Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-03-31

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| some suspicious at least took possession
of his mind concerning the real charac-
ter Of bis clerk.
Investigation only proved them wei
founded. He satisfied himself-the man
stern sense Of justice required that b,
should do that--of the young book keep
er's total disregard of the truth, and o
bis dissipated habits, and bis unexpecte,
dismissal from his place fell like a tbun
derbolt upon Stephen Keith.
Margaret's father had no suspicion
that his willy clerk had ingratiated him
self into the affections of his daughter
until the truth betrayed itself in Mar
garet's agitation when her father inform
ed her OF the dismissal of his book-keep
er. Mr.. Phillips was surprised, shocked
indignant. Whatever paternal feeling
was aroused in him at this discovery, il
manifested itself in its most repellant
form. He commanded Margaret never
TO see, or so much as think of "that mis-
cradle vagabond" again.
Neither of these things was in Mar
garefs power. Stephen Keith managed
10 see her the very next day at the house
of mutual acquaintance, and pleaded
his cause there, with all the eloquence of
which he was master, aud that was not a
little and he soon succeeded in convinc.
ing Margaret that he was The victim of
ner fathers cruel prejudices and injus-
tce.
A month had transpired since that
inn. during which the young people had
had frequent surrepttious meetings and
The young man under
stood and appealed most skillfully TO all
hat was finest and mos; generous in the
nature of the young girl; and Margaret
Phillips was at last persuaded into prom
sing her hand 10 Stephen Keith.
The young girl was not used to decep-
ion. Her high, sensitive nature scorned
t as mean and unworthy. She could
lot live under her fathers roof with that
secret weighing down her heart and
conscience, and one night, without even
disclosing her intention to her betrothed, |
he rallied all her courage and told him |
# her engagement. Dir. Phillips was
stounded, really shocked, SO deeply that
or the moment this feeling gained the
mastery of bis anger.
He said li,tle that evenig to Margaret.
nd dismissed the girl in great fear and
as to the effect her communi-
alton had had on her parent; but the
ext morning she was left in no doubt on
he subject.
During the night BIr. Phillips indig-
alton had had time to kindle itself, as he
evolved the matter over in bis mind
lie had little fear now of Margaret's
ersistent disobedience. The fact that
be had discovered it to him, was suf-
cient proof in his mind of her repent.
nee. SO the memorable man presented
is ultimatum TO his daughter. And
largaret Phillips went up to her room
nd her soul rebeled against her father &
Iere as it had never done before. II f
ere bad been any mother now to come (
ith her tender voice and her loving
'unsels betwixt the father aud daughter,
might all have been different but =
ere was none. 1t was natural that the r
,ung girl, driven TO desperation by her +
lrent, should turn to him for whose sake h
e would have sacrificed everything bat
n sense Of right. +,
Stephen Keith was not long in learn il
6 the true state of things. Some desire c
revenge on his former master certainly r
mulated his purpose to make Margaret d
hilips his wife. Her father could not y
we aided the young mans suit in any h
her way half so efficiently as he had
ne by bis unkindness. Il
So Stephen Keith proposed to Mar t.
ret 10 marry him epttiously. He CT
d never dared do this before, and he n
titled his appeal with so many specious fc
guments ; he painted with all bright "
ors of speech so fair and beautiful a al
,ture Of their lives together, which he g
lld shelter her from all fear or harm in e,
, warmth of bis heart, by the might of
love; and life away from him looked C,
bare and dreary, with no sympathy or VI
lderness, that Margaret gave her as 81
lt-half under her breath-torn by "
laicting feelings and the wrong and d.
lay at the threshold Of the cold, stern
de of her father, Richard Phillips. 81
Stephen Keith did not give her long ST
wait. There are always rash and b
pulsive friends TO lend their influence TO er