The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-02-13


CHAPTER XXI
Tie assurance with which Alonzo
SuoWden met the reproving, anxious
aud disgusted gaze OF ms wife was
Of the seifssme style as that
displayed by him when they had
first met But bis old power cf fascina-
tion was gone. Grace was no longer
the slave Of his will.
"What was my parting word with
you, Alouzo Suowden? Did 1 not as
sure you that il was useless for you to
follow me %
No answer; but the old smile Of as
surauce resolved itself into a sneaking
smirk. lie toyed aimlessly with his
bride rein and spoke sharply to the i'm
patient and tired horse.
"Iou may just as well mount again
and be of. Alonzo," said Mrs. SNOW
den, coming wisely 20 the relief Of
Grace.
"I didn't expect anything better from
you, old womaun' was the hopeful sons
emphatic answer. "8Iy business is not
with you, but with my wife"
"I am not your wife, sir; nor will I
ever he, unless you do as have sug-
gested."
"Blt you lilile imagine The full mean
ing Of what YOU say, madam. You
shall feel husbands lawful power be-
fore you are twenty-four hours older"
Grace laughed.
"a husbands fiile-iicks," she said,
derisively. "What can yon do ."
"TH advertise you iu tine morning
papers as having left my bed and
board"
"Very well, Mr. Suowdeu. You try
il, aud you'li fud that you've hazardei
"a game that 7 can checkmate. I'll
follow you iu toe papers with a
card OF my own, and Tu tell the dear
public why have taken this step if you
begin IT,"
Come, Oracle dear. Don't let us
stand here parleyiug. Wen attract the
attention OF The passers-by," said Mrs.
SnoWden
The daughters of the Suowden house
hold could no longer be kept ia iguor-
ance concerning the great shadow Of
disgrace that had fallen upon the
brother ahosn they bal all their lives
pette3, blamed, iioliz-d aud quarreled
With ever since they could remember.
They wept and scolded by turns as the
facts were laid before them, hut much
20 the surprise of Grace. they all united
IN denouuciug the poor, insane girl upon
whom their misguided brother bad
brought such dire calamity.
"Of course your wife will stand by
you, Alouzo. Aud she'll deny the
whole story if the tongue of gossip gets
busy with your good namer' exclaimed
his eldest sister, bahy-iaced girl with
very limited opinions of anything out
side Of The usual social conventiouali-
ties OF her everyday lifs
"She might" replied the husband,
"ouly for my mothers adverse influ-
euce."
"Surely mother is NOT your enemy
"Ies, saeis."
Glow eau sou imagine such an ab-
surdity ."
Very graphically, aud with an added
coloriug of his own, Alouzo repeated
the substance Of what The reader knows
already concerning his mothers part or
lot in his misfortune, for such he termed
it, and only a- such did he regard it..
That hi- mother dii not look upon bis
sin with a view TO simply conceal il,
ss his father had eudeavored 20 do, wa.
10 him iuex xplicable.
"If your wife does not choose 10 shield
your honor as she ought, Alouzo, w,
all are ruined" cried his sister. and %,
younger ones re-echoed the declaration.
with added emphasis.
So busy were the family group will
their cogilatious and conversation tha
they did not notice the entrance o
Grace, who came suddenly into thei
midst aud stood before them like
spectre.
ASK her Tor yourseives,n p said Alonzo
assuming the air Of an injured husband
81 will only sanction the rightfu
deeds Of any one, the man whom th
law has made my husband being n
exception" said Grace, earnestly.
"What DO you propose TO do, Mr..
Snowden? Remember you are m,
lawful, welded wife, aud are no longe
responsible for your own acts, or free &
go your own way as formerly" sal
Alouzo, rising 10 the dignity Of a sc
verify which he would not have dare
TO attempt except i'm the presence Of hi
wife, mother or sisters. Men, when de
ficient in mental or moral calibre, an
Overcharged with cautiousuess, ar
never decisive and exactiug except j.
the company of persons over whor
law, custom OF sex has given them ad
vantage.
"1lrs. Snowden, I must say to yo
that your presence under our roof is aC
ceptable to us only wheu you come a
our brothers wife. II you repudial
bis legal claim, you are not welcome a