The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-08-07
VOLUME vITI.


come and uursed you in your sickness,
hut knew il was useless To mention il
to YOU. She has never said an unkind
word to me about you, and has checked
my hasty words.-Ies, know what
you would say" he said, as she looked
at him meauingly; "but ] sm not
ashamed to say that il il owing en-
tirely to her gentle influence that have
been able to control my impetuous lem
per as well as I have done, for your re-
proaches are hard 10 bear, mother, and
your harshness 10 Elinor hurts me far
worse than all beside You think she
is scheming. She loves me as God
knows / love her, and yet, for your
sake, aud to keep the promise she gave
you, she has refused utterly to marry
without your consent, though that re-
fusal makes it necessary for her to do
what you so severely condemn. No
martyr ever walked to the fiery stake
with a braver, nObler heart than throbs
in the breast of that delicate girl. II
am ever a better man, it will be owing
to her." said Frank, with deep fervor.
His mother seemed about to speak
scornfuliy, but be went on:
"KnOwing how / regard her, you will
not be surprised to learn that when
lately heard Captain Talbot slandering
her most foully, refuted the calumuy
and warned him against further lies
but he aud hired tool Of his deter
their vile work. and challenged me to
fight duel. OF course l declined, but
soon, hearing more lies, found it neces-
sary to fight the man aud horsewhip
his master. Now you know all there is
of it. / hope il will not be necessary TO
repeat the lesson, but shall most Ger
tainly do il if that vile dog, Talbot,
dares to repeat his shameful lies. The
wretch is not fiji to breathe her name.
He is the vilest Of the vile. Ii is
shame that such a moral leper should
be permitted to associate with decent
people, aud horrible that he should be
allowed to address pure, innocent girls.
His malicious lies about Elinor were
acknowledged to be because she refused
him-oh it is maddening to think Of
such a brute's addressing her 90
And the young man paced the floor in
strong excitement, his heaving chest
aud flushed face telling his mother
plainly OF his deep emotion. She sat
silent Astonished at what Frank had
done, she felt proud OF him in spite Of
herself, and felt too that be was now
truly a man, Of whom, indeed, she even
I felt somewhat iD awe. Unfortunately,
l fiue physical qualities pleased her more
/ than any others. II he had not whipped
4 Captain Talbot, she would have felt less
Inclined to look upon his " difficulty"
leniently; but, as nothing succeeds
like success" she had a new sense of
reflected power, because her son, so
lately a mere boy, bad demonstrated
his ability to conquer man Of the
world like her old acquaintance, even
though his quarrel was in behalf OF the
woman she hated.
I Well Mrs. Stoddard knew where the
revengeful Captain had obtained the
material out Of which he had fashioned
bis poisoned arrows, though ia justice
I il must be said she had had no thought
/ Of the base use be would make Of the
sneering, contemptuous remarks in
which she had iudulged in his presence.
She hoped Frank would never know
that, and she glanced at him with a
new look on her face. She almost
feared him.
Frank Was still walking the floor, as
though waiting for her to express her
opinion Of what he had done, for il had
been but few moments since he ceased
speaking He looked so noble and
commanding, yet so sad and weary, that
she for the first time allowed herself to
feel pang Of regret for the misery she
was causing him and Elinor, whom she
felt in her heart was just what Frank
had SO lovingly described her. The old,
more kindly feelings came back. She
imagined the joy, the perfect happiness,
that would light up the depths Of those
soft dark eyes if she should say a few
simple words. She could almost hear
the ringing, cheering voice in unre-
strained gladness, thanking, blessing
her for her kindness. She could almost
feel the pressure Of the bearded lips she
bad 20 long forbidden her sou 10 touch
her fretful forehead. The silence. the
gloon, the cold estrangement, would all
be gone. Once more life might be
bright, sunny, even joyous. The night
had been long aud cherries. Should
7 she open wide the doors aud fling aside
: the heavy curtains aud admit tie free
: blessed sunlight and the life-giving air
T God provides for all his creatures? Fo,
/ she felt now as if her heart had beer
trying TO live without them, aud hat
] been close shut, with bar and bolt o
prejudice and hatred.
r The Angel aud the Demon were in
deadly strife for her soul, aud she sa
3 like one passive 10 the hands OF III,
5 psychologist, till a word, though falling
? gently as the first leaf Of Autumn
turned the scale, held poised by impe
{ rious VIII, aud the Angel sadly an,
mourufully drew back, and, spreading
! its invisible pinions, SCARED afar to IT,
home in the land Of souls.
How often do poor mortals, blind {,