The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-05-24

curiosity as he was, or you are, but my
personal dignity is my pet prejudice,
and he aud had TO indefinitely post
pone further mutual revelations on this
topic, aid therefore you and L must.
but possess your souls in serenity. You
shall learn everything in it, order.
Ny next customer was a bland, we'll
looking gentleman, with fiery and yet
kindly eyes, fine figure, bald foretop,
and snowy hair aud whiskers. As he
took a seat at my table and glanced adj
miringly around the rustic apartment,
with its frescoe Of spruce boughs and
ornaments Of cones and flowers, feltan
irresistible desire to say:
"Are you an Englishman ."
"I was born in England, madam, If I
may credit the story Of my parents; but
I was brought by them TO America
while yet a child. But why DO you ask
the question:"
ooh, I wanted to know. You are my
ideal Of the fine old English gentleman.
But that isn't ALL"
"Then what else ."
"Wait tin I have filed your order.
Business before pleasure, you see."
The reader will perceive that I was,
though imperceptibly to myself, out
growing some of my staid and studied
reticence.
Ireturned presently with the gentle
mans dinner, and as nervously sorted
and placed his dishes, I said, abruptly:
"Do you know anything about the
man who was seated at that table when
you entered the dining-room ?"
"I did not observe him, madam"
"He says his name is Malcolm
Graeme, and that is my fathers name,
also. Odd, isn't it?"
cob, don't know. It isn't unusual,
when one is constantly beating about
the world, to be stumbling upon rela-
tives many times removed. Did you
trace a relationships
$40; and ] don't want 10. He's a
snob"
perhaps you miSjudge him."
I suddenly recollected that I was
making myself unduly familiar with
my guest upon a very short acquaiut-
ance. 1 blushed painfully, and made
excuse to visit the kitchen, where I re-
maine, till time to collect the usual fee.
Then 7 entered nervously.
"I thiuk," said the gentleman, rs he
deposited a haif-eagle upon the table,
for which he refused TO receive any
change, "that I am somewhat ac-
quaiuted with the stranger in whom
you are evidently interested. also
know your husband, aud will be pleased
to render any assistance in my power"
"Then, sir, the only fa.or Iask, and
the only one J hope 10 receive, is that
you DO not let my husband know my
whereabouts"
care you divorced from him ."
'I am a i0dy, sir, and English, and !
am not divorced"
"Forgive me, pray; I did not mean to
give onense. But it is odd that you are
hiding from your husband while yet
you acknowledge allegiance TO him."
'I am frightened Of him, sir. He
takes my hard-earned substance from
me and wastes il in riotous living
. Please DO not let him know where am. 81
4 "Possezs your soul in peace, little
woman. ] shall mind my own busines:
and leave you to look after yours" saic
the gentleman, bowling himself out o
my presence, and leaving me to my owl
reflections.
But ] bad not long to reflect. In
little while the tables were crowded
with hungry customers, and was 10,
busily engaged in waiting upon then
aud receiving their fees 10 ponder deeply
over the mystery Of my kinspeople
And yet did wonder why il was tha
my father, who was a stalwart plebeiar
from the rank and file Of Scotch anC
English common tenants and day ia
boTers, ignorant aud uucultivated as b,
was, though possessed of strong com
mon sense, should be the relative, il
nameand direct lineage, of an evidentl,
noble family
1Iy mother had been a lady, born an,
bred. That 7 knew, though, up TO th
3 time Of her death, / had never converse,
3 with a single woman OF gentle bloo0
? except her own sweet, suffering self.
The run upon my larder had bee
3 great, and supplies were falling low, no
E only i'm my kitchen, but in the entir
! mining camp. There were still sewers
3 companies Of expectant table guests
3 and I was pandering as TO how the
/ should be fed, when my strange frienC
, whom 7 bad during his absence learne
b was q famous district judge, returne
B. from a short ramble, bringing with hir
slaughtered fawn, which he contrit
= uted as a ''peace Offering" between m
0 and my husband, he said.
e IN little while my cooks were bus
= in the kitchen with the outlets, and
q was seated for a little rest, with bab
I Ethel in my arms and baby Geral
% whining and fretting at my side, whe
who should enter but the protector an
e head whom abovean others most drea,
It ed TO meet. Good reader, pity me; it WI
Y none other than Gerald, my husbanl
But he was not intoxicated. Evident
e he bad Jared roughly in the intervenir
e months since 1 had last met him. II
3, once handsome face was scanned by wal
a and care, and there were two or thr
y tell-tale scars visible, relics Of certai