Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-05-18

know that 1t applied to you" added Don
Phlllp, IN softened tone.
" did not know that it did !" returned
Henry. more agitated than before.
I" " ell. Henry, [ have called you here
now to tell you that which [ may have
too long kept a secret from YOU. You
have understood that your father died
and left you in my care 7 don't know
that | ever told you so directly. but I
Know that this IS the impression YOU have
received. and | have not Endeccived YOU .
I" And is itnot 50 Was not nv father
a gentleman, at least r. cried Henry. with
sudden vehemence.
Be patient, and I will tell 7ou all !
know, resumed the duke, with his conn.
tenanee still stern and unmoved. II *
DOW somewhat over twenty-tbree years
since [ laid the only son [ ever had in
the tomb He lived only few short
days, and then he died. It was mid win
ter when we buried him and only few
nights atterward male infant was left
upon the steps of the porter's lodge It
was we'll protected from the cold. beinq
snugly wrapped up in thcl; blankets, and
was laid In an old wicker basket Sc
eompanying it was note, directed to me
You shall see it ~
The duke arose from his great chair.
and went to a quaint old cabinet that
stood IN the corner From one of the
many curiously coutrived apartments he
drew forth piece of paper, and then re-
turned to his seat.
. You may read it." he said. as he
passed it over to the youth aud then
you will see It's import
Henry took the paper with trembling
hands. 1t was of rough, badly finished
fabric, and much discolored The char
acters were scrawling but vet sufficiently
plain to convey the idea which the writer
intended. 1t was addressed to the duke.
and read as follows
:. This is poor, unfortunate child
Wil you let some of your many people
take charge of it, and save it for some
useful life Let it walk in tie humber
way of life, for there it Of right belongs
l am too poor to give it su-tenance. and
yet | cannot see it die. ! know the Duke
OF Saliva is kind, and he will fnl some
one among his retainers who viii be pa
rent to 1t. God bless him if be does
1t bore no date nor signature Henry
read It through a second time. and then
be folded it up and gazed upon its soiled
back
" What are those deep stains ?' he
asked, while he gazed upon the spattered
spots that marked the paper lie shud
dered as he spoke
saw TasE IL FaPsl at4 fsIaasa s a2d }Rdd dsgp Fp H s
that is nothing They may be the stains
of something else Bat now let me tell
you the rest The infant was broueh.
into the castle, and 10y wife, herself. took
charge of it She placed it where her
own had been taken from. aud nursed it
at her own breast The child grew up
to be mild and gentle. and it soon won
our love. We cared for it as though it
had been our own; but still it could not
claim our blood, nor could it claim even
gentle blood of any degree You Henry.
are that child | gave to YOU the name
of La Mutt, and | have done all for you
that | could. and | have done it because
| loved you Your education is superior
to that Of half the mobiles in Navarro aud
your more manly exercises have been we'll
cared for. At my request the king has
bestowed the boon of knighthood upon
you | have done all that | could. Now
you know why you may not look to nv
daughter for her hand for even were T
willing. the laws of our kingdom would
forbid it"
For long while Henry In Mutt re-
mained silent He sat with his brow
leaning upon his hands. and his breathing
was long and heavy At length he raised
his head and looked toward the duke.
" Don Philip" he said, in a husky
voice, DO you know who was my father 2"
+" No, Henry"
"Do you know anything Of me more
than you have already told ne 2"
" No. | never could gain any clue to
your parentage bat | have thought that
this paper told its own story Of your
birth in the light Of tr1,h think you
must have bken the child OF parents who
were indeed too poor 10 bring you M.
and who thus placed you of their hands
before your budding childhood could
claim their affections Perhaps they took
advantage Of our loss and shrewlly held
the idea that you might take the place of
the infant we had lost"
20, misery! misery p groanod the
young knight. in the depth of his anguish
!" ou must not repino now" said the
duke. . 1t is no part Of the character of
brave man to give way 10 such things
The world is all before ycu. and there
may be mach honor for you yet"
., and what is honor to me now p
cried Henry, raising his hands, and bring
ing them down with vehement motion.
If you could know how [ have loved
that fair being. who is your Child how
my whole ambition has been to prove
worthy Of her, you would not now coolly
point me to this worlds honors O. sir.
the very hope that could lead me to honor
has gone from me I"
The duke was moved, for over nis stern
face there swept plying look He bow
ed his head for a moment, and when he
again looked up his features were all cold
and calm as before
''You viii ou.grow this" he said at
has come upon you now with all It's first
force, and the disappointment may be
great but it will not last you long. I