The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-02-20


death-knell as her father-in-law's had
done.
mo" answered the senior Snowden.
1--WE keep the doors open whenever
there's trade, and thus admit light when
we need il; but our principal rendez-
vous is this little Office" and be led the
way back to his den, with its battered
railing aud cob-webbed window, and Of
fered her a seat on one Of the high,
creaking stools in close proximity to the
rusty stove.
Grace sighed. She was learning some
thing new about life in the city now,
aud il was so unlike anything she had
previously imagined that il was Of it.
self sufficient disappointment to throw
her into fever.
81 have said that God had sent you
here, my daughter, and now repeat
the assertion. I am, indeed, in deep
trouble, and I know / can tell you all
the truth, for you are Alonzo's wife, and
you, Of all other women, will stand by
him. You and he are one now, aud
you will not forsake your other self"
Il was married, sir, to Alonzo Snow
den, junior, under the halluciuation
that / was making a fair and honest
bargain. He represented himself to me,
aud you represented him to my father,
as an honorable gentleman, well-to-do
in the world, and in every way worthy
Of pure and innocent wife. accepted
the conditions in good iaithi but was
scarcely tweuty-four hours married be-
fore / learned that he was not an honor
able gentleman, that he did not possess
the means of an honorable livelihood,
aud That he had dishonored and thereby
wrought the ruin Of a confiding child.
whose sin was the same as mine, only
she loved him too well for her own credit,
and / loved him too well for my own
happiness. Immediately upon learning
the truth Of this, came 20 the city, in
tending, as / yet do, to protect myself"
"But you don't intend TO forsake my
son ?"
"If he will first prove himself capable
Of noble manhood, 1 will not then for
sake him. ] came here to-dsy, as you
know, in company with your wife,
his mother She is bent upon reclaim
ing her son"
Il should say she was bent upon his
ruin, rather. Whoever heard Of so un-
natural a proceeding? Alonzo's mother
has srrayed herself against her only
son. That's the truth Of it,"
Rather say, my misguided friend,
that she has descended into the very
depths Of humiliation in the forlorn
hope that she might thereby reclaim
him"
"You are determined 10 be bis enemy,
too. see that"
"No, Mr.. Snowden. Badly as he has
deceived and wrouged both myself aud
others, sm resolved 10 be bis friend.
But my friendship shall not consist i'm
concealing his misdemsanors. Evi-
IDENTIFY this is the principal friendship
he has enjoyed hitherto. And now, sir;
if you will aid me, we three together,
, you and mother Snowden and /, can
save him. II you 10 not sustain me,
he will go to destruction"
p ''Theu, my dear Grace, what would
= you have me to DO ,"
Teach him that you are not to be
, trified with; that exposure aud disgrac,
> is nothing to you IN contrast with youl
own integrity. y while ago stumble,
E upon the fact that he was forger
. Upon my word, never heard anybod,
say 50, till I said it myself But, u,
matter. ] know It's true, all the same
aud now want to know the eutirt
truth"
"And you won't betray him %
"No; but ] shall see that lie repay
9 the utlermost farthing"
"And will you stand by him, realty
and see it all paid up without any pub
lie scandal ?"
"That, sir, depends npon whsther o.
not there is any hope Of his reforma
tion. / shall never lend myself to any
scheme TO shelter villainy."
} "But, what will you do ?'
P al do not know"
{ Then, why are you so positive ?"
e because I think understand the in
p nate principles of right and wrong"
Grace" aud the prematurely oil
a and narrow-visaged little man beut 10,
4 before the face Of his daughter-in-law a
he spoke, 81 am ruined, soul and body
F. II you do not aid me. None other ca
lr save me except yourself only"
p "What claim have you upon me, NJ
Snowden, that you come to me with
d confession like this ."
" "Are you not my daughter-in-lav
J. the wife Of my poor sou, Alouzo ?''
re Yesterday I thought I was his wifi,
x to-day, by the grace OF God aud the di,
tates Of my own conscience, am b
'e widow"
'Then, you repudiate him ."
d al do"
rs Use old man sank upon the floor /:
Is her feet aud trembled in every nerve.
k ''Then my last hope is gone" /
to walled, in voice so sepulchrally 10
"a and sad that the young wife's heart WI
deeply touched.
De "While there is life there is hop