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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1887)
THE HOME A some life fur and with each other. Mr. Kcrimc gour had never called on this worthy pair while they were occupying their own humble cottage, and Mrs. Luiig cou'J he no guud inoii f,rf (lie tardy interest in them, manifested by OIed Win tennute's housekeeper, in their new xition. There was a good deal of skillful fencing ls tween the two women, and at length, when Mm. Becky, in a roundabout way, suggested the o Hibility of Garland falling into the habitual way of camp life, there was such a sudden icincss in Mrs. Long's demeanor that her guest thought it the wisest way to change the subject, and, soon afterward, terminated her first and only visit to the Longs. That same evening, having given the rook a holiday, and exhausted her own in genuity in getting up Wintennute's favorite dishes for dinner, after the meal was over, and, as on a former occasion, a duplicate rum toddy disponed of, she proceeded in her most cat-like manner to sound Wintennute on the subject of (Unpenning with Mrs. Long's services as custo dian of the Garlands' household goods. There upon there was a scene. I have already inti mated that Wintennute was not ptr w a scoun drel. The fact of the matter is, the old man 'a conscience had more than once pricked him since Garland had ridden away. Grade ami Harry had been something of ets with him. When he had dined with their father and mo ther, they had not been slow to exhibit their childish treasures to him, and, now that their father was gone, they frequently stopjied to ask him some childish question as to his whcrcalMits and the possible date of his return. When, then fore, his housekeejicr suggested the change above alluded to, he curtly replied, " Matters will remain as they are," and, yawning sleepily, took up a light and retired to his snuggery. This was more gall and wormwood to Mrs. Becky and whetted her appetite for revenge. From time to time, this vixenish marplot dropped in on Mrs. Garland. It was not until more than six months after Garland' depart ure that she ventured to hint, even remotely, to the lonely w ife, that her husband might Is found in the ranks of the revelers in the far off mining camp. This imudent suggestion was met with a look in which contemj seemed to struggle for mastery with amusement, in Mrs. Garland's blue eyes. Mrs. Becky slunk out of the house, chop fallen, but more vicious and more revengeful than ever. From time to time, as opportunity served, she nagged Wintennute, who, grown somewhat familiar with tle con templation of his iropoed crime, began to play an awkward sort o a second to his housekerp- GAIN LEDGE. 711 er's plan. The old dotard la-gall to, brat him self with tlw Ulicf that lie was actually in lot with Mrs Garland, and that his feelings were Ukiug on a faiiteriy iia lomard irr citihiirti; and, as Mrs. Becky N-gan to Udder in her suggestions, and more importunate in ler de mands that he should make some advances to ward the object hail in view , rofesd him-vl ready to do so, if Becky would only point out the way. In the meantime, tlie 'riodical letter from the absent hustwnd was over due, and. a above recited, failed to arrive. When ntore than a month had acd by without hearing from Geoffrey Garland, his wife Ugan to manifest some uneasiness. Ami here the good wnw and helpful ami ho-ful spirit of old JaWt Iaitf and his gooil wife came to the rescue. In homely, but eloquent, terms, they reminded the aniluo woman of the unbroken felicity of her lile with her hunband, and wonted at the Idea that any thing but some chance miscarriage of the mails in the wild region where Geoffrey Garland was hidden away for a time, waa to blame for the silence so ainful and so trying to tlu lusiae hold. And, as good luck would have it, a re turning pronator, whom JaU-i had met by chance, had infonned him that Garland and hi comny wen at work in a remote part of the district, with fair iinaqa-cta of sucivas. This news did much to reassure Mary Garland. As for Gracie, waa not Chritmalide draw ing near? And did not she, with childhood's unquratsrti ing faith, " jut know " that hanta Claim would bring her her ow n dear (or a ChriMiuaa gift? Tlius matters wore on until, aa UnlUurr shown forth in this veracious narrative, l! fact of the failure of letters to arrive la-mine known to Mrs. Becky; and, on this hint, l irred Olied Wintennute Ut an overt art. It waa three days la-fore Cliristmaa wltcn this mUlnl naiw und of senility and conceit flamed out in lu tnsis ready-made I -runt loth anil silk bat, not forgitting tle shining watch guard and gold headed cane, ami n-aentrd hiuiru all einifk ing, at tle Garland cottage. Word raiutot pic ture tle amaiement of tl little woman, when, after dawdling away an hour in InauftVrable romrnon4acr, lie aw k warily blurted out a geation thai Garland, failinf in hU quet, had nought freah flelda and paaturea iirw. " lint." in effect, said this antiquated bundle of Uly, " Mrs. Garland, you nay be sure that, while I live, you will lack wither a friend w pnr trrtor. Throtuna oftUruutn iU ribt your wrong, and then " VA I wiUnU dUu.t