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About The new Northwest. (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887 | View Entire Issue (June 23, 1876)
.I .11 . i I, - II mimrMtirrr i ri r rn-nrwnnTTT i. iiuij i girmg A Journal for the People. Devoted to the Interests of Humanity. Independent In Politics and Religion. Alive to all Lire Issues, and Thoroughly- KE3. A. J. DUXIWAT, Mltor and Proprietor. OFFICE-Cor. Vkoxt 4 Casbinotox Streets Radical In Opposing and Exposing the "Wrong TERMS, IN ADVANCE: of tbe Masses. One year.. Rlz mouths . Three months Correspondents writing over assumed signa tures must make known their names to the Editor, or no attention will be given to their communications. ADVERTISEMENTS Inserted on Reasonable Terras. VOICJM33 "V. PORTLAND, OREGON, FRIDAY, JTXNE 3, 1876. I 2 S3 00 1 00 Free Speech. Fp.ee Press, Free People. - MADGE MORRISON, Tbe Molalla Maid and Matron. Bv Mrs. A. J. DUNIWAY, AUTHOn OF "JUDITH REID," "ELLEN DOWD," "AMIE AND HENRY LEE," "THE HAPPY HOME," "ONE WOMAN'S SPHERE," ETC, ETC, ETC Entered, according to Act of Congress, In the year 1873, by Mrs. A. J. Dunlway, In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington City. CHAPTER XXVIIL Tbe soul of Mrs. Andrews bad been so filled with dismal apprehensions during tbe absence of Jason and Madge, that she was afraid to meet them on their return, lest her fears would be realized, and the team and produce squandered In pandering to her husband's unfortu nate appetite. "I've so far conquered my repugnance to Jason since the. baby came that I think I could endure him very well,' she said to Alice, "if he would only quit his drinkipg and become a sober man, as I thought he was when I mar ried him." "Since Madge has takeu him in charge, I think there is great hope for him," was the consoling reply. "I don't know," sighed the wife, "There isn't much hope for a reforma tion when there isu'tauytbiug to speak of to build on." "It passes my powers of coniprehen sion to understand why you should have married that man at your time of life," said Alice. "You are not more astonished than I," was 'the mother's humiliating con fession. "I must have been crazy or dreaming, and I guess I was both. I guess-I-was-both." "And I guess you're right in that con elusion, mother dear. But let any man catch me a-nappiug over the matrimo nial noose with my present knowledge of tbe world, the flesh, and the devil." "Don't be" irreverent, Alice," said her mother, reprovingly, as her daughter turned to the little mirror to fix some cheap ribbons in her hair, trilling tbe while a lightsome ditty to an old-time tune, and dreaming, even then, of future connubial possibilities. Most single women are matrimonially Insane, while two-thirds of the married ones are secretly sighing lor the same circumstances. Don't berate us too se verely for telliug tbe sober truth, good reader. Unpalatable as it i9, it must be spoken, simply because it's true. "Yonder they come now," said Mrs. Andrews, with a half-suppressed sigh, "and I do wonder if Jason's sober." Madge alighted from the wagon, gave the cattle and tbe heavy whip into the charge of Sam and Harry, and assisted her trembling companion to tbe ground. "Just as I expected," said the anxious wife. "Just as you don't expect," cried Madge. "Your baby's father is as sober as a judge." "I'm mighty sick, though," replied tbe head of the family, as he tottered toward tbe house. "He needs liquor!"' exclaimed the wife, in an undertone. "Not another word !" said Madge, aside and authoritatively. "I've re solved that he shall never taste another drop. If he lives over this crisis,- well We'll do what we can to make as decent a man as possible of what there is of him. If be dies because he can't get whisky, tbe quicker- he's none the better." "Madge!" exclaimed her mother, in astonishment, "bow you shock me !" "It's to be hoped the shock will do you good," was the quick rejoinder. "Jason's my patient, and if he dies it'll be my funeral. He's better oft dead and sober, than living and a drunkard.1 The women bad lingered behind, and out of tbe bearing of the reforming man, who staggered up tbe walk alone und miserable. "How I wish I was dead !" he wailed, as the agony of an intolerable longing for stimulants burned in his brain and stomach, while bis palsied limbs al most refused to do tbeir bidding. "Are you not ready for death ?" The question seemed to come from the Innermost depths of his shattered being, In terror he looked around him, but no living mortal was near enough to be heard in such a voice except tbe little babe that lay in its rude cradle, breath lng peacefully. "Poor little creetur! I'm so glad it's a girl!" he said, repeated! y, as he dropped into -a chair and looked lqng and ear ne9tly iuto its face. "And why are ycu glad it's a girl pray?" asked Madge, kindly, as sh came into the room and placed her band caressingly upon his uncovered neaa. "Because it'll never drink whisky.' "What's to hinder it? Maybe it's inherited it's father's appetite. The sins of parents are often visited upon their children, you know." "But women are a heap stronger- t -i i it uiiuum ujuu uieu. a woman never falls into drunkenness till after she'; kicked out o' decent society." "I must differ with you there, my good friend. "Women would yield to evil habits, and, per consequence, be come tbe prey of evil diseases just as often as men do, or, rather, men would not yield any oftener to evil habits than women do, only for tbe factthat women are generally powerless to dictate to (hem concerning their daily walk How long do you think you'd live as the contented husband of Nancy An drews if she should become a habitual drunkard?" "Not long." "Then you see that your great weak ness is caused in great part by the li cense you have bad to do evil. You have dared to exercise the masculine prerogative because woman was power less to make laws, either to prevent it or protect herself. But, by the time this baby is a woman, all women will be men's co-law-makers, and then, men will be held to just as strict account for all tbeir misdeeds as they to-day hold women. There is no law now in exist ence to protect woman in this way; therefore, I, an outlaw as far as tbe legal codes of men are concerned, am resolved to be a law unto myself, and thereby protect my own womanhood." "I only wish all the women in the world were like ye !" exclaimed the nervous sufferer, with a sob. "If every woman would be true to her self she could easily compel all men to be true to themselves," was the decided reply. "I'm awful sick !" said Jason, sud denly, "and I'll never -be well, any more." "He ought to sober off by degrees," whispered Mrs. Andrews, coming in. "Which he cannot do !" said Madge, as she assisted him to the cleau, white bed, with its "clover leaf spread of patch-work, which he had so often de spoiled in days gone by with his drunken debaucheries. "I clearly see," continued Madge, "that it's a case of kill or cure. If we give him liquor, and patch him up by easing his longing, it will ouly prolong his misery, for he will not' be cured, but will be more than ever susceptible of temptation. Let him alone. He'll either get thoroughly well and die de cently, in his bed, or rise from this ill ness so thoroughly controlled by the demon that we can no longer manage him, and then he'll die on the gallows or in the gutter. Desperate diseases re quire desperate remedies. I have re solved to save Jason Andrews, but whether in the body or out of the body, I cannot tell. God kuoweth." "Madge ! are you crazy ?" "I guess so. It seems to do you all a great deal of good to think I am, at any rate." "But what do you mean by saving Jason 'whether in the body or out of t?' " "Just what I say." "Well, do explain it. You frighten Mother. I see clearly, yet I cannot tell you how or why, for it is not lawful for me to utter all the truth that is re vealed unto me, that when a poor runkard dies with hi3 spirit clouded with such a disease as is consuming ason, the awful appetite will follow him iuto the other life, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth That evil spirit must come out of Jason Andrews, and we must exorcise it. If his body is rent by the ordeal, we shall have done our duty, and can afford to leave the result with God. If be shall survive tbe treatment, he shall come forth ransomed while yet in tbe body from one of the most burdensome and soul-destroy i ng diseases everyet endured or cured among men. If he goes out into the life of souls afflicted and iu chains, his last state shall be worse than his first." Well, Madge, have things your own way. uut I mustsay mat, to my mina your theology looks about as badly muddled as your system of hygiene." "If you could feel truths in your bones, and see them with your eyes shut, you wouldn't talk that way V cried Madge, as she relapsed into her usual reticence over the faith that was her; which was literally the sub stance of things hoped for, and the evi deuce of things not seen. It was soon known through the neigh borhood that Jason Andrews was dan gerously ill. To the surprise of the many visitors who so thronged and filled the house with all sorts of -unseen magnetisms as would alone have ren dered tbe recovery of the patient uncer tain, if not impossible, he refused other medical aid than such as Madge pre scribed. "I've dreamed dreams an' seen vis ions, an' somehow. I know that what Madge tells me is true !" he would say "I don't want to live uuless I cau con quer drunkeuness by gettiu' well. If die fightln' it, I know I'll conquer, for see the light ahead." "The girl's bewitched him. I'd like to see the days of thumb-screws and racks come back again for all cases like Madge!" said tfle ex-parson, with tbe voice that naturally attuned itself on all solemn occasions to a rasping doubl bass. "This sorcery among women that rises and puts its own construction on Scripture, when Paul suffered not woman to teach, Is simply abominable! "Which is the best judge of what woman can and ought to do, do you think God Almighty, or Paul?" cried Madge, her eyes flashing. "There's; more nonsense! iou can never reason with a woman !" "Try common sense forargument, and see !" and Madge turned away with shrug pf disgust. , Jason Andrews did not, rally. For weeks and weeks he lingered, as help less and exacting aa a spoiled and petted child. He would suffer no one except Madge to wait upon him, and her ordeal of servitude told fearfully upon her health. Meanwhile, the trial of Morris Morri son for the alleged murder of George Hanson dragged its tardy length into a so-called court of justice. After the usual preliminaries, (and men who wear their lives away In the arduous service of an ungrateful coun try are seldom in a hurry about prelim inaries), a jury of twelve sovereign people was Impaneled, whom, but for Mark Twain's inimitable take-off upon another jury of twelve conservators of law and life and destiny, which Is yet fresh in tbe minds of our readers, we might occupy pages iu describing each and severally, and the prisoner was placed inside the bar. The prosecuting attorney seemed es pecially blood-thirsty, so watchful was he of the rights and immunities of a sovereign people. The judge was an urbane, slow-speaking gentleman, phlegmatic and deliberate, but in all things inclined to be just according to tbe light that attorneys and witnesses were able to bestow. The prisoner was pale and emaciated. Long confinement had told fearfully pon his constitution, and the coarse food, ill-cooked and indigestible, that had been regularly provided for him by the ex-parson's sad-eyed wife, had added little to his comfort. "The prisoner will stand up !" bald the learned judge. The heavy manacles that clanked about him made the task a difficult one, but the prisoner stood up. "Morris Morrison, you stand in the august preseuce of the judicial ermine, harged with the gravest of all crimes, the murder of one of your fellow be ings. You are of sound mind and of mature years. You are yourself cog- izant of your guilt or innocence. It is the wish of the Court that you provide yourself with :i counsel. Have you done so v "No, sir." "Are you unable to procure counsel ?" "No, sir." "Then make your choice." "Your Honor, I have the pleasure to ntroduce myself." "You are not a lawyer, and you must run no risks. I appoint Esquire Law maker as your attorney In the name of the commonwealth. Of course you un derstand that you are to pay for his services in case you possess the funds, If not, the State will meet the expenses, for you must have a fair trial." "ludeed, your Honor, the State is very kind, but I do not wish the ser- ices of Mr. Lawmaker. I prefer to plead my own case, uneouuseled and unfeed." The Court regrets its inability to grant your request, sir. Human life is too sacred to be thus entrusted to au ir regular proceeding. Esquire Law maker, take your seat beside the pris oner." The Esquire obeyed with an alacrity that was possibly suggested by prompt ings of humanity, and possibly by pro spective ducats. The opposing counsel took a seat upon the other side. Both attorneys looked to be, and iudeed were, played-out politicians (excuse the slang) oi me opposing scuoois. Une was a thin, wiry, excitable and impotent look ing individual, with a thin head, nearly bald, upon which a few sickly bairn were struggling to eke out a feeble ex istence, and tbe other was a broad thick-set sovereign, with protrudiug stomach, and a round, chuckle head surmounted by a pate as sleek and des titute of hirsute coverlngas a varnished watermelon. The prisoner looked at both and thud dered. "What say you? Guilty or no guilty ?" said the urbane judge. 'I should be guilty of self-murder should I plead guilty," was the firm re ply. "This, however, Is the first time I have had opportunity to answer the official question. I am not only not guilty, but I know that tbe man of whose murder I stand accused is alive and well or, rather, that ho was alive and well at the time of my incarcera tion, as I could long ago have proven had my witnesses been considered le gally competent to testify to the truth." "This is a very irregular proceeding,' said His Honor. "A prisoner is not usually allowed to make voluntary as sertions. Be careful, lest you crimi nate yourself." The prlsouer smiled. "Now, answer ouly such questlous as are propounded. Do you plead guilty, or not guilty ?" "Not guilty." "Very well. The attorneys will now call tbe witnesses, and proceed at once with the trial." So saying, the urbane judge leaned buck In his official chair, by some inex plicable misnomer dubbed a bench, and began to read tbe morning paper. Have patience, kindly reader. We shall not inflict upon you that intricate description of the trial which we know you are preparing to skip. A cloud of witnesses were brought forward and sworn, and there followed the usual questionings aud cross-questionings, questions that bore not upon tbe ques tion, aud questions that were often direct insult to tbe questioned, and still no positive information amounting to anything; but the most round-a-bout circumstantial evidence could be, in common Western vernacular, made to stick. The depositions of Jason Andrews (he could not come to the court because of his illness), relative to the missing man, the threats he had overheard, the meeting he bad almost witnessed be tween the supposed deceased and the accused, the cast-off clothing found in the Molalla, which had been exhibited till every man, woman, and child in the community could swear clearly as to its quality without again seeing it, all failed to elicit anything new; but the suspicion of the prisoner's guilt had wrought conviction in the minds of the multitude, who were eager for the shedding of human blood; the jury joined in the popular feeling, and .here seemed to be scarcely a ray of hope for bis acquittal. Madge had stolen the little time wherein she dared to leave her patient at the farm to attend the trial as a spectator, resolved -to volun teer nothing herself unless it were found necessary to thus attempt to save her friend. Closely, though furtively, she watched the eyes of the jurors, and could read nothing but decisive condemnation there. The last witness bad endured the uquisitorial torture of divers cross-ques tionings, aud then, with all eyes upon her, Madge walked through the aisle, leading Sara Perkins by the hand. A few words were whispered iu the ear of the opponent of Esquire Lawmaker, which gave that dignitary a new idea that he acted upon at once. Sara Perkins was sworn. With her testimony the reader is already ac quainted. She had met George Hanson ud talked with him two weeks after the time of the alleged murder. Her statement was given in an unwavering, modest way that charmed the judge and jury. Then came the cross-ques-tioniug. The witness took her turn upon the rack. "You are a married lady, I believe?" "No, sir." Sara blushed scarlet. "Pardon me, I hear that vou are a mother." Alas, the wrouged mother of a man's child had no manly protector to appeal to. So she only blushed in silence. "I learn also that there were tender relations at one time between you, madam, and tbe prisoner at the bar. Am I rightfully informed?" The prisoner looked daggers at the at torney, and bit his lips till the blood ran, in endeavoring to refraiu from knocking him senseless with his mana cles. "Answer me yes or no !" "None o' your business !" was the as tonishing reply. The lawyers were convulsed with laughter. They hid their faces in hand kerchiefs; they filled tbeir mouths with the heads of canes; they guffawed under their breath, until the Judge, forgetting the dignity of the ermine in the sublime audacity of the girl upon the rack, burst forth in a guarded haw, haw, haw ! The witnesses and lookers on stamped their feet, and it was many minutes before order was restored. Then the attorney for the prosecution made a speech, charging the young girl before him with being a secret accom plice iu the murder, and the way be scored her for having dared to fulfill tbe natural functions of motherhood with out any man having been indirectly concerned, or, at least, accused in the case, was enough to make every boy In the court room rejoice over the supe riority of masculiue virtue. The girl faiuted under the attack, and was carried from the balls of justice where women are so specially protected and tbe judge said solemnly, through his smiles: "Call the next witness." To be continued. Amendment to the Bcelinoame Treaty. The citizens of the Pacific Coast generally, and those who interest themselves in the Chinese labor prob lem, especially, will be interested iu the following dispatch from Washington under date of the 12th inst: The loiut resolution reported by Piper rroru the (Jommlttee on commerce, aim passed by the House under suspension of the rules to-day, requested the Presi dent to submit to tbe government of the Chinese Empire au additional article to tbe Burlingarae treaty of July 28th, 186S. to the following effect: The United States of America do hereby reserve tbe right to regulate, restrict, or pre vent the immigration of Chinese sub jects into tbe United States except for commercial pursuits; anu reciprocally, the Emperor of the Chinese Empire does reserve tbe right to regulate, re strict, or prevent the immigration of citizens ot tue united estates into tne Chinese Empire except for commercial nursuits. Tbe joint resolution, as orig inally introduced by Representative Page, ot California, was amended by tbe committee oy inserting tue woras, "except for commercial pursuits." The vote on its passage was yeas, 128, nays, 15. and the point of order that a quorum had uot voted was raised, butafterwards withdrawn, and the resolution was de clared passed by the requisite two thirds majority, the vote lacking only two of being a quorum. A woman entered Secretary Bristow office and said : "I have been promoted for bard labor in your service, step by step, up to a !?1,W)0 position. Why am I now turned out?" The Secretary looked sternly at her ana replied: "Six teen hundred dollars a year is too much for any woman." Can such a man b President? No! A thousand times no A Centennial oath : continental." "Don't care Rachel Moffatt's Shadow. Reuben Moffatt and Kezia, his wife, received a triplet of white wedding cards from tbe hands of their daughter Kachel, ana tell into serious chat over the bits of card-board. George Rey nolds, tbe groom, was discussed with pos itive knowledge, gaiued by acquaint ance with him from boyhood, Kate Maurice, the bride, was discussed with tbo speculative knowledge that charac terizes remarks concerning stranger brides. Rachel Moffatt bad left the room while George Reynolds was under dis cussion, and her mother's careful eye had observed that there was surprise, anger, almost tears iu the girl's face. I say, Reuben," began the - good man's wife, after Rachel bad gone. "Yes," assented Keuben jUollatt, sig-- nifying his readiness to hear what his wife had to say. I want to call your attention to our Bachel." You needn't call very loud," was Reuben Moffatt's answer. "My atten tion goes a good deal that way natu rally." 'To be sure," auswered Kezia Moffatt. 'How could it bo otherwise, and you the father of such a girl as our Rachel ? am sure 1 wonder that a youug man like George Reynolds should look far ther than such a trim, handsome girl as Rachel is, and he knows all about her house-keeping, too." "'Look tarther and fare worse' is an old proverb, you know' rejoiued Reu ben lUotiatt. "And it's my opinion he's done worse, and deserves to do worse," said Kezia Moffatt, with anger iu her eyes and tones. "1 am sure 1 hope Kachel win get over it and go to the party." 'Uet over it ?" repeated Keuben moi- fatt. "You don't mean to say that Rachel" The old mau paused and surveyed his wife critically. Kezia Moffatt nodded her head af firmatively. "Oh, nonsense, Kezia!" exclaimed tbe old man. "You feel unpleasant like because George Reynolds should prefer any other woman to our Rachel. It's my opinion that Rachel hadn't a thought of George Reynolds, except " A shadow fell ou the porch, and tne old man suddenly changed the subject of his remarks. The shadow that bad fallen on the porch was Rachel Moffatt's. It followed tbe young girl across the green fields where she walked, ruagnitying her sun bonnet into an unshapely thing, and lengtbing ber slight figure iuto exceed ugly lank proportions. "Which way, Miss Rachel ? Are you running away from your shadow?" asked a young man, stepping out from an oak tree that stood midway in the field. Rachel Moffatt gave a sidelong glance at her shadow, aud said, with au eltort We can't escape ttlein any more thau we can our thoughts." "It's lucky for us that they are Harm less things," auswered tbe young man, with a smile. "I shouldn't think you would want to escape your thoughts, Miss Rachel. I'm sure I shouldn't, And if you have no objection, I'll walk iu your shadow, us you seem to be go ing my way." Rachel Moffatt bowed, but tne young man. glaucing into her face, saw that she accepted his company wrtii resigna tion. "I presume you have received George Keyuoids' cards, said the young mau, after a pause. les." Kachel answereu, gravely "They are very stylish," she added, with an effort. "Miss Maurice is said to be wealthy," the voung man continued. "Ah !" Kachel exclaimea, witu a cun of lins that was full of scorn. With a delicate intuitive sense mat would have done honor to men iu finer clothes and a loftier sphere, Walter GIbbs chauged the subject with tue re mark: "I have the book of yours that I bor rowed, iu mv pocket. Miss Rachel. There were scraps of paper in it, and some bits of laded llowers. i nave saveu them all, and return them with the book." "Thank you: it did not signify," Kachel replied, indiiiereniiy. Hbe turneu tne leaves oi me uiue anu eilt volume with the uneasy motion o restless hands, and tueu aroppeu irom the gilded leaves tbe laded llowers. They were all alike, mere bits of pink coloring on a woody stem pink not so deep as the color that glowed on Rachel Moffatt's cheeks at sigbt oi tne nowers, "It is the Cercis canadensis, or Judas tree," her companion remarked, pick ing up one of the fallen bits and pulling it in pieces. "The Judas tree!" echoed Rachel Moffatt, all her toues full of scornful wonder. "Yes," the young man Said, answer ing the wonder In her tones. "In the spring it is a tree of promise, with all its rugged branches crowded full of blos soms; but tbe blossoms die, and there is never fruit nor beauty in iuinumento its spring-time promise. There is bu one iu the village that I know of, and that is in Squire Reynolds' garden." Looking up to see if Rachel Moffatt remembered the tree,- Walter Gibbs be came nalufully conscious that his re mark had dyed her face with tell-tale blushes, and the tale they told was about George Reynolds. Then he re membered how he had forced his com pany upon her, aud his conscience smote him wbeu he thought how his careless words might have added to the trouble of the girl he loved. At least she should be relieved from the annoy ance of his society, aud, with a sigh, he remarked: "It was uncivil of me to join you Miss Rachel, when you came out to walk aloue. I beg your pardon. And as I have an errand dowu to the widow Brown's, and am going around that wav. I will leave you here." "I would be glad to have your com pany," Rachel Moffatt felt constrained to say. "Thank you, but my errand is urgent, Walter Gibbs answered. "Glad to have my compauy !" he muttered, as he walked away, "a pretty story tuat, anu she wishing me ten miles away, irom the moment I joined her! What a poor bl nd fool 1 have been:" The woman whose bappiuess George Reynolds had trifled with so wautoniy walked slowly to her home and sat down on tbe little low porcb, watching the moon come up. She overheard her father's words as he talked to her mother: "There's as good fish in tbe sea as ever was caught. It's my opinion the man who gets our Rachel will find there is better fish than George Rey nolds has caught, and I'm sure Rachel will find better fish than George Rey nolds, if he does think himself tbe big gest toad in the puddle." Over Rachel Moffatt's sad face flitted a smile that was almost merry. To think of compariug Medbury society to a puddle, and George Reynolds to the biggest toad ! Then her thoughts wan dered to herself. Did her father and mother- suspect her liking for George Reynolds"? And Walter Gibbs had her face tattled to him of secrets that she fain would have kept ? Henceforth be would wear a mask and bide ber se crets in her heart. She went Into the house and sat down by the lamp-light. Her mask was on, and she wondered if Mrs. Reynolds had made tbe Iruit-cake for the reception, or whether they had bought it of the baker at Medbury. Mrs. Moffatt thought that Mrs. Key nolds would make it, she was such a hand to have everything done up In her kitchen. Maybe," she added, "Mrs. Reynolds would like your help in making lady- cake or something. You're such a mas ter baud at lady-cake, you know, Rachel. Supposing she should express herself that way, what should I say to berv" Rachel's mask threatened to fall. To go into Ueorge Key nolds' home aud help prepare lor tbe reception ot his bride was a blow for which she was ill prepared. Only a moment, and the tot tering mask was up again. "Certainly, if Mrs. Keynolds should ask my help, I would go," Kachel an swered. "I would be glad to go," she added, a moment after, as if she were giving the mask a liual securing touch. And so Kachel Motlatt round herself beating eggs and stirring butter and su gar in Mrs. Reynolds' kitchen, listen ing to the woman's garrulous chat. Lady-cake it wilt be, I expect," she said, pausing in the midst of her cull nary operations to watch tbe whites of eggs rising iu a loam under Kachel Moflatt'sdextrous manipulations. "And I expect she's a very fine lady we're a- making it lor; but it's a matter that 1 wouldu't like to go no further than be tween us two, that I'd 'a been satisfied if George had picked out a wife nearer home. I'm sure I wouldn't 'a said a word if she who is making the cake and she who would eat the cake hud beeu the same identical individual." Rachel's mask shook a little, but she was a brave girl. Oh, I am sure Ueorge's wife will be a nice lady, and I dure say we will all like ber very much," she auswered. Rachel Moffatt's words were fully verified. George Reynolds' wife proved to be a very nice lady a little delicate creature, all pink and white, whom it was impossible not to like, because she was so thoroughly amiable and lovely, 'Who is the lady in white with tbe pink llowers in her hair?" asked the bride ot tbe bridegroom, tne evening oi tbeir reception, as Kachel iMotlatt en tered the room, somewhat late. "She' looks very lovely, but I shouldn't think she would like to wear flowers off the Judas tree. Dou't you know ?" she asked, answering tbe inquiring looks o her husband. "That is tbe name of the tree that bears those pink flowers. am a great botanist don't you kuow that, my darling V" The "darling" concurred, seeiug Ka chel Moffatt aud the pink flowers, and remembering certain words uttered be neath tbe shadows of tbe pink branches, Kachel -Motlatt was a study to an other man ut George Reynolds' recep tion. Walter Uibbs' eyes followed ber wherever she moved, and be went home thinking of the mystery of womanhood as it revealed itself in Rachel Moffatt aud pink flowers. The Judas tree had never bloomed but once when George Reynolds and his wife came to Medbury to live. "George don't get on so well as could expect," Squire Reynolds said and Mrs. Keynolds muted to ball dozen neighbors, hoping it would go no further than between berself and tbe one with whom she talked, that George's wife was a well-meaning, good-hearted little creature, but, bless her heart, she didn't know the first thingubout house keeping, and she hadn't any knack at making the most of her means. George Reynolds' wifeseut for Rachel Moffatt one day. "I would have come down myself," she apologized, "but I really was not able;" and Rachel, looking into her face, saw that the pink bad all faded out, leaving only tbe wuttenessoi tbe previ ous year. "You see, dear," she went on with winning frankness, "1 wasu brought up to anything useful, and the house-keeping don't go rignt, anu George and I have moved out, thinking we could manage better, and it would be better for tbe baby. I remember what beautiful lady-cake you made for our reception, and tbe praises that were in everybody's mouth about your cook ing. Aud now, my dear Miss Moffatt, would you mind showing me a little, aud see if I can't learn to manage bet ter, and make George's homemorecom fortable ? I thought I bad rather ask a young person like you than Ueorge'; mother, even." And so Rachel Moffatt found herself in George Reynolds' kitchen, instruct ing the child-wife in the mysteries of cooking, and trying to impart to hpr some of her "rare knack," as tbe peopi called it. One day, as she came out of the littl gate and took her way toward her owu home, a gentleman passed heron horse back. Looking up, she saw a mau with a full beard and good figure; a stranger she thought him until he wheeled about and exclaimed : "You're not runnine away from you shadow again, are you, Miss Rachel?' And tbe stranger was no other than Walter Gibbs. Rachel laughed this time without effort. "They are harmless things, as you said," she replied; and then she inquired kindly after his heaitu ana stay in Mea burv. "I presume strangers occupy the cot tage yonder?" Walter Gibbs remarked. pointing to tbe cottage Rachel had just left. "GeorgeRey noldsli ves there," Rachel answered. "I've been up to assist Kate Mrs. Reynolds in canning some fruit." Rachel Moffatt's face did not color or a feature change. Either her mask was perfectly worn, or that look had ceased to be a mask. Walter Gibbs. daring his stay in Medbury, fell Into his old habit of walk Ing In Rachel Moffatt's shadow. Look ing into ber face ason that evening a year before, be missed the resignation it had worn then, lor in it was reai pleasure. One day ne sougnt uer wun a strange nervousness and abstraction in his man ner. Rachel was very grave, too, aud Walter Gibbs saw that she had been weeping. He looked iuto her face with the tender solicitude that only men who love aud women who have been loved know, and Rachel explained hastily. Did he not know ? Had he not heard ? George Reynolds' wife died suddenly that morning of heart disease. Walter Uibbs went home with tbe nervous abstraction all gone from bis manner, and a bard endurance in its stead. George Reynolds was free now, free to win Rachel Moffatt if he could, and she who loved him ouce was free to accept him. "I couldn't be satisfied with a doubt ful love," he said; "I will wait." He waited until the Judas trees were in blossom again, and then he went to JUedbiiry. "It's a-walting on Kachel Moffatt, George Reynolds is," cue of the Med bury gossips told him. "And his wife not been under the sod a year yet! They were old schoolmates, and knew each other from childhood, and we used to tbink it would make a match before he ever married that little helpless city girl, and I haven't any doubt in my own mind but it'll make a match now. Gussie Reynolds is going to have a tea party next week, aud that will show which way the wind is blowing." Walter uibbs went to Uussie Rey nolds' tea-drinking. He said to bis mother he would not miss it for a fortune. Rachel Moffatt was there, wulking now and then with George Reynolds, and talking with him ever and anon; but then it was Rachel's babit to be kind to every one who came in her way. Late in tbe eveuing Walter Gibbs missed her from tbe parlor. He looked around for Ueorge Keynolds, but he too was gone. The Medbury gossip was right," he thought. "This tea party is showing which way the wind is blowing." He walked to tbe window aud looked out, descrying Rachel Moffatt's flutter ing garments down a winding pain. George Reynolds was by ber side, and the way they took was toward the sou th. Away off to the north tbe Judas tree stretched out its pink brunches iu the moonlight. The wiud sets unfavorably," Walter Gibbs said, with a sigh. Half an hour later, Ueorge Keynolds passed Walter Gibbs in the ball. His brow was clouded, and his lips worked nervously.. "lie looks like one on whom the north wiud has blown," Walter Gibbs thought, aud went iu pursuit of Rachel Moffatt. He found ber standing in the moon light, her long shadow reflected from her figure and the branch of a Judas tree she held in ber baud. Ho ap proached ber, and stood where her shadow fell. "Rachel," he said, with all his heart in his voice, "I would like to walk iu your shadow henceforth, if you are go ing my way." Rachel Moffatt looked up with star tled eyes iuto the face above her; the pink llowers with their fatal significance fell from her band, and tbe irregular outlines of two confused shadows, never henceforth to be parted, lay upon tbe green sward. In thefrostsof the follow ing winter tbe Judas tree died, and the place thereof knew it no more. How "Long John" Pranked a Lover's Letters. In a recent lectu re on "Early Chicago," the Hon. John yeutworth told the fol lowing: Soon after my first election to Con gress, a young mau who bad rendered me material service, made me a call, and observed that postage was very high; in which sentimeut I concurred, aud promised to labor to reduce it. He then remarked that I would have the franking privilege; to which I assented, and promised to labor to abolish it. But all this did not seem to interest tbe young mau, audi was perplexed to know the drift of his conversation. Finally, with great embarrassment, he observed that he was engaged to a youug lady at tbe East, aud wanted to kuow if I could not frank his letters. I explained that there was but one way to avoid tbo re sponsibilities of the law, and that was for him to write bis letters to me, and then I could write a letter to her, call ing her attention to his, and she could have the same privilege. The corre spondence took this form until the Con gressman from ber district asked me If, at the close of tbe session, I was going home by tbe way of his district. I did uot comprehend him uutil he stated that he was well acquainted iu the fam ily of the lady with whom I hid been corresponding, and suggested that, if I was goiug to be married before the next session, it would be pleasaut for us to board at the same house! This put a uew phase upon my way of dodgiug an abuse of tbe fraukiug privilege, and I wrote to my coustitueut that he must bring his courtship to a close, aud he did so. Four letters from him and three from her covered the transaction, aud I stand ludebted to this day to the "conscience-fund" of tbe Post Office Depart ment for SI 75. But this was a very in significant sum to pay for the securing of a good Yaukee girl to the West lu those days. Besides, there are seven in the family now, aud one went to the waf; aud that SI 75 was au insiguillcant bounty to pay for a soldier. Visiting Cards. In the practice of turning card corners, the upper left hand corner denotes "visite," and is used for an ordinary call; the upper right hand corner turned down means "felicitation," and is a visit of congrat ulation; the lower left hand corner "conge," represents a farewell call, and the lower right hand corner "condol ence," expresses a desire to sympathize with bereavement. The rule most gen erally understood is the turning of one end of the card, which denotes a wish, to see the ladies of tbe family. A postal card picked up in the street at Norwich, Conn., the other day, bore this solemn appeal : "Deer mary for luv of God send me a pare of pants." An author says that one of the uses of adversity is to bring us out. That is true, particularly at the knees and elbows.