The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-11-04

down by der spring. 1 cannot easy take Won
bucket of water NIT me ven climbs dot hill, und
Greta has Won pain in her side"
"Shust let it be so, den. Wewill moot do house
next mont, ven we gets our moneys from de East
und builds de new barn." said Mr.. Zimmerman.
''Let us go up that little knoll and see how it
looks up there" said Bertha. ''That clump of
willows is so pretty"
''You thinks them pretty?" said Mr.. Zimmerman.
az don'd know dere may be some rattesnakes
dere"
"Oh," said Bertha, "they are not so likely to be
there on that rocky point the other side of your
house near your corral"
''You thinks so, Miss Russell ," said the wife.
"Dot boy Hans says he has been sick on dot hill
ofer yonder," and she pointed to a rocky ledge a
quarter of a mile away.
When the older people returned to the house,
they found all the dishes cleared away and the
house neat before dinner.
Bertha talked with Greta a little while, and in
rited her to come over and visit her She liked
the pure, honest character that shone in her face
and hoped she might see her often
When the afternoon was nearly done, Bertha
started for home. She was urged to stay longer
but refused she did not like to be out late
Hans volunteered to 90 with her. but she said she
would as lief go alone
Just as she was starting off, Earle rode up and
said he had come To escort her home He looked
rather grave and as soon as they Were started she
asked if he had any news
81 have letter from Roscoe" said he, ''and he
says your father is quite sick with some kind of
fever"
Bertha's happy face instantly clouded.
"What shall do ~ said Bertha 'How can
stay away, if my father is very sick >" and the
tears started and filled her eyes the first tears that
had stood in them since she left her home.
''You shall 90 ana see him if you wish, my
darling; and will 90 with you as far as to the
stage route, or to The Dalles if you are afraid to
90 alone" said Earle "Do not be too much
frightened. Ross says he will write again very
soon, and if your father becomes dangerously ILL.,
he will let us know Immediately"
The young couple rode slowly home with sad
dened hearts Sunset lights were on the hills
As they neared their home and looked over the
yellow, grassy slopes, glow so deep and mellow,
almost golden haze, seemed to hang over the
hills around their little cottage, endowing all its
surroundings with "a sort of visionary beauty.
Bertha looked, and thought what a shadow had
come her heart since she left il i'm the morn
ing then she thought how dear that little home
had become since first she saw it in that pleasant
she might be called 20 leave IL.
That time was speedily coming, ior bat "a few
days elapsed before second letter from Roscoe
Wills informed them that the fathers fever had
developed into the dreaded typhoid, and that it
must take its course For a man as old as Mr.
Wills, it was severe ordeal, TO say the least and
but little hope could be entertained that he would
escape with his life.
Poor little Bertha knew the danger well. for her
dear and only brother had once gone through the
disease, and he had youth on his side. She was i'm
a great flutter to get started she could neither
sleep nor eat and Earle feared to have her start i'm
that condition. But she said she would feel better
when she got oil, and felt she was doing some
thing TO make the distance less between herself
and her father.
They went on horseback till they met the stage
Bertha was well used to riding, and they could
go quicker i'm that way. Cleaveland went with
them to take back the horses, and they made very
good time and got in to the stage station early in
the afternoon.
Bertha could hardly wait patiently till the next
forenoon, when the stage would be along but she
slept that night and a.e O. very reasonable amount
Of supper and ee,fost Earle went with her as
far as The Dallcs
ITO De r.a.ugeI.1