The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-03-29
John Herndon.


"She's perfectly splendid 90 exclaimed
John Herndon, as "A boat came round
the headland; its snowy sail filling and
dipping, till il seemed as if it would
touch the water
John did not mean the boat, but the
lady who made a graceful pretence Of
steering il; but the real work was done
bv a couple Of bright, happy looking
girls, who stood near by, regarding her
almost as admiringly as did poor John.
"She's perfectly splendid, why there's
nothing here that begins to describe
herr and be threw the novelette, he had
been reading into the water, with an
air Of utter contempt; though, a mo-
ment before, he had been admiring its
flow of language in describing the hero
inc; now he knew 10 was mere verbiage.
He drew back into the shadow of the
wall, watching the lady Of his adora-
tion for he never dreamed Of loving
her; or fancied that under any eOmbina-
tiOn Of circumstances she could care
for him.
AS a general thing, he did not embody
his thoughts on the subject, but let
them wander on in vague, delightful
way. But sometimes, in moments OF
unusual exaltation Of spirits, he would
imagine himself rescuing her from
story OF the hotel, while the flames
streamed from the lower windows mot
thinking that il was the servants, poor
things, who had to sleep there, or plung-
ing after her into the river, where she
was so fond of sailing; those girls were
such careless creatures, always reaching
out after something, they would GER
tainly upset the boat sometime. But
this was quite apart from real life, where
he never thought of putting himself in
her way, but was satisfied to regard her
as loyal subject might his queen.
So utterly apart were these two trains
Of thought, that the feelings Of the one
state neither mingled with nor moulded
those Of the other; aud, a minute after,
Miss Morton had passed from sight
John took down his dinner-basket, and
began his lunch with a keen apprecia-
tion Of the fact that il had been put up
by his landlady's daughter, instead OF
by herself consequently there were fresh
pie, and biscuit instead of bread, and
everything neatly placed
Some years hence, he would very
likely marry such a girl, and find much,
though perhaps somewhat stOlid happi-
ness in her good temper and perfect
housekeeping. At least, this seemed
probable 10 "A loOker-on, for he was indus
trious and saving and, though barely
twenty, bad more money laid by than
any Of his fellow-workmen. But il was
fated otherwise.
Meanwhile, Miss Morton spent a pleas
ant summer, quite unconscious Of the
devotion she inspired, that is, as regards
poor John Herndon; she could not be
unconscious Of IL in some other cases;
but she did not seem much impressed.
She rather took 10 as a matter of course
but in such gracious manner that her
admirers remained enthralled, aud even
the women did not say much against
her. She was good and warm-hearted,
too. See how fond she was of her little
brother; it was for his sake that she
came every day to the river; be was so
fond Of IL that he never tired of watch
ing the vessels coming and going, and
the men at work F; and the poor boy had
few sources of amusement He was
worn ana somewhat crippled by Sc
we're attack Of rheumatic fever, from the
effects of which he still suffered at times:
but when the attack was over, he was
as happy and reckless as ever, a merry,
noisy, willful creature, unlike his sister
in everything except the charm Of man
ner that won all. Even severe BUSH
ness men, wrapped up in cares, bright
ened at sight Of him as if they had
caught a glimpse of their long-forgot-
ten boyhood; perhaps the lovely pres
ence from which he never went very
far had something 10 do with il.
But they were going now; the boat
ing parties had stopped coming some
days ago, declaring that the place was
quite spoiled since that warehouse had
been built. Tomorrow the old wind
mill where Miss Morton had passed so
many hours reading and sketching
would be torn down TO make way for "a
dock. so this was probably her last
visit, and many a one besides John
Hernd0n would feel that something un-
definable, though very pleasant, had
passed from their lives. She had come
very early that day, and, besides the
girls, there was small party Of ladies
aud children, with one old gentleman,
who was lame and very irritable and
exacting, spelling the pleasure Of all
IN the party except the boy, who was
high IN spirits, even for him. An old
Scotchman, who was measuring the
ground, shook his head, remarking that
he was "grieved for the laddie, he was
surely fey"
IN clearing the place, some Stag and
fragments Of broken ore had been nm
earthedi these attracted the bow as soon
as ne sprang ashore. and he ran aho,,,
picking up the brightest, while the rest
ot the party proceeded to the mill. Ie.y-
ing him at the dock, as small eoliac-
tion Of decaying logs and timber wss
ambitiously called. When The bov bs5
heaped bis arms as high as ti-v would
hold, be called one Of the girls O., c,.-,,e
and help him, aud, running back O., a..
wafer, they began washing the shining
pieces, spreading some 10 dry on the
end Of the dock, and tossing Others IA
out into the water.
John looked on with a pleasant sense
OF enjoyment, and, stretching out from
his shelter, was seen by the boy, who
made friends with everybody, and now
hailed him with joyful shout OF reeog- /
milton. John drew back in confusion. /
lest he should be observed by the rest
of the party, but they were busy, as was
indicated by the sound Of voices and /
laughter, mingled with slight rattling /
as the baskets were unpacked
After a while there was a call for Guy;
but he was nOtsready to go, aud ran !