Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1882-09-09
like her, and she begged me to wait till

dices before should speak to you about
it. Mollie watched father with me dur
ing the after part of the night, and he
had an easy, rational spell toward morn
ing, and he said, 'Id like to give Mollie
to you before die, as your mothers
legacy hadn't supposed Mollie was
his to give, but then she wasn't anybody
else's, and + thought he enjoyed the
fancy. The property is all mine, moth
er."
"And SO / shall lose you, my baby
son. and your father, too, ON the same
day /" cried Mrs. Huntline throwing
her srms around Ned and crying uncon-
trollahly.
Ned was vexed and annoyed. For his
life he couldn't see why his mother was
not pleased with the idea of becoming
the lifetime companion of Mollie Haw-
kins, the village dressmaker. Molle
was an orphan, steady, Industrious, self
willed and handsome. Mrs. HuntJine
would have been reasonably satisfied
with her daughter-in-law If il had not
been for the prospect OF living with her
as dependent upon her bounty.
Ned's father, feeling that he vas soon
to die, had bequeathed to him the home
stead and retail grocery store as leg
acy, upon the condition that his mothec
should have home and it's comforts
during all her declining years. Mrs
Huntline was sorely grieved because of
the will. but she was Lot the woman to
protest against h, husban's dying wish,
SO she wept over it i'll bitter and secret
humiliation, and at last Resigned herself,
as a silent MARTYR, to astate OF dependence
upon the good will of her son and whom
soever he might marry. But she had not
dreamed that lie would marry Mollir
Hawkins, whom, OF nil the girls Of her
acquaintance, size most thoroughly dis
liked.
81 do not think / can live happily
with Moilie, Ned. You know have nc
where else to go, and you ought to con-
slider my wishes little"
"Why, of course you can, If you'll be
reasonable. You've only ro turn every
thing over. just as it stands, to her, aud
you can make yourself comfortable. I'd
be thankful to all, body that would take
everything o'lttf my bands and graran-
tee me support, without effort on my
part, during the remainder of my nat
ural life."
lyon don't know what you are talking
aboIt, Ned. 1T WAS never the design of
nature that any person should live III
that way"
II know it wasn't so designed for
men, bnt with women it's altogether
different"
Mollie Hawkins, who had been an
assiduous attendant upon Ned's father
during his long illness, appeared on the
scene ut this jnnciure, as she had done
for n fortnight past. TO know if she could
be of any service dnring the day.
"Mollie." said Ned, rising g Motif
er, allow me to introduce your now
daughter.
"My future MISTRESS" thought Mrs.
Huntlne, rising to salute her, and try
iny hard to smile through her tears.
Mr. Hnntline is awake now, and
seems easy" said the nurse, entering
the dining-rooln on tiptoe, and helping
herself to the coffee with the air OF per-
son to the manor horD.
''Eat your breakfast, nurse, while We
visit the chamber together" said Mrs.
Hunti;ne.
II will 60 and procure the license and
the preacher" said Ned. ' Father is
rational now, and he may grow delirious
ii we wait longer"
The other soEs of the farnily were
too far awuy to be summoned tohis bed
side.
The dying man greeted his prospect
i've daughter with VAN smile OF well
come.
"She will be your legacy, mother"
he viii pered. "Ned has the property
lnd you will have her, and may you all
he happy. Where's Ned ?"
"Gone for the preacher, father. He
will be here presently" said Mollie,
stopping to kiss him on the forehead.
Mother" exclaimed the dying man,
g / have provided as we'll as l could for
your support. You will have no more
cara and no more work during the re-
mainder Of your days"
Aud no more liberty" was the poor
wife's silent echo. but she made no audi
ble reply.
"I'm going long road, mother, but
the journey will soon be over. Don't
weep for me. Well meet again in the
morning of new existence"
Ned entered with the license and the
minister, and the dying mans attention
was engrossed to his latest moment of
consciousness in witnessing the cere-
mony that was to unite the young peo-
pie till death or divorce should part
them.
"Take good care of mother, Mollie,"
was his parting injunction.
The death-damp gathered on his fore
head, the death-rattle sounded in his
throat and all was over,