The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-02-08

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Miss, but it's the best we can do"
I opened my eyes to behold the gar
ment, and was not surprised to find it
very beautiful.
"Where did it come from ," asked,
not caring for an answer, and only
making the query because Icould think
of nothing else to say, and it seemed as
if the occasion required me to say some
thing.
"Plenty dry good aboa'd, Miss. Don't
ask too many questions"
GAN right"
law, Miss, you be evah so pcoty ~
said the delighted soul, assisting me to
arise from the sofa, and placing me
standing before the full-length mirror,
where 1 had perfect view of my trans
formation. And while the unwieldly
vessel rose and fell with the surging
sea, and I braced myself against the
table to prevent falling, fell almost as
deeply in love with myself as with Ger
aid Grey.
The wrapper was a soft, rich CASH
mere, black and garnet, with quilted
trimmings Of heavy silk to match, fin
ished with elaborate buttons aud tied
by silken cord with heavy tassels. I
completed my survey with a sigh of sat
isfaction, and then, the vessel lurching
suddenly, asked to be returned to the
sofa, where lay like a very princess,
wondering when my lord would enter
Don't condemn me utterly, kind
/ friend. Remember that l was very
young and wholly unsophisticated l
belonged to an age wherein girls were
kept in absolute ignorance concerning
everything which they, as women,
would most need to know. Three days
before l had not even dreamed OF love,
and now the overmastering passion was
upon me in such powerful force that il
penetrated every fiber of my inner con-
sciousness, aud made me for the time,
and indeed for many, many years, the
creature of anOther's will.
never hear the uncharitable con-
demnation with which the world is
wont to visit girls who have loved aud
acted unwisely, but my mind reverts to
my condition then, aud in my heart /
pity more than blame the unfortunate,
for nothing saved me from disgrace and
shame save the innate honor of the man
who had elected in this most novel way
that / should be his wife. And was
not sensual. L had not even conceived
the thought Of sensual things. 1 was
simply innocent, verdant, trustful, hon
est, and in love; aud being thus, / was,
as every young girl in such cases will
be, the passive, eOncessive subject Of the
will Of the conqueror. If the world un-
derstood this natural law Alright, the
willful perpetratOr Of every outrage upon
maidenly virginity would receive all
the condemnation, and the victim only
human kindness and loving pity.
My eyes were closed in blissful Lam
guor when my captor eutered. He was
handsomer than ever. His toilet had
been made with minute exactness, and
/ his every movement was inimitable
grace. All this I seemed to see before /
looked at him; and when 1 did look,
and beheld the beaming rapture with
which he gazed at me, felt every inch
his peer and counterpart.
"Why have you deceived me?n I
asked, feeling the while that the decep-
ton was a ravishing JOY.
"COuld / return my little wife-to- be
to the cruel custody of her father, and
get her whipped ?" he asked, dropping
upon his knee beside me I'M deferential
way that would have conquered my re-
sentiment even if had not loved him,
so unused was to homage, and vet so
sweet it was, and so unexpected.
"But you told me you were ship in
spector; and you said we would return
to my fathers before night, and ]
trusted you"
$50 1 am an inspector, and ships
master, also. l did not deceive you. ]
only did not tell you all the truth. ]
meant to return you when l said ]
would, but your cruel fate at home de-
cided me. We will be married when
you are a little stronger"
"What? Married? On ship board 4?
And l so young?"
''Yes; why not ?"
"You know l have not my fathers
consent, and it is against the law"
He laughed, and 1 was frightened.
"There is no church and no minister
and nobody to give the bride away
And then / am so young. We must
wait till we get to Melbourne" / said
in depreciation, and yet in thorough rap
ture.
'sThe marriage laws Of England ar'
in force upon the high seas, my sweet
AS to ministers, we have two aboard
and as to churches, any place where
God and love is can be sOlemnized into
a church. If you will consent, we shal
be married now, before breakfast"
"NogS"
"Nes; why not?"
Nothing; only / had not thought
about it."
My suitor laughed again.
'Tf you should think week, it woulC
not change matters. The quicker th'
ceremony is over, the better for both o
u.s. When we are married 1 can protec
you as 1 cannot now. Are you no