The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-01-22

This thrust was followed by another
cynical sueer, quite as exasperating a.
the first.
The conversation had occurred IN th'
edge Of the wood, where father and sor
had been at work during the forenoon
engaged in clearing fallen timber from
the road-timber that lay prostrat'
everywhere at intervals, the result o.
/ the recent storm that had covered ths
western slopes Of Missouri with a coal
OF sleet, and blocked the river with the
ice over which John Ingleton had safely
rushed toward liberty.
Young Hardiue, who had been stand
ing, axe in hand, during the coiloquy
with his father, dropped the tool and
started homeward.
"Let him go!' said The sire, soto
Uoce. "The best way 20 bring him TO
bis senses is to leave him to himself"
whats the use o. staying here,
working away Ike a galley slave, and
having nothing for my pains but the
far-od prospect Of owning these acres
that the monarch ~ hold on to like
grim death 10 a dead Injuu tin Pm too
old to care for anything else but his way
of living, which I now detest .! he NUT
tered, as he stalked homeward through
the mud and slush that the previous
nights rain had caused.
The Winters toll at home had made
sad inroads upon the health aud spirits
Of Lie Hardine AT least, the neigh
bors said so, aud she did not contradict
their report. Yet, bad they known the
secret burdens Of her heart, they would
have judged her differently, though
perhaps with less of sympathy than
now. The name of John Ingleton was
never mentioned in her hearing now,
except In execration. After the news
Of his supposed crime Of forgery went
abroad land tie parties claiming to be
most interested took particular care
that the story should be well circUlated).
she had at first resolutety set herself 20
work TO Danish him from her heart
aud memory. But every fiber Of her
being rose IN inward rebellion against
this determination, and in little while
she was ashamed OF having harbored,
even temporarily, a doubling or dis
loyal thought concerning him.
''IIe is just as much bone Of my bone,
aud flesh of my flesh, in the sight OF
heaven, as though human law had al
ready sealed the contract" was her all
most constant thought. "Aud will not
believe him capable Of an act Of iufamy
~ which I would not be guilty" she
would add "So; let the world way as
twill; let destiny play games OF hazard
with my fate as 10 may, there is one
principle with me that is stauch and
eternal, aud that is loyalty to John"
She harbored these thoughts at the
loom aud the wash-tub, and did not for
get them amid the burdens OF her kitchen
toll They penetrated her being as she
miuistered daily and hourly 20 hei
/ mothers needs, and imbued her spirit
with quiet peace throughout the silent
watches of the night. Sometimes, in.
deed, a realization that hope was long
and indefinitely deferred would fiji bel
soul with sadness and then the sens,
Of unutterable longing that possessed
/ her would make her pray to die. But
she was sufficiently healthy, elastic anC
strong in both temperament and will tC
conquer such feelings; and, after every
new struggle with herself, she realized q
Consciousness Of victory over circum
stances which, if unsatisfactory, was al
least soothing.
Her mothers physical condition re.
maiued about the same as when th,
reader last knew her The doctor, after
a few professional visits in the earliel
stages Of her malady, had been dismissed
/ by her economical husband for pru.
Dental reasons.
"No use o. payin' Doctors bills
There's uothin' in it % was his expressed
opinion, and when he expressed
himself about anything he always
intended that his word should be
law. Bus, now that his children were
getting old enough 70 sometimes defy
/ his authority, be grew more strenuous
than ever i'm asserting his legal right "a
{ rule his unresistiug and helpless spouse;
aud the only way i'm which be could
eleetually oppose her in her present
condition was by depriving her Of med.
ical assistance, Of which, IN truth, she
stood in little need, save that the physi.
clans visits had been a little diversion
in her monotonous, half-dead existence
sally Hardine, who bad latterly taker
up her constant abode with the Widow
Ridgeway, thereby increasing the DO
nestle cares Of her younger sister, was a
home for a half-holidsy, when Joh,
came home in heat OF anger aud de
manded walk aud private Interview
with Lie.
Certainly, John I'll go walking
with you, seeing Sally's here to sta,
= with mother for a while. It's a lon
) time since had time to get out into th
, open air" she said, cheerfully; and, 81
raging herself in her scauty wraps, sh
sci out with her brother across th
3 mooriand and into the forest, not carln
p to ask whittier they were going or th
cause Of this unusual request
! The wind was sharp. but the sun wa
shining, and the mud aud slush were
= little moment to the girl, whose fee
ineased in great brogans. scarce songl