Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-10-18
LADY THORNHURST'S DAUGHTER.
CHAPTER I.
THE FATHERS RETURN.


all England.
The house is picturesque old stone dwell
ing, which had stood couple of centuries
At little distance in the rear of the house
are outbuildings, all indicative of the extreme
thrift and prosperity of the owner of Redruth
Moor.
The owner, twenty years ago. as to-day, was
sessed of first-class business abilities, active
in her habits, keen, sharp-witted, and her own
farm manager.
She was not woman of social habits, nor
particularly given to hospitality. There was
vein of parsimony IN her nature, that made
social gatherings at her expense a positive
pain, but she had come of a fine old county
family, and her ancient name and excellent
lineage procured her friendly recognition and
formal visits from the various county mag
mates. These visits were as formally return
ed at stated periods, and but for their small
break in the even course of her existence,
Miss Redruth would have led the life Of are
cluse.
Late one afternoon in May nearly twenty
years ago, Miss Redruth was seated in her
drawing room, after her usual afternoon GUS
tom. 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 suppose her engaged in abstruse
calculations as to the probable yield of the
fruit trees, but second glance at her deeply
contracted brows and troubled face would have
testified that her thoughts had a deeper and
more unquiet source
She was gauDt, grim woman of middle age
and of masculine appearance. She had hard
face and hard nature. She had no tender
womanly ways, no gentle womanly sympathies,
no sentimentality as she loved to say, no fond
ness for womanly employments.
Redruth Moor was not an entailed estate,
o,,l JoI, 4, LoI ,,la Il 1o,
father. The present representative of the
proud old family was Col 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 anti
cipation in the manner of Miss Redruth, as the
moment of the Colonels appearance drew
near
What can / say to him." she mnttered IN
easily. ''What will he say to me when he
knows all ? | wish the meeting were over. All,
there he comes"
The carriage she had sent to Sleaford to
meet her brother was at that very moment
seen returning at swift pace along the road.
It turned in at the wide farm gates, and came
up the sweep towards the porch. Miss Red
ruth arose in a mechanical fashion from her
chair, and went slowly out into the wide hall,
advancing to the threshold to meet her re.a-
tive.
The open carriage came nearer. Upon the
back seat sat gentleman whose face flushed
at sight of her, and who took off his b at as a
sudden rush of emotion swept over his soul.
The carriage drew up at the porch, and the
gentleman sprang lightly out and ran up the
steps.
Jacob My dear sister !" he cried, in
deep, agitated tones, embracing her. " You
have not changed, at least, in the nine years
since we parted?"
Miss Redruth submitted to the embrace, and
presented her right cheek to her brothers
caress, but she did not offer to kiss him. She
was superior to such small weaknesses.
81 am glad to see you back in England
George, she exclaimed, quietly. You have
changed, / think but then your life has not
been quiet as mine"
She withdrew herself from bis arm, and led
him INTO the low, quaint, pleasant drawing
room.
The Colonel halted just within the thresh-
old, and looked about the room with an eager,
expectant gaze
He was a handsome, distinguished looking
man, of some fifty years, with complexion
deeply bronzed by Indian suns, with keen dark
eyes a grand head, and black hair already
streaked with gray. He wore iron-gray mill
tary whiskers, and his massive eyebrows were
of iron gray also, giving to his noble counter
ance a look of sternness and command that
we'll became him.
Where is Ignatia ?" he asked, his face
suddenly clouding with disappointment. Why
is not my child here to welcome her father /?
She-she is not i'll ~
"No, George" answered Miss Redruth with
embarrassment. "She does not know that
you are expected to day. 1 thought it best
not to tell her, and-and I sent her out in her
little pony chaise for a ride"
4" Intending to let her find me here on her
return ?" said the Colonel, his brow clearing
- YOu meant to surprise her ? VIII sb ba
back soon ~
''Sit down. George" said Miss Redruth with
perceptible uneasiness. II have something
to tell you before Ignatia comes. Did-did
you hear anything over at Sleaford? Did you
meet any one you used to know ?"
II did not said the Colonel wonderineIy,
seating himself at a window commanding a
view of the road. "Was there ANYTHING for
me to hear" he added, with sudden Change
of countenance. THE child has not grown
deformed, nor had the smallpox, nor"
How old do you think the & child is ?" de-
manded Miss Redruth grimly. "You left her
little girl, and she seems but little girl to
you still. But she is twenty years old, a wo-
man grown"
"Ah, yes" sighed the Colonel "She has
left behind her her childhood, but she will be
something dearer and nearer to me than sim
ply child She will be my companion, nv
friend. She will console me in part for the
loss of her mother. Does she fulfill her child
ish promise of beauty aud grace ?"
She does, said Miss Redruth setting her
lips firmly together.
Il know that she is good" said the Indian
soldier, with tender emphasis. 81 remember
well her loving, sensitive nature her winning
ways, her bright impetuous spirit She had
noble lntellect-you do not mean, Jacob.
that she is not SO clear-headed as she was %
he added, in sudden alarm
No, she knows enough" was the reluctant
reply. -
She has lover then? That is to be ex~
pected at her age"
"You should have come home sooner,
George, SAID Miss Redruth. "People who
have children should stay with them and take
care of them"
II could not well come home earlier. ia
cob" said the Colonel. NV daughter is an
helress and as such must take her place in So
clety. If she has an unworthy lover, I will
undertake to wean her heart from him. Surely
she cannot resist her fathers loving counsels."
g. 1t is too late for counsels, " said Miss Red
ruth, with sort of grim desperation. zig
malta Redruth is beyond the reach OF advice.
You need not blame me- George. Ignatia her
self will clear my skirts of blame It is not
my fault ii she has wrecked your hopes. and
made herself bed of living Goals to lie on
The ColonePs face grew suddenly pale. The
grlzzled moustache on his upper lip trembIed
COnFulSlNely.
''What has she done ?" he asked, in hoarse
whisper.
Married dissolute fellow"
Married? Good Heayens"
ut is so, George" said Miss Redruth. ssshe
has been married nearly four years
"Four years? And you never told mo .
She never wrote that she was married. -Four
yearsl"
g Yes. Let me tell you how II happened.
About four years ago, regiment was sta-
toned within twenty miles of us, and TIA off
GERS were to be met at all the best horses j.,
this part of the county. Ignatia was brI a
school girl, under a governess, to whom left
the direction of her pursuits and movements.
lgnatla had number of girl friends whom
she was often allowed to visit. At the house
of one of these friends she met CAPTAIN Die
by Holm. He was handsome, after the sty7e
girls like, 1 suppose, and became the rage as
the phrase is. He comes of good family. brt
is dissolute. His own father has disowned
him. He is thoroughly bad, but has q soe-
clous appearance. He fell in love with Ie-na-
tia and she with him, and one DAY the precious
pair came into this very room and asked Ernv
consent to their marriage"
Well?" said the Colonel, lis face ghastlv
white, his voice trembling.
OF course [ refused my consent said
Miss Redruth. " l sent Ignatie to her school
and af Iaatrrp,r