The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-10-28

appearance, so / have not yet made up my mind
whether l will come up and endeavOr to make
conquest, stay here and wait for somebody to
come You know am great admirer OF hand
some men. You say the Captain is handsome
and intelligent. l am willing to admit both state
ments; but have seen handsOmer man, and
one whom think / should like better than him,
provided it made any difference to anyone whether
| admired either The Captain has been as atten-
tive to little Marie as to since our return, and
you may as well give up all idea of a romantic at
tachment betwee us for he is not likely to fall in
love with such h plain face and slim purse
mlne when Marie is winning and stylish and
rich, and all the rest that is attractive to men,
was a little uncertain how you would take the
idea of RoscOes very evident admiration of Flor
ence He has been with her on several occasions
since wrote, and they called on me one evening
this week. Florence said Roscoe had taken her to
task about her close application to work and want
of outdoor exercise, and would have it that she
ought to go out more evenings if she sewed so
steadily daytimes. So when she said she could
not do so very well on account of being alone he
had urged her to let him come and 90 with her.
She told me privately that she did not know as
she ought to 90 with him, lest it create talk, or
his family would object | said, "Let people talk
II they want To, when there is nothing more to
talk of than that" Then / told her what you
wrote to me, that you chopped Ross would get as
good girl for wife" Tears came to her eyes as
she said, "What sweet woman Bertha is But,
Anice, do not know Mr.. Wills very well, and-I
may be wrong, but thought it so strange that he
took such an interest in my welfare, and was so
very kind, and he so wealthy and finely educated
l feared il might not be for good purpose You
know Anice, have had such experiences that
have learned caution, and ! thought YOU would
know l told her that she need not fear To trust
Roscoe implicitly, and she might follow his adj
vice with perfect assurance of his wisdom and care
for her good 81 have known him for years"
said l. land he is as good a gold" She seemed
50 glad when | told her this. Her face fairly
shone with happiness You know what an ex-
pressive face she has. do not think your mother
quite likes to have Ross 20 with her, but she
has not mentioned it to me. | think Ross has
visited Florence ever since YOU left but ne has not
waited on her in public but a few times. / am
quite sure, however that his intentions are seri-
GUS for his eyes tell the story of his very sincere
admiration. Ny school will begin i'm a few days
and then l may not have time to write such long
letters. Yours ever ANIcE.
The next letter contained only this:
PORTLAND September -, Is.
DEAR BERTHA:-I am so busy i'm getting these
little folks cooled down, and my school machinery
in working order that / have scarcely been out
anywhere except to church. Roscoe still goes
with Florence, and people wonder at it; but / do
not. / see her quite often, a~ she has moved to "a
pleasanter room near me. She told me that Ross
had told her Of it, and thought it would bc "a more
healthy location, and quite a. cheap, If not so
central. You say Ross has asked your opinion Of
the matter. ] am 50 glad for that proves ] was
/ correct i'm believing him TO Doe serious. You did
not say what you advised him, Bertha but /
know YOU are free from false scruplc- about the
matter and would only consider worth and char
/ acter That young lawyer whom they call
"Guppy' has been trying to 20 with Floy, but
do not think he meets with much announcement.
! ann getting 80 interested I'm the progre-, of thi,
romance that ] seem 10 have lost aIl interest Ia
my own. 1t is good thing, probably, that this
is the case, for mine does not appear to progress
All the friends are prospecting, and so is your
ANICE.
An interval of two week, followed this short
letter, and then came one that made up for its
! brevity:
PORTLAND, October -, Is.
! NoU DEAR INJURED ONE:-I know it was cruel
OF me to write such "a short letter / ought 10 have
considered your forlornity and done what ! could
to ameiorate your condition. To show my con-
Triton, ] will do you justice this time, you old
! dear! / have some good new, 10 write you, and
/ that is what makes me 50 jubilant. Harry Noble
has come to town, and the very first evening after
he arrived he cdme to call on me. lie is just rs
agreeable as ever, if not more so. am sure you
would like him. He has a situation on one of the
/ Cascade boats, and will remain here alternate
nights all Winter. He will be a most delightful
addition to our society. We had pleasant little
party at the church parors the other evening, and
Mr.. Noble accompanied me. He is a member of
our church, and engaged my company we re-
/ turned from service the same evening that the en-
/ tertainment was announced. The very next even
/ ing Captain Aidenn called, and asked me to 80 to
/ tho pntnrfaiumant wit him, courso | told