The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-11-29

with himself, "my father cast me off for all
time"
mo, no." quickly interposed the old
man. He did not do that | know he
did not"
" You are wrong" returned Mark, with
a sad shake of the head. MY father bound
himself by solemn pledge"
10 what 2"
That not one penny of dis property
should ever go to the husband of Clara
Preston. That, that was cruel | care
not for his money now-tlod knows do
nOt-but it is painful to think that this bar
rier still remains"
The tears started to Marks eyes as he
spoke, and the old man when he essayed to
speak, broke only in sobs.
My dear father, my GEAR husband, lis
ten to me- cried Clara, starting from her
chair, and standing before the two men.
The hour has surely come, and the cloud
must he swept away
The seemed like one inspired Her beau
tliul face was radiant with halo OF glOri.
GUS enthusiasm, and from her large, lustrOus
eyes beamed the light of joyous, holy efful~
gence.
40, Mark, Mark-my own dear husband
your father did not cast you off-he did
Tot hate me. He loved me, tenderly, tru ly
and trustingly. He hoped and prayed that
| might be your wife; and when he knew
that your heart was turned towards me, be
came and taught me how to cherish and
honor you. Before became your wife, he
took the great bulk of his property and
made il over to you and yours it is this
day safely deposited, and bearing interest
upon interest to your account. He did not
give it to my husband, but to my lover.
y Mark, my husband, be blind no more. 1t
was your own father who placed our hands
together for the uniting OF the sweet, sa-
cred bond and be it was that blessed US
bO'h when the union Was complete. our
Owl father Mark, has heen often beneath
your root, and your children love him fond
~, and call him by the name be so proudly
bears to them. O-my husbaud-my Ia
ther-"
The long white hair, the flowing beard
and the oushy eyebrows, had dropped from
th- old mans head and face and as Mark
cow turned towards him, the veil was re
moved. 1t was his tather-his own father
landing before him, with tbrObbiDg
breast and outstretched arms.
" My son." said johann Wilton, " DO
you see and understand it all? think it
must be plain to you. If the trial has cost
you some bitter moments, be assured it has
cost me no less. You were all the child
that was lett to me. Your two brothers
cider than you. and in all respects your
equals in mind and intellectual endowments,
had grown up and faded away. they had
faded and died because they had not the
energy to live. AS you grew to manhood
| saw how it was with you. | saw how
certainly you would fail, il some powerful
stimulant were not given to your energies.
| saw you leave college, saw you admit
ted to the bar and knew that you had the
material within you from which to fashion
valuable citizen but | knew, also, that
the will was wanting. You had been rear
ed in affiuence; you had the prospect of an
independence before you, and hence you
were in dang +. You needed exertiou-
needed it for your very llie-and yet you
had not the incentive thereto, and acking
the incentive, you would not move. Eou
had pride enough, and independence OF spirit
enough and knew if | could bring some
adequate force to bear upon these elements,
your salvation might be worked.
AT length the opportunity presented
itself. When | knew you loved Clara Pres
ton, made up my mind upon the course
| would pursue. Not until | became as
sured that Clara had promised to be your
wife, did dare to take her into my secret /;
but did so at length, aud she joined me
cheeriulIy. She had double incentive, Tor
she not only proved her devotion to your
good, but she also proved how willing she
was to forego the charms of wealth, and
labor for her home. As she has told you,
| WAS very careful how | proceeded l
would never give one penny to her husband;
but, before you became such, | had made
you possessor in law of the bulk of my
property-and what else | may have to
give, can bestow upon your wife and chill
dreu, without breaking MY promise.
And now, my son, the work Is done,
and ! feel that | bave done well. Tell me
am forgiven for the deception have prac
ticed ?"
"And,' cried Clara. tell me, too, am
forgiven
How did Mark Wilton answer !?
He answered as the redeemed answer
He answered with joy and thanksgiving.
And from that hour he ;et stronger than
ever before
And what did society say, when it beard
this wonderful story? Never mind.
- The Richmond Enquirer, of October
20, announcing the departure of Mason
and Slidell for Europe, after exulting over
their escape, excaims "Great will be the