The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-07-24
Branded
BY SARAH k. BOLTON.


thing tighter to her breast, and went
rapidly toward the rocky ledge that
hung over the ocean. She had played
here a thousand times in her childhood
had watched the tide creep lazily in
and out on a Summers day, or wild
aud tempestuOus, dash ships, with their
precious lives, upon the rocks.
The ocean was like a lover-it could
be all things.
"WiH it be very cold for the baby
my baby-his baby? Will he mind it
much ?n
The birds sang sweetly, and the baby
cOoed, and the mild Spring air brought
up the breath Of the vi0lets. For a
moment she faltered II life we're only
birds and blossOms-but il was not, and,
with a last kiss on her baby, and a
death-like grasp, a leap, a struggle
and all was over.
Missing
Grace Reeverly was missing, but the
ocean told no tales.
The little Atlantic village was stirred
from center TO circumference. a lovely
girl, eOnfiding in nature, and pure as
the snOw-she had been the pet and
pride Of the townsfOlk. Her voice was
clearest in the choir of the little church,
her hand was gentlest on the head Of
the poorest and toughest child, and the
village schOol-master thought she re-
paid his teachings q thousand fold by
her intelligence.
There had come young physician OF
good family to the town, young man
Of manly physique and agreeable man
ners. Acquaintance grew into love, and
the good people looked on with JOY,
that prOvidentially their loved one had
found one worthy Of her He had been
trained in cHy ways. Either woman
was not a sacred thing to him, or,
matching her artlessness with his art,
he judged wrongly when be tested her
virtue by her self-fOrgetting love. Per-
haps it was not true, as Button says,
that ''every person has his price" All
may not fall under the strongest temp
tatiOu, but most err because they blind
ly trust a leader who leads over a preci-
pice. is there no remedy? Mothers
must do more than they have. Girls
must know that life is full of quick
sands, and boys that virtue is of God,
and the destroyer Of it, if not always
punished here, will meet deserved hell
hereafter.
Missing
The whole town knew the story; how
he had deserted her, claiming that q
woman who could be won was unworthy
Of him; how the day for the bridal came
and went; how Grace and her aged
mother wept and prayed; how, when
the baby came, she hid its darling face
against her breast, so that nobody ever
looked upon 10 save the mother, for
beautiful though it was, il had his face;
how the Spring-time came and the fresh
May mornings, but no color came to
Whitened cheeks, but strange, unusual
brilliancy into her eyes, and then the
old mother was alone
Everybody was questioned, but no.
body had seen her. The aged woman
crept down to the ocean day alter day,
but the incoming tide brought only sea-
weed and empty shells. One morning,
far up the beach, kindly hidden from
sun and storm under clump Of trees,
some boys at play found the missing
ones. Her child was held fast in her
arms. The sea-weed was bound in and
out as though to bind the hands still
closer, lest the weakness Of death unlock
them and let go her treasure.
The town had a common sorrow. At
the burial, the little church was crowd
ed. All the way to the graveyard, that
lay just above the sea, where the waves
sang constantly to the sleepers, there
was an unbroken procession.
From that day, no woman ever spoke
to the young physician. he walked
the streets unnOticed. He carried him
self less proudly. Circumstances would
compel him so seek another home.
Strange that in a country town a
woman was so highly priced" be
thought. The world was not all thus.
The aged mother soon lay beside
Grace and her baby.
The good ship Betsy heaves in sight.
The news went like wildfre through the
town. The whaler of Captain Reeverly
(Grace's only brother) had been on a
ten years cruise. The crew were wild
with joy, swung their handkerchiefs
long before they got into port, hardly
waiting for the plank, and fairly en-
bracing every person who came within
their reach. The people whispered
among themselves. Who could tell the
Captain what changes those ten years
had wrought? Nobody After a few
hurried directions, the bluff and pener-
Ous-hearted Captain started eagerly
toward the dear old home. The old Iadv
in the next house had stolen over. m
locked the door, and gone back again.
How light his step was as he went over
the threshold. How natural everything
looked.
Mother Gracier'
No answer.
Not a very warm welcome to a
homeless fellow ten years away % be
said.
The old lady had crept in.
Your mothers gone, Captain.
hoped you'd heerd ont afore YOU go
here Wonderful good woman! SneI
clean house, and so good to me Sh,
was allus askin' me to q cup o. tea
Never bad nothing go to my heart 81
since my John died r'
"And where's Grace 2"
''She and her baby's lyin' aside her 2
and then, between her sObs, the kinC
old woman told the pitiful story.
George Reeverly's eyes grew very
black, and bis lips very white. He wen
straightway to the new graves, aud
with curses IN his heart, wept like 8
child. And that man had been the
cause There was much talk in the
village, but the Captain kept his OWL
thoughts.
1he Betsy was ready much sooner
tnah usual for the next trip. The Cap
Ialn never seemed so anxious to be away
from tne town. Some lumber was laid
H. win extra quantities Of corn. pota.
Toes ana unground fiour-but WHY. ths
men could not divine The nigbt 10,
starting came. There was a knock al
the door OF the young physician. wbr
was just preparing to leave the VILLAGE
You are to 60 on journey ssid m,
Captain. Take your clothes aud BOOB,
If you want iem.n
The young man struggled; but sailors
arms were too strong, and he was bur
Tied on to the ship. From that time on
no one spoke 10 him save once, when