The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-05-08
CHATTER XXXH.

ueaN DOQy IN the WOODS, or at least pre-
tended so TO DO, until the coroner anC
six jurors had each earned, or claimed
to earn, the perquisites legally allowed
to individual sovereigns in such cases
But their intelligent verdict was that a
man, name unknown, had been found
dead in the Emerson forest, who had
evidently come to bis death by means
unknown.
Grace was much perplexed by this de-
cision. She had hoped, seeing such an
inquest was held TO be legally necessary,
that some means Of Identifying the body
would be found upon it that would cause
proper disposition to be made Of the re.
mains. But time wore on and there was
no clue discovered, and likely to be none
The private note addressed to herself
which alone could explain the mystery
lay more and more heavily upon hel
conscience.
The Shaddon family were not a read
ing people, aud they had seen no notice
Of the inquest. The head Of the house
had often before been missing for weeks
in succession, and now the weeks ran
into months ere they became alarmed.
The mother Of Nancy had long before
fallen a victim to the relentless work,
work, work Of a big farm and family,
and her place was now occupied by a
buxom woman Of thirty, widow before
her last marriage by grace Of the divorce
court, and mother Of three or four OBJ
streperous children, who made the at
mosphere Of the Shaddon plantation de-
cidedly warm for the young Shaddous
in fact
Grace revolved the matter Of the miss
ing Shaddon over and over in her mind
until she resolved to visit the farm, or
farms, belonging to the deceased, and
see if she could not by that means give
a clue 10 the old mans destiny without
laying herself liable to prosecution for a
misdemeauor in having violated a hu-
man statute by hiding her own private
note, received from the dead fingers OF
the missing man by her own unauthor-
lied hand.
"Will you take care Of the children,
Dearie, and look after the general bust.
ness Of the house and farm, while ] visit
your fathers home and endeavor to put
your family on the proper track TO dis.
cover bis whereabouts ?" she asked one
morning, after having passed a sleepless
night because OF her perplexity.
"Gracie, dear, you know I'd 90 through
fire 10 serve you, so why DO you ask N,
ifPll stay? You've only to command
me, aud I'll do anything" said Nancy
cheerily.
"You wouldn't DO anything bad,
hope?"
"rd be strongly tempted, il though
my bad conduct would give you pleas
ure."
"Then, Dearie, rid yourself Of tina
idea at once aud forever Never con
sent to DO anything wrong to please
any body. Promise me that Wou'l
you?"
"rll try 10 do as you request, but
can't promise, for just so sure a. I prom
ise anything just so sure I fail. But
you'll trust me, won't you?"
Yes, Dearis. Aud / may be absent
d day or two. OF course everything viii
90 right at home"
But what if John should come while
you are away ?'
'Boher J0hag"
"Why, Oracle? Thought you loved
him %
"Fah :"
With this Grace turned away, and was
soon in the saddle. The ride was a long
one. The Shaddons lived upward Of
thirty miles away, and she was not alto
gether certain of her road. But she
presevered, and at four o'clock had the
satisfaction Of beholding their great un.
painted barn Of house, with doubl,
uupainted veraEdah running all arounc
IL, aud suudry sets Of harness, old ap
parel, saddles and the like ranged OF
pegs along the time-stained outer walls
Mrs. Shaddon number two was not a
home, aud Grace was disappointed
The children looked for her at home b,
bedtime, they said, and there was NJ
alternative butfor their strange visitort
remain over night. How to sleep il
that house, where every nook an,
Granny seemed alive with vermin. wa
her next concern. But she felt com
PEELED ID make the effort, aud had bee
tossing restlessly from side to side upo
a dirty bed where she was sure return
ing miners had the night before bee
disputing the occupancy Of hundreds
hungry insects, when TO her great reli,
the dogs and waking children set up
combined chorus Of welcome, aud 81
knew that the surviving relict Of Ol
man Shaddon had returned from tt
scene of her last endeavor TO discov,
her late lords whereabouts.
She raised herself upon her elbow an
by listening attentively learned thI
Mrs. Shaddon's trip to the city had bee
unsuccessful That was all. The huma
inmates Of the great barn-like houi
were soon wrapped in slumber, an
naught remained awake save the my