The Portland daily press., 1871-10-04
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER II.
IGNATIA.
The little basket chase drew up before the
porch of the stone house, and the young lady
who held the relDs tossed them to a stable
lad who was at hand. and alighted, helping
out little child. The two ran lightly up the
steps.
The hall was deserted when the pair enter
ed it.
Where's Aunty Jacob?" cried the young
mother, in a gay, sweet voice. "Her chair is
empty. Shall we find her?'
She moved lightly across the floor, and then
her eyes suddenly resting upon the grand fig
ure and stern face of the returned soldier,
she came to an abrupt halt cry of terror
and horror, strangely mingled came from aher
white lips. Her face blanched; her limbs
trembled; she painted tor breath.
The father and daughter stood face to face
after a separation OF nine long years!
The Colonel scarcely recognized the sallow,
rOmping little creature he had left, in this
magnificent woman. Her tail aud slender fis-
uie was instinct with a stately grace. Her
every movement Indicated refinement and
thorough breeding.
The Colonel did not move toward her, nor
aid the sternEess of his countenance relax.
His daughter took step toward him a
cruel agitation convulsng her frame. Her
arms dropped, and her hands were clasped to-
gether. Ii seemed as if she would have knet
before him.
'Father father!" she cried, in an an
gushing appeal. "Father, speak to mem
That pleading cry went TO the Coonels
soul He forgot his daughters error, remem-
Derlng that she was his child-his only child.
His Eeart melted within him. He silently
opened his arms, and with asgaspng cry, Ig
malta sprang forward and was folded TO his
breast.
For little while there was silence between
them, broken only by the girls sob's and the
soft caresses the Colonel showered upon her
mead and face. Then he drew her to a sof..,
still enfoldng her in his arms.
Father" whispered Ignata brokenly, "do
you know? Has Aunt Jacob told you
Il know all, my daughter" answered the
Colonel gently.
"And you forgive me? You will not cease
10 love me?"
The fatner answered only by a soft caress
Her terror and anguish aroused his tender
ness and pity, and he had never in all her
live loved her with her such a yearning love
as he felt for her at this moment when she Law
trembling against his breast,
Aunt Jacob has told me of your marriage,
Ignatia," he SAID. 81 will not upbraid YOU Tor
keeping the matter secret from me all these
Years. How long is it since you saw Captain
Holm?"
1t is nearly three years, father" was the
low reply. 81 have not seen him since the
child was three months DID,"
do you love him still ?" asked the Colonel.
"Oh, no, no" she murmured. ~ would
rather die than live with him as bis Witep
"And this child is yours and his ?"
eyes, father; but she is not like him in
character"
The Colonel looked at the little creature.
She was scarcely three years old, and it was
easy to see that she had inherited DO tains of
her prof1igate fathers nature.
What Is your name, little one?" asked the
Colonel.
Georgia Redruth," was the prompt an
swer.
The Colonel held out one hand with a
smile to the child. When he had throned his
tiny namesake upon his knee, his daughter
knew she was forgiven.
She presently raised her head fiom its rest
Ing-place, and told him her story. 1t differed
little from the narrative Miss Radruth had al
ready given her brother. 1t seemed indeed
to the father, as he heard her, that the girl
had been more sinned against than sin
ming"
DO you suppose" he asked, shat Captain
Holm knows now that you are an heiress ?"
81 am sure he does not" ans wered the de-
serted young wife. "If he had known it he
would have returned to me. He never
dreamed that you were the next heir to poor
Bncle Ralph"
You parted in quarrel?"
~ IS, father; but it was not sudden out
break. He came home one day from the
town where his reg iment was stationed in a
terrible humor. We found afterward that ev-
cry officer in his regiment had cut him, for
conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentle
man. He was obliged to sell out his COM
MISSION as soon as possible after that.
HE was full of rage, which he vented upon
me. He cursed himself Tor falling in love
with me, when he might have won an heir
eSS.
"At last he took his effects and mounted
MS NOISE, and rode toward Sleatord at a furt
Gus pace. have never seen him since. lido
not know whether he is living or dead"
'Your young lite shall mol be blighted by
this scuundrel? cried the Colonel. The
law shall free you from any claims he may
choose to make upon you when he discovers
that his deserted wife is really an heiress
My first movement shall be to procure you a
release fom the VILLAIN.
"And until you have obtained divorce
from him, we will not go to Redruth."
"Wiil they let me keep my child?" asked
Ignatia.
"Of course, dear"
Dear fatherp' she said softly. "My whole
life shall try to show my love and gratitude to
you"
Before the Colonel could reply, Miss Red
ruth stalked into the room, Enthusiastically
anxious.
A single glance set her mind at rest. The
Colonel held his erandchild Oh his knee, and
lgnaua was looking up at him with grateful
eyes.
"All is forgiven and forgotten" said the
Colonel, cheeriully. "Ignatia and the child
will start for London with me by the morn
ing train.
Il will not take her to Redruth while that
scoundrel has the Shadow of a claim upon
her."
The evening was passed pleasantly and
Without restraint. No further allusOn was
made to Capt. Holm, and Col. Redruth told
stories OF his Indian lite, charming his hear
ers INTO forgetfulnesS of Ignatia's profligate
husband
At about two o'clock the next day Col.
Redruth, lgnatia and the little Georgia took
their leave of Miss Redruth. and drove away
from the Moor.
They were obliged to wait nearly an hour
for the mai! down train.
The gray dusk was falling when thev
steamed into the station at Huntingdon. A
porter entered fand lighted. the ceiling lamp
and went out again.
Suddenly two young men came saunteling
along the platform.
One approached the door of the coach oc-
cupied by Col Redruth's family, and looked
IN. guard came forward and addressed the
young men, and uShered them into the very
carriage occupied by The returned soldier.
. l9patla hurriedly drew her veil over her
iace' ana sank back upon her seat trembling
ana panlc-Stricken. Col. Redruth noticed
LllaC she seemed to cover in the shadows of
her corner. '-'''''0"' Vi
the next instant the train was once more
on ITS swift way to the southwark.