The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-01-18

better than to ever sass me again, tel
youw
With this the Major seized his daugh-
ter by the wrist, and raised bis whip, as
if to strike.
With her disengaged hand Martha
caught carving knife that happened to
lay on the kitchen table, and brandished
it furiously.
have told you before that the Major
was a coward. All tyrants are towards.
It is only the magnanimous that can
afford to be brave.
Release me, Major Marblehead 2"
The command was involuntarily
obeyed. The vise-like grip of the Ma
jor's long, sinewy fingers was relaxed
from their hold upon her wrist, but the
whip was still held aloft in the attitude
of striking.
''One blow from your hand, Major
Marblehead, and by the eternal Jeho-
vah 1 swear that you shall never
breathe again."
The uplifted hand dropped nerve
lessly, and the old man trembled like
an aspen.
''The obedience of woman is COM
manded by God himself" said he, SOL
emnly.
''Then let God himself enforce his
law! vow that I've had enough of it
from mans hand"
"Child, you perjure your eternal saliva
ton"
''Pll risk it,"
Here was famous opportunity. The
old man sank upon his knees and Of
fered up one Of his sstereotyped petitions,
in which the blue blazes Of eternal tor
ment were made to writhe around the
victim of disobedience, till Martha, al
ways under a strong current Of religious
influence, became alarmed.
'If l could only be annihilated, and
forget the self-existence that has brought
me only misery and wrongs, / wouldn't
mind anything else on earth, she said,
sobbing.
To the Majors mind, tears were
wholly acceptable unto God. There
was no sin in his eyes like merriment,
and a cheerful demeanor was the en-
bodiment of iniquity.
pm glad you're relenting, and I
pray God you may not become a casta-
way" said the Major, as, his devotions
ended, he addressed himself to mentally
the dogma Of the "Triune
God" and storing up his cogitations for
the edification of his next days pupils
two-thirds OF whom would quiz him
openly, and 10 his face, without his re-
mOtest suspicion that he was being
guyed.
"You said you couldn't afford to keep
my children, sir. How much does their
keeping cost you?n asked Martha,
through her tears.
81 haven't computed the exact ex-
pense, but know it's more than I can
Afford" was the evasive reply.
"Well, Major, pll tell you how much
they have cost me. lowe their existence,
in the first place, to an unholy alliance
with the son OF your paramour, for can
dignity your second wife with no higher
moral title. You connlved and con-
trived TO prevent my marriage with my
proper mate, and compelled my alli-
ance with a man have always detested.
How he has wronged me you know.
And now, when he adds the awful pun
ishment of his own periidy and incom-
potency, when he not only outrages me
but wrongs my children, and I appeal
to you, the direct cause Of all my suffer
ing, for protection, you add insult
to injury by taunting me with my
ehildren's expense, And, without a
twinge Of conscience, you bid me turn
them over to the companionship Of a
prostitute for whose charms the son-in-
law Of your choosing forsook the daugh-
ter Of the wife of your youth; the wife
whom you told me just now that you
had whipped Major Marblehead, il
there is a hell, depend upon il, you're
going there"
The Major started in surprise.
NAY, Major, don't interrupt me, I'll
have my talk out, if l die for It, A
woman's tongue is the only property
the law allows her, and l intend to use
my patrimony. Let us look into this
matter Of expense a little. You tell me
that you support me and my children,
and the tax is TOO heavy, aud you can't
afford it. The principal food Of the
family is bread, milk, butter, vegetables
and fruit. / milk the cows, make the
butter, raise the vegetables, and gather
the fruit. sell sufficient surplus pro-
duce Of my own raising to furnish the
groceries and what clothing we have. /
do the cooking, washing, ironing, and
sewing for the family, yourself in
cluced, and the children do not cost you
a single cent that /, their mother, do
not doubly earn. You, sir, are charge
upon my hands. have freely cared for
you, as was my filial duty, but when
my children leave your house I will 60
'oo' IL you cannot afford them shelter,
s,'., sou are too poor to longer support their
/ MARTHA SOu'
Here the old sinner broke down with
awhimpering declaration Of his love 70,
her, that made the daughter AIM,
spurn him with her foot.
'Men always love women when tbev
have any selfish end to compass by it p
she said, bitterly.
ttRnt Inn nId and nlrnnaf hnlnInr-