The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-02-06


we have stood before God and humanity,
aud taken upon ourselves these bonds;
We have made a mistake. Let us over
ruIeit for our good. have discovered
that your secret preference is not for me,
but for my sister, Grace; / will guard
your secret as a loyal wife should !
will never betray you. know you are
a man Of honor, and you judge truly
when you say that do not love you as
a wife should love her husband; but,
John, am on the stool Of repentance.
II do not love you, at least do not
love another; 1 will learn to love you,
for know that a great deal more than
half Of human misery is of our own
making. I fancied Alonzo Snowdeu at
first, but"
"The dcUl .0' cried John, unwisely;
az never could imagine why it was, but
so it is, that silly women are always
being captivated 10y brainless fops. That
selfeonceited jackanapes isn't fit to
loose the shoes Of a chaste wife. I'll
kill him yeti"
"Are you Jealous, John?'
There was no resisting the meaning
look in Lillian's earnest eyes. John
read them through and through, but not
more clearly than Lillian OWNED his
secret thoughts.
"We'd get entangled in our first quar-
rel in a very little while il ! should
abuse Grace as you abuse Alonzo," said
Lillian, quietly.
Don't mention her name in the same
day with that fellow'si ] will not bear
it.' cried John, desperately.
"And suppose you cannot help your
self, my constant knight and most ex-
emplary husband?"
81 command you. Lillian, never to
mention that white-livered sou Of Be
lial in my presence againn'
''You forget, Mr.. Anders, that Alouzo
Snowden is Grace Emerson'- lawful
husband, aud THAT he, as such, is enti-
tied TO aud must receive respectful
treatment 81 tie hands Of his brother
in-law. D5nbt'a>- it would be good
news to him if he could be informed Of
your poorly disguised affection for his
wife"
"Iou are very angry, Lillian"
"No, Mr.. Anders; 1 cannot afford TO
be angry with the man whom the law
has made my husband. will accept
the inevitable, aud so must you.
There is 10 time for wavering or nom
sense now. will not reproaoh
you; neither will say un-
kind things Of my sister, or her hus-
band. She is noble and true, aud il was
not her fault that you married me, and
took upon yourself the obligation TO be
true TO me till death should part Us.
You ought to have been ber husband.
j see il all now, but she OF did not know
/ it. Ii is too late for her 20 know % now,
but If you will keep your temper like a
sensible man / will spare you further
humiliation by my own free, full confes-
sion, which you interrupted when felt
most like making it. Remember, my
only object was 20 so place myself in your
estimation tnat you could respect your
self, in spite Of the humiliatiug discov-
cry I have inadvertently made.n
"Go on"
81 was much attracted by Alouzc
Snowden. You, sir, will pardon me
but you appeared an awkward boor be-
side him."
81 know il! Damn"
"Stop, stop, you promised TO keeT
your temper, you know; and then, gen.
tlemen never swear in the presence O.
ladies, least Of all, their own loya
wives"
"Beg your PARDON
81 will grant it freely, provided yor
do not offend again. You married N,
because you could not marry Grace.
became your wife in order 10 conceal
my passionate, though passing fancy
for her aiiisnced husband. ! have to.
day discovered your humiliating secret
To stimulate your self-respect, have
voluntarily confessed an equally shame.
ful one. Now, let US reason together
what shall be our next endeavor?"
81 do not know"
''Shall we acquaint our parents will
our wicked fooiishness, and permit IN,
world to know how wicked we havr
beeue-
NO. nos never could stand thatW
"rbeu, shall we 90 on living a lie T.
the end Of lies chapter?''
"Cau we2"
"Have We any other respectable alter
D uative?"
ALAS, know Of none.n
j "Would you really like u be rid ,
me-"
go, Lillian. Do not talk like that.
"Irs only plain English, John. W
have two roads before US. 10 il We
e that We are learning 10 understand eae
D other now, for I assure you that / wi
never again willingly allude TO th
p most unhappy subject. We are ma
! ried; but whether wisely or unwisel,
D according TO our parents aud the world
2 judgment, remains TO be seen. Ifrankl
admit that / would be glad indeed if
were otherwise But we cannot und
the past. 1t is not possible for Us to
b to each other in everything, or eve
: anything, as we once were. We cann'
efIace the memory Of the past. In shor
,,..,,,.e made "a had barrsfu. and We mu