The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1870-10-27

age. Both were proud men IN their way
but the baronet was the least unbendino
of the two.
The guest commenced the conversation:
''Slr John Barton, until yesterday /
thought as i'll of you as you have no doubt
thought of me. | have learnt my error; 1t
is fer me to convince you of yours. come
to you frankly. Our ranks in life are dill
ferent. but in our grandchild we have one
great aim and object in common"
Up TO this time both men had been stand
ing; but here, III compliance with GEES
ture from the Baronot, each took his seat
facing each other across the hearth rug.
The gu st then continued
Il will tell you my story first, sir I was
the son of an ironmonger. In large way
OF business In Nottingham, and was in
tended by my father to succeed to his
business. He gave me fair education
at the grammar school of the place.
Like most boys, | had s. taste for
adventure, and when | was
seventeen had an alteration with my faith
or about the shop, ran away and enlisted
in the Tenth Foot. My father found ont
what had done, aud wrote to offer TO
purchase my discharge, but ] refused, and
| went out to India with nay regiment.
was steady, well conducted map, and
soon obtained my sergeant's stripes.
Wncn III India heard Of the death of my
father-my mother had died masy years
beforehand also that when his business
was wound up the surplus remaining was
very small, a few hundred pounds, which
WAS placed to my credit in England AZ
ter | came bhck fell in love aud married.
My wife was tine daughter Of French emf
| gre. with nothing but her good looks and
Der kind heart. purchased my discharge
and with my little property bought and
! furnished house at Deal where We let
lodgings. My wife managed me house.
and | gave lessons IN fenceing and drill to
| the few schools there and to casual
visitors. We had one child. When
! she was ten years old | lost my wife: and
after that all my feelings conferred in my
child. [ watched over her and loved her
as only a man can love his only child. So
things went on until your son came as 81
iodger to rs. [ knew nothing ofhim-was
| ignorant that be was the only son Of bar.
onet and heir TO a large estate. / knew
nothing of it until one day [ came home
and found my child was gone, and letter
from her saying that she was secretly mar.
RED and telling me the rank and position
Of your son. was as proud, sir, Of my
| good name as you could be OF yours IL
shrank from the idea that it should be said
that had been party to my child taking
IN I knew how the world would put it
the heir of rich and ancient family. and
[ wrote to say that until you Acknowledged
the marriage and approved OF il, / would
not DO SO.
Ny pride, sir, was less deeply grounded
than yOuts was. Kate wrote to me from
the suth OF France, where they had taken
up their residence, to say that you would
not relent, and that they were pennies.
Now, sir, my pride urged me to do the
thing which it bad before prevented my do
ing. [ sold my house AMI furniture sent
s every penny to them, and set to work with
| my own hands to SUPPORT myself Hush,
| Sin John Ba ton-there are no thanks, 10
Acknowledgements due. I did what con-
celvcd to be nay duty; you did what Won
believed to be yours. Months after, u let
ter reached me from my dear child. Her
| husband WAS attacked with cholera. She
| had little girl, and no friends but myself
! She implored me to come on. Fortunately,
! ] rad few pounds by me and I hurried to
| Marseilles, l found Kate dying, ana that
her husband bad expired three days before.
| She told me Won had b en- written for IT
the same time with myself. I have since
until q week later. closed my deaE child's
eyes.
the strangers cemetery ~ Sr,reei!ies. and
| then finding you did not come. sud SIM.
| posi2g yOu would not forgive, I took the
baby home to England. Since then. sir I
have kept her--have brought her mn. I
| trust, kindly and well. 1t first the noma3
! life [ led could do her no harm. but as she
| grew mp ! saw that it WAS for her GOOD that
she regain her lost place in ths world. I
! thought you might grant the forgiveness
to the grandchild ! believed you had re-
| fused to the son. / came down here and
| found that had mistaken you-t!at it was
only an unfortunate accident which kept
you from standing beside your sons grave:
and then was able to resign Kitty you,
secure a. least, of her future -
The baronet had listened deeply moved
once or twice he tried to interfere; but the
speaker stopped him with peremptorv
gesture. When he ceased, Sir John Barton
rose and took both hands OF the other
81 have, as you supposed. long mistaken
you, as you have, with greatly more reason.
mistaken me. Yours is now the triumph
Be generous sir. You give up this child 10
me-this child whom, much as | love
already, you mRst love far mere. At least
share her with ne Make this YOUR home
My whole hope, my whole aim in life now
IS in the child aud her happiness. Stop
and aid me to bring her up"
81 thank you, sir," the ex sergeant said:
II thank you from my heart. for feel
that your invitation il no idle compliment;
but 1t is out of the question. Your rank
IN llte Is infinitely above mine; and Ives,
L am only too proud to accept a position
like this"
Your pride, then. is worse than mine -
the baronet said warmly. Il am, [ &C
knowledge. proud man: but am not too
proud to feel without bitterness that NV
son was supported By your generosity, hat
your hand laid him in the grave that you
have brought mp his child. Think YOU
that |, q rich man, with no means Of ever
spending my wealth, can ever repay such
obligations as these? Do you think that
sharing this home with You could ever
make me feel that nay debt was cancelled =?
And do you forget the child Viii you 90
away from her, and take from her the
friend Who has heretofore been a father 10
her Sir, you have thought me proud;
what is my pride to ours ?"
The old soldier was evidently moved
with the address and at the extreme ear
nestness- and sincerity with which il was
spoken. The baronet saw his advantage
and rang the bell
Send Miss Barton here"
There was a silence until Kitty entered
With cry of joy she ran up to the old sol
der.
"Oh, grandpa. grandpa! am SO glad
kiss Kitty [ am SO happyl New grandpa
so kind to Kitty; but me want old grandpa,