The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-04-03

CHATTER XNyII.
Mrs Snowden received the news OF
her sons sudden death with feeling Of
chastened resignation. But the Chris
tian's hope that buoyed her up was in
strange contrast with the dire despair
into which the senior Snowden fell.
Pie loving and repentant David did
not mourn more hopelessly the fate OF
his son Absolom than did this bankrupt
sire Of Alonzo junior mourn the miser-
able taking Of Of his only son, and in
his estimation, during all the years OF
his solvency, his only apparent heir.
The sisters Of Alonzo were as l,ud in
their lamentations as their father was:
but the native hilsrity Of youth will
soon assert Itself again.
The newspapers were filed with long,
sensational accounts OF the murder, but
nobody couh conjecture who had been
the murderer. Rewards without stint
were offered for The apprehension and ar
rest OF the culprit but Grace and Lii
liam testified that be was stranger 10
them, and they had been so thoroughly
frightened that they could not remem-
ber how he looked, or how be had been
attired.
Tie two men bad been quarreling,
they thought, aud the murderer
was evidently much euraged when he
committed the deed, but they we're not
close enough % understand the entire
conversation.
"I'd die before I'd TELL "a word" said
Grace, "and Lii, If you know what's
good for both Of as, you'll keep mum,
too"
"It shall be as sou say, Grace. I'm
selfish enough TO be comforted because
he is dead. There viii be no sin iu my
loving his memory now. 7 can dream
Of him by night ani by day, and John
can't reasonably he Jealous"
LILLIAN, di3 you love Alouzo like
that?" aud Grace gazed az her sister
with profound astouisbmeut.
81 loved what seemed good aud noble
in him, sister, but, Of course, did not
know his real character. The memory
Of the dead is always sacred. shat.
never think ilI OF him again. His
suffering and death have been Che cru.
chile through which I dare 20 hope Doe
has come out in spirit like refined
gold"
Grace shook her head.
81 wish you had married him, Lii
That is, wish &c had been you if zithe.
one of Us had 20 be The victim"
"I don't believe you loved him dearly
Grace"
az could have loved him, more an,
more dearly, from the beginning Of on
short acquaintance, if he had prove,
worthy. But 7 have no taste for th
sickly seutimeutaii,y that persists ID
loving whether right or wrong"
"G-ace, I beg that you will not Quit
hate me, but want 20 tell you that
loved Alonzo from the date Of my girl
hoods visit 20 his fathers house i'm th
city, and have cherished many a bit
ter paug 10 my heart about yeu He-aus
you carried oil my prize"
"Then sou didn't love John az all?r
"No."
"You ought 10 te ashamed % your
self"
"How could Ihe'p it If } cou'du'.Iov
him ."
"Nou need not have wronged him o.,
becoming Lis wife"
az didn't"
"LIliunr'
"l repeat il. have tried my yer
lest 20 live as coutented, happy an
agreeable wife. know John is good
too good FOR me, 10y far; aud ia only D
TOO glad TO be well rid Of him; but III
learning 20 make the best Of it. I sur
pose it was my fate 10 make such ma.
rimonial choice ss would compel me
barely endure existence"
"Aud ! suppose it was your fanc
that attracted you to john"
"No, Grace; it was fate"
"Then you deserve to be unhappy
you didu't love him when you becau
bis wife"
81 know it, and I'm trying my vel
best 20 endure the fact. But, Grace,
maddens me 70 be in Johns compan
Maybe / could endure il better If s
were only living 90 ourselves. But th
apple-faced, pussy-eat OF a mother
his who is so precise, aud who n
dears' me so constantly, and yet new
lets me have any liberty, but acts
though [ was created merely as a IA
fotuDt for the convenience OF the AndC
family-bah. wish could never lo
upou her face again"
"Wby, Lillian, Pm aslonished at yo
What if John should hear you ?"
sometimes I think 7 shouldn't care
"Then you're a very foolish woma
I have always looked upon John a
ders as one Of the very best Of men; o
whom a good wife would involuntari
worship. Hereally is not 10 be thong
Of in the same day with the wick
father Of this poor, innocent but illeg
innate baby. And yet, l must uphC
the memory and guard the manuiactnr