Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-10-17

had married a woman with nothing besides
herself 10 beStow on him. except an incun,-
brance in the shape of boy.
Late on the fatal wedding day his first
Idea, when he was himself again after the
discovery III the SUmmer-hOuse was to get
back his passage money, 10 abandon his wife
and his s,ep-son, and escape to America in a
French steamer. He went t. the office of
the English company and offered the places
which lie had taker for sale The season OF
the year was against him: the passenger
traffic to America WAS at its lowest ebb, and
lrohts depended on fIeishts alone. Ii he
still contemplated deserving his wife he must
also submit 10 sacrifice his money. The 9TH
or alternative was tas he expressed il to HIM
sc!i) To have his pennyworth for his penny,
and to turn his family To some good account
In New York He had not quito decided
what to do when he got home again on the
evening of his marriage
At that critical moment in her life the
bride was equal to the demand on her re-
sources.
If she were foolish enough TO allow James
to act on his natural impulses there were
probably two prospects before her. In one
state OF his temper he might knock her
down. In another state OF his temper he
might leave her behind him. Her only hope
OF protecting herself, in either case, was
to tame the bridegroom. In his absence she
wisely armed herself with the most irresist-
bic destinations of her sex. Never yet had
he seen her dressed as she was dressed when
he came home. Never yet had her magnifi-
cent eyes looked at him as they looked now.
Emotions for which he was not prepared
Overcame this much-injured man; he stared
at the bride in helpless surprise That in
estimable moment of weakness was all Mrs.
Bellbridge asked for. Bewildered by his
own transformation, James found himself
reading the newspaper the next morning
sentlnentally, with his ann round his wife's
waist.
BY a refinement of cruelty, not one word
had been said to prepare little sgd for the
dreary change that was now close at hand in
her young life. The poor child had seen tho
preparations for departure, and had tried to
initiate her mother in packing up. She had
collected her few mOrsels of darned and rag.
ged clothing, and had gone upstairs to put
them In one of the dilapidated old trunks in
the garnet playground. when the servant was
sent to bring her back to the sitting-room
There, enthroned in an easy chair, sat a
strange lady; and there, hiding behind the
chair in undisguised dislike of the visitor,
was her little brother Roderick. Sgd looked
tmidly at her mother; and her mother said:
"Here is your aunt"
The personal appearance of Miss Wigger
might have suggested modest distrust Of
his own abilities to Lavater, when that self
sufficient man wrote his famous work on
physiognomy. Whatever betrayal of her in
herself her face might have presented, in
the distant time when she was young, was
now completely overlaid by surface of fab
by fat, which, assisted by green spectacles,
kept the virtues Tor vices of this wOnan's
nature profound secret until she opened
her lips. When she used her voice she let
out the truth. Nobody could hear her speak
and doubt for moment that she was an in
veterately ill-natured woman.
Make your curtSey, childr' said Miss
Wigger. Nature had so toned her voice as to
make it worthy Of the terrors of her face.
But for her petticOats, it would have been
certainly taken for the voice of man.
The child obeyed, trembling.
you are to 60 away with Inc" the school,
mistress proceeded, land to be taught to
make yourself useful under my roof"
sgd seemed to be incapable of understand
ing the fate that was in store for her. She
sheltered herself behind her merciless moth
| or. Pm going away with you, mamma"
she said-"with you and Rick"
Her mother took her by the shoulders and
pushed her across the room to her aunt
The child looked at the formidable female
creature with the mans voice and the green
spectacles.
You belong to me-" said Miss Wigger, by
way OF encouragement, land have come to
take you away" At those dreadful words
terror shook little sgd from head to foot.
She fell on her knees with a cry of misery
that might have melted the heart of a savage.
"Oh, mamma, mamma, don't leave me be-
hind! What have done to deserve it? Oh.
pray, pray. pray have some pity on mev
Her mother was as selfish and as cruel
woman as ever lived. But even her hard
heart felt family the influence of the most
intimate and the most sacred OF all human
relationships. Her florid cheeks turned pale.
She hesitated.
Miss Wigger marked Through her own
green medium) that moment of maternal In
decision, and saw that it was time to assert
her experience as an instructreSs of youth.
Leave it to me-" she said to her sister.
'You never did know and you never will
know how to manage children"
She advanced. The child threw herself
shrieking on the floor. Miss Wigger's long
arms caught her upheld her-shook her.
"Be quiet, you impv' 1t was needless to tell
her to be quiet. Syd's little curly head sank
on the scLoOlmistress's shoulder. She was
carried into exile without word or cry
she had tainted.
Ito te Continued