Year: 1876

fortune had smiled propitiously upon
the rustic settlers upon the Western
Shore.


The new town, anticipated by George
Hanson, and for which he had married
the unsuspecting and honest heroine of
this o'er-true tale to get possession of,
was myth no longer. Men of capital
and enterprise had secured title to the
site, paying therefor to the legal heirs of
Mark Morrison, deceased, a sum that
had more than satisfied their modest as
pirations.


Thanks to the will-power and supreme
executive ability of Madge, as recorded
in a previous chapter Mrs. Andrews
had long been sole owner, in fee simple,
of the estate of her first husband, and
Jason Andrews no longer had the power
to hold her possessions for a calf pasture,
thereby keeping his family in penury,
as had been his wont, while crowding
those who were willing to pay for the
land and use it, away to the foothills, as
has been his ambition.


"Hen-pecked" the keepers of dram
shops and faro-tables styled him. But
the "hen-pecking," if such it were, was
for his good, as his altered fortunes
plainly testified. A commodious and
quite pretentious dwelling already occu-
pied the old grounds, where we last left
our friends in possession of the cabin
which Jason and Madge had built The
elegant grounds were well adorned with
flowers and shrubbery; the children of
both families were given all the advan-
tages of modern schools; Mrs. Andrews
grew contented and peaceful, and her
new surroundings added a wonderful
charm to her silvering hair. Alice
was assigned a lovely, vine-embow-
cred cottage, where she could en-
gage in little business to enable her to
rear and provide for her growing trio of
the so-called supporters of women.
Sara Perkins and her foster mother oc-
cupied a square-topped boarding-house
on the river bank, which they had
built by funds received from an unknown
source, though Sara strongly suspected
whence they came. The gossip concern
ing her little boy had well-nigh run its
course, and many were the offers OF
matrimOny that she received, the suit
ors being in need of servants to whom
they would not be compelled to pay
wages. But Sara Perkins still clung tc
the love of her youth with a tenacity
worthy Of a better object. Her sweet
sad face bore traces of mighty sorrow
but her love for her boy, in whose
soul the stain of illegitimacy had left, a
yet, no perceivable consciousness, wa
the love that is born of despair and des
olation. She idolized the child. Th,
boarders petted, the foster grandmothe
spoiled him. Out of the great agon!
and shame of her life had come to her
a sweet, sad restfulness that sustainet
her through the bitterest humiliation
woman may know.


But what of Madge Morrison, the Mo
lalla Maid and Matron? In an eIegan
suite of rooms in her mothers commo
dious house she had settled herself; he
little one and her books and music fill
ing her soul at times with quiet salts
faction.


The baby Pearl was jewel of rar
promise. The erewhile delicate beaut
of her father and the strong will an
impetuosity of her mother were strange
ly and beautifully blended. 1t was 8
tot l.,
of Madge's life, had concentrated all he
efforts to bestow beauty, intellect, an
healthfulness upon the precious bu
that had been bequeathed to her in h'
hours of greatest darkness.


Jason Andrews fairly worshiped tt
little jewel. Indeed, both mother an
babe became to him tangible, powe
full presence that filled his spirit wit
constant longing to deserve their 10y
and confidence.


1t was wonderful, the progress Madl
was making in personal culture. Ma
urally gifted far beyond the ordinary /
of women, she absorbed the lore of ag
as by inspiration. Always a seer in Il
estimation of those who knew her bes
she was now an oracle. But her so
was oftentimes clouded with sad u
rest. She was very frequently beset
the premonition of impending calamit
Her friends laughed at her superstition
fears in vain.


81 know the darkest hours of my Ii
are yet to come, for feel the fact in n
bones," she would say, decidedly.


She was constantly busy with sou
quaint device for little Pearl. She mi
istered unto the child by day and nigf
and her devotion to her passed into
proverb.


One day the suite of rooms belongl
to her were open for company. The d
was warm. Rare flowers filled the
with choice perfume. Birds sang in t
conservatory, and silvery founts
played at hide and seek within herl
rum that filled large bay windo