The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-10-16
LADY THoRSHURsrs DAUGHTER.
CHAPTER !.
TIE rATHER's GETuRN.

/ SOCIAL KutntF4uyd ~ nCF uApullhu positive
main, but she lad como Of fnC old county
| family, aud her ancient name and excellent
/ lineage prOCurl her friendly recognition and
/ formal visits from the various county mag
mates. These visits were as formally returned
| ut stated periods, and but for her small
| break In the even course Of their existence
Miss Rcdruth would have led the life OF a re-
| clusc.
Late ono afternoon in May, nearly twenty
years ago, Miss Icdruth was seated In her
drawing.rOom, after her usual afternoon Gus.
tom. Her chair was drawn up before an open
| bOw-winlow, and she was looking out into tho
depths OF an apple orchard, which was covered
with bloom, with n strangely intent gaze.
One might have supposed her engaged IN alb
struse calculations as TO tho probable yield Of
tho fruit-trccs, but a second glance at her
decply-contacted brows and troubled face
would have testified that her thoughts had
deeper and more unquiet source
She was gaunt, grim woman OF middle age
and Of mascu Inc appearance. She had hard
face and hard nature. She had no tender,
womanly ways, no gentle womanly sympathies,
no sentimentility, AZ she loved TO say-no
fondncss for vomanly emplOyments.
llGdruth Moor was not an ontailed estate,
and Miss Rcdruth had inherited II nom her
father. The present representative Of the
proud old family was Colonel lledruth, her
brother, an army officer, who had spent most
Of his life In India, and whose arrival she was
now mOmontarily expecting at her home, after
an absence from his native land for many
years There was more Of dread than Of 10y
Gus anticipation in the manner Of Miss Rcd.
ruth, as the moment OF the ColOnelB appear.
ance drew near.
"WhAt can say to himf" she mnttOred un-
easily. "What will he say to inc when no
knows Rll7 wish the meeting were over. All,
there he comes"
Tho carriage she had sent TO Sleaford TO
meet her brother was In fact at that moment
seen returning at a swift pace along tho dusty
road. II turned In at the wide farm gates,
and came up tho cariago-wcep toward tho
porch. Miss Retlruth arose after n mechanic
cal fashion from her chair, and went slowly
out into the wide lAll, advancing to the
threshold to meet her relative.
The open carriage came nearer. Upon the
back scat rat gentleman, whose face flushed
at sight OF her, and who took OF his hat as q
sudden rush OF emotion swept over his soul.
The carriage drew up at the porch, and the
gentleman Bprang Lightly out and ran up the
steps.
agitatcd tones, embracing her. Z" You have
not changed, at least, in the nine Yeas since
Wopartedl
Miss Rcdruth submitted to the embrace, and
presented her right cheek TO her brothers
was superior 10 such small weaknesses.
~ am glad to sec you back in England,
George" sho exclaimed quietly. "HOn have
changed, think but, then, your life has not
been 80 quiet as mine"
She Withdrew herself from his arm and led
him into the low, quaint, pleasant drawing
room.
The Colonel halted Just within the threshold
and looked about the room with an eager,
expcctant gaze.
lie was handsome, MISUNDERSTANDING
man, OF some fifty years, with complexion
deeply bronzod by Indian suns, with keen
dark eyes, grand head, and black hair al
ready stroaked with gray. He wore iron-gray
military whskefs, and his massive eyebrows
wcro Of iron.gray also, giving to his noble
countonanco look Of stcrnness and COM
mand that well became him.
"Whcre IL Ignatiayn he asked, his face sud-
denly clouling with disappointment. why
Is not my child here 10 welcome her father
Slo-ule is not illf
"So, GEORGE" answered Miss lledruth, with
embarrassment. "She docs not know that you
are expected today. thought Il best not to
tel her, aRd-and ] scnt her out In her little
pony chaise for drive"
"lntrnding to let her find ne here on her
return n said the Colonel, his brow clearing
"You m"ant TO surprise herf viii she he
back soonf" ~,
"Sit down. George, said Miss llodfuth with
porceptible unclsiness. 81 have something TO
tell Won before Ignaiia comes. Did-didyO
hear ANYTHING over ut SlCafOrdf Did you meet
any one you used 10 known, r.H ....#.
III did moi" said tho Colonel wonderingly,
seating himself at window commanding q
view Of the road. "WAs there anything for
me to hear 2" he added, with a sudden change
| Of countenance. "lhe child has not grown
| lcformel. nor had the sDlall.pOk, nor"
IT,,. all 10 VnV, thtnG titp AghilH Ia - 1p.
handed Miss llcdruth grmly. "NUu left her
a little girl, and she seems but little girl to
YOU still But she is twenty years old, u
"Ah, yes" sighed the Colonel "shehas
| left behind her her childhood, but she will be
something dcarer and nearer to me than SIM
ply child. She will bo my companion, my
| friend. She will console me in part for the
| loss Of her mother. Docs she fulfill her childish
promise Of beauty and grscof"
"sho docs, said Miss ledruth, setting her
lips firmly together.
al know that sho Is good said the Indian
soldier, with tender emphasis. remember
well her loving, sensitive nature, her winning
ways, her bright, iinpgItuous spirit she had
noble intclleet-yOu do not mean, Jacob that
she Is not no clOar-headed Us che was?' he
added in sudden alarm
"NO, she knows enough" was the reluctant
reply.
"Ahl" said the Colonel, trying to smile.
"sho has lover, thonf That Is to DO expect
ed at her age ..
"You should have come home sooner,
George" said Miss lie1uth. People who
have children should stay with them and take
care Of them"
~ could not well come homo earlier, ia
cObH said the Colonel "My daughter Is an
heircsB, and as such must take her place In
society. II she has an unworthy lover | will
undertake TO woan her heart from him.
Surely she cannot resist her fathers loving
cOunsels." ....
at is loo late for cOunsels" said Miss Rcd
ruth, with sort Of grim desperation. zig
malta Rodrith Is beyond tho reach Of advice.
You need not blame me, George. IgnAtia her
self will clear my skirts Of blame. II Is not
my fault III she has wrecked your hopes, and
made herself bed OF living Goals To lie on
The Colonel's face grow suddenly pale The
gtizzled moustaclo on his upper lip trcmblcd
c1nyulsiyely. 'Ie ~
"NhAt has she donoiT he asked, In hoarse
whisper. ..r-.. al
married a dlsscluto fellow
"Marricl 0oOd HcaTcnslr
"Itisso, George said Miss Rcdruth. "she
has been married nearly ionr years"
Four ycArsT Aud you never told mo
She never wrote that she was married. -Four
year4H .r.r .l.uU !. ur-.|
Yes Lot mo ten you how II happened.
About four years hgo q rog imont was stationed
within twenty miles Of us, and Ia oillcers were
10 10 mot al all the best houses In this part Of
the country. IgnatiA WAS but a schoolgirl,
under o g0yernesg, to whom left tho direo-
ton Of her pursuits aud movements. IgnAlia
had q number Of girl.frondB whom she was
Omen allowed ia. visit. AZ tho house Of ono OF
those friends she met Captain Digby Holm. |
Ha tWaa hauHaarnH aNaN Nhn atVla aytFla Ita 4