National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-10-13
LADY THORNHURST'S DAUGHTER.
CHAPTER |.
THE FATHERS RETURN.

was Miss Jacobca Rodruth. She was and il
possess of frst-ciass business abilities, ac-
| tive in her habits, koo' sharp-wltted, and her
! own farm manager.
She was not a woman II social habits, nor
! particularly given TO hospitality. There was
vein of parsmOny in her nature, that made
/ social gatherings at her expense a post We
! pain but she mad como of q 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 US formally returned
at stated periods, and but for her small
| break IN the oven course OF their existence,
Miss Redruth would have led the life of re-
clust.
Late one afternoon in May nearly twenty
years ago, Miss Eedruth was seated in her
drawing after her usual afternoon GUS
tom. Her char was drawn up before an open
bow-wndow, and she was looking ont into the
depths of an apple orchard, which was covered
with bloom, with strangely intent gaze.
One might have supposed her engaged in alb
struso calculations as to the probable yield of
the frut-troos, but second glance at her
deeply contracted brows and troubled face
/ would have testified that her thoughts had q
| deeper and more unquiet source.
She gaunt, grim woman of middle age
and of masculine appearance She had hard
! face and a hard nature. She had no tender,
womany ways, no gentle womanly sympathies,
no sentimentility, as she loved to say-no
fondness for womanly employments.
Redruth Moor was net an entailed estate,
and Miss Redruth had inherited it from her
father. The present representative of the
proud old family was Colonel Redruth, her
brother, an army officer, who had spent most
of his life III 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 joy
GUS anticipation in the manner of Miss Red
ruth, as the moment of the ColOnefs appear
ance drew near.
"What can | say to himf" she muttered un-
easily. "What will he say to me WREN he
knows all p? lwish the meeting We're over. All,
there he comes"
The carriage She had sent to Sleaford to
meet her brother was in fact at that moment
seen returning Mt a swift pace along the dusty
road, 1t turned in at the wide farm gates,
and came up the carliage-sweep toward the
porch. Miss Rcdruth arose after mechan |
cal fashion from her char, 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 a gentleman, whose face flushed |
at sight OF her, and who took Oft his hat as a
sudden rush of emotion swept over his soul. |
The carriage drew up at the porch, and the
gent IN sprang lightly out and ran up the
steps.
''Jac My dear sis er y 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 check to her brothers |
caress, but she did not offer to kiss him. She
was superior to such small Weaknesses
II am glad to you back in England, !
George" she exclaimed quietly. You have |
changed | think but, then, your life has not
been so quiet aS nine
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,
eXpectant gaze.
lie was u handsome, distinguished blocking
man, of some fifty years, with cumpla EXON
deeply bron2ed by Indian suns, with keen
dark eyes, a grand head, and black hair al
ready streaked with gray, He wore iron-gray
military whiskers, and his massive eyebrows
were Of iron-gray also, giving to his noble
countcuanco a look Of sternness and com
mand that well became him.
Where is Ignatlal" he asked. his face sud-
denly couding with disappointment. why
is not my child here to welcome her father?
She-she is not illT
"No Geor5 g. answered Miss Redruth, with
embarrassment. "SAe does not know that YOU
are expected to-day. thought il best not to
tel her. and aud sent her ont in her little
pony chase for n drive"
offending to let her find ne here on her
return p said the Colonel, his brow clearing.
"You m"ant to surprise her: VIII she be
back soon Z"
pcrcephbe uneasiness 81 have something to
tell YOU before Ignata comes. Did did You
hear ANYTHING over at 81. afford? Did YOU meet
any one YOU used 10 know ~
II did not. said the Colonel wonderingly.
seating himself at window commanding a
view OF the road WAS there aaythmg for
me to hear 7" lac added, with a sudden change
of countenance. " The child has not grown
deformed, nor had the small-poA, nor"
How old do Won think the child is ?r de-
.l,l lP,.lr r,rt,lX l,lt h,r
a little girl, and she seems but a little girl to
Won still. But she Is twenty wears old.
woman grown"
"Ah, yes" sighed the Colonel She has
left behind her her childhood, but she will be
dearer and nearer to me than SIM
ply a child She will be NV compauiou. nv
friend. she will console me in part for the
oss of her mother Docs she fuItili her childish
promise of beauty and graceY"
She does - said Miss Redruth settino bar
Inns firmly together
"a know that she is good - sai he Indian
soldier with tender emnhasis remember
well her loving sensitive nature her winning
ways her bright imnetuous spirit. She had q
noble intellect you do NOT mean. Jacob that
she - ~ Ga - haada5 ~ sba w. 2s L. |
added in sudden alarm
mo she knows enouyh. was the reluctant
renlv.
Al ~ nail H.. C,lo,ol trim, q. ;1
% Sbe hos - '' a., Tbot r. ~ ha 49,
ed AZ bor 400 y - 'H
.,Von sborid bora co,oo homo .oonor
f,corgo~ az NJ" Roirnth sPeorIo ~
have Children sbmnId stav with them and nLe