The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-12-04
CHAPTER III
rZE AT HOME.


Hariiue ws seized with nervous
trsmor
sal.g," ne whispered, didn't you
hear somebody stirring the leaves in
the thicket yonder ?"
Nonsense! ! no. You are foolish
girl. Come inside. I'll lead you to the
attic. Joe's asleep at last, poor fellow
He's had an awful night of it,"
"But I'm afraid father saw me a
while ago! Never mind Joe's broken
leg Hide me, quick r'
Sally led the way, and the frightened
girl followed her to the attic room,
where the bed that had been Sam
Ridgeway's till death took him, was as
signed to her for an hours rest.
"pn go down now, Lie, and see
after Joe, poor fellow II be shouldn't
get well his poor mother would go dis
tracted. 1 must DO the best I can for
him while I am here"
"But you'll see il fathers out there,
won't you I thought he was in the
bushes 90 and Lie, who would have
been in a transport Of happiness but
for the sudden fear that possessed her,
hastily divested herself Of poor Joe
Ridgeway's butieruut suit, aud hid her
self beneath the led clothes.
After her lover left her he turned with
a sharp lookout toward the thicket,
where the rustling had been heard, but,
detecting nothing that could arouse
further suspicion that the identity Of
his aflianced had been discovered, he
hurried back on foot to the thieket that
skirted the grove at Chincapin Oaks,
where be had left his faithful horse Sc
curely tied. But some spirit Of mischief
had preceded him there, for the horse
was gone. He suspected a prank Of
some Of the young people as the cause
Of the disappearance, and, with a low
whistle, started homeward, resolved
to make the best Of practical joke.
Nothing, save the prospect of a final
separation from Lie Hardine, could
have disturbed his equanimity that
morning as he strode through the woods
in the gray Of the coming twilight, his
companions the early birds that echoed
his happiness from tree to tree in theii
sweet native songs.
His plighted troth was at that hour az
sacred a covenant as though the
clergy had already added the
suthority Of his mandate to the fret
loving kiss that he had left, at parting
as an eternal seal upon the ruby lips oi
the gentle girl who would have died fol
him.
The twilight faded into the early
morning, and the widow Ridgeway
feeling much recuperated because Of th'
few hours sleep which Sally's vigil haC
enabled her to get, was up betimes, be
side her crippled son. Being assured
by Sally that her charge was yet sleep
ing, the good woman kissed her thanks
and, to ease her restlessness, paid a visi
10 the attic, where Lie was dreamily
enjoying a halEconscious reverie, o
which the central thought was a pair o
honest eyes Of BLUSH gray.
"Sally has told me all about you
troubles, honey" said the widow, ten
derly. "But you're Of age to-day, =,
you needn't feel your fathers cruelty
any more. II he whips you now, yol
can appeal to the law, you know"
The young girl rose from the simpl
couch, and, donning her own attire
10
short, but it had refreshed her much
and, like her brother John, whom sh
encountered at the door OF her father
house, she was too happy to feel fatigue
The watch dogs, Of which the Har
dimes kept half dozen, were easil,
quieted by the gentle assurances Of tn
twain, as they loitered for a moment t
exchange greetings on the riekety door
steps.
at was good Of you to come to th
rescue, Sis" said John, exultantly
"Old IngletOn would have had swe'
revenge If you hadn't. Your disguis
was complete; and nobody could 1
beat you as a reader if they'd trie'
What a pity you wasn't born boy ~
''Irs a pity some boys don't take
little better advantage Of their oppo
tunities, John. You've had as good
chance to learn to read as /"
"But didn't We out-maneuver Ill
monarch, though ?" asked John, with
chuckle, lngeniously ignoring his sii
tors last rannarE
"Idid," said Lie, ''for I'm Of age t.
day. Just let him offer to whip me, :
he said he would, and I'll"
The sentence was not finished. SuC
denly the door was opened, aud th
monarch" himself stood before then
in the half undress which const
tutes the Western farmers sleeI
ing gear; and, before either of ther
could speak, be began to belabor Lii
with a raw-hide whip made Of Il
youghly-braided thongs Of a bullock
hide, as tough aud unwieldy as h,
been the horns Of the venerable amin
which once had worn the hide as co
ering.
'Lize's resolves Of bravery fOrsoC