Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-10-06
NO. 237.

Does she fulfill her childish promise of
beauty and gracep'
"She does" said Miss Redruth, setting
her lips firmly together.
~ know that she is good" said the
Indian soldier, with tender emphasis. II
remember well her loving, sensitive ma
ture, her winning way, her bright, impetu-
Gus spirit. She had noble intellect
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 re-
luctantreply.
"Ah!" said the Colonel, trying to smile.
"She has lover thenP 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"
81 could not well come home earlier,
Jacob" said the Colonel. "N1y daughter
Is an helress, and as such must take her
place in society. If she has an unworthy
lover, | will undertake to wean ber heart
from him. Surely she cannot resist her
fathers loving counsels.".
"lt is too late for counsels," said Miss
Redruth, with sort of grim desperation
"!gnatia Redruth is beyond the reach OF
advice. You need not blame me, George.
lngatia herself will clear my skirts of
blame. is not my fault if she has
wrecked your hopes, and made herself
bed of living Goals to lie on
The Colonefs face grew suddenly pale.
The grizzled mustache on his upper lip
| trembled convulsively.
"What has she done 81 he asked in n
hoarse whisper.
Married dssolute fellow"
Married? Good Heavens!n
''lt is SO George" said Miss Redruth
"She has been married nearly four years"
-Four years And you never told me?
She never wrote that she was married
Four yearsr
''4 es. Let me tell you how it hap
pened. About four years ago, regiment
was stationed within twenty miles of us.
and its officers were to be met at all the
best houses in this part of the county Ig-
malta was but q schoolgirl, under gov
erness, to whom / left the direction of her
pursuits and movements. Ignatia had a
number of girl friends, whom she was
often allowed to visit At the house of
one of these friends she met Captain Dig
by Holm. He was hadsome, after the
style girls like, | suppose, and became
the rage, as the phrase is. He comes of
good family, but is dissolute. His own
father has disowned him. He is thorough
~ bad, but has aspecious appearance. He
fell in love with Ignatia and She with him,
and one day the precious pair came into
this very room and asked my consent to
their marriage"
"Wen ?" said the Colonel, his face
ghastly white, his voice trembling.
''Of course refused my consent" said
Miss Redruth. 81 sent Ignatia to her
school-room, and after lecturing Captain
Holm, dismissed him from the house. |
thought that was the end of the matter
but it seemed it was not. The upshot of
the matter was, that Captain Holm and
my niece were married quietly without
my knowledge, by special license, at Slea-
| ford, to which place Ignatia and her gov
erness had gone in the pony chaise on
pretence of wishing to match Berlin wool,
but really to meet the fellow
''But how could he procure license to
marry child of sixteen, without the con-
sent of her relatives P"
Captain Holm is not punctilious about
speaking truth, " said Miss Redruth bitter
ly. ''He may have declared Ignatia to
be Of age. At any rate he returned in
the chaise with the girl and her governess,
and announced himself as Ignatia's hus-
dared not write to YOU"
And this precious son-in-law of mine
is he in the house ?n demanded the
Colonel stearnly, with lowering brows.
"No; he lived here with Ignatia for a
year or more, for would not let my niece
so from under my roof. He sold out his
commission, and the child has not seen
him in three years. believe he is rowing
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 heress.n
The Colonel arose and paced the floor
with quick and agitated steps.
Don't reproach me, George" said
Miss Redruth Have | not sufferedP
How could | have done differently ?r
''Tied to such a scoundrel, who had not
even the virtue of faithfulness-n
"She need not be tied to him, George"
interposed Miss Redruth eagerly. "Icon-
suited Mr.. Ainsly, my lawyer, you know.
He says that it will be easy to procure
divorce for Ignatia.n
"Why should not the marriage be set
aside as illegal ?n demanded the Colonel.
Miss Redruth colored.
'Because-because-n she stammered.
"You see, George, the Holms are rich.
Only two lives stand between Captain
Holm and a great estate"
"And you want me-a Redruth, and a
rich man-to claim alimony for my
daughter ?" cried the Colonel. in a stern
ringing voice. For shame Jacobea.
You would have me trade on her wrongsa
You would have her accept money from
this scoundrel?"
mo, no. Hear me,n exclaimed Miss
Redruth. II would not have the mar
riage declared illegal. simply because
there is another person to be considered
who has not yet been mentioned"
And who may this person be ?'
Ignatia's child!n
"Her child! Ignatia's childp Great
Heaven. Am l dreamingpn
mo, wish you were," said Miss Red
ruth. "There is child of three years, a
girl. For her sake, as you must see your
self, the legality of the marriage must not