The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-10-24

10 make him believe that Alonzo was Of
no consequence to her, or, for that mat
ter, to anybody else.
81 wonder if I'll find her alone" re-
piled the obliging John.
81 suppose you will, II you seek her
now"
"Where's Grace ?"
/ "In her room" =
"Lillie, do you suppose she is happy ?"
"If she isn't she ought to be; that's
all"
"Why DO you say that ,"
Because I'm engaged myself, and I
know how it is"
Then you're happy"
81 ought to be-"
"Poor child 20 thought the well-mean-
ing, but misguided fellow. "She GER
tainly loves me, and it isn't possible for
Grace to care for me now so think It
my duty to make this one happy by
making her my wife"
Thus ruminating, he sought the
kitchen where the good dowager was,
his heart in flutter and his voice a.
tremble.
Mrs. Emerson sat stone still beside
the breakfast table, her face buried in
her folded arms. Her thoughts were
with the never-to-be forgotten past,
which, all unconseiousIy, she was trac-
log downward to the present, and
miugling in an inexplicsble way with
the baby boy who had died in his in
fancy and the young man who had
kissed her lips and called her mother,
with the same sweet semblance of earn
estness with which she fondly imagined
the other and dearer one would have
greeted her, had he but lived 10 mans
estate.
"Mrs. Emerson" said John Anders,
deferentially, twill you be kind enough
I to grant me AN interview ?"
SEQ away, and let me alouer' was
the forbiddiug response.
"Has that impudent popinjay poi
soned yonr mind against ine, madam ?n
"What do you mean ?'' Aud the In
dignaut woman's temper rose like a
morning gale. "Who do you call a
popinjay ,"
"Snowden."
al want you to understand that
'Louzo's nice young man. Pve just
give my consent for him TO marry
Grace and become my son. What are
you goin' to do about it >"
Nothing" answered John, his eOur-
age sinking.
"Then I'd advise you not to meddle
nor call names. Do you remember the
fate Of the prophet never can mind
whether It was 'Lijah or 'Lisha, but il
was one or t'other, maybe it was both
that got into trouble by usin' nick
names ?''
At another time John Auders might
have laughed at the dowager's doubtful
Scriptural erudition, but he was in nc
mood for laughing now.
Il beg pardon If l have offended
madam. 1 assure you no such thing
was meant. My business is altogethe
Of a different character from that L
which you allude. Lille and hav'
been talking, and have made up ou
minds to get married. We should b
pleased to obtain your consent to tn
union"
"AIust l be called upon to give ul
, both darters at one breakfast spell p
= and the untiring tempest rose highe
than before.
.r 81 had hoped to find favor in you
sight," faltered John.
- by slanderln' Grace's future hus
band ? Is that the way you hoped to d
- ?" and the dowsger forgot the ion
ago, aud rising, began to rattle til
dishes nervously.
81 hope, madam, that I may prov
myself worthy to become an inmate {
d your family; and l assure you that
4 will ever strive to 50 conduct myself 6
70 your son-in-law that you will not regr,
giving your consent to our marriage.
n "I never hearn o. nothin' like it in a
v my born daysp' exclaimed the excite
? mother. "This time yesterday and NJ
n body had thought O. marryin' the gal
Things didn't rush along in this fashic
o. when was in the market"
Or "You gave your consent for Snowde
to marry one daughter, did you not ?"
es ''I did, and I'm proud to own it. He
so dutiful and ifectionate; so much i'll
y, nv own boyd a. been If he'd a live
v. But there's no 'fection bout you. You
il never make my darter happy, and /
d. wash ma hands OF the whole busine
=" by referrin' you to her pap"
OF "Where can find the Captai
a madam? ?"
er oI'lI not tell. / don't like the thoug
re Of it, nohow, and don't intenu 10
y or abet it no way"
of Poor John! He did not know VII
to to do. Visions Of his sunny childhoo'
pit home and his genial, aPple-fA''ed notl
Al. rose up before him. He lnoh ed from
se little window and behcid Grace a
ot Snowden, who had coutrived 10 me
We the former "a fresh as white rose
to her starrhed muslin dress, the lat
'w smiling and exultant, and they W.
dy walking arm in arm through the al
'lu cent grounds.
'u' john Anders was perplexed, aud
CT. wonder. But had he overheard the CO
'1 Versation between Aionzo and
S mother-iu-law-to.be, he would ha