The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-03-27

/ ~ ~ NAit aplhlN OF tue iulSt ~ taiig u
The loud lamentations Of Mrs. Emer
son over the inanimate form Of the m al
who had caused her 50 much shame an'
trouble, aud yet reminded her 50 keenll
Of the baby boy she had buried in th'
long ago, were mingled with the plain
tive walls Of the tiny babe whose un
welcome existence she and Grace wer,
trying hard to make the best Of.
"The laws a. mercy, pap" she cried
addressing Snowden, senior, in the alb
sence Of her husband in the peculiar
vernacular Of her early training. "Hs'.
the born image Of what my boy would
a. been like if he'd a lived. And there.
no KNOWN but my own baby'd a. went
astray if he hadn't died, 30 won't be toe
hard with 'Lonzo. VIII he live, John %
ppm afraid So" replied John, suIkily.
"If he'll live and repent, and atone,
and be honest, and permit ME to be
honest, and thus enable both Of US to
lead better life, I'll feel thankful that
we've had this last great trial" said the
senior Snowden, as he chafed the rigid
limbs and waited for the slowly
ing consciousness.
Father" said Alonzo, at last.
"where's Nancy ~
"He's asking for the poor insane
mother Of his child" cried Grace.
"Ah, Grace; it is you, is II? I Iremem-
Der now. You're too good to be tram
meled by such an incubus as I. You're
about to get your wish. Tll die, and
then you'll be well rid Of me. Pve
never given any Of you anything but
trouble. But I have one request to
make. You'll grant it, won't you ?"
John Anders bent low over the pros
trate form which had been comfortably
disposed upon the bed. The death damp
was on the brow already.
''Promise me, Lillian
"Pr0nise what >" cried Lillian, press
ing forward in her eagerness, till borne
back by Johns reproving hand.
promise that you will never tell that
old man Shaddon killed me. / deserve
it, ought to die. VIII you all swear
that none OF you will tell ~
The twilight fell upon the low farm
house, and dark clouds rose upon the
mountains.
LET me see your upliited palms"
All hands went up as if involuuta-
rily.
'.Now swear that you will not testify
against the man whose daughter should
have been my wife"
ave swear"' they all exclaimed, ex-
cept John Anders.
"You do not swear ?" gasped Alonzo,
beseechingly.
81 will on one condition"
"Name it."
"The old man must provide for his
daughter. He must use the money be
extorted from you as the price Of her
ruin, else l will send him to the gal
lows"
The smile that beamed upon Alonzo's
face was not the sinister one which had
been habitual. Il was rather a smile Of
peace and gratitude.
''That will do: God bless you" he
calculated fervently. "And now, Grace,
my wife; come to me, won't you? /
have sinued against you and / was not
penitent. Your will was good. Even
now, if in your power, much as you
dislike to do it, you would stand by me,
poorly as deserve your kindness. But
death has kindly relieved you Of the
trial. Living, l was not worthy Of you.
Dying, 7 will try to stone. Do you
think or Heavenly Father will forgive
me-"
Grace only sobbel in silence, and Mrs
Emerson replied:
Honey, do you remember when We
knelt and prayed together in Grace's
room after she went away and left you ?
Depend upon 1t, God will answer prayer.
Though your sins be as scarlet, they
shall be as wool If you'll only repent and
forsake 'em. Haven't you any word
for your own poor nanny ?''
"Iell her that her unworthy sou died
with her name on his lips. She had
strong hopes that ] would repent and
live and become an honorable man. But
it was not possible. / was weak and
vain aud vacillating. l would not have
compassed any lasting good"
The poor victim of his own shortcom-
ings closed his eyes and painfully
awaited the continued gathering OF the
death damp.
"How little dreamed that he would
die" walled Grace. ~ had only
known it all along, how differently /
would have felt aud aeted.u
The babe in the next room walled as
piteously as its foster mother; and Grace
left the bedside Of its guilty aud dying
parent to soothe its cries.
When she returned, the last strupgle
was over. Lillian knelt in speechless
thankfulness beside the fair but dissi-
pated form, and the senior Snowden.
looking even more narrow-yisaged.
wiry, nervous and little than was his
wont, sobbed out his uuspokep agony AT
the foot Of the bed.
ITO be continued
Z 81.