The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1881-04-21

L
cherries Offices cold and frightened, with tina
lin its present form unstable story, rose befor
Ine, and determined to make work for her unit
l could find her some easy, permanent employ
ment elsewhere So | said, quickly, as though i
were the very assistance of all others Of which
stood most in need:
"If you are willing to accept work of that kind
/ can employ you two or three hours day for
month or two, and you may begin at once"
Her eyes sparkled the thanks she did not speak
/ bade her Law aside her hat and shawl, seat her
self at the chiefs desk and prepare to copy the
Chinese-like chaTaters OF the famous author Owe
which had been puZZling the day before.
She obeyed me with the simplicity of a child
and soon bending over her task, flush o
pleasure on her cheeks, transcribing quickly ano
faithfully.
As for me- the sight of that tiny hand travelling
over the paper with wonderful grace and ease
and the cear-cut profile dropping above it, caused
some ludicrous mistakes i'm the article | was writ
ing, about which mistakes | received no less thar
seventeen communications during the week fol
lowing its publication.
The two or three hours passed away. Sh,
showed me what she had accomplished with
pride, accepted payment for it with blush
donned the Summer hat and shawl, and trippeC
away, promising to come again on the morrow
The morrow found her punctualy at her post
and did many morrows, and at last the Ms
was almost copied, and had been unable to finC
any other employment for my faithful amanuen-
sis. Meanwhile the child had told me her sal
/ story. Her mother died at her birth. She haC
never had any home but had always lived in
bOarding-hOuses with her father, schOol-teacher
who, dying, left her to the mercy of an only rea-
tive, wealthy aunt. That aunt-Heaven forgive
her refused to receive her. saying she had
children of her own to look after, and she nc
reason why the girl should not follow her fathers
profession.
81 tried to-" said Winona, "but the children
would not mind me. Minnie Minciette minds
me, because she loves me. ! board with Mrs.
AIinciette, and teach Minnie in part payment fOI
nv board. Mrs Minciette is not unkind to me-
] bnt Gha il mot as Sha hef Il iad
And papa used to say wrote excellent compost
tiOns, and 50 | thought perhaps / could write
stories for the papers. And was induced To com,
to you first by hearing a gentleman, "A writer
praise you very highly one day. He is one Of the
kindest-hearted fellows in America he said
But, for all that, / came to your door three day,
in succession before could get courage enough e
knock. And when did knock on the fourth day
you called Come i'm such awful cross voice
that came near running away again. And one
Of those three days when was standing outside
you were laughing and talking with handsom,
young lady. | heard you, and saw her. She haC
the loveliest ostrich feather in her hatn
"And what has become of the story, WinOna -
l asked.
She had rebeIled against 'sAIiss Silver" or ever
''Miss WinOna," at an early period Of our ac
quaintance, on account Of my being much
Older than she. | was eight-and-twenty, and she
was ten years younger
"AIy story''-wth a musical Iaugh-''whicl
you altered until it your story? / sent il tC
the Weekly ROnlGnce Portfolio, and they accepted
I
good indeed And they sent me check for its
very short check for such long stOry-and therS
il is ~ pointing to a cloth jacket that hung besid,
my overcoat. 'And now that you've mentioned
the story, she continued, all her old shyness com
ing back again. II should like to show you-but
am afraid
Nonsense, WinOna; you not afraid What
is it?"
a poem Of mine if it deserves that title :" anC
she pushed paper across the desk 10 me.
I unfolded il, and read a really pretty httl,
poem, which, however, in spite OF Its prettinessi
found as unsuitable for our paper the story ha1
been After reading il, / sat apparently buried il
thought, conscious that WinOna was stealing
glance at me every now and then from under he
long lashes but in reality puzzling my brain, a
had hundred times before as To what was 10 be
come Of the poor, pretty, frank, innocent girl, lef
alone 10 battle with the world.
"Bv Jove - / exclaimed aloud, ''its too bad =
Is il so very bad p" she asked In faltering tones
81 wasn't referring to your verses, Winona
They very good indeed, MY should sa!
Winona."
/ "And you will accept them?'
parried the question with another In a flash
my heart had been revealed to me.
''WnOna, will you write a valentine for me?
never could do anything in the way of rhyme
/ myself
''I shall be glad to do So ~ her voice trembling
little as it to be the handsome ostrich feather
! mean TO the handsome young lady with tn
ostrich feather?n
"Perhaps Take sheet Of paper and set dow
in prose what you to turn into poetry. Tel
her that the first time / saw her my heart owne
her for its queen that since that bright and happ
day she has never been absent from my thoughts
that | love her with sncerest love, and long {
hear her say that she loves me.n
The little maiden grew paler and paler as sh
wrote, and when she had finished / saw the hand
90 half way 10 the saddened face, but fall again i
obedience to a will-command.
Il will write it Tonight and bring it early tC
morrow" she said, "for tomorrow is st. Waller
tines Day.
; Ahj although reached the Office earlier tha
usual hSXt morning, Winona was there before m,
looking poor child, as though she had passed
weary, sleeless night
- 81 have Drovght tho vorsoe - she said, "and
, hope you will life them"
( 81 am sure shall,' l replied "Reao them
me, WinOna."
Whom first bv TIeav'u bless the hofr