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

Y
bed, on which she tossed and dreamed TIL
morning. Her sleep had been so broken
and restless during the night that the
dawn found her PROSTATE from sheer ex-
haustion. Much 60 her qualification, the
insects then departed and she fell into
quiet slumber, from which at late
hour she awoke to find the glaring sun
shine streaming through the incur
tained, cob-webbed window, bringing
out in more striking relief than ever the
. dirty confusion Of the Uttered room.
She arose and made her toilet as best
she could in an apartment where there
was neither water, towels, comb nor
brush.
"Much good poor old man Shaddons
cash, filched from his daughters mis-
fortunes, and coined by the Snowdens
from my pockets, ever did his family;
still less good did it ever bring himself"
she exclaimed mentally, as she opened
the chamber door and stepped into the
dining where long table in
soiled linen and dirty dishes served as a
harbor Of refuge and revelry for hund
reds Of hungry house-fies.
"Mornin', ma'am," said the buxom
relict Of old man Shaddon. "WouId ye
like wash ,"
Grace hinted that an ablution would
be agreeable, whereupon she was con-
Quoted TO the verandah, among the old
harness, old clothes aud pack saddles,
and introduced to a rusty tin basin in a
messy pump-trough, with a bowl Of
soft soap and dirty roller towel hard
by. A comb minus half its teeth, aud
matted with any quantity Of daudrud-
ladened combings, hung against the wall
beside the old harness, old clothes and
pack saddles, made fast to a rail by
/ piece Of cord. She remembered her own
childhood, and made the best of her
surroundings. 4 traction Of bespai-
tered looking glass hung in a broken
frame against the pump, and by its
friendly aid she arranged her hair aud
collar and was by no means displeased
with the appearance Of her toilet when
I it was completed. Her breakfast was now
smoking hot upon the soiled table cloth,
aud here she was agreeably surprised at
meeting a tall, handsome stranger with
black hair, blue eyes, broad forehead
and commanding presence, for whom a
plate had been laid opposite her own.
"Your name is Mrs. Snowden,
b'lieve," said the buxom relict, as she
hustled about the table in vain en-
desvor to make herself agreeable.
Grace nodded assent.
"Andyour'n n ," addressing the gentle
man, with an inquiriug look.
"Is Malcolm, ma'am, (" he replied, bow
ing low TO Grace aud heaping her plate
with savory bits Of very tempting
breakfast from which the relict indus
iriously brushed the greedy house-flies
"You are a stranger here2" said
Grace, her looks aud voice a galaxy Of
Interrogation points.
Mr.. Malcolm nodded assent. al was
riding across the valley with view to
purchasing some lands" he added by
way Of explanation, "and lost my way
and rode at random Till daybreak. Then
I found myself here"
"You must be very tired, " said Grace,
feeling that she had made a very com
monplace remark, yet unable to think
OF anything else to say.
cob, it's nothing" was the careless
reply. am accustomed to bardships." D"
Pardon me. but you don't look to
be," she said, her great eye sparkling.
"Do / look effeminats ," be asked,
with smile that revealed a set Of re-
markably white and handsome teeth.
II didn't say so, nor l didn't think
it," she answered, coloring.
81 am one of party of surveyors,
said the gentleman, "who are engaged
in a new railroad enterprise, aud our
work naturally inures one to fatigue.
don't mind getting lost, especially when
I strike such an agreeable acquaintance.
DO you live far from here ."
"About thirty miles"
"Do you know Captain Emerson, OF
Emerson's prairie ?"
ayes. Do you know him ?"
"Iam bearer Of a letter Of introduction
to the gentleman"
Indeed? He's my father"
"Ah! Then you are the toido0 Snow
den ,"
ayes"
"rve heard Of you"
Nothing bad, hope ?" Grace smiled
archlyas she said this and then blushed,
. confident Of having said a foolish thing.
She did not recollect that she had ever
been so stupid.
"Of course, madam, have only beard
good of you. How could hear ought
else? ?'
Grace felt more foolish that ever. Hel
appetite forsook her, aud her plate wa.
D abandoned to the flies.
Excuse me, - she said, rising; 81 hav,
i little private business with Mrs Sbsd.
d don, after which must return to m,
If home"
# She did not stop to ask herself VIII,
a she had formed this sudden resolution
e She had left home expecting to retur,
d by way Of the city aud make loug-d.
e ferred visit to the home Of the senio
II Snowdens.