The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-03-20
CHAPTER XVI

CHAPTER XVI
But, outwauily calm as Grace was
when iu the presence Of the comely
matron at the orphanage, her eompos-
ure utterly forsook her when she en-
tered the hack, bearing in her arms the
wailing waif whose lusty cries, she fan
cied, We're attracting the attention OF
every passer-by. And it seemed to her
that the main tboroughfares through
which the driver led them were never
so densely crowded with humanity as
now. II was all ia vain that she at
tempted to soothe the cries Of the babe.
She was not accustomed to the ways OF
children, and could not remember that
she had ever before eudeavored to care
for one. Certain il was that she had
never before been entrusted with such a
charge upon her own responsibility.
"What shall 1 do, father ?'' she asked
in a state Of terror fairly bordering on
frenzy. "Cau't you tell me how to
soothe its cries ?'
Captain Emerson knew no more about
the care Of babies than his daughter did.
Ia the bringing up of bis own children,
his good wife had always assumed their
entire charge, and it was little wonder
that al his time Of life he should feel
awkward in his present predicament.
Add TO this that he was disgusted with
Grace for her, TO him, Qnixotic deter
miuation TO adopt the babe, and that be
felt as though the innocent cause OF
their trouble We're a scorpion ia their
keeping, and certainly be was deserv-
ing Of the largest charity. And yet, it
was unkind Of him 30 scold and buffet
the little stranger. But be did il, and
with such cruelty that Grace grew
doubly eXasperated.
THANK heaven, we are almost home
now!" she cried, as the hack drew up in
front Of the brown mansion amid the ap-
pie trees, and Mrs. Suowden, her fat
face white with apprehension, came
waddling out TO meet them, while all the
younger feminine Snowdens looked on
in bewilderment
"pve brought tie baby home, and
we're TO adopt it and bring il up as ours.
and Alonzo must agree % IT,, else TN
never look upon his face agaiur' she
exclaimed, as soon AS they were safely
within doors, and the child, relieved Of
its many wraps, nestled peacefully
against her bosom, and flied its mouth
with its pudgy fist.
Mrs. Snowden led Grace into her bed
room and closed the door.
"What do you mean. my child? What
new freak possesses you ?'' she asked,
bending low over the little one, which,
in its coarse attire, looked anything but
the patrician heir which she had some
times pictured 10 herself as her first
graudchild
"'Tis no new freak, ma'am. Some
body has got TO Je a mother TO this baby
girl, and there's nobody else but me to
assume the responsibility"
"Hour mother said she'd take it and
bring il up, my dear There will be Il
great scandal grow out Of it If you at
tempt such a thing"
81 am prepared for it, mother. Let
wicked tongues do their worst. Pm
ready for the consequences"
"But you will have children Of your
own bye-aud-bye."
al never was foolish enough to sup
pose that / shouldn't have children il /
married"
"Then what will you do with this
one ~
"Are you mother? Aud dare you
ask NE a question like thate Do you
feel no regard for this innocent baby,
your own flesh aud blood ?"
Mrs. Suowden wept silently for sew.
eral minutes. But all the while she
kuelt upon the floor aud mutely car
ressed the babe, which bad now fallen
asleep on the bosom ofits foster mother,
and occasionally gave vent to charac-
teristie baby sobs.
Poor thing. II feels its grievances, ,"
said Grace, her heart warming toward
the child in spite Of her own outraged
sensibilities.
"What we are going to do with the
girls in this new trial, is a nuzzle 10
me-" said the agitated mother-ip-lsw
"Now the baby's quiet, wen cali IAN,
in and tell 'em all about it," answe-sd
Grace.
"WEat?" exclaimed Mrs. Snowder
In sudden and sincere alarm. "Yo,
don't mean il ."
81 mean just what I say, mother. 1
is part Of my plan, aud my father ha
agreed to it, that your daughters are [
know the whole disgraceful story"
"But they viii cease to respect thei
brother, aud I cannot bear 10 think o
it."
1T seems you did not care whether
respected him or not"
Grace spoke bitterly. Il was the frs
time she had attempted to reproaeh he
mother-in-law amid all her trials.
"But you were married TO him. dear
and wife loves her husband far NOR
deeply than his sisters do"