The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-01-09

Mrs. cuoWusn as she greeted the Emer-
sons on the occasion Of this second visit
from that which she had displayed at
her first appearance at their humble and
unpreteutious home. Suffering isa great
eveler, and whether it comes in the
form Of mental or physical aflliction, or
both, it matters very little; the leveling
process goes on all the same.
"The laws o. mercy, Miss Snowden!
Can it be possible that you are comm
back to US so soon 2' asked Mrs Emer-
son, her voice and manner betraying a
welcome not at all discernible in her
words.
eyes, my dear Mrs. Emerson; you
treated me so well but yesterday, that 1
am like spoiled child, and must needs
trespass yet further upon your good ma
ture. But where are Grace and
'Louzo 2"
"Gone over 10 see their new land be-
youd the rise. They're talkin' Of build
in, and are already settlin' down to
business like old people"
aust so with John and Idlie," was
Mrs. Snowden's very sensible rejoinder
"They are an admirable couple. You
must be very proud of your daughters,
Mrs Emerson"
"It don't become Us 70 be over proud
of uottbr, Miss Suowden. We're com
manded to humble ourselves that we
may be exalted, aceordin' to scripter"
"Nevertheless, / feel that we have
right to feel a justiiable sense Of salts
faction when our children DO we'll. Ger
tain il is that We cannot help expert
encing deep sense of humiliation and
sorrow if they do ill.,"
That's so, Miss Snowden, that's so"
sighed Mrs. Emerson, though what it
was that caused a vague tremor of ap-
prehension 10 dart suddenly through
her veins and nerves, she could not
for her life imagine Though, as for
me, If do say it, which orient TO say it,,
Tee never had any occasion to feel hum
bled because ofauy partic'ler wrongdoiu'
on the part o. any o. nly children" she
added, after a pause.
Mrs. Suowden was seized with a sud-
den impulse TO make a confident Of Mrs.
Emerson, aud throw herself upon her
generosity Of heart; though why she
should have thought Of such a thing, no.
body but herself could have imagined
and even she could not have OWNED To,
reason had she stopped to ask
herself concerning IT, But intu
ition is a woman's forte. IL is ofteI
emphatically asserted that a woman
reason is simply "because." But b.
that as it may, this reason, II such i
may be called, is oftentimes more potent
and unanswerable than the graves
philosophers "why."
"Mrs. Emerson" >" said Mrs Snowden
and she was not even painting low, 81
overpoweriug were her emotions, "thr
shadow and substance Of a great tria
has fallen upon our household. Il is
trial Of which did not have the faint
est suspicion before my son became you
sou-in-law, and your daughter becam
mine, else I should have washed M
hsnds Of the entire responsibility b.
telling you all before the marriage tool
place. Are you ready to hear th
worst ?n
Mrs. Emerson sank into a chair an
rocked rapidly to and fro
81 knowed il, I knowed it I toll
Pap all the time there was somethir
wrong. Bnt 'Louzo has such takin
way, Miss Snowden. There couldn'
any of us resist him.
"You know all, then ?n and Mr..
Snowden gave vent to a deep sigh O
relief
"What should know, Miss Snowder
No; / don't know nothin', for certain
only it has 'peared to all Of US, not ev,
'ceptin' Grace herself that there VI
some mystery ahoat."
"But suppose Alonzo were your ov
son, Mrs Emerson, your very ow
Would you love him theh, in spite
bis faults ?''
"It would be ag in nstur' II I didu
Miss Snowden. But you haven't to
me what was the matter It's notbi
about a girl, is it >"
Whatever made you think Of that
asked Alonzo's mother, turning ghas
pale, in spite Of her fiorid complex
and over-heated condition.
"Oh, nothin', only he's so sli
tougued, like, and no doubt he's ha'
takin' way among other women besi
the Emersous. ] beg your pardon
hurt your feelin's, but told pap
the gals-both Of 'em, that dash
citiied young chap like him wo
hardly o come out here to this UNI
tendin' place, aud among such pl
people, TO make marriage settlem
if he hadn't had some reason for it {
wasn't on the surface"
Mrs. Emerson's memory was sho
than the readers, else she VIC
have recollected that it was pap"
stead of herself that prognosticated {