Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-10-05

welcome her father2 She-she is not
ill?"
- No, George" answered Miss Red
ruth, with embarrassment. She does
not know that you are expected to-day.
1 thought it best not TO tell her, and
and / sent her out in her little pony
chaise for drive
Intending to let her find me here on
her return?" said the Colonel, his brow
clearing. "You meant to surprise her ?
Will she be back soon?"
Sit down, George" said Miss Red
ruth, with perceptible uneasiness. Il
have something to tell you before Ignitia
comes. Did-did you hear anything
over at Sleaford2 Did you meet any
one you used to know2" afJ ....
II did not" said the Colonel wonder
ingly, seating himself at window COM
manding view of the road. Was
there anything for me to hear2" he
added, with sudden change of counte-
nance. THE child has not grown de-
formed, nor had the smallpox, nor"
How old do you think the child
ISL" demanded Miss Redruth, grimly
You left her a little girl, and she seems
but little girl to you still, But she is
twenty years old, a woman grown"
"Ah, yes" sighed the Colonel. "She
has left behind her her childhood, but
she will be something dearer and nearer
to me, than simply child. She will be
my companion, my friend. She will
console me in part for the loss of her
mother. Does she fulfill her childish
promise of beauty and grace?"
She does" said Miss Redruth, setting
her lips firmly togetherrtqL
" | know that she is good" said the
Indian soldier, with tender emphasis.
!" | remember we'll her loving, sensitive
nature, her winning ways, her bright,
impetuous spirit. She had noble in
tellect-you do not mean, Jacob, that
she is not so clear-headed as she was2 "
he added, in sudden alarm. 3at
No. she knows enough" was the re-
luctant reply.
''Ahl " said the Colonel, trying to
smile. She has lover, then? That
is to be expected 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"
II could not we'll come home earlier,
Jacob" said the Colonel. Ny daugh-
ter is an heiress, and as such must take
her place in society If she has an un-
worthy lover, / will undertake to wean
her heart from him. Surely she cannot
resist her fathers loving counsels."
"It is too late for counsels," said Miss
Redruth, with sort of grim despera-
ton. "Ignatia Redruth is beyond the
reach of advice. You need not blame
me, George. Ignatia herself will clear
my skirts of blame. 1t is not my fault
if she has wrecked your hopes, and
made herself bed of living Goals to
lie on"
The Colonels face grew suddenly
pale. The grizzled mustache on his up
per lip trembled convulsiyely.
" What has she done2" he asked, in
hoarse whisper.
Married dissolute fellow"
Married? Good Heavens"
/" 1t is so, George said Miss Redhurt.
She has been married nearly four
years" fI'
" -Four yearsp And you never told
me2 She never wrote that she was mar
ried. -Four years p"
" Yes. Let me tell you how it hap
pened. About four years ago a regiment
was stationed within twenty miles Of us,
and its officers we're to be met at all the
best houses in this part of the county.
Ignatia was but schoolgirl, under a
governess, to whom l left the direction
Of her pursuits and movements. Igna-
tia had a number of girl friends, whom
she was often allowed to visit. At the
house of one of these friends she met
Captain Digby Holm He was hand
some, after the style girls like and be-
came the rage, as the phrase is. He
comes of a good family, but is dissolute.
His own father had disowned him. He
is thoroughly bad, but has specious
appearance. He fell in love with Igna-
tia and she with him, and one day the
precious pair came into this very room
and asked my consent to their marriage"
Well2' said the Colonel, his face
ghastly white, his voice trembling.
"Of course / refused my consent,
said Miss Redruth. II 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 mar
ried quietly without my knowledge by
special license, at Sleaford, to which
place Ignatia and her governess had
gone in the pony chaise on pretence of
wishing to match Berlin wool, but re-
ally to meet the fellow.
But how could he procure license
to marry child of sixteen, wit hout the
consent of her relativesW
Captain Holm is not punctilious
about speaking the truth" said Miss
Redruth bitterly. He may have de-
clared Ignatia to be of age. At any
rate, he returned in the chaise with the
girl and her goyerness, and announced
himself to me as lgnatias husband.
did not know what to do. ! dare not
write to you.
"And this precious son-in-law Of mine
lis he in the hOuse2 demanded the
Colonel sternly, vita lowering brows.
No; he lived here with Ignatia for a
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 rowing about the Continent. When
he knew her my niece was but a sallow,
uniformed child. She is now very beau
tiful; but that, of course, he does not
know, Neither does be know that she is
now an heiress.
The Colonel arose and paced the floor
with quick and agitated steps.
"a Don't reproach me, George, said |
Miss Redruth. Have / not suffered? I
How could have done differently
Tiled to such scoundrel, who had |
not even the virtue of faithfulness-"i 2
I" She need not be tied to him, George,