The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-12-26


CHAPTER XIV.
"What makes you let anybody come
in here ?" asked the girl, starting up
like a hunted rabbit at bay.
II have brought you a friend, my
poor, dear girl" was the kindly ma
trOn's assuring answer.
81 have no friends, and / don't want
10 see anybody" cried the girl, pit
lsly, turning her face to the wall,
d hiding her head beneath the cover
.-..
Would you not be willing to see
1T own mother, II she should come ?"
.ed Mrs. Snowden, teuderly.
No ~ was the emphatic answer.
iy mother turned me out OF doors
the time Of my darkest trial; and my
father allowed my degradation to be
atoned for, so far as he was concerned,
aud so far as he cared, for money;
nothing but money"
"And your husband ?'' asked Mrs.
SnOwden, huskily and tremulously.
Husband did you say All, ma'am,
there is a man that ought TO be my hus-
band, aud he would have been, only
that he fears the anger OF his mother
But he is true to me; and we are to be
married yet. I had dear, good letter
from him only last Dight-didn't /, sis
ter? Aud didn't he say we'd be mar
ried as soon as he could get his money ?
And then we're going away where no.
body will every know anything about
my awful trouble. o, ma'am, he's rich
EUer 50 rich. And he'll make 3 genu-
Inc lady of me, just like he says his
own mother is. Didn't he say so, sister2"
"Would you mind showing me the
letter, my poor, dear child ?" asked
Mrs. Snowden, so nesrly overcome by
conflicting emotions that she could
with difficulty retain control OF her
consciousness.
"Ob, ! Couldn't You would then
know him, aud you would 20 aud tell
his mother, anG then she would hate
and scorn me, and prevent him from
making me bis wife. Women are the
worst enemies women have. II l want
a friend, I will trust man in prefer
enee to woman, every time. Alonzo
always told me that"
''Poor child. If you had found DO bet
ter friend among women than Alonzo,
whoever he may be, has proven in your
present trial, you would have Jared
rather hard, / should say" exclaimed
the matrOu, as she nestled The feeble,
wailing infant in her motherly arm,
and bore IL tenderly around the room
That's true" sobbed the girl, ~
though new and horrible thought haC
but then been awakened i'm her unsO.
phisticated brain. ''But lie never would
have deserted me in my trouble if il
hsd~'t been for his mother"
Ts mother g' exclaimed Mrs. Snow
Dem sadly "What had she to do witt
I. ay?"
D., he told me. She would not le
l.a marry me because she said the CIR
l yed was young, aud ignorant, sDC
con ritied aud poor. And when told
h.w q the trouble that lay before me
-aa olly complaint he made was about
the nard-heartedness Of his mother wbC
withheld her consent TO our union"
"But, my child"
"Dou't say any more. hat,
women"
''Poor girl"
"Don't pity me. 1 don't deserve IT,"
won't you let me help you ."
"How could you help me?"
"In many ways, my suffering child
Believe me, al mothers are not bad .
81 suppose, ma'am, that you're want
ing kitchen girl. And, If I'll put ms
baby at the orphanage, where the care.
less nurse will let it half starve, tha
you will kindly permit me to ente
your back door and do double work 70
half pay. Aud you'll treat me like
was an inferior sort Of a Chinaman
You needn't tell me; I've seen 'em
these fashionable patrons of unfortunat
girls"
A rap at the door was followed by th
advent Of the morning paper. whiel
contained, as Mrs. Snowden instinct
lively knew, the news Of her sons re
cent marriage.
81 beg pardon, sister; but will Won a
low me to look at the paper for a min
ute I left home this morning before
had time to open it," she said, her fac
pale with apprehension.
Certainly, my dear" And the goC
sister smilingly relinquished it.
"If you have no objection, sister,
should like TO be left alone with th
poor girl for few minutes, as 1 har
important news OF private nature
communicate"
Certainly" was the obliging a
swer, aud the sister retreated, bearir
away her wailiug charge, with caref
tenderness.
Mrs. Snowden again approached q
girl, and laid her hand in a caressir
way upon her brow.
The girl uncovered her eyes al
glanced up tearfully.