The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-11-07

CHAPTER VI
After Captain Emerson had relieved
his mind by Indirectly calling his wife
a silly woman, aud thereby making
her, though all unknown to himself
as miserable as possible, be proceeded to
finish his breakfast in silence. The
meal over, he repaired to the yard,
where he met Alonzo and Grace, who
approached him with becoming defer
ence.
"My father, Mr. Suowden; Mr.. Snow
de-, my father" said Grace, her heart
fairly in her throat, and her face liter
ally ablaze with confusion.
The Captain bowed, coldly.
'Nice day." said Alonzo.
"Who the dickens said it wasn't ?''
biurted the Captain.
The courage Of the youthful swain
forsook him utterly. He changed from
red to pale and pale to red by turns,
but could not, for the life of him, think
Of anything to say in reply. But Grace
WtA7 'IAaAA 10 AllE HlAlEl 2elltN-
"lou seem to have vastly improved
i'm your manners since you have been
an honored inmate Of the Oregon legis-
lature," she said, saucily.
ado you want anything o. me ?''
asked the Captain, turning to Alonzo,
and not deigning to notice Grace's re-
tort. Captain Emerson was in the
habit Of coming or second best in his
encounters with Grace, and usually
beat retreat or surrendered at discre-
tion, so this retreat was nothing new.
81 want your daughter" faltered the
young man, IN low, tremulous tones.
"Aud what if I say you can't have
here"
"I'll take her anyhow
The words were no sooner out Of
Alouzo's mouth than be felt, as he after
ward classically expressed to a city
chum, that be had "put his foot in it'
could you support a wife, young
man p"
This abrupt question quite startled
our hero. It awakend contingencies
which he had not before considered.
Indeed, he was only in search of a wife
because he needed money. But the sit
uatiou was desperate. He was in sore
strait for pecuniary lift, and he must
have the g.rl and the acres, or drive his
father into bankruptcy and possibly
place his own future liberty in peril
for lie knew there were men who would
not scruple to send him to the peniten
tiary for certain Irregularities in finan
cial transactions, should they take i
in their heads TO do so.
"My father is wealthy, Captain En-
erson, and am the only son"
"Auy daughters ?"
"Nes."
"How many >"
Five"
provided for ."
"Iu what way >"
"Are they married >"
"No, sir"
ado you consider yourself the onl.
heir?"
81 am, or shall be, the principal he'll
.ir.n
"How do you know that ."
'Did I not say that I was the onl
son ."
"What can you do?"
"Sir?" q
"What is your profession ~
"I am a speculator."
"In what ,"
Had Alonzo spoken the first wor
that came uppermost in his mind
he would have truly answered:
''Matrimony."
But he was too quick-witted, aud III
interests he had at stake were too vita
TO admit his speaking the truth.
"Nly father and / are grain dealeri
aud money and real estate brokers, sir.
care you in partnership with the ol
man ?"
'I am, sir"
"Then I Will write to him. Marriag
is too serious a matter to be trifed will
Grace has been brought up by h,
mother with great expectations. 81
will never be happy as a poor man
wife"
"I could be happy anywhere wit
Alonzo, father" said the rirl ear
estly.
"And that's all you know about
you simpleton. When poverty com
in at the door, the hottest and madds
love flies quickly out at the window
"Nay have her? Please say yes,
no." pleaded the suitor.
"No."
"Is this decision final, Captain En-,
son 21
"Tll tell you after I've correspond
with the old man,
"Then I am yet on probation ,"
"Confound il, yes ~
"Well, / suppose I must accept {
situation, since 1 can't help myse
But pray, how long will it be before
can know my fate Every hour "
be an age till do know"