The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-05-15
FACT, FATE AND FANCY



himself be was growing old, and he be
gan 20 realize that there was uaught bu
annoying emptiness in the possession O
so many broad acres, so be was read,
for such negotiations as the gentlemanl,
aud business-like agent Of the railroa,
company saw fit to propose. And Will,
Mrs. Emerson, good soul, cried softly &,
herself over her smoky kitchen stove a.
she looked forward to the prospect o
giving up the poorly-furnished HON,
that had sheltered Lillian aud Grace il
their babyhood, the bargain and sale
went on. But she did not dream Of Of
fering a protest. Her husband was, t,
all inteuts and purposes, her lord an,
sovereign. She would have died 70
him. She gloried in self-abnegation 70
his sake and, though she was not sat
isfied with the results Of her teaching 5,
far as one daughter was concerned, she
was more than content with its inverse
effect upon the spirit and temper Of the
other
"Grace is a chip Of the old block, jus
like her pap. I'd laugh to see the fellei
that could get much ahead o. her." wal
ner frequent boast, though, it must be
borne in mind that had any other
woman dared to do in all things as
Grace had done, her well-meaning but
not always consistent mother would
have been among the first to denouace
her for the daring.
"You say there are two square mile
sections in this one tract, Mr. Emer-
sou ?" said the agent, as the good wife
bent her ear to listen.
"Yes; but oue-half belongs 10 John
Anders aud his heirs. You see, their
mother, who was my daughter, died a
year ago. One-half this land speak Of
was hers in her own right and must re-
main 50 till her youngest child is of
age"
81 see. But there's your other daugh-
ter, Mrs. Snowden. Has she DO lands
that she would sell ?"
81 rather guess not. She has a mind
OF her own on most things, aud she's
taken to working lot Of sc1alI tenants on
the land in such way that they viii, in
time, become freeholders in their own
right. never Interfere with any OF
her plans, though do sometimes think
they are a little visionary"
"Sir," aud the stranger hitched his
chair nervously while his voice trembled
preceptibiy, show would you like me
for "a sOn-in-law ?n
The Captain was nouplussed.
"What? ?" he asked, as though his
own ears had deceived him.
Mr.. Malcolm repeated the question.
"My daughter is engaged to John An.
ders, take it," was the fra reply.
"With your permission ?"
"Ive never been consulted"
Then Til take it for granted that you
are mistaken. But you have not
answered my direct query"
"Grace is old enough TO make her
own contracts. I wash my hands Of 'em.
She made one bad enough matrimonial
bargain, the Lord knows. But Johu's a
good man, and there's no danger Of him
wasting tue property If he gets her. In
the i've years that he aud Lillian lived
together, lie never touched foot Of her
land"
The stranger smiled meauingly. Pos
sibiy he was thinking it would have
been better If that model son-in-law had
used some of the means at his disposal
for promoting his wife's comfort during
her life-time
"Do I understand you TO say that Mrs.
Snowden and her brother-in-law are
really engaged >" he asked, hesitat-
iugly.
81 think they are"
"Then you ouly take it Tor granted ?''
THAT'S all. She has the charge Of
his four little chicks and her own adopt
ed child, aud it seems only natural that
she and John should double teams"
"But, do they love each other ?''
THAT'S their own affair. I have
never asked them.n
"Then with your permission, Captain
] shall make it my affair"
"NOu'd better ask the old woman u
was the evasive yet convenient re-
joinder.
The cold woman" had been so serious
Is disappointed in Alonzo suowden
that she was disposed to be wary Of thi,
new and equally strange suitor Blu
she referred him to Grace, who, she said
awas her own mistress, which was NOR
than could be declared Of most women.
And the land agent left the old couple
after nights rest, and repaired to tn
house Of Grace, meeting John Andei
on the way, whose glowering loos
somehow indicated his identity.
"Hes not engaged 10 that charmin
widow, else he wouldn't wear scov
ike that, I'll warrantw exclaimed Ma
colin 10 himself, as he dismounted ]
front Of Gracss residence, and was me
by troop Of rollicking children, two
whom he caught in his arms and ca
rled up the graveled pathway and d.
posited them under the willows al
then, taking two others each by th