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

He surveyed the situation with III
Disguised satisfaction, but Incredibly
abstained from open ezultation.
In a little while be sought his legal
adviser, Hardpan.
"Come over and board with us,
Judge" he said. you're welcome to
free entertainment in my house as long
as Court sits. II il hadn't been for you,
she'd have got away with the whole
concern"
ats well indeed for men that there
are salutary laws to restrain obs,reper-
Gus women," said the Judge, as he
rubbed his hands gleefully.
"Yes, you may well say it's well for
the men," replied the not altogether
happy husband ; "but, after all, isn't it
a little hard on the women ?"
Don't be u fool, Tubs. or course it
would be bard on the women If they
possessed the self-esteem and firmness
that naturally belong to men. But
with women it's different They are
weak-minded and irresoluie. You nevef
saw one Of EN- yet that wouldn't squeal
when you'd steal her chickens"
81 wish l could take the view Of mat
ters that you DO, Judge. But hang me
if l believe I've served Lie exactly
right. In spite of your logic, can't
help thinking that I'd feel better if I'd
DO by her as Ia want her to do by me"
"Theu what the deuce are you croak-
in about? You brag one minute about
your luck in bringin' her to terms, and
the next you berate yourself ike a self
condemned pirate over the v hole busi-
ness. I'd be a man or a mouse, if we're
you, Pete. A man that can't rule his
own household wisely aud well oughtn't
to have a family"
'It seems that you failed once upon a
lime to rule your household 10 your lik-
Ing, Judge Hardpau "
Peter Tubbs had trodden purposely
upon the Judges teuderest corn.
"Tf / couldn't control, could crush ?"
-he Judge cried, savagely. "When my
wife grew obstinate, l took a different
method to subdue her from that 1 adj
vised for you, because the two women
were so deueedly different, don't you
see ?p
Peter TubLs must have 'seen," for he
bowed his head in acquiesceuce.
"My wife" continued the Judge,
twas a timid, shrinking little thing,
and never worth cent to take her own
part except when her temper was up,
and then, sometimes, she'd try me
dreadfuIly. But she'd be gay enough
when I wasn't 'rounI, so I'd hear; and
once, when I'd been of on a circuit for
several months, some o. my chums
came to me with stories that looked
plausible on their face, which l was
obliged TO resent, or lose my dignity as 8
husband. Not that ever helieXed any
harm Of the woman; but things looked
bad. Tire neighb0rs were talking about
her and 1 couldn't afford 20 allow my
honor to be doubted. NJ wife had to
hold herself above suspicion, or abide
the consequences. I accused her Of mar
ital infidelity. Why. Tubhz, you ought
70 have seen and heard her. I'd no idec
there was so much grit in her. You
never see a tiger robbed Of her cuts cut
half so many shines. She vowed that
she'd leave me, aud said she'd always
hate me, aud a great deal more on that
strain but, bless you, she'd never CON
fess her guilt, nor anything bordering
on it,"
Didn't you say you didn't believe
her guilty ?"
"Yes; but I didn't admit il to her!
And when she got too sassy over it, in
order TO vindicate my coujugal honor
and set myself right before the public, I
just packed her trunk and traps aud set
'em outdoors, and when the stage came
along, I had 'em put her aboard and
ship her back to her people"
"And the children"
81 kept 'em, you bet"
A more cultivated listener might have
been disgusted with the Judges slang
Peter Tubbs was disgusted only with his
Didn't she grIeve over the separa-
tion, Judge?'
rob, yes. Tha! was part OF the pro-
gramme, you see. She hired out at
kitchen service here and there for year
or two, aud supported herself and sent
the children presents once in q while I;
but I'd never let her set eyes on them,
and after e while they forgot her."-
"But you're living together now, I
hear"
ooh, yes. It's deuced incouveuient,
raising your young ones without a
mother. Everybody else that does any
thing for them has to be hired, you
know. Besides, I'd already vindicated
my honor before the public by Danish
ing her from home. She had no busi-
ness, as my wife, 10 get herself talked
about, you see. After I'd let the public
know that I appreciated my own dig.
nifty, ] was willing then to compromlss
with her."
"Was she willing 10 go back to you ?'
NO" speaking slowly aud with q
peculiar emphasis. "Bui. you see,
knew the woman nature Of the anima
about her young ones, aud I made th,
chickens yeep for her. That fetebe,
her. There's nothing humiliating tha
you eau think Of that mother won't d,
for her children"