Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-10-03
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al know that she is good, said the Indian soldier,
| with tender emphasis al remember well her Low.
ing sensitive nature her winning ways, her bright
do not mean Jacob, that she is not so clear-headed
as she was Y he added, in sudden alarm,
SS ne sd KOT NE Coene t&SnS s sp rsSy
| has lover them That is to be expected at her
age"
| said Miss Redruth. People who have children
| should stay with them and take care of them"
u could not well come home earlier, ,lacOb,'
said the colonel. "My daughter is an heiress and
such must take her place in society. If she has
an unworthy lover, will undertake TO wean her
heart from him Surely she cannot resist her faith
at is too late for counsels,' said Miss Redruth,
with sort of grim desperation. "Ignatia Redruth
is beyond the reach OF advice. You need not blame
me, George. lgnatia herself will clear my skirts
from blame. II is not my fault if she has wrecked
your hopes, and made herself a bed of living Goals
The colonels face grew suddenly pale. The griz-
zled moustache ON his upper lip tTembled convul.
,"'what has she doneG'' he asked in a hoarse
whisper.
'Aiarried dssolute fellow
"Marriedg Good heavens 20
at is so, George" said Miss Redruth "She has
been married nearly four years"
-Four years And yOu have never told meY She
never wrote that she was married. -Four years 7"
eyes Let me tell You how it happened. About
four ago, regiment was stationed within twenty
miles of us and its officers to be met at all the
but school girl, under governess, with whom
left the direction of her pursuits and movements.
lgnatia had number of girl friends, whom she
was often allowed to visit. At the house of one of
these friends she met Captain Dgby Holm. He was
handsome, after the style girls like, suppose, and
became the rage, as the phrase is. He comes of a
good family, but is dissOlute. His own father has
disowned him. He is thoroughly bad but has
specious appearance. He fell in love with lgnatia
and she with him, and one day the precious pair
came into this very room and asked my consent to
their marriage"
"Well?' said the colonel, his face ghastly white,
his voice trembling.
"Of course, refused my consent" said Miss Red
ruth 81 sent lgnatla to her schOO-roOm, and after
iecuring Captain Holm, dismissed him from the
house thought that was the end of the matter,
but 1t seemed 1t was not. The upshot of the matter
was that Captain Holm and my niece were married
quietly without my knowledge, by special license,
at Sleaiord, TO which place Ignata and her govern
ess nad gone i'll the pony chaise, on pretense of
wtshin@ 10 match Berlin wool, but really to meet
the fe=oW."
But now could he procure license to marry
tives?"
Captain Holm is not punctillious about speaking
truth" sand Miss Rcdruth bitterly. "He may have
declared lgnatia to be OF age. At any rate he re-
turned in the chaise with the girl and her COVER
ness and announced himself to me as Ienata's hus-
band. did not know what to do. / dared not
write to you"
"And this precious son-in-law of mine-is he in
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 commission and the child
has not seen him in three years. ] believe he is
roaming about the continent. When he knew her.
my niece was but 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 heircsS"
The colonel arose and paced the floor with quick
and agitated steps.
Don't reproach me, George" said Miss Redruth.
"Have l not suffered? How could l have done
diferently?"
Tiled to such scoundrel, who had not even the
virtue of faithfuness-"
"She need not be tied to him, George" inter.
rupted Miss Redruth, eagerly. al consulted Mr.
Ainsley, my lawyer, you know. He says that it
Will b. easy to procure divorce for Ignatia.'
why should not the marriage be set aside as il
legal?" demanded the colonel.
Miss Redruth colored
"Because-becausc-" she stammered "You see,
George the Holms are rich. Only two lives stand
between Captain Holm and great estate"
'And you want me--a Redruth, and rich man
to claim alimony for my daughter?" cried the colo
mel in stern ringing voice. "For shame, Jacobea.
You would have me trade on her wrongs? You
drel?"
mo, no. Hear me-" exclaimed Miss Redruth.
81 would not have the marriage declared illegal
simply because there is another person TO be con-
sidered who has not yet been mentioned"
"And who may this person be?'
1gnatia's childm
%Ier child! Ignatia's child? Great heaveul Am
l dreaming?"
No, wish you were" said Miss Redruth.
sake, as you must yourself, the legality of the
marriage must not be questioned"
The colonel did not answer. He strobe back and
forth with bowed head and gathered brows and
Miss Redruth dared not question him, nor even at
tempt to sOothe him.
~ don't think lgnatia SO entirely to blame" she
ventured to say after little.
The colonel gave no sign that he heard the obser-
walton.
This is turning-point in her life," said Miss
Redruth, after another uneasy silence. 81 hope YOU
don't intend to cast her off, George"
Still no answer from the colonel
Miss Redruth turned from the contamination of
his face to the open window, her firm, hard mouth
growing trmer and harder as she compressed it
closely. Neither spoke again until little basket
chaise, drawn by stout, shaggy pony, came leis-
urely along the highway and turned into the open
gates, and Miss Redruth then exclaimed:
algnatia 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 APP
prehensiOn deepening IN her face.