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" I'D bI5s. -..i~o
"No, no. quickly interposed the old
man. He did not do that. l know be
did not"
You are wrong" returned Mark, with
sad shake of the head. "My father bound
himself by a solemn pledge" tl . aa
"To what Z" szp, II :. bst,..-...
! "That not one penny of his property
should ever go to the husband of CLARA
Preston. That that was cruel. I care
not for his moneys n0w--t4od 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.3 BIZ
"My dear father, my dear husband, lis
ten to me-" cried Clara, starting from her
chair, and standing before the two meD.
6" The hour has surely come, and the cloud
must he swept away"
The seemed like one inspired Her beau
tiful face was radiant with halo of glori.
Gus enthusiasm, and from her large, lustrous
eyes beamed the light of joyous, holy efful-
gence. -.f
go, Mark, Mark-my own dear husband
your father did not cast you off-he did
not hate me. He loved me, tenderly, tru ly
and trustingly. He hoped and prayed that
l 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 I became your wife, be
took the great bulk of his property and
made it 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, 50.
cred bond land be it was that blessed US
both when the union was complete. our
own father, Mark, has been often beneath
your roof, and your children love him fond-
ly, and call him by the name he so proudly
bears to them. O-my husband-my ia
ther-"
The long white hair, the Moving beard,
and the 'pushy eyebrows, had dropped from
the old mans head and face and as Mark
now turned towards him, the veil was re
moved. 1t was his father-his own father
-standing before him, with thrObbiDg
breast and outstretched arms.
My son." said Jotbam 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 left to me. Your two brothers
older 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,
l saw how it was with you. saw how
certainly you would fail, if 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
a valuable citizen !; but | knew, also, that
the will was wanting. You had been rear
ed in aff1uence; you had the prospect of an
independence before you, and hence you
were in danger. You needed exertion-
needed it for your very llfe-and yet you
had not the incentive thereto, and 'ackiDg
the incentive, you would not move. You
had pride enough, and independence OF spirit
enough and knew if l could bring some
adequate force to bear upon these elements,
your salvation might be worked.
CAT length the opportunity presented
itself. When knew you loved Clara Pres
ton, made up my mind upon the course
l 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, and she joined me
cheertully. She had double incentive, for
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,
l was very careful how l proceeded. |
would never give one penny to her husband;
but, before you became such, l had made
you possessor in law of the bulk OF my
property-and what else l may have to
give, can bestow upon your wife and chill
dren, 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 l have prac.
ticed ?'
"And," cried Clara. tell me, too, am
forgiven ?
flow did Mark Wilton answer?
He answered as the redeemed answer
He answered with joy and thanksgiving.
And from that hour be felt stronger than
ever before.
And what did society say, when it heard
this wonderful story Never mind.
- The Richmond Enquirer, of October
20, announcing the departure Of Mason
and Slidell for Europe, after exultiDg over
their escape, exclaims "Great will be the