Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-10-20
CHAPTER II.
IGNATIA.

IGNATIA.
| The little basket chaise drew up before
the porch of the stone house, and the young
| lady who held the reins tossed them to a
| stable lad who was at hand, and aiighted,
helping out a little child. The two ran
lightly up the steps.
The hall was deserted when the pair en-
tered it.
"Where's Aunty Jacob % cried the young
| mother, in a gay, sweet voice. Her chair IS
empty. Shall we find her?'
| She moved lightly across the floor, and
then her eyes suddenly resting upon the
grand figure and stern face Of the returned
| soldier, she came to an abrupt halt. cry
of terror and horror strangely mingled,
came from her white lips. Her face
blanched her limbs trembled; she painted
for breath.
The father and daughter stood face to face
after separation of nine long years
The Colonel scarcely recognized the sal
low, romping little creature he had left, in
this magnificent woman. Her tall and
slender figure was instinct with a stately
grace. Her every movement indicated re-
fnement and thorough breeding.
The Colonel did not move toward her,
nor did the sternness of his countenance re-
lax. ... r..
His daughter took a step toward him, a
| cruel agitation convulsing her frame. Her
arms dropped, and her hands were clasped
together. 1t seemed as if she would have
knelt before him.
Fatherl 0, fatherl" she cried, in an
anguished appeal. " Father, speak to me 7"
That pleading cry went to the ColonePs
soul. He forgot his daughters error, re-
membering that she was his child-his only
child. His heart melted within him. He
silently opened his arms, and, with a gasp
Ion alta forward and was
folded to his breast.
For little while there was silence be-
tween them, broken only by the girls sobs
and the soft caresses the Colonel showered
upon her head and face. Then he drew her
to a sofa, still enfolding her in his arms.
Father whispered Ignatia, brokenly,
"do you know? Has Aunt Jacob told
you-'
9" know all, my daughter" answered the
Colonel, gently.
"And you forgive me? You will not
cease to love me?"
The father answered only by soft caress.
Her terror and anguish aroused his tender
ness and pity, and he had never in all her
life loved her with such q yearning love as
he felt for her at this moment when she lay
trembling against his breast. -
"Aunt Jacob has told me of your mar
riage, Ignatia," he said. 81 will not upbraid
all these years. How long is it since you
saw Captain Holm?'' t# .Et IT
&" 1t is nearly three years, father" was the
low reply. :" I have not seen him since the
child was three months DID,"
"Do you love him still?" asked the Col
onel.
" Oh, no, no /" she murmured. would
rather die than live with him as his wife -"
" And this child is yours and his?"
Eyes, father; but she is not like him in
character"
The Colonel looked at the little creature.
She was scarcely three years old, and it was
easy to see that she had Inherited no faint
of her profigate fathers nature. ..t4
What is your name, little one?" asked
the Colonel. tat -iai
Georgia Redruth,'' was the prompt
answer.
smile to the child. When he had throned
his tiny namesake upon his knee, his
daughter knew that she was forgiven.
She presently raised her head from its
resting place, and told him her story. II
differed little from the narrative Miss Red
ruth had already given her brother. It
seemed, indeed, to the father, as he heard
her, that the girl had been " more sinned
against than shining"
Do you suppose" he asked, +" that Cap
tam Holm knows now that you are an heir
ess pa -@41 ----4L-@ .-.-
." am sure he does not" answered the
de serted young wife. Z" IF he had known it,
he would have returned to me. He never
dreamed that you were the next heir to
poor Uncle Ralph"
"You parted in a quarrel?"
Yes, father; but it was not sudden out