The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-10-20
or did the sternness of his countenance re-

| cruel agitation CONFUSING her frame. ner
arms dropped, and her hands were clasped
together. 1t seemed as if she would have
knelt before him.
Father! o, father !" she cried, in an
anguishei appeal. Gather, speak TO mel"
That pleading cry went to the Colonel's
soul. He forgot his daughters error, re-
mem boring that she was his child-his only
child. His heart melted within him. He
silently opened his arms, and, with gasp
ing cry, Ignatia sprang forward and was
folded TO his breast.
For little while there was silence be-
tween them, broken only by the sobs and
the soft caresses the Colonel showered upon
! her head and face. Then he drew her to a
safa, still EMBEDDING her in ks arms.
Father" whispered lgnatia, brokenly,
ado you know? Has Aunt Jacob told
you"
81 know all, my daughter" answered the
| Colonel, gently.
"And you forgive meR You will not
cease to love me ?"
The father answered only by a soft caress.
Her terror and anguish aroused his tender
ness and pity, and he had never in all her
life loved her with such yearning love as
he felt for her at this moment when she lay
trembling against his breast.
"Aunt Jacob has told me of your marr-
age, Ignatia," he said. al will not upbraid
all these years. How long is it since you
saw Captain Holm?"
4" 1t is nearly three years, father" was the
low reply. 81 have not seen him since the
child was three months old"
Do you love him still?" asked the Col
onel
ooh, no, mol" she murmured. 81 would
would rather die than to live with him as
his wfe!"
"And this child is yours and his?"
Yes, 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 SEQ that she had inherited no faint
of her profligate fathers nature.
What is your name, little one?" asked
the Colonel.
Georgia Redruth, was the prompt ans
wer.
The Colonel held out one hand with a
smile to the child. When he had throned
his tiny namesako upon his knee, his
daughter knew that she was forgiven.
She presently raised he head from its
resting place. and told him her story. 1t
differed little from the narrative Miss Red
ruth had already given her brother. 1t
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
tain Holm knows now that you are an heir
oss?"
al am sure he does not" answered the
deserted young wife. 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
outbreak. He came homo one day from the
town where his regiment was stationed III
terrible humor. We found afterward that
every officer in his regiment had cut him
'for conduct unbecC ming an officer and
gentleman. He was obliged to sell out his
commission as soon as possible after that.
4" He was full of rage, which he vented
upon me. He cursed himself for falling in
love with me, when he might have won an
heiress.
At last he took his effects and mounted
his horse, and rode toward Sleaford at fu
rious pace. | have neve seen him since.
do not know whether he is living or dead"
Your young life shall not be blighted by
this scoundrel!" cried the Colonel. The
law shall free you from any claims he may
choose to make upon you when he discovers
that his deserted wife is really an heiress
My first movement shall be to procure you
a release from the villain.
"And until you have obtained a divorce
from him, we will not go to Redruth"
Will you let me keep my child?" asked
Ignatia
OF course, dear"
Dear father!' she said softly. My
whole life shall try to show my love and
! gratitude to you"
Before the Colonel could reply, Miss Red
ruth stalked into the room, Enthusiastically
anxious.
single glance set hor mind at rest The
Colonel held his grandchild on his knee,
and lgnatia was looking up at him with
! grateful eyes.
CAL is forgiven and forgotten" said the
! Colonel, cheertully. "Ignatia and the child
will start for London with me by the morn
ing train.
!" will not take her to Redruth while
that scoundrel has shadow Of claim upon
! her,"
The evening was passed pleasantly and
without restraint. No further allusion was
made to Captain Holm, and Colonel Red
ruth told stolies of his Indian life, charm
ing his hearers inty forgetfulness of Ignatias
husband.
At about two o'clock the next day, Col.
Redruth, Ignatia and the little Georgia took
their leave of Miss Redruth, and drove
away from the Moor.
They were obliged to wait nearly an hour
for the mail down train.
The gray dusk was falling when they
| SJedIneu lnlO JHe sldJlOu dJ IluHtiHSuOu' n
porter entered and lighted the ceiling lamp,
and went out again.
Suddenly two young men came saunter
ing along the platform.
One approached the door of the coach
occupied by Col. Redruth's family and
looked in. A guard came forward and adj
dressed the young men, and ushered them
into the very carriage occupied by the re-
turned soldier
Ignatia hurriedly drew her veil over her
face, and sank back upon her seat trembling
and panic-stricken. Col. Redruth noticed
that she seemed to cover in the shadows of
her corner.
The next instant the train was once more
on its swift way to the southwark
Col. Redruth looked at the intruders
closely. One of them was an ordinary look
ing young man in military uniform, with a
loud laugh and pompous manners. The
Col. did not bestow upon him a second
glance.
His companion was slender, tall and
graceful, and with dashing, spirited air.
His manor was a strange compound of
grace, insolence and gentleman.iness. lie
was of florid complexion, his forehead high,
his eyes of blush gray, and possessed of
a strange mower of attraction and foscin n