The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-04-15

she lay upon her lonely couch, as still
and apparently as stony as though pet
rifed. But sleep had deserted her; and
sensation was so keeuly alive that every
little sound Jared cruelty upon her
quickeued nerves. Her ears were SO
acutely strung that the work Of a small
colony Of wood-rats, which had taken
shelter IN the rude attic over her head,
seemed like the heavy rattle Of advanc-
ing artillery. Without, the Winter
storm beat hard upon the cabin walls,
and the mad wind zhrieked a wild, dis
c1rdaut melody that sometimes seemed
like a victorious demons chant, and
again died away in the distance like
the despairing wall of a lost spirit.
Before her mental vision her past life
moved like a panorama. She recalled
her early years iu the woods az Chlnca-
pin Oaks, and remembered, far more
wildly than words could express, the
thrills Of ecstatic joy that had filled her
soul with tie bliss Of new experience
which she had thought would last for
ever, when on that memorable night
after her debut at the Fourth Of July
celebration, John Iugleton-her John
had pressed upon her virgin lips the
pure kiss Of betr0thal
Why had cruel destiny separated them
from that hour? What had she ever
been guilty OF TO deserve such fate
Was she not, from that hour before
high Heaven, the affianced wife Of her
lover? And had either Of them any
moral right to form other conjugal al
liauces? Would she have done by John,
under any circumstance, as he, without
provocation, had done 10y her?
20, my Gcj ! Why can not dcs3ise
him ?" she asked herself over and over
again, only 20 receive in answer the
mockiug melody Of the mad Winter
wind.
Very different were the cogitalious Of
Peter Tubbs on that memorable night,
as be lay at ease iu his bachelor cabin,
thinking only of LIE, and congratulate
ing himself that when be had won her
he would have q wife whose industry
and thrift would be a fortune 10 poor
man.
That Peter Tubbs ioved 'Lizs Harliue
as well as it was possible for a man OF his
mentality TO love at all, would not for
an instant have my reader TO doubt.
He had set Lis heart upon making her
his wife. To have failed, would have
wounded him deeply-just as deeply as
it would have wounded him TO lose a
faTurite horse, fine farm, or any other
valuable property by which an honest,
acquisilive soul sets store. He was as
willing 10 90 as far and risk as much
% gain her, too, as he would have been
10 gain any other great possession,
which, once acquired, he ight lawfully
call bis own. He listened calmly 10 the
wild waiiing OF the Winter night aud
thanked his lucky stars that ae had wit
messed the marriage OF John Ingleton.
To his mind that legal ceremony had
settled the matter, so far as Lie was
concerned; aud, as she was now free to
become Mrs. TIbbs, he was satisfied
Should Lize have become the wife Of
another he would have felt disappointed
aud humilia.ed no doubt, but he would
not have grieved very long over what
he could not help, and, as he argued,
neither would she.
Morning came, aud the Winter night
had walled and shrieked itself into
qnietude, and the storm-kiug had hied
him away TO the sea aud the mountains
Peter Tubbs arose aud prepared his
solitary breakfast, comforting himself
with the thought that Lie would soon
be there TO cook for him.
Lie HGrdiue left her sleepless pillow
and went mechanically about her &C.
c8stomed duties, pale and preoeeupied
but with never a thought Of Petel
Tubbs.
Mrs. Melissa HarJine, Of whom
fear my reader has lost sight, although
she bears an important part in The
sequel Of my DER true tale, and is, there
fore, not TO he forgotten, and ought no
t. be ignored, was now so far recovere,
from her paralytic aiiliction that she
felt herself able to resume her previou
life Of toll; and though, in strict justic
to her shattered physical forces, sh
should have left the heavier kinds @
labor for younger and stronger hands
yet she did not think so, and there bein
nobody except Lie who cared TO re
monstrate, she was soon again at he
loom aud treadle, and engaged in WELD
ing the shuttle aud bstten as Of yor'
But, amid all her toll and struggling
and all her mercenary tastes, she neve
forgot her mother-love, aud especiall
was she grateful 10 Lie for her dutifu
devotion during her long period Of helT
lessuess.
The younger Hardines were now larg
enough to labor with their father in th
fields, and Lie and her mother wer
usually left alone at the house with th
indoor work.
Breakfast was over, and Lie wa