The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-04-24
CHAPTER XXX.

CHAPTER XXX.
John Anders had developed, durin,
his five years Of married life, from
somewhat slender STRIPPING, into
broad-shouldered, heavily bearded, fine.
looking man. His clothes were Of a mod
ern pattern, 'custom made" and new,
and his general appearance was in every
way in striking contrast to the hollow
eyed and hectic-visaged mother of his
many children.
"Why have you killed my sister p
repeated Grace, her great eyes full ot
tears, and her full lips quivering.
81 killed your sister2 o, Grace, why
do you speak such cruel words to me !
Have I not done all could ? It was
not my fault that she never would be
happy. II was not in her nature to be
contented. But you certainly deceive
yourself about her condition. She isn't
going to die, is she ?"
John Anders, my sisters husband, -
answered Grace, "before you 90 to her
room, I have a word to say to You "A
question to ask you. Will you promise
not to be angry ."
John trembled, like the frightened
baby he felt himself to be. He could
not help but cover under the honest
gaze Of those earnest, melting eyes. In
his heart be wondered if he ever could
be angry with her. But he felt that he
would never, under any imaginable
circumstance, be induced to confess
himself to her as the miserable pol
troon he judged himself TO be.
"Say anything you like, Mrs. Snow
den," he answered, icily.
Grace had had never known him to
address her before as "Mrs. Snowden.~
But she did not attempt to analyze the
feeling OF surprise that his changed
manner evoked
"Did you ever lore Lillian ?" she
asked, with the combined air Of judge
and censor in her voice and manner.
John covered his face with his hands,
and wept aloud
Don't be cruel, Grace" he sobbed,
his strong frame shaking with emotion.
''If you did not love her, why did you
marry her ?" she continued, sharply.
"Did you not know that such a union
would bring her misery and death >"
81 decline 10 answer, Mrs. Snowden.
Your questions at first unnerved the.
Now they sting me back to a sense Of
honor. Direct me to my wife"
Every inch a man did he appear as
he rose above the storm within him and
asserted his legal right to present him
self at Lillian's bedside.
"What a noble husband he might
have been lad he but known his duty"
thought Grace, as she mechanically
obeyed.
"Make believe that you love her,
John. It's all you can do now" she
said, as beckoning her father and
mother from the room and leading the
children away, she left the husband aud
wife alone together.
Lillian looked Up, and her eyes met
her husbands.
81 didn't send Tor you" she said,
turning alphabetically away.
81 know you didn't, Lillian dear, but
the memory OF your white face and des-
perate resolves so haunted me, that I
feared to remain away, lest you would
indeed commit suicide Won't you try
to get we'll again, darling? for my
sake ?"
Your sake, indeed. Why should I
want to live for your sake? What am
to you that you should care how soon
! die? have taken a deadly poison,
and cannot live six hours"
Lillian, is it possible?"
"Yes; and true"
"Oh, why have youdone this, darling q?
But dou't tdespair. We can surely save
you. III send at once for a physician. -
"And have your trouble FOR your pains.
I've lived daily death for five years.
John. You nevercould understand me.
Don't think too hard Of me for rebelling
under burdens that I could not bear.
Think kindly Of the mother of your
children sometimes when I am gona
won't you ?"
John fell upon his knees beside the
low bedstead, and took his wife in nj.
arms and kissed her cold Iirs tepderlv
the first time in years.
"F'ive years of unloved wifehood Is a
long time TO live and suffer, John. When
you are free you'll marry my sister
Grace"
The words thrilled John Anders, a
though a dozen batteries had touehe,
him in concert. Yet he felt abashe,
and eulpable because Of every conscious
thrill. He had never imagined the pos
sibility Of Lillian's dying. For a yea
or two past, he bad sometimes though
that her health and spirits were failing
but the failure bad been so gradual an.
Ler halffretful, balf-whining com
liaints so constant, that he had learne,
u look upon them as a matter OF course
and they had finally ceased to concerr
j n. AS, until now, he had never beer
alarmed at the prospect of losing her