The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-07-17
CHAPTER XVIII.

.
CHAPTER XVIII.
As may readily be imagined, Elinor
Norton's abrupt departure from Mrs.
Stoddarl's home furnished food for gos-
sip 10 all those Of both genders who are
never so happy as when, in cannibalis-
tic fashion, they are dissecting the char
acter Of an absent and innocent woman.
Mrs. and Miss Van De Witt were par
ticularly severe in their Judgment and
loud in their condemnation when they
heard the story according to Mrs. Siod-
dard's version, which, it need hardly be
said, was not that Of this narrative.
at is the most shameful thing / ever
heard Of" said the older lady, pursuing
up her lips severely. in righteous indig-
nation, as she repeated the news to her
daughter after call on Mrs. Stoddard,
who was just now able to receive Wis
itors. ''That creature is certainly the
most ungrateful, brazen hussy 1 ever
saw" she continued.
That's what I think" responded the
younger lady, looking up from her
novel with eager interest. az always
thought so, and I'm so glad they have
found her out, the mean, sly, still thing.
guess Mr. Frank will not think she
/ is so perfect, now she has treated his
mother so cruelty. Did she really go
away while Mrs. Stoddard was sick and
alone ?"
"Yes," said the mother "Afrs Stod-
dard said she was suffering frightfully,
aud Frank was gone, and she offered
that girl anything she wanted if she
would only stay till she was we'll. She
even promised to send her TO Paris to
study after a while if she would wait;
but no, nothing could stop her. Go she
would, and 60 she did, to Philadelphia.
Paris is too far Off"
ooh, yes; l understand" said Miss
Adeline. "Of course she wouldn't 20
far, and it's nothing but an excuse, any
way. OF course she doesn't mean to be
a doctor. Why, she couldn't, you
know; doctors are always men,"
"Now, don't be foolish, Adeline," said
her mother; women do study medi-
cine sometimes in Paris, and even here
in Philadelphia some have lately; but
they must be horrid creatures, Pm sure,
hardly &c TO be called women az all!
For my part, / thiuk it very likely she
really means T. try to be doctor, il she
fails to catch Frank, and I think she
will miss that prize, at all events. She
is just the sort to be doing some such
outlandish thing, for she was Of a very
common family, aud she was always
poking about in dark alleys, hunting up
miserable wretches that no lady would
think of going near"
"But I don't see why she was in such
hurry to go just then. when Mrs.
Stoddard was sick" said the Young
T lady. ar she loves to take care Of sick
people, I should think she would have
hated to 60 of and leave Mrs. Stoddard
that way. But suppose she was only
pretending before just TO make the men
think she was very kind and tender
hearted. There was Captain Talbot.
He just thought she was equal to a Sis
ter Of Charity for goodness to poor sick
folks. l heard him say so myself, when
he was paying her so much attention.
wonder what sent him of so suddenly.
/ guess he found her out some way"
"Perhaps Mrs. Stoddard gave him
some hints before he went too far" said
willy Mrs. Van De Witt
"No; she tried TO encourage him all
she could, know, and she was awfully
cut up when he went away, too" said
her daughter adding, suddenly: "Oh :
do you know Captain Talbot has come
back? Tillle Morris told me just now
while you were out"
"Well," said the matron, decidedly,
'if you don't secure him or young Stod-
dard, now that girl has thrown away
her chance with him, it will be your
own fault, that is all have to say"
so, mamma, how can you talk so 90
said the daughter, with a simper Of Sc
cret satisfaction at the prospect. "But
can't understand why that girl went
of so suddenly just them" said she.
"Why, you see, she was trying so
hard to catch Frank that Mrs. Stoddard
had 10 interfere and remind her that
there were some proprieties to be OBJ
served, and then she became 80 angry
and insolent that she had TO be re-
I proved, and that she wouldn't bear at
all, but said she would leave the house
at once. She went so far, you know.
that she didn't dare to wait tin Frank
got back, for fear she would betray her
self, and he would be provoked with
her; so she hurried of that very dav.
leaving poor Mrs. StOddard sick In bed.
and trusting to her influence over
Frank to make him believe his mother
had treated her so badly she couldn',
bear it any longer"
81 wonder if il can be that she has got
him to offer himself" said Miss Ade-
line, anxiously.
al do not think So" said her mother,
"for Mrs. Stodiard said that, although
the girl had done her utmost to make
trouble between them, her son had toe
much self-respect and regard for her