visionary
jf the moment, they, overlooked 1 the sober fact, that Oregon City then ex isted on the map only, drawn up by some speculator, and that its handsome streets ' and squar- s were simply imaginary loea- ' tions in an utter wilderness.
But why prolong why enter into de- ' tail of the hundred little causes which.! combined, decided Mrs. Huntly (a lady: \vho-e main faults were an enthusiastic love of new projects, an overweening con fidence in her own judgment, and a wilful adherence to her own decisions, right or ' in joining this ill-timed expedi-
tion, contrary to the advice of her friends and of Lilian the latter of whom con sented to accompany her that she might not be separated from her only parent. Enough, that she had so decided; and that early in the spring succeeding, hav ing disposed of all her effects, she and Lilian, in company with Madame and Eva Mortimer, (whom the fashionable world of course considered insane,) and some eurht or ten families, had set out on their
O '
long journey to the far, Far West.
And here, apropos of Madame Morti mer and her lovely daughter, of whom much remains to be said at no distant) period. Although they had appeared in the, fashionable circles of Boston, reputed wealthy, nothing of their private history was known; and of course, as regarded them, curiosity was excited to a great de gree, but without avail. They had been met among the bon ton of New York, and | invited to Boston. They had accepted the invitation, had passed the ordeal of fashionable criticism, had conducted them selves on all occasions with strict propriety, : and had departed, right in the face of all the gossips, without a single one being the wiser for his or her inquiries.
As to who and what they were, and how connected with the foregoing and succeeding events of this life-history, the reader who continues to the end of the narrative will doubtless be enlightened.
[t is ne-'idless for me to touch upon the jouiney of my friends westward. Like all emigrants who seek Oregon for a hciie, they had experienced severe trials n-nd vicissitudes, which upon them had fallen the more heavily, from being the nrst hardships they had e^er known. Some
three or four days previous to my joining them, Mrs. Huntly had been taken sick; and although Lilian had been greatly alarmed from the first, yet with the others the matter had not been thought serious, until the evening in question, when her symptoms had ta^en an unfavorable turn. Having no doctor among them, application for one had been made by Lilian to some of the trappers who chanced to he pass ing and this, providentially, had brought us once more together, after the long and eventful separation of more than two years.
Having now, reader, put you in posses sion of facts important for you to know, I will return from my digression, and go on with my narrative.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
RECOVER FROM MT PARALYSIS THE IN VALID CAUSE OF ILLNESS REMEDY
HAPPY RESULTS JOY OF LILIAN AH
EVASION FAMILIAR FACES STRANGB
MEETING REFLECTIONS.
IT was several minutes before 1 recov ered from my paralysis; and this was doubtless much accelerated by Teddy, who, having tried various ways to restore me, at last threw hi-s arms around my neck, and placing his mouth close to my ear, shouted :
"I say, your honor, is it dead ye is, now or is it dead ye's jist agoing to be by the way ye's stare so, and says nothing at all, at all!"
With a start, as if suddenly awakened from a dream, I looked around me, per ceived myself the center of all eyes, and heard my name several times pronounced, coupled with that of Lilian, as here and there one^ who had gained the secret of our strange behavior, sought to explain it to others. To most, my name was already familiar, as the companion of young Hunt- ly, and son of the wealthy Leighton of Boston and this, probably, had no ten dency to lessen curiosity.
My tirst. feeling on regaining myself, (if I may so express it) was one of confusion, that I had so publicly laid myself open to gossip; my second, indignation at being
