The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-05-03


past twelve hours had exhausted the
maternal fount, and had no nouri n
meut for her.
Something must be done, aud that
quickly. For myself did not care, a.
hope was dead, or paralyzed, aud 1
could only look forward TO a life Of mis-
cry, which felt that I would be only
too glad to end, but could not see my
children suffer
And then realized that We were all
three arrayed in nothing but our night
clothes. ] had, from force of habit, en-
cased my bare feet in a pair Of slippers
as soon as frightened from my bed; but
the children's feet we're entirely unpro-
tected, and our thin muslin night wraps
were by no means presentable as street
apparel. But they were all we had, aud
/ I accepted the situation with less en-
] harrassment than should have felt had
not many others hurried by with even
less clothing on their shivering, smoke
begrimed bodies.
There was a portion Of The city con-
/ tanning a number OF more substantial
buildings than the temporarily erected
parts, and here saw that the fire was
kept at bay. Baby Gerald could not
walk, because his feet were bare, and
baby Ethel was but one year old, so
had to lug the two, as best I could,
through the hurrylng throng, where
each was intent upon his own necessi-
ties, and nobody thought Of assisting me.
If the worst side Of humanity is al
ways ready to assert itself in time OF
any common danger which gives oppor-
tunity for rapine or plunder, there is
also always redeeming better side
quite as ready to assert itself for the al
deviation Of distress occasioned by a
common calamity.
When reached the unburned district
I found already an organized army OF
volunteers. under the guidance Of the
city officers, and they were busily en-
gagged in distributing food, cooked and
uncooked, to the excited multitude that
swayed and surged like the waves Of the
sea.
For a while it seemed to me that my
children and / would be crushed in the
human jam that closed around us from
every side; buta peremptory order, con-
pelliug all to keep 10 the right, and thu;
circle around the outside Of an amphi-
theater of temporary tables, saved US
from the impending fate.
In a little while our pressing need.
were supplied, and then 1 struggled
through the crowd aud found my way
20 the bank, where my ten thousand
dollar account was deposited.
"What, Mrs Grey? You here? auC
2 in this plight ?' said the geutlemanly
cashier, who knew me we'll, aud VIII,
: had boarded at the Azara House from
d the first day Of my connection with IL
ayes. I am here" 1 answered, sink
p ing exhausted upon a chair, "and bu
4 for my deposit in the bank, would b
y entirely destitute. OF course my baul
d book il burned, but you know my fund
!, are here, so Of course it's all right.
k want couple o. hundred to buy myseI
5 aud children some clothes and food, an
is get things ready TO begin again"
n "a couple o. hundred ?'' be said, wit
't a look Of blank astonishmeut. "Why
madam, your husband came in at te
IS precisely and presented your check an
e drew all your money"
e "My husband presented uy check an
olrelC all Dly moncy9" ! exclaimed, il
$ terrogatively. "There must be son
e mistake"
r 81 supposed Of course that you kne
IF all about it, madam. Ion will recolle
E, that I was introcuced to him by Ed
p Chalmers when you first came to Sc
p Francisco"
=. / did not recollect, but, alas! l cou
lt not doubt it. If my husband was m
ie evil genius, certainly be had an ind
d, fatigable ally in the one man who W.
E. my pet aversion.
ie "What did my husband say when
ie presented the cheek ?'' 1 asked, an.
g iously.
be "He said you were frightened out
IN your wits with the fire and the care
re the children, and had given him i
be structions to draw the money aud ma
a age the business and rebuild the hotel
nd For an instant it was on my tohgue
pronounce the check a forgery aud n
as husband a robber; but / remember
ed that was his wife; that 7 had on
IN loved him passiouately and withc
reason, and was ready at any time
ht love him as devotedly as ever, If
.ly would but again become the gracef
] honorable, loving, and irresistible q
tleman he once was.
] Then, there is nothing that so hum
ia iates woman, or from which she "
an so intuitively shrink, as the acknol
edgment that she has made mista
sA- in her matrimonial ventures. Tn
are tens OF thousands of women
y America to-day who are living conjul
u lies hourly, first because Of mistah
idea Of their duty to themselves, a
he secondly because their wifelv pride
vas their sorest, tenderest spot, and q
will not admit TO another, no mat
ust how deeply they may be compelled
feel it themselves, that the man Il
lis have elected as husband can posi-
of err. To admit il is to confess that q
8ter were not infallible in their judgment
choosing a mate, aud such an admiss