We had all
felt that it BODIED no good to some Of US
but it seemed too cruel that / should b,
singled out by fate to be the only suf
/ ferer in the lot. Not that I would will
ingly infiict anguish upon anybody
but certainly I had more than my share
Mr.. Brown mounted pony and sooI
aroused the neighborhood. A sys
tematic search was instituted IN all di
rections, and by noon the fugitives wer
found behind a mammoth log in thl
heart Of the forest, the children cryinl
for food, and their father, crazy from
the effect of his potatlons, defending
them with a rifle from the approach O
his pursuers.
It was long before he could be induce
TO fire, and when he did, thank God, hi
aim was unsuccessful. Then Mr.. Brow
rushed upon him before he had time t
reload, others came at once TO the rescue
and in a few seconds had clasped m
hungry and shivering babes 10 my an
guish-burdened bosom, with such a fee
ing Of relief as a mother can only exp'
rienee when she has rescued her littl
ones from the jaws Of wild beasts tha
are ready to devour them.
I.watched them while they bound m
husband with thongs, and listened
bis unearthly yells, as, struggling wit
delirium tremens, he imagined himse
in the grasp Of hobgoblins, and m
woman soul rose up in pity and con
passion. As / saw him wrestling hell
lessly with the thongs that held him,
no longer felt afraid Of his presence.
longed to approach very near to hin
that I might soothe and reassure hin
for saw that his suffering was real, an
the old love that I had thought WI
dead grew warm within me.
: "Gerald, darling, it is I, your ow
3 Ethel. Don't you know ?" 1 sai'
. approaching as close to him as my chi
; dren, who elung to me, screaming
} their fear Of him, would permit.
"Womea are dod-durRed idiots ~ el
e claimed one Of the men, who had riskG
/, his life to rescue my children.
D 81 know it," said Mr.. Brown. "ThG
= are fools whenever and wherever the
= hearts are interested. But that's n
# our affair. We didn't make 'em."
By this time several women Of or
- community came crowding up.
pe II wives didn't love their husband.
= slea' deal more than any Of them d
seirs they'd all fare badly" said or
Nen say it's our duty to love them
on observed another.
he 81 took my husband for bet,.r ~
in worse" cried I. 'He was onco -. :
.ly and kind and true a. ans, -