The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-06-24

be made by her mother before her death.
She knew that If faithful service ever
deserved reward of the kind, she bad
earned it. But she would have scorued
TO ask it; and, now that it was given
voluntarily, her feelings overcame her,
and she fell upon the floor and wept.
'"Irs the way with the women;" said
the Judge to Peter. "I'd "a supposed
that Lie Hardine was proof against
that sort o. weakness; but it seems it's
in the sex. She'll recover her equanim-
/ fty after while, if you'll let her alone.
Now, show me a room, won't you?"
The two men left the kitchen to-
gether, aud took seats in the dining
room.
81 say, Judge, do you think lIe old
lady'n die of pretty sOon?"
Judge Herdpau laughed immoder-
ately.
"What pity she isn't dead already,
so you could enter iuto possession of
your patrimony at once. En-, Peter?'
The expectant beneficiary did not re-
ply.
I'D say she'd he likely to live half a
dozen years or so F.; aud if she goes on
making money at her present rate, your
wife'I be worth City thousau' at least
by the time the ole woman's through
with the farm. But it's a pity women
can't die when the worlds done with
'em."
Peter Tubbs also thought It a pity, but
he could not bring himself to say so. 1t
was not an easy thing for him to be
wholly INSCRIPTIONS and bad.
Mrs. Tubbs could not have wept more
eonvulsively or felt more deeply stirred
in her finer feelings if the news given
had announced her mothers death. IL
was with the utmos, difficulty that she
schooled herself to her regular toll and
when the middle Of the afternoon had
come, aud she was ready to sit down and
write to her mother, the filial gratitude
Of her heart went out in strains Of gush-
ing tenderness that, strange to say, we're
destined to be perverted by the court at
last into evidence that she had used
"undue Influence" in securing a will in
her own favor from the hand Of 2 weak
minded and easily persuaded mother,
whom she had caused 10 discriminate
upjustly against her brother and sisters
and in favor OF herself
"My precious mother" she wrote, her
heart so full that she forgot to date her
missive, al do 50 long to be with you
aud care for you in your declining days!
I look back upon the years when you
were helpless invalid, aud had no
friend but me, as tue very happiest of
my thwarted life. And, If it only could
be so that I might have you with me,
that l might brighten your closing
years and smooth your pathway TO your
heavenly mansion, should so rejoice TO
minister to you. My precious mother,
take care of your health. You are able
to live in ailluence aud ease during the
remainder Of your days. Do not, pray
| you, allow any undue regard for your
children to cause you to deny yourself
Of any luxury that money can bring or
desire suggest. God bless you, mother
Your daughters heart is sore, her feet
are weary, and her way hedged up. Bot
do not worry about me. have lived
thus long because | could not help it,
and do not doubt that shall live on for
the same reason. Can't you come and
visit me, mother dear? II / could only
pillow my weary head upon your loving
breast as did in my childhood, it would
rest me so. But do not come unless you
are able. ! will go to see you whenever
/ / can"
Judge Hardpau returned to the dis
I pensation of justice on the bench. Pc
ter Tubbs sat down in the kitchen aud
speculated upon the new enterprises
with which he was to astonish the world
when the cole woman" should be gath
cred to heI fathers, aud Mrs. Tubbs pur-
sued the toilsome tenor Of her way,
while the world wagged on as before.
TO be continued