, 1864-05-23
Judge Hardings Rirthday.Gift.

|
cended the steps of his stately but gloomy
mansion. Not one of its many rooms was
lighted, with the exception Of the library
and that used in common by the two do
mestics. Yet there had been time when
those darkened and deserted parlors had
been one blaze of light, and its walls had
echoed to the sound Of merry laughter and
gay young voices.
Judge Harding entered the library, and
closing the door, looked drearily around.
: Yet it was filed with all the appliances of
wealth and luxury; the carpet was like vel
vet to the foot, the lofty walls were decked
with pictures and the wide, deep windows
hung with wine-colored drapery Of the
! richest silk.
A large, easy chair was wheeled in front
of the fire, which gave forth ruddy glow !;
across it lay dressing-gown, while on the
rug were slippers, all ready for his feet.
But Judge Harding knew that this was the
work of old Margery, his housckeeper, who,
though she had been in his service nearly
two score years, feared more than she loved
, him. There was no eye to brighten at his
, approach, no voice to welcome him!
This thought was uppermost in the old
mans mind, as leaning back in his chair,
he gazed abstractedly into the fire. Some
years before God had called to himself the
wife Of his youth taken her mercifully
| from the evil to come. One Of the sons
she had borne him filed drunkards grave.
the other had been mortalIy wounded in
some disgraceful quarrel. But Estelle,
, his little Estelle, the eve lamb Of his flock,
loved beyond all the others, and yet who
, had wounded his heart 50 sorely, where
was sheY
, All, well he knew that the December
snow was falling fast upon her grave; that
she died un ,oothcd by the knowledge Of
/. his forgiveness.
. The iron-grey locks that shaded his tenn
: pies accorded well with the general express
; sion Of the strongly marked features, and
{ which were characterized by hardness
and GOODNESS almost repelling, yet through
It all could be seen traces Of depth Of
, mental anguish of which weaker natures
are incapable.
He was aroused from the gloomy reverie
into which he had fallen by old Margery
who, opening the door, said:
"There is woman with little girl in
the hall, who insists on seeing you"
"Did she give her name 7"
"She said that her name was Dugald," I"
returned Margery, speaking with evident
hesitation.
But contrary to her expectations, this
: mention Of a name hated above all others
produced no visible effect upon her master.
"Show her in, he said, after moments
reflection.
II was difficult to determine the age Of
the woman who entered. Her har was
nearly white, but her eye bright and picrc-
ing, and her tall strongly-built form as
erect as in early life. Though evidently a
person Of little education, her countenance
and bearing indicated an unusual amount
Of will and energy, combined with no little
shrewdness and eifroutery.
Judge Harding evidently saw all this in
the steady look with which he regarded
her.
"You are the mother Of the late Richard
. Dugald!"
II am the mother of your late daugh-
ter's husband. Judge Harding"
The proud old man WINGED visibly at this
| thrust, but did not lose his selfpoSsessiOn.
"And this is the child Of your son "
! he inquired, pointing to lovely little girl
of six, clad in deep mourning, who was
standing by her side.
"This is the daughter Of Richard and
, Estelle Dugald your grandchild and mine,
Judge Hardingp' returned the woman, in
tho same sharp, defiant tone.
Judge Harding could not conttovert this
statement, humbling rs il was, but his
voice took harsher tone as he said:
"Why have you brought her to me 7"
"Because have not the means Of sup
! porting her, and you have"
"Did your late son have no property ?"
For moment the woman's eyes wavered
beneath his penetrating look, then she said
boldly:
"Nothing but q mere pittancc, which
was more than swallowed up by the ex-
penses Of your daughters last Sickness"
Judge Harding eyes blazed with sud-
den scorn that was almost startling.
i "Do not hope to delude me so easilyV
he cried. "There is not one act Of yours
that has escaped my notice. l know that
your son left property. that should have
descended to his wife and child, but Of
which you took possessionl know, also,
the grldging care you bestowed on the de-
luded girl that your son lured fom her
friends and home! But let them both p lss.
I will take the child, and amply indemnify
you for every possible expense, but only on
condition that ousign this paper, by which
you pledge yourself to abstain from oil fu-
ture intercourse with your grandchlid."
The woman's eyes sparkled, as she caught
a glimpse of the roll Of bills in Judge Har-
ding hand, but she still hesitated.
The sharp-sighted old man saw quickly
the cause Of this hesitation.
| II wish you distinctly TO understand" :"
he said, "that though will provide for the
child, il is not my intention to mako her
my heir; ! shall leave her only sufficient
to place her above actual want; the bulk
Of my property will go to some charitable
institution"
As Mrs. Dugald looked upon that reso-
Lutte countenance she felt that he was in
earnest, and without another word she
.,.noI a. !. ,..,.o. . 4 kh., "a Z -, :. tho rnonav