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About The new Northwest. (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887 | View Entire Issue (June 9, 1881)
h I - ' h 2 -v THE NEW: NOKTHWEST, THUKSDAr,' JUNK 91881. J" i 4 . r REAPING THE. WHIRLWIND. A Novsb. ' Br: MARY EtOXHE COM 1W. , . . - ; ' - I Application for Coprrlfht forward! to th Librarian of , Coniraw at Waahtncton, I. C.J . CIIAITEI1 XII. . Fire ! Fire J Fire !" The startling cry rang out, sharp and clear, on the still night air. II war-caught up and echoed, from point to-polnt, till It swelled Into t roar of tremendous volume. -' V "'' "Fire! Fire! Fire!" Hundreds of rolces proclaimed the fearful thf- Jngs. Trumpets sounded discordantly, and bells pealed out awlld alarm. The crack of falling timbers, the hissing of the water a It fell on the seething, writhing mass of flame' the shrleklnglof the engines, the hoarse snouts or the nremen, mingled Vlth" the, frenzied cries of men, women and children, who were fleeing half-dressed from the burning, buildings all went to make the 'Fire! Fire! Fire!"- - The sound had reachedMeg at last, . She sprang to her feet and listened a moment.' There could , be no mistake. Again and again, from every sldef , from above and belowr came that warning cry. She ran to the door, shook-it, beat against It, calk Ing for help In tones of madness, and finally of de spair.' In vain!. No one-could have heard her voice above that wild tumult. It made no more sound than water dripping Into the raging sea. For the first time Mena's cries were unheeded. , The child clung to Meg's skirts, calling her by ' name and begging for attention; but her voice fell upon deaf ears. T ' ' " Their dellveryfrom an awful fats canie-as-aud- ' denly and unexpectedly as their perjl, The door ? burst open and their Jailer stood before them. The man's face, which aahour before Meg, would unhesitatingly have pronounced' the most repul- slve thai her eyes had ever rested upon, now, In i the. guUe-- of J' friend n - uecd,J,Leemed to- be transfigured absolutely radiantand hls.Wlee .. was certainly the most melodlou she had ever heard when he said: ; . , "Come quick ! There I no time to lose." Snatching Mena In her arms, Meg followed the man out Into the street. - ill I tiding clouds of smoke . ' and cinders fell over them. The streets, were black 'with 'people, and, feeling dazed and lost, Meg struggled to keep near the man, as If he had : been a friend; but she was rudely1 reminded of Ills unfriendly guidance by a tight, painful grasp .. on her arm. She turned toward the mau fiercely. , "Let go toy arm ! I am free, now !" J -rr "Are you ? Come along with ne, and be quiet, or you will suffer for it." " 1 ; ,v -; - , "Never rr her a man in full pundit,' Nearer and nearer he came. Tn spite of her most strenuous efforts, he gained rapidly on her flagging footsteps, . "Stop I" hissed a voice, " , ' " Never!" was borne back upon the wind. 7 The sharp report of a plstoj rang out on the air, and the girl sank down on the steps at home. Hhe had won the victory, but It was dearly bought. She had been faithful to' her. trust, but her heart d rlnned blood. The bullet had done Its fatal work. A gasp, a low, Quivering sigh, anil Meg's life was finished. ' ; - J f.-..- : A Utile later, WyelHTe came slowly and heavily home from. his vain search. As he was ascending lithe steps, he stumbled over the prostrate figure. He stooped and looked closely. , ' , . "Heavens ! a woman and a child ' . : - rz He rang the bell, and endeavored to lift tlie.oio t ton less form. As he did so. a warm stream of blood gushed over his hands. He recoiled, while great drops of perspiration beaded his brow. r "Great Ood I There has been foul play here XI The door was opened, and a flood of light poured over a ghastly scene Wycllfle standing there with a look of horror on his face, and at his feet the body, of a woman weltering in blood.- i : "- - "Here'Wiuters f ' Help me carry her ln.M ' ..' '-Together they raised the figure, already stiff In death, and, carrying it Into the ball, laid it down carefully .Wycllffe pushed back the shawl, which completely hid the faces' of the woman and child, As she spoke, the glrL gave her arm a violent wrench, almost unjointlng It f hut the man's fin gersouly tightened like a band of steel.' By this time they had reached the outer edge of the crowd, -and 'jdeg saw that it was -now-or never thatdeti v- . erance must come?' '.' "Let me go, I say ! Help! Help!" - At this unexpected cry, several persons, prompt ,d-bycuriosllyr-drew- iiearr--To-them the matt explained that his obstreirsjchargeji'at a ruji rAwayaughtOTTmaieTwa trying to take, her home. Perfectly satisfied, the crowd fell back to allow them to pass, and laughed derisively when Meg begged that some one would save her. .Turn ing' their attention 16 the fire," tliey left her to" her fate. .: ' 1. , ' !' Soon after, a policeman shook Meg roughly by the .shoulder, and bade herlcea.se her "Infernal howling," or he would "lock her up." . H -"JWIU you? Oh! If you would, I might find iriy friends then !" she cried, In desperation. - 'S!a doubt of It. Tlat'a the place for the likes f ye to find their friends," ' A nd, with coarse laugh'one of our efficient pollcem up turned to an unoffending boy, knocked him down, and kicked him, for "creating a dis turbance - --iJ-iH-i L'il-i'--i-i Ilesistance seemed useless, so Meg walked on with her captor In sullen silence. Hut suddenly a flash of light overhead caused them both to look up. Swift as thought a fire-band came whizzing through the air and fell heavily upon 'the up turned face; ofJrtie man reeled the blow. The man loosened his graspjmd staggered. - ' ' A healthy five-year-old child Is never a light weight, and Meg was almost exhausted from hun ger fear, and loss of sleep. But now she forgot weary limbs and tired arms, and started out with quick steps tu the direction she1 knew led to safety. Perhaps no one lu the city knew the different streets better than Meg. , Her wandering, vaga bond life had tarigbt her crooks and turns that would have bafllfd many older feet. , She knew Jhat herself anL charge were iiot as far from Wy cllffe's as the length of time occupied by their captors In getting to their destination would nat urally have led her' to suppose. She knew that they had taken a circuitous route, Ifor the double purpose of throwing her off the track and consum ing time' till darkness would cover their move menta. 1 ""THlh brave heart and willing feet Meg aped on till the wlsfil-for goal was In sight. ' Beautiful And grand rose the stately home before her." Sud denly slie -became aware that some one was fol- Jofflny h, r. A nulrk rMnrf Imrkwanr ahnwed and cried out, io a voice of agouy "Dead ! Meuar my child I Olj Meg !'? : The child opened, her ey enw their widest ex tent and looked up with a smile, murmuring, sleepily:. j, ; ,4i "lapa, take me up." "Alive ! Alive J Ood be pralsetl !' AVyclIffo dropped on his knees to take his child. B'ut the dead arms refused to give up the life they had.lsh llded-ao Jo vlngly Fal th fuH ndeat h ,-4t seemed Irapossihle to unclasp their. holt Mena (fled to rise, and found herself locked' In a. fast embrace. A half-frightened look, came oyer her face as she said, softly: ."Take me up,, papa. What alls Meg V C -i'iShecls -asleep,' answered Wyclltfeysobs chok ing his voice and tears blinding his eyes. He rose up to h LJe his uncontrollable grief from hi child, and motioned to Winters to take her from that vice-like grip. Wyclifl'e tottered through an open door,. arid, overcome With joy.at Mena's safe return and shocked at Meg's tragic- death, reeled for a moment as though drunk, then dropped upon his kn'ees and sunk: gradually to the floor in a death-like swoon. Winters went to the figure upon the floor and soothed Mena's fears by telling her to be careful and not wake Meg. Then with strong hand lie forced apart the clinging arms and rained the precious, burden from the loving heart that had forever ceased to beat - Winters stood Mena tipon the floor, aud. turnfng herjoward the door througlN which Wy ell tHLhadpaasiid- jiiomen t beforersa rn coaxlngly: ' . . "Now, go In there to papa." ' He left thefhlld as he sixke, and went hastily to-aummo-helpt6 care forMegIn :theexclte- ment and Confunloivthexutldeloor had not been fastened, and as Winters .disappeared the crack slowly widened until a man's figure stood In the opening. Mena had remained where Winter left her, her limbs too tired .and Lgf njpeiQojnot.e ftiii both tiny hands rubbing the sleepy eyes. She looked up and saw the form In the door-way. . "Papa!" and the little arms were raised pleadingly.- .1. , . ' " - 1 -' In a second more the door was pushed open, and amianrrarsedlhe bewildered child In his arms. Out Into the night, out Into the street, never stop ping Wleok, back, with feet that seemed to fly rather than walk, the man went on. His face, was lighted with a fiendish smile of joy, and his breath, which came short and quick,' was ladened with curses, Intermingled with expressions of tri umph. Such a "bad, cruel face he had, with a long red scar upon It, the Vnark of a recent burn. The man, with Mena In his arms, had scarcely cleared the steps when a white-robed figure glided down the stairs and stopped, transfixed with hor ror, at the awful sight which met her gaxe. "Meg!" U. X .' .. - Her voice was a whisper, her hands were tightly locked together, and her teeth chattered till they bit her lips, She moved closer, and kneeling down touched, the. glrLupoalhe cheek "Meg, did you dare to come home without my babytGlve me back my baby, Meg t, Oh, give me my baby J" But the dead face-answered only with that strange, fixed smile, thjitsejem of the light, to be blocking the mother's grlef.v She clasped the cold, stiff fingers, and, in tones that might have aroused the pity of the marble Nlobe bending over them, besought th-dead Hps to speak to her once again and tell the secret of her awful death ' ' 1 ' ' " ' ' The woman was cspabl of some feeling, then. No one could have doubted her love for her child. Mother-love roused to frenzy sounded In her voice. "Meg ! Meg ! : You have left my baby, that I would have given my life to have saved J" "Mrs. Wycliffe, my lady, Meg brought your baby back to you.' ; rj :J Tit mother looked TtpviienuilBpsTraralng the question that ihe dare! not ask. . "She U safe, mylady.". ' ; "Winters, do not deceive me. Is she alive T "Yes. She Is In there with Mr. Wycliffe." ; bear away the dead, she hurried Into the room and found her husband crouched In a heap on the floor. . Her cries brought the terrified servants, who soon restored him to life aVid reason. But In Vain did they question him for Mena. Id vain the mother's shrieks a.nd the father's reproachesl Mena was gone. Bitter indeed were the tidings carried to Kt. Claire the next morning, and bitter indeed the grief, of Bell De Ouerry when she stood by the new-made grave of the lonely girl who had lived neglected and died alone ' f Bjr strangers honored and bjr Btranirw monrBed." i The only person who had ever heard of Meg who was glad to hearofjher death was Mrs. De Ouerry. Her pride would be saved a terrible bio w.K Death had solved the problem of Meg's future life. And, with a thankfulness too genuine to be easily con cealed, Mrs. De Ouerry heard from her daughter that John Harmon's child would never claim a place In her heart or home.' . - .Manyyears afterward, Bell heard from an old schoolmate of her mother's the story of her young life. Ann and Margaret Benson' had both loved John Harmon, and when he chose. Margaret the eldesfslster never forgave him. Instead of loving the man as a brother, she hated the woman as a rival. - v' - - A week dragged slowly on after Meg's death, and no tidings werje received of the absen't Mena: Late one afternoon ajstrangejnan came. to Wy? cllffe's house, and demauded to see Mr. Wycliffe on business. Hoping thus to gain some informa tion of his stolen child, however meager, he gave orders that the man should be admitted In a few moments Winters brought the stranger into the library and presented him With a con temptuous wave of the hand, lie was not accus tomed to ushering such guests into that time honored apartment, and he was disgusted that his mastr"fchould:consent to receive what he would have designated a "vag." And the term would certainly have applied with exact nicety to the slovenly, awkward . figure -which shambled Into the room, carrying in both hands an article which served the purposejf a hat, and by Jhat name the man would doubtless have described It. A perfect mat of red hair covered his head, and his face was halt concealed by a heavy beard of the same ob jectionable hue. - . Wycliffe looked up half -hopefully as the! man entered, but the look died out of his face as he saw tttFblank countenance of the man before him. "Well how can I serve you, sir?'' .. . "I Want ter know howL much yer will- give fur yer child?" , ' , The man had stuffed his hat under hls. irm. when he entered, but he now took it in his hands agaJjotut-iml It wrongs sldeJUt, ami looked at it as If he did not care to encounter the searching gaze of : the gentleman so . steadfastly regarding hi in , ;.. ..: - r- r-r "Instated through the papers-the amount I would give. Do you know wh-re my child is?" "No. But I want ter look fur It," . ; Wycliffe arose. Laying a havy, firm, grasp Opon the man's shouIderj.--Jit sstdv.sternly "I believe4hat j'ou inow where my child Is.". . The eyes were raised now, the figure straight ened, and a familiar voice said:' Would to Gbtl I did, Wycllfte !" ?Vtraare r.TT""". ..-' '. - -j r - "It Is perfect. But whyidon't you go as a wom an ? You are not large, and, if you would shave, I think that you would pass without any trouble.,'1 i'l would not like to risk that There would be too many questions asked. In that respect, they resemble. more cultivated society. Men come ami go at their own free will, but women come and go as men allow-them."' " " V'"T "V. "Yes, there Is truth In that, I would be safer dressed as a man." at th time of my greatest need. 'Friend' was al ways an empty name till I knew you. J hope the time will come when I will have an opportu-j nlty of proving ray faith in you and my love for you." ' " - -l --' : . ""; -r ... -:c; The tlm did come, the opportunity was offered ' but the trial of his faith and love was too great! Wycliffe was "weighed lu the balance and found wanting." .;v .'. v . To b continual. . 1 -. . 4 'THK CLKAX NESySPAPERS. 11ere Is a growing feeling in every healthy community against the Journals who.niake It their special object to minister to pervertel taste r by seeking out and serving Up In a seductive form disgusting scandals and licentious revelations. There is good reason to, believe that the clean newspaper Is more highly prized to-day than It was four o, ftve years ago. It jSalso safe to "pre-" diet that, as people In all ranks of life who wUh to protect their own at least from contamination become more concious of the pernicious Influence of aic. rtaln class of Jouma's, called "enterprising", because they are, ambitious to. serve up dirty scandals, theywrlll be careful to see that the Journals they permit to be read In the family cir cle are of the class that never forget the1 proprle- ties of life. Already, men and women of refine- , ment and healthy morals have had their atten tion called to the pernicious Influence of bad liter- k ature, and have made commendable efforts, to counteract the same by causing Jhe-sbutidJUtera- ttire to te' published and sold at'popular prlcesf These efKirts are working a silent but sure revolu- tlon. The best authors are more generally read to-daythan at any previous time. The sickly sentimental store paper, atid wild ranger and pirate story book, are slowly yielding the field to " worthier claimants. To the praise of the decent newspaper It may be said, that where it has a Elace in the family, and has been read for years yytturig and old it has developed such a healthy tone and such a discrimlnatlnir taste that the lit- eratu re- of tlie slu m has no ad mtrew. " Fort u na t Iv, the nuinber of sucri families Is Increasing In -the land, and as tliey Increase the Journal that de- . votes (tself to sickeulug revelations of, immorality "' , will be comnelletl to flndts sunix)rtern solelvv-- l . . ' among inose classes mat practice ee ahu crime, or are amottious to learn, to follow sucn ways. . suppose you "I would be safer because I would have nothing to fear from the only enemy a Woman has in the world-tt man." -: --'w "St. Claire, what made you a manrhater?" ''Would you care to know? 'yl will tell you. Because a man came between me and heaven. I was married once, and a serpent crept into our Eden. A man, In the guise of a friend, robbed me of all that makes life sweet home and friends." "A fellow feeling makes' us wondrous kind," aud Wycl life's face grew white as he said, softly v Yes, I Understand why you hate men. -1 be lieve that tle-very hottest corner of henferaaT regions are reserved for the men and women who come between husbands and wives In this world ; and the time will never come when, If. I could carry a drop of water to quench their burning thirst, I would do it. St." Claire, I pity you. I never dreamed that your past had been so terrible: You look so young, I thought the most you could remember was your, boyhood." "I had no boyhood." v l "Ah, I know. A child, then a man. Very heavy is a blow like thaU" "You pity me, Wycliffe, and I thank you; But, secure io the treasure of a good woman's love, you can have no Just conception of the terrible reality. I tell you this that you may know that there Is heavier sorrow than even the lose of a dearly be- loved chlktV, " ' -uv . jjjtm'nnt so sel fish I n my grief -aayoqthtnk7 St. Claire, and sorrow is never very poignant while there Is an undercurrent of hope to soften it". . ' : v. ..,..;'...,- "May your hope be brought to a blessed frui tion v s . . ; s'. ' '- te-lalre,' I-thfnkti A sanguinary tumult Is reported ns having taken place lately In the parish churchf Sarno, near Salerno. Italv It amears that thXcurA nf San Francesco had caused a mechanical figure of the Saviour, the head and limbs of. which were movaoie 411 oiteoience to spriusrs. to oe con structed with a view to, its employment durln the Passion -Week, services. The rlirure. 'when exhibited for the first time' to the congregation, causeu sucn excitement among them that they crowded roumlLthe altar,. easier to examine the startling novelty from the nearest available nolnt of view. Que of the "assUtant priests, a man of. great stature and physical stiemrth, ascended the fiulplt aud vehemently-exhorted them, to resume heir places. As they paid no attention to him, he forced his way to the altar, and, seizing the fig ure In his arms, proceeded to deal. out luuIacrimiO nate blows With U upon the disorderly parUhion-. era. Iiuring the struRcrle that ensued, he broke the eftlgy to pieces over the heads of his flock ; a psnlc arose, and, In the attempt to escape from this Infuriated ecclesiastic through the narrow church door, a block was caused, resultintr in m6re.orJeflfl.danKeixuaJ'uIurlet-Wtweei-i and seventy iersons of both sexes. Another co-. adjutorof the Cure, In endeavoring to Intervene. between his colleague aud the fugitive, received a blow from the former which fractured his jaw- Done. . . . Probably no man has more thoroughly. explored Of more "carefully studied the", ancient caves of Oreat Britain arid their contents than Prof. W. Boyd Dawkins. F. K. S., who recently lectured In London apnn the early inhabitants whose traces are found in these caverns. Amonir the Interest ing results of his Investigations, he mentioned , that, the horse was used for food by these primi tive people, and probably also the dog Tlte-dog -of those times appears to have been a much larger . animal than the average dog of the present day. Fire was obtained by striking a light from the fa miliar mineral, iron pyrites. The potter's wheel does not seem to have, been known, but pottery , was made by hand. "The cave Implements show that the prehistoric Inhabitants ground corn, and , engaged to some extent (n mining operations. f K What a Buxn Woman Has Doke.- old lady is Mrs. Lawrence, of Craftsbury. A notable She Is 71 years -.old, and for six years past has been , totally blind. . During the past two years, never-' theles8, she has spun, doubled twisted, and knit 1400 knots of yarn, making everything' from a man's cap to a syrup strainer. , One of these years she has taken care of the butter of 10 cow, -with the assistance of a girl 10 years old, and also as- sited about the eeokiog ani general housework. She has never but once during these years made a misstep at that flme falling from thepiazza-lTjto-the road, breaking one wrist and spraining one ankle, from which Injury she has. never fully recovered. Itutland (17.) JfcraltK . American news In France: .The Congress of the United States has Deen nossestdon of taken by Monsieur Mahony, a general officer of belonging to Beadjuster In the State Virginia In the Old Dominlou. He the members had locked up dead (tnort), and will permit the General Conquerlin not to them remove. The President has for Mon sleur Buddiebeggar dispatched, to MonsTeur Mahony force away. Monsieur Mahony speaks ; he will to the termination acrid dut contain. Ad- miral Benhill is to the Capital but the march of one day, with the Confederate entire array. . tYench Jtjr,' A widow, whose husband's artistic perceptions had caused his house to be elegently furnished, married his brother. When her vlsl tor after lcr aeco4--arrlagerTompIlmehleI her upon the beauty of her house-furnishing, she answered: "Oh, yes, my dear brother-in-law had such ex quisite taste!'' , - An exchange says that Mr. Gladstone's clothes . are IIKflttlng. . Inasmuch as everybody knows that Mr. GladitonJhjjKngl!i!jnianJLJbe super- ui) oi mis Biaieuieut cannot -oe over-estimaieu. . v- . . II "'.Til PSBcaaj.