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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 1888)
C30 THE WEST SHORE. " Well, I don't suppose yoa care whether there is anyone within five miles or not, so you can have your adored Carlos," said Ruth, winking at me. " Then, there will bo the children. Oh, Fan, imagine them calling Shirley mother! 1 Wouldn't we like to be lit tle birds for awhile?" Her sister blushed a little, but looked very hap py and proud. " I know I shall love them." " How old are they?" I asked. M Oh, really well, you see I don't know, exactly. Carlos says Will is quite a boy, and then there is Mary and Mig, younger." Christmas that year with us was a genuine Wis consin one snow drifts piled everywhere and the thermometer at zero. The ketn air seemed to fairly reverberato with the music of bells. "How perfect!" cried Shirley, joyously, as she perched in childish abandon on the broad window seat At that moment a ray of sunlight fell on the proud little head with its wealth of long black curls. " Happy is the bride that the sun shines on," she quoted, gaily, catching at the beam with her slim, white fiogers. A moment later some one else was at her side, and had imprisoned the fluttering hands in his own. I turned away. For some unaccountable reason I shared John's distrust of the stranger. There was a restless watchfulness about him that made me nervous, and I could not account for the in variable start he gavo when the door bell rang. They mado a handsome couple, but in spite of his florid complexion and smoothly-shaven face, he looked old enough to bo her father. The day following we bade them farewell. How sweet she looked, smiling through her tears. " God keep you, sister," I heard John whisper, as ho held her for a moment in his arms. " If anything happens, or you need a friend, let me know." " I will, John, if anything happens to my hus band," sho answered, a little proudly, and then she went away, blindly changing the known for the un known. Owing to heavy storms the bridal journey proved rather tedious, but they finally arrived in safety at Seattle, Hero they were met by the " boy " of whom Lee had told his wife. Imagine her surprise when introduced to a broad-shouldered six-footer, about whoso rather firm-sct lips curled a dark, heavy mus tache. As she raised her eyes to his she encountered a look of surprise equal to her own, yet in the midst of it all she was mentally saying: "John would like his eyes," they were so frank and blue. It seemed a long way that they rode, catching glimpses now and then of the beautiful waters of Paget sound, while in the distance gleamed the nowy summits of the Cascade range, " And that is Mount Baker," explained lobl ing to the solitary sentinel looming up against IK northern sky. b e "How grand!" exclaimed the bride, her whole face indicative of extreme appreciation. "And it does not seem like winter here. I can scarce believe it is the new year time." There had been no rainfall for several days, aid the sun shone out fitfully. " Do you think you will like our free west?" uV ed WilL Looking brightly into the blue eyes that had in. stantly won her confidence, she answered " Yes, I'm sure I shall like it, but not love it as I do dear old Wisconsin. There is no place like home you know." ' " But this is your home now, Shirley, bo you may as well take the oath of fealty first as last," Baidher husband, looking down at her in a fond, proud man ner. Will, turning at the moment, caught the look, and a troubled expression came into his face, that did not leave it again for days. That evening he whispered something into the ear of his favorite horse. Now, Ross was used to hit master's confidence, and merely replied by rubbing his head against his shoulder. " Yes, sir, old fellow, it's a burning shame, I say; only think of bringing such an angel out here to share this torment curse his selfishness!" This last was spoken aloud, just as a form dark ened the barn door. " Who you talking to?" questioned Carlos Lee, looking suspiciously about " Only Ross," was the short reply. The Lee farm was t wenty.fi ve miles from Seattle, in a little valley upon which nature had lavished her choicest gifts; but, as Shirley soon learned to her dis may, with the exception of a family of Danes, there were no neighbors within four miles. The house was a long, low, frame building, con. taining four rooms. One of these, a large square, cheerless one, served as kitchen, dining room and family Bitting room. The other three were used ai sleeping apartments. To say that the young wife'i heart did not well-nigh fail her as she stood on the threshold, would be but to pervert facts; but she wai young and hopeful In the family, besides her husband and Will, vers Mary, a delicate, misshapen creature, who looked with illy-concealed disfavor on the intruder from the fint; Miggie, golden-haired child of six years, destined to be the light of the young wife's life through many home-flick, gloomy hour; and old Madge. The latter Beemed to share Mary's dislike and prejudice, though she said nothing.
