Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-10-05
LADY THORNHURsTs DAUGHTER
CHAPTER l.
TIE FATHERS RETURN.


The farm known as Redruth Moor il
one of the most fertile in Lincolnshire
perhaps in all England.
The house is picturesque old stone
dwelling, which has stood a couple oi
centuries. El
At little distance in the rear Of the
house are out-buildings, all indicative Of
the extreme thrift and prosperity of the
owner of Redruth Moor.
That owner, twenty years ago, as to-
day, was Miss Jacobea Redruth. She
was and is possessed of frst-class bust
ness abilities, active in her habits, keen,
sharp-witted, and her own farm manager.
She was not a woman of social habits,
nor particularly given to hospitality.
There was a vein Of parsimony in her
nature, that made social gatherings at
her expense a positive pain, but she had
come of fine old county family, and
her ancient name and excellent lineage
procured her friendly recognition and
formal visits from the various county
magnates. These visits were as formally
returned at stated periods, and but for
their small break in the even course OF
her existence, Miss Redruth would have
led the life of a recluse.
Late one afternoon in May, nearly
twenty years ago, Miss Redruth was
seated in her drawingroom, after her
usual afternoon custom. Her chair was
drawn up before an open bow-window,
and she was looking out into the depths
of an apple orchard, which was covered
with bloom, with strangely intent gaze.
One might have supposed her engaged
in abstruse calculations as to the proba-
BILE yield of the fruit trees, but a second
glance at her deeply contracted brows
and troubled face would have testified
that her thoughts had deeper and more
unquiet source.
She was gaunt, grim woman OF mid
die age and of masculine appearance.
She had hard face and hard nature.
She had no tender womanly ways, no
gentle womanly sympathies, no senti-
mentality, as she loved to say no fond
ness for womanly employments.
Redruth Moor was not an entailed es-
tate, and Miss Redruth had inherited it
from her father. The present repre-
sentative of the proud old family was
Colonel Redruth, her brother, an army
officer, who had spent most of his life in
India, and whose arrival she was now
momentarily expecting at her home,
after an absence from his native land
for many years. There was more of
dread than of joyous anticipation in the
manner of Miss Redruth, as the moment
of the Colonels appearance drew near.
"What can | say to him2 she NUT
tered uneasiIy. what will he say to
me when he knows all? wish the meet
ing were over All, there he comes"
The carriage she had sent to Sleaford
to meet her brother was in fact at that
moment seen returning at swift pace
along the dusty road. 1t turned in at
the wide farm gates, and came up the
carriage sweep toward the porch. Miss
Redruth arose aftera mechanical fashion
from her chair, and went slowly out into
the wide hall, advancing to the threshold
to meet her relative.
The open carriage came nearer. Upon
the back seat sat gentleman whose
face flushed at sight of her, and who
took off his hat as a sudden rush of
emotion swept over his soul. The car
riage drew up at the porch, and the gem
tleman sprang lightly out and ran mp
the steps.
, "Jaeobl My dear sister, he cried, in
deep, agitated tones, embracing her.
!" You have not changed, at least,-in the
nine years since we partedr
Miss Redruth submitted to the EN-
brace, and presented her right cheek to
her brothers caress, but she did not
offer to kiss him. She was superior to
such small weaknesses.
g am glad to see you back in Eng
land, George" she exclaimed quietly.
" You have changed, / think; but then
your life has not been so quiet as mine.
She withdrew herself from his arm,
and led him into the low, quaint, pleas
ant drawing-room. q
The Colonel halted just within the
threshold, and looked about the room
with an eager, expectant gaze.
He was q handsome, distinguished
looking man, of some fifty years, with a
complexion deeply bronzed by Indian
suns, with keen, dark eyes, a grand
head, and black hair already streaked
with gray. He wore iron-gray military
whiskers, and his massive eyebrows were
of iron-gray also, giving to his noble