Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-08

I
She never wrote that she was married. Fou
years. aB FfslrTr .Ias.r. -
:" les. Let me tell you how it happened
ABOUT Tour years ago, regiment was sta
TONED within twenty miles of us, and il.
1 ohlcers were TO be met at all the best house:
| IN TINS part of the county. Ignatia was but
school girl, under a governess, to whom
lett the direction Of her pursuits and move
mentS. Ignatia had a number Of Cir
friends, whom she was often allowed 70
visit. At the house of one of these friends
she met Capt. Digby Holm. He was hand
some. after the style girls like, / suppose,
| and became the rage, as the phrase is. He
comes OF good family, but is dissolute.
His own father has disowned him. He is
thoroughly bad, but has specious appear
ance. He fell in love with Ignatia and she
with him, and one day the precious pair
came into this very room and asked INV
consent to their marriage"
Well ?" said the colonel, his face CHASTITY
white, his voice trembling.
"Of course / refused my consent" said
Miss Redruth. % l sent Ignatia TO her
schoolroom, and after occurring Captain
Holm, dismissed him from the house.
thought that was the end of the matter, but
il seemed it was not. The upshot of the
matter was, that Captain Holm and my
niece were married quietly without my
knowledge, by special license, at Sleaford,
to which place Ignatia and her gOverness
had gone in the pony chaise, on pretence Of
wishing to match Berlin wool, but really to
meet the fellow"
But how could he procure a license to
marry child of sixteen, without the con-
sent of her relatives?7
"Capt. Holm is not punctilious about
speaking the TRUTH" said Miss Redruth Bit
terly. He may have declared Ignatia to be
of age. At any rate, he returned in the
chaise with the girl and her governess, and
announced himself to me as Ignatia's hus-
band. did not know what to do. l dared
not write to you"
sand this precious son-in-law Of mine
is he in the hcuse?r demanded the Colonel
sternly, with lowering brows.
No; he lived here with Ignatia for year
or more, for would not let my niece go
from under my roof. He sold out his COM
mission, and the child has not seen him in
three years. believe he is rowing about
the Continent. When he knew her, my
niece was but a sallow, uniformed child.
She is now very beautiful, but that, of
course, he does not know. Neither does
he know that she is now an heiress."
The Colonel arose and paced the floor
with quick and agitated steps.
"Don't reproach me, George" said Miss
Redruth. "Have I not suffered? How
could have done differently ?"
cited to such scoundrel, who had not
even the virtue of faithfulness-"
"She need not be tied to him, George"
interposed Miss Redruth eagerly. al CON
suited Mr.. Ainsley, my lawyer, you know.
He says that it viii be easy to procure a
divorce for Ignatia."
"Why should not the marriage be set
aside as ilegal?' demanded the Colonel.
Miss Redruth colored.
" Because she stammered.
" You see, George, the Holms are rich.
Only two lives stand between Capt. Holm
and a great estate"
"And you want me-a Redruth, and a
rich man-to claim alimony for my daugh-
ter?" cried the Colonel, in stern, ringing
voice. "For shame, Jacobea. You would
have me trade on her wrongs? You would
have her accept money from this scoun-
drel?"
''No, no. Hear me-" exclaimed Miss
Redruth. 81 would not have the marriage
declared illegal, simply because there is an
other person to be considered who has not
yet been mentioned"
sand who may this person be?n
"Ignatia's childr'
ssHer child! Ignatias child Great Hea-
ven. Am Dreaming"
"NO, l wish you were," said Miss Red
ruth. "There is child Of three years,
girl. For her sake, as you must see your
self, the legality of the marriage must not
be questioned"
The Colonel did not answer. He strobe
back and forth with bowed head and gather
ed brows, and Miss Redruth dared not
question him, nor even attempt to soothe
him.
II don't think Ignatia so entirely to
blame" she ventured to say, after little.
The Colonel gave no sign that he heard
the observation.
This is turning-point in her life" said
Miss Redruth, after another uneasy silence.
d" l hope you don't intend to cast her of,
George"
Still no answer from the Colonel.
Miss Redruth turned from the contem-
plation Of his face to the open window, her
firm, hard mouth, growing firmer and
harder, as she compressed it closely.
Neither spoke again until a little basket
chaise, drawn by a stout, shaggy pony, came
leisurely along the highway and turned into
the open farm gates, and Miss Redruth
then exclaimed:
"Ignatia is come. How will you receive
her?"
The Colonel answered in a hoarse voice,
without looking up:
''Send her to me. Stay-you need not
tell her am here. Let her come in here.
And let us meet alone, Jacob
Miss Redruth arose and withdrew, the
look Of apprehension deepening in her face.