The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-02-27

SnoWdeu ~ asked MS Wliei calmly.
The narrow w-visaged little man shrank
and hesitated.
YOU'D just as well confess it, for I've
heard it ALL"
81 am not worth dollar" he cried,
as though his very life were being
wrenched from him in the confession.
"And Alonzo owed a debt Of honor,
and in addition 10 his other wickedness
he has forged his fathers name and
jeopardized his own liberties"
'Yes."
"Mr Snowden, We ought to send this
boy to the peni,entiary."
"But you won't"' cried Alouzo.
'It may be, my sou, that we cannot
help it. Jared the Jew must have his
money"
Alonzo fell at his mothers feet and
begged and walled, like the very coward
he was, for mercy.
"AIy son, if forgive you this great
crime, and We all go into bankruptcy
together, will you try to amend your
ways and become an honest man ?"
81 will try, mother"
"And will you kneel before me and
invoke the mercy Of high heaven ?"
''MOther, can't"
"Then, alas, have no hope for YOU
"But will try"
The wretched trio fell upon their
knees in tho dfpwy b.ot- al. ~
father and son had so often wrought out
their plans in secret, and the mothers
voice rose up in audible supplication.
And the young man who had sneered
at religion and scoffed at God when ex-
ulting in his fast career, now that it was
ending so disastrously, trembled at the
knees Of his mother aud mutely be-
sought heaven, for her sake, to have
mercy upon him.
The devOtions ended, Mrs. Snowden
arose and faced her husband aud son in I.
the gathering darkness, while the mold /
and damp Of the musty room settled .
like a pail over her shivering senses.
Father" she said, addressing her
husband in a tone so constrained and .
hard that she could hardly recognize .
her own voice, ''it is now given me to
see clearly what your duty shall be.
Will you listen ?''
81 can do nothing else"
"Then, l declare to you that if you
will but heed the counsels Of myself and |
Grace, Wen rescue both OF you from this
peril Let me have the deed to Grace's .
land in my possession, and assign to .
me the entire responsibilities aud per-
quisites Of your business"
"But what would tUc do ?"
"Go to Captain Emerson's Grace /
and ! will acquaint them with the |
whole story, aud insure you au eudura-
bic, If not a cordial welcome. You de- /
serve to eat the bread Of humiliation,
and you need not expect TO hold your
heads as high as though you were not
sinners. Will you go?"
"Wheu ?"
"To-night."
1--WE will" exclaimed the narrow
visaged little man, clutching eagerly
at the prospect Of escape from the i'm
mediate consequences OF his own and
Alonzo's misconduct.
you'll find that greasy old dam Of
Graee's a regular trump, old man."
said Alonzo, the old recklessness be-
traying itself in his voice, although it
was too dark for the display Of that sin
lister smile.
'The team is jaded aud cannot go to-
night; besides, it isn't yours any longer,
Mr.. Snowden; so you couldn't right
fully use it, anyhow"
"Then we cannot 60"
"Yes, you can. The stage will go in
half an hour. You have barely time to
issue a power Of attorney, making Grace
aud myself your agents, aud then you
must be off,"
"But, where is Grace ?"
Never mind. I'll fud her."
81 cannot get that deed for you to-
night"
"YOu must. Where there's a will
there's always a way. I'll go with you
10 the business house Of your friend the
speculator, and have it all understood
The walk occupied a trife over two
minutes. The speculator listened pa
tiently ill Mrs. SnOwden had told him
all that she thought it best to reveal.
But, woman-like, she did not tell Of
poor Nancy Shaddon, nor her sons last
| forgery Of his fathers name.
"My daughter Grace and I will see
this entire wrong made right il you
will give US opportunity Mr.. Golden;
/ but l warn you that you will have
trouble unless you surrender the young
wife's property. 1t is not yours, nor
mine, nor Mr.. Snowden's, nor Alonzo's,
but hers; and I'd rather we'd all 90 to
the penitentiary together than to have
it on my conscience that We had
wronged her"
"Very well, Mrs. Snowden. Bring
her here tomorrow, and If she acknowl-
edges the Indebtedness, will look to
her for payment and release your hus-
band"
THAT part OF this nefarious business
is settled now, Mr.. Snowden. And now
you must get that power Of attorney for
me-"
"Who the devil would a. thought
the old woman had so much business in
her?p said Alouzo. with a chuckle. a.