The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-09-02


/ ing. Well, Miss Nettire stands aghast,
/ am told. She says, 1t is no wonder
that so many young women are going
straight 10 destruction, and that people
sneer at Christianity, when a woman
who, from her position alone, should be
pre-emiuently adorned with good works,
attires herself Instead in gold aud pearls
and broiiered array that means my
pieeing, you know. What should | do2
/ Remain a prisoner in the house, and
then be ceusured for uon-attendauce at
the church, non-visiting. etc? say
we cannot serve two masters, and ! pre-
/ fer God to Miss Neitire. b wise man.
+ Go aud DO likewise"
/ Miss Nettire's thin face was crimson.
/ What sermons she had preached With
that paletot for a text What a scape-
goat for the sins OF the community was
that luckless horse In her estimation (!
and how much she had added to Mrs.
I Hauton's heavy burdens. How uatu-
raj, simple aud inevitable looked the
very things that in her eyes had been
inexcusablel
".
Time, lunch-time; place, Mrs Gore
outs breakfast room; persons, the angel
and Miss Nettire, Mrz Goreout and her
cousin Sue.
Mrs. Goreout was a pretty woman,
and made the most Of il. Her chestnut
hair was rolled back becomiugiy from
her arch face. \ light min led bit Of
lace perched jauntily over her forehead,
evidently setting up for a breakfast-cap,
though IL could have no reasonable ex-
peciation Of being taken for more than
a rosette. In Miss Nettire's opinion,
this biz Of lace was the key note TO Mrs.
Goreouts character. Il was Of no pussi-
ble use. Il could not keep her warm.
She did not need il, for she was not bald.
IL was there just to look pretty-Mrs.
Goreours highest aim aud constant en-
deavor, although she hypocritically pre-
tended TO care for better things.
"Now," thought Miss Neitire, "if she
knew an angel was looking at her,
wonder If she wouldn't wish herself in
plain gray dress instead OF that ruflled
wrapper, and whether she would try TO
tuck her hair behind her ears or not ~
But Mrs. Goreout evidently had no
suspicion Of an angel She sat c1mpla-
Gently in her iuiquitous gown, smiling
rs she dropped Jumps Of sugar into her
cousin Sues coffee, aud talking in a
pleasant voice.
"Grievous things are said against me?
What are they ?"
Sue smiled aud coiUed a word on the
spot;
"Nettires."
"Ohv' and Mrs Goreours white fore
head contracted little.
"You are a member Of the church
and yet, Miss Netlire says, you are ab
sent half the time from the praye
meetings, aud from the Mothers Fian
mel assemblies; and more than that, sh'
don't see, for her part, bow you car
come fiounciug to the communion an'
prayers in silk aud velvet. She shoul'
think you would be afraid"
Mrs Goreout sighed and looked dowl
for a moment, aud then flashed a brigb
smile at Susan.
"Foolish TO care, is it not? I won
care. Il is true, WAS not at the praye
meeting last Wednesday. But Their
was a reason for IT, Old Lisbs's com
plaint is just now so bad that it keep
her in bed. / could send her what sh
needs; but you know there are plent!
TO attend the prayer meeting, and ther
are not plenty who will bathe LisbR'
poor limbs, and brush her hair, and tall
her into a happier humor She told m
once that for years her heart was as har
7 as a stone, because she thought that Co
j had made one world for the rich an
} another for the poor, and that the ricl
! threw alns TO her, aud such as her, a
{ they would to dog TO keep them frou
r. being too troublesome. But when Ia
{ dies who were rich aud happy aud fortu
r nate left their grand houses 10 sit dow
T with her in her smoky room, aud tai
TO her about her troubles, and waited o.
her with their own hands for Jesu.
- sake, then indeed she did believe ther
=. was Jesus, aud that Christians di
e love one another. Now, Sue, I woul
D. never dare to stay taay when 81
s. needed me, after thai. Think Of Il
is harm I might do anyone already so so
lie at heart"
Miss Nettire WINGED. She felt q
ID gaze Of the angel fixed on her with
10 look Of solemn inquiry.
e, "And about the Flannel Society.
er continued Mrs. Goreout. 81 was abse
D, from that, too. 1t was the only day
10 which I could take old Mrs. Bathersl
il and Miss Simcox to drive, and th'
Sc have grown to count so on that week
~ ride They have so little pleasure; an
y though they pinch aud save every ce
ie just TO live they are 50 proud it is Il
e. only thing dare offer them. They NJ
u the change, aud they like, too, to ha
Te ithe carrisge drawn up in front Of tbs