The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-04-24

good to realize for a few minutes iainl
imagining Of the mental agony | have
suffered under unweleOme maternity
through all these years. But you car
never realize the physical tortures
have borne. wish you could"
"I have tried to be a good husband,
cried John, as he tenderly chafed bel
changing features; and then he begged
her 10 tell him the nature Of the poison
she had swallowed, that he might ad
minister antidotes.
"Yes, John. You've tried to be 6
good husband-to yourself-and in thai
attempt you have always succeeded.
know I have not always been an angel
have sometimes vexed you sorely
VIII you forgive me, John ?"
"My darling, l have nothing to for.
give" he answered, through his tears
"But can you ever forgive nes"
"Yes, John, and 1 have called the
great physician, Death, to release you
from your bonds. You may be happy
yet"
30, Lillianw
"Never mind, John. I've tried to
walk the road aud wear the yoke; but
my feet and heart alike have failed me.
Be Of good cheer Grace will not let
your children suffer. Itismy wish that
you"
1t was not possible for her to finish
the sentence. A sudden spasm stilled
her erewhile stiffening tongue, and her
cold lips refused to give forth further
utteranee.
Mrs. Emerson, as If attracted by ma
ternal instinct, opened the door and ap-
preached the bedside.
Honey, are you dying7 Speak just
one word to comfort your pore
mammyw she walled, falling upon her
knees, and pushing John Audvrs away
with frantic effort
Captain Emerson aud Grace, alarmed
by her loud lamentations, entered un-
perceived.
Lillian opened her once brilliant, hut
now CLASSY eyes, with a dying effort.
"The children. Bring the children"
said Captain Emerson; and Nancy
Shaddon entered, bearing the two babes
in her strong, chubby arms, the two
older ones and Essie following.
Lillian reached her stiffening arms
for last embrace, recognizing in her
final farewell the presence Of everybody
but John.
Here's your husband, honey; kiss
goodbye to him." said good Mrs. En-
erson.
Lillian did not respond
LET US pray !" said Captain Emerson;
aud all knelt reverently around the
couch of death.
"Lord Jesus, receive the spirit of our
darling"
1t was all he could utter. A moment
Of breathless waiting, sharp contor-
tion Of the features Of the once beautiful
girl, and her earthly life's hard fight
was over.
The parents Of John Anders were
reused from their peaceful slumbers by
a loud halloa from a midnight messen-
ger.
81 expect It's just as John fancied.
No doubt Lillian is very III. She never
would take proper care Of herself" said
Mrs. Auders, rising from her comforta-
bic couch aud bustliug about in busy
way, while her sleepy lord rubbed his
eyes and stretched his limbs in antici-
patton OF a midnight pull across the
ferry, where a no less accident than
breaking the pulley-rope had occurred
sometime after nightfall. Afterward
this accident was recalled as a singular
coincidence. it having been ascertained,
as they learned upon reaching the resi-
dence Of Grace, that the rope had
snapped at the very instant when Lii
lian's last breath had left her body.
Very white and pinched, yet very
placid, smiling and beautiful were the
features OF the dead, as she lay upon a
streteher in the parlor, the white muslin
welding dress that Grace had worn at
her own short-lived marriage, laying in
graceful folds about her rigid form.
"Poor Lillian" cried Mrs. Anders, as
she toyed sfiectionately with the worn,
thin hands that had battled so desper-
aiely with fate, aud which now lay
upon the sunken breast in the glad re-
lief Of eternal rest. "Poor Lilllanl She
might have been happy aud healthy, il
she only had been of a conteuted mind
Ihen' too, she might have lived TO
raise the children If she had been recon-
ciled to the ways Of Providence. Thank
God, / did my best to make her duty
plain. But her mind was deeply set
upon the vanities Of the world. She
wanted to live in the city, and was al
ways begging John to sell her lands and
use the proceeds in making aud Furnish
ing handsome home.n
so, mOtherP cried John, his tears
falling like rain, for indeed he was varv
wretehed' and he would have gladly
called the still, white, shruuken crsa.
ture back to life and misery if IL had
been possible, "I wish had listened
more to her requests. and tried a great
deal harder than I ever did to make he,
life endurable."
"But she rebelled against the ways oI
Providence, my son. I cannot see bul
you have done your duty"
Pardon me, Mrs. Anders!1 exclaim ed
Grace, "but must take issue with you
upop that matter, here and now \ fav