The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-12-02

said Bertha ''If he is half as good as Earle, he
will do"
''Do! l guess he ,0iU do! 1 think he is just as
good now, without turning out a Bit" laughed
Anice
Bertha's father getting quite WELL but he
weak yet and the doctor advised him to take
trip somewhere in order to regain his strength
so he concluded to go up with Bertha and see her
home. Bertha was jubilant over this, though she
was sorry her mother could not 90 too, and was
aware that it would put Off the time in which she
might see her husband, as it would be unnecessary
for him to come for her, now that she had her
fathers company. But she glad when she
thought of how she had feared she might have TO
go home without any father in the land of the
living, while now he was able to 90 with her. that
she did not worry much over the few days that
she would have to wait longer to see her husband,
though it seemed sometimes that she could not
possibly wait.
Mrs. Nimms and Anice went up the river with
Bertha, and they had merry time-"The mad
dest merriest time in all the glad New Year"
sang Anice.
1t so happened, without any visible prearrange-
ment, that Captain Hartly Aidenn was on the
same boat with them, on his way to his mine,
somewhere in Idaho. He was helpful and atten-
tive, without being in the least obtrusive. He
joined occasionally in the conversation, and said
many good things He was especially amused by
Mrs. Nimms, who sat and talked over the old
times in Barren county with Mr.. Wills to her
hearts content He said to Bertha that the old
lady was the most entertaining person he had met
in many a day. He most attentive to Bertha,
but watched Anice with eager eye, and lis
tened with apparent delight to her witty conver-
sation.
When the little party arrived at The Dales,
they surprised to meet Earle Russell. Ber-
tina was almost beside herself with joy, and Earle
seemed equally elated
~ could not think Of waiting longer, and hav-
ing you come over those rough disagreeable roads
without me-" said he to his wife.
"How good it Of you TO choose to 20 over
them twice yourself just to accompany me, you
splendid old felowr' said she.
"Just to accompany you! would be willing
to search for you in the Internal regions as did
Orpheus for Eurydice, if l could not find you else
where" said Earle.
"As though that was place he would be most
likely to find you" said Anice to Bertha.
~ do not wonder his mind easily reverts to that
location, after having travelled over those windy,
desolate regions which he has chosen for his home
think it is not more than one remove distant"
said the Captain.
"Oh, Captain Aidenn, shall never forgive
you for that speech !" cried Bertha.
II am sorry, Mrs. Russell, but l am sincere. I
can never forgive a man for asking such sacrifice
Of woman as to live in this lonely, God-forsaken
country"
"Why, Captain, am astonished at YOU" said
Ance. ~ fear you do notapprecate the country,
and thought you were a religious man."
II hope | am not an unbeliever; but if you do
not very nearly agree with me before you have
spent six months in the country, am Mistaken
~ shall never consider it forsaken of God, be-
cause I believe l shall be just near His kind
care and sustaining arm where l am going in
any other spot on EARTH" replied Anice, quite
solemnly.
''You will undoubtedly need it as much as you
ever did i'm your life. But I hope you will pardon
me for my thoughtless expression. l should fear
to have you remain there if l believed it to be
what called it" replied the Captain.
"Tf take the wings of the morning, and dwell
in the uttermost parts, even there shall
thy hand lead me- said Anice.
The little company was undivided part of the
way the stage trip and found each others
society great pleasure, which served to dsspate
the tedium of the journey. For Captain Aidenn
it passed only too soon.
1t was very plain to Bertha that his devotion
to Anice was undated but Ance seemed not to
notice it in the least
When the party finally separated, the Captain
bade Anice goodbye with the saddest face, and
an unmistakable quiver in his voice that wrung
her heart with sympathy.
TO be continued.l
Old Parson s., of Connecticut, was a particular