The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-01-16
FACT. FATE AND FANCY
CHAPTER XVII

TO meet his mother upon his arrival at
the Emerson farmhouse as the Captain
or his wife had been. He started and
turned ashy pale. Indeed, be was often
troubled by nervous fits of late, at which
the reader, who divines the cause Of
them, will not wonder.
Mrs. Snowden met her son aud daugh-
ter with the air Of one whose mind is
fully aroused to some decisive action.
Grace, who had no suspicion as to the
cause Of this unanticipated visit, was
open, frank and cordial.
81 am so glad TO see you again so
soon, mother dear. You'll let me call
you mother, won't you ," she said.
dropping gracefully upon low, wooden
box that sat in a conspicuous place by
the open chimney, and served as a foot
stool upon most occasions, aud looking,
as she spoke, with a bewitching and ex-
pectant smile into her new relatives
anxious face.
Yes, my dear; you are more than
welcome to a warm place in my heart as
my daughter and pray heaven that
you may never regret the relation
ship"
"But, mother, you look anxious. Has
anything serious happened ?"
Mrs. Emerson began sobbing hysterie-
ally, and the good-natured, unsuspicious
Captain, who had faithfully groomed
and fed the SnOwden horses, entered the
room, his face galaxy of iuterroga-
tion points.
"Gracie, my daughter, do you love
your husband ." asked Mrs. Snowden.
her voice sad aud earnest, and her
hands trembling.
Certainly else ! shouldn't have mar
ried him." was the ready answer.
"Are you quite sure you love him
well enough to forgive his gravest
faults 2"
"WoHa, =" said Alonzo, with lremu-
lous reproach in his tone that meant
volumes, though he used 40 other word.
Don't interrupt me, sir" was the
determined mothers peremptory re-
joinder. my business just now is with
Mrs. Snowden, junior.
"You ask me, mother, If I could for
give Alouzo's gravest faults, aud I an
swer certainly; for to the best of my Le-
lief and knowledge, be hasn't any very
grave ones TO forgive"
"But, should you iud that he had he.
ceived you, what then ."
"You don't mean that he has another
wife ?" said Grace, her face as pale as
death, and her full lips bloodless.
'Not that, my child. But Mrs. Emer-
son, Alonzo, Captain, will you all be
good enough TO leave as alone ."
please let Alouzo remain, mother.
AS his wife, / have no right to keep
anything that concerns either Of rs hid
den from him, not even If his own
mother requests it,"
"Wen said, my daughter. Alonzo,
you will remain"
lie looked like a criminal under the
death sentence as he stood there, pale
and abject and trembling. But he ut
tered not a word
"Iour husband has proven himself
perfidious scoundrelr' said Mrs. Snow
den, as soon as the three were alone.
'You forget, Mrs. Snowden, that I
am Alonzo's wife," was Grace's
womanly retort.
"No, my dear, don't forget il.
Would to heaven that could"
"What has he done And what's all
this fuss about? Surely Alonzo hasn't
stolen anything or killed anybody ?u
''Yes, my child; he is both a thief and
a murderer"
"Aother" again calculated the pitia-
Ole culprit.
"a thief and a murderer ?" echoed
Grace.
"Yes, my poor darling. Do you de-
spise him now"
"fou torture me. Surely You are but
in jest ."
"Alas' there is no room for Joking.
my child. Alonzo has done nothing for
which the law can deprive him Of life
or liberty. But is thief because he
stole the affection and virtue ofa yopng
and artless and innocent and loving girl
before be met you; and he is a murderer
at least in degree, because his faithlesi
conduct toward her has dethroned be-
reason and annihilated it forever"
Mother ?"
1t was Grace who spoke now, he
voice strained aud hard, and her fea
lures rigid.
"What would you say, my child .
THAT If this be true, then before Go,
/ am not his wife"
80, Gracel Don't say that" pleade'
Alonzoi and seeing her hesitate, some
what Of his o!d artfulness returned O,
him, and be approached her with al
offered caress and look Of melting ten
derness.
"Don't touch me, Alonzo Snowden
you are not my husband, nor can yol
be till you have made amends to tina