The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1857-04-02

lAOfOHASSSp tAbo hV" VIVA oh0 PoiS ob
lies in her winding-sheet to-day. PEI
haps if l had dealt more gently with her
she would never have brought this ago
upon me-"
! "You do yourself injustice. my lord.
replied Jasper st. Clair. warmly. "Yo
have been all that is noble and generous
Poor, and of obscure birth, you made he
the mistress of your proud hall. ant
She
"She is in her grave. Jasper" inter
rupted the earl; 'let her sins and follie
rest with her!''
"Amen!" returned Jasper, solemnly
"And now let US speak of the Hving.-
Her child, my lord what do you intend t,
do with hims"
"Whose child?"
"The Lady Edith's."
"What do you mean. Jasper St. Clair?'
inquired the earl, his brow contracting
with anger.
"Simply this, my lord." replied Jas
per earnestly. "that it is not fitting thai
the son of Edward Huntley should bea,
the name and inherit the honors of the
noble house of Woodleigh."
"You arc beside YOURSELF" exclaimed
Lord Woodleigh, turning deathly pale
"What proof have you of this?''
"These letters, my lord, found. after
her death. upon the person of your late
wife,
The earl took them mechanically, but
his eye glanced over them. his under lip
worked convulsively, and the cold sweat
started in large drops upon his forehead.
$50 for, and yet SO false!" he groaned,
covering his face with his hands. AS his
companion gazed upon him, a light, mock.
ing smile fitted around his thin lips.
''And these, my lord," said the willy
man, after brief pause, "were written
before the birh Of your reputed son.
"FriendP" exclaimed Lord Woodleigh,
starting up; "would you rob me of both
wife and child? All, I have itp' he ad-
ded. laughing bitterly; Gin case you
could prove this. you would be heir to
the earldom of Woodleigh''
''You wrong me-bitterly wrong MEL
he exclaimed, earnestly. "My devotion,
my long and faithful services, have not
deserved this, Lord Woodleigh." he ad-
ded, turning away as if in the bitterness
of wounded feeling.
Tears quencLed the angry fire in Lord
Woodleigh's eyes. ''Forgive me, Jas
per-" he said almost humbly. II am a
desolate and brokenhearted old man
old before my time-and know not what
1 say
"My Lord, my dear uncle" returned
Jasper St. Clair pressing warmly the
hand extended to him. ''you are still
young! shall yet see you happy with
some woman worthy of you, with children
springing around you to bear the proud
name which has never, until now, been
stained"
The earl shook his head mournfully.
The door opened, and beautiful boy of
about five summers bounded lightly in.
"Papal papa!' he exclaimed. in a
sweet. silvery voice.
A gleam of tenderness passed across
the earPs features, and he held out his
hand toward him.
''Lord Woodleigh," said St. Clair, in
a low voice, as the child approached, sit
grieves me to the heart to do this, but
zeal for the honor Of the house to which I
am SO closely allied, makes it an impera-
tive though painful duty. This miniature
was found with the letters: examine it
and see if it does -nnt-elesely resemble
the child before you"
The earl bent his eyes searchingly upon
it, and then gazed searchingly into the
face of the boy. 1t was the likeness of
very handsome, though efeminate looking
man, with dark blue eyes and high,
pale forehead, around which clustered
curls of soft brown hair There was
striking similarity in the beautifully pen
cilled brows and the delica ely curved
lips, and sharp pang pierced Lord
heart as he observed it.
He did not stop to consider that it was
Lady Edith's cousin, to whom she bore a
strong resemblance, but pushing the boy
aside. he said hoarsely:
at is enough-take him awayp'
If bis eyes had not been blinded by
passion, he would have perceived the
stamp OF his own naughty nature on the
boys Notwithstanding of his own
hery temper in his dark. flashing eyes,
as he thus harshly repulsed him.
casper" said Lord Woodleigh, af-
ter leng and gloomy silence. 81 wish
to do what is right. but I must have
proof that these letters and miniature be-
longed to the Lady Edith, before I can
consent to disinherit her child"
Though you seem to have SO little
l.. c,.