Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-10-23
From Harper Monthly Magazine.
THEPRIDEOF MOSES GRANT

CHAPTER ".

grandparents IN the little summer par
lor. When the elder had read chap
Ter in the Bible, as was his wont, and
finished his accustomed prayer, Elinor
said timidly,
Dear grandpa, I would ike to speak
to you a moment"
She had settled ii with her lover that
she should be the first TO communicate
to the grave old man the news Of her be
,-o,bal. This was her own desire. She
bai thought it would be best so. She
4sred nothing more than that he might
object to her extreme youth. and she
5oped much from the strong esteem in
which she knew he held their young
minister.
Fal'eringly she told her story, and the
n man listened in silence.
"a did not answer for some moments,
NIB. was evidently deeply moved
re-. vas frightened at the conclusive
r-sngs of his face, and the tears that
--,ssi ike rain down her grandmothers
rf5sred cheeks. At length he spoke.
God forgive me, have done great
wong. Iuever thought of this. You
we're so young. EHnor, you can not
marry this man. No, not to save your
own life. Do you hear: forbid it. 1t
shall not be-"
EEnor rose and stood before him. She
was not Margarets child merely-the
old Trumbuu blood fired her glance. Her
face was as resolute, her tone as firm,
as Moses Grants own.
4" Graadfatber,' she said, Il love Wal
ter Fairfeld-he loves me. We are
more than life to each other, and this
question shall not be decided so. Ifyou
will separate Us, 1 must know the reason
or. God helping me, 1 will 60 and Pray
him on my bended knees to take me
away from you and make me his wife"
There was no pity in the elders facs
now for the young creature who had
dared to resist his decree, to rise up II
the might Of her love and oppose him
His face grew livid with rage.
You must know my secret, then
voungmadam,' be said, in the fierce tone
Of passion. Well, mark it-you have
no right even to the name you bear
Yogr mother, my child though she was
Eas not your fathers wife. Don't You
think Walter Fairfield, q minister Of th'
gospel. would be proud to marry you il
your disgrace 2?
But tue last taunting question fell o.
ears that could not listen. With ever
faculty intensely aroused she had hear
the fatal truth, scorching her for the frs
time with its blight, and then she hear
10 more. Gradually SIC had sunk lowe
and lower at the old mans feet, unt
now she lay upon the floor, her whit
death-like face cold as her young mother
under the June roses.
Go into the kitchen, father" sal
Mary Grant, for it'll throw her bac
again into her swoon to see you Whe
she comes TO-"
The elder obeyed, and then his vii
quietly buised herself in bringing bac
consciousness to Elinor. Itwas no vel
difhcult task. The girl was young, an
even so great q shock could not overcou
her utterly. In few moments size W;
able to sit down in an easy chair by Il
open window, and the balmy air Of Il
summer morning stole over her sens
ike a new ife-draught.
Her face was very white and rigid ST
and Mary Grant put back her soft hs
and looked pityingly into her trOabl
eyes.
"Ob, my darling :" she murmurt
"my poor darling, to think your first 81
row should darken all your life" B
the voice was calm that answered her
1t willnot darken 1t, grandmother.
have full faith in Walter. He loves
and he viii not give me up, even becar
Of this great shame. 1 shall tell b
all, and l know he willmarry me-"
God grant II, darling - and the (
woman dropped on the white, earn
face a very tender kiss. "YOu sit qui
" here. I want to go and speak to u
grandfather"
Moses Grant was sitting, though
was June, by the freside, in the u
spot where he had sat before, one I
moral night. Absorbed in surging,
tertumultuous thought, he was indiffer
TO heat or cold, or any outward surrou
lng whatsoever. His wife went up
hin; she knelt down BY his side;
eiasped her hands across bis knee, 1
ihen she plead with him even as she