Year: 1875

"hN ~""ie 'AVhA ASSPSSe"piS ooSiSt.
were to do it after the most rigid
fashion of the Puritans. In order to
make the line of demarcation be-
tween the pure and the impure SO
strong, there should be no mistake
in the classes, and the result should
have been, morally speaking, of the
highest character.


But, alas for all Improvements, the
tide began to turn towards an influx
of female emigration, and are we
better now for this feeble effort to-
wards a purer state Of society, the
world may judge. Hetty was under
the ban. Not even in stern New
Hampshire would she have been
judged more harshly. She wished
she had not thought Of California,
but wishing was useless. Turning to
her male companions, she found them
rather lenient; they did not, of
course, believe much in deserted
wives making themselves conspicu-
Gus in any way. There was no need
to do it. She could have a good
time, in a quiet manner, without the
aid of the women; get divorce as
soon as possible, and marry some one
else to fight her battles.


The Blanafords were gone. They
did not wish to influence Hetty; but
of course it was not the thing for a
woman, alone in San Francisco, to
be indiscreet. They could cover it
all up by taking her to the noun
tains; but she would rot 60, and
there was an end of it.


Hetty had learned the Blandfords'
plans, and the use they were to make
of her. To escape entire isolation
they were going upon a ranch, dis
tant from civilizations; were to do
their own drudgcry, make the ranch
profitable, and finally become rich
enough to make themselves comfort
able somewhere else. She could live
with them, supply her wants through
their kindness, and be eternally
thankful for having been protected
in her disgrace.


This was the way Mrs. Blandford
stated the case before she left; but
Hetty concluded she would try dis
grace little while longer, und felt
eve. residence with Parton ard
clear starcblng as something more
cndurablc. 1t was notan easy matter
for Hetty to pursue the even tenor Of
her housekeeping business under the
circumstances. She kept aloof from
the ladies, and did not know but the
landlord might be influenced to do
something against her. But the
landlord had an eye to the leeward.
1t would save him two hundred dol
lars month could he marry Hetty;
he might as well help the divorce,
and avoid paying out so much
money. He became too tender with
her; the boarders began to surmise
in a new direction, and finally an
immaculate woman, who knew no
sin, suggested to the landlord the in
decency of allowing a woman, stu
ated as Mrs. Parton was, receiving so
many gentleman visitors, and sug-
gestion that she be removed, or that
Il nigeria to another hotel of all the
ladies would he the result. 1t was
hard upon Hetty; nevertheless, the
landlord knew the value to his house
of good reputation, and proposing
to take his housekceper in charge,
get her a small house, and let her
take in gentemen's mending, was the
next proposition; but Hetty did not
perceive this to be any nearer state

of social equality with aristocracy
than the laundry, and she set about
diligently to search out Parton.


He was not to be found; he had
gone to the mines, or made some
other exit from San Francisco
scenes; had very likely found some
other partner for his laundry, and
so had established himself elsewhere.
Poor Hetty! there was not an hour
now that she didn't feel that the hills
of New Hampshire were dearer to
her than all the world beside, and
with an anxious tugging at her heart,
she took leave of the st. Francis and
settled down to mending.


ITO be continMed.)