Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1871-10-28
LADY THORNHURST,s DAUGHTER.
CHAPTER /.
THE FATHERS RETURN.

The house is a picturesque old stone
dwelling, which has stood couple of CEN
turtles.
At little distance in the rear of the
house are out buildings, all indicative of the
extreme thrift and prosperity of the owner
of Redruth Moor.
That owner, twenty years ago, as to-day,
was Miss Jacobea Redruth. She was and is
| possessed of first-class business abilities, ac
| tive in her habits, keen, sharp witted and
her own farm manager.
| She was not a woman of social habits, nor
particularly given to hospitality. There
was o vein of parsimony in her nature that
| made social gatherings at her expense
| positive pain, but she had come of fine old
| country family, and her ancient name and
excellent lineage procured her friendly re-
cognition and formal visits from the various
| county magnates. These visits were as
| formally returned at stated periods, and but
| for their small break in the even course of
her existence, Miss Redruth would have led
| the life of recluse.
Late one afternoon in May, nearly twenty
years ago, Miss Redruth seated in her
| drawing room, after her usual afternoon
custom. Her chair was drawn up before an
| open bow window, and she was looking out
| into the depths of an apple orchard, which
| was covered with bloom, with q strangely
| intent gaze. One might have supposed her
| engaged in abstruse calculations as to the
probable yield OF the fruit-trees, 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 was gaunt, grim woman of middle
age, and of masculine appearance. She had
a hard face and hard nature. She had no
tender, womanly ways, no gentle womanly
| sympGthies, no sentimentality, as she loved
| u for nj pmnlnv-
| ments.
Redruth Moor was not 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 in India, and whose arrival
she was now momentarly expecting at her
home, after an absence from his native land
for many years. There was more of dread
than of Joyous anticipation in the manner
of Miss Redruth, as the moment OF the Col
onel's appearance drew near.
What can | say to him." she muttered
uneasily. What will he say to me when
he knows all? | wish the meeting were
over. All, there he comes.'
The carriage she had sent to Sleaford to
meet her brother was in fact at that moment
seen returning at a swift pace along the
dusty road. 1t turned in at the wide farm
gates, and came up the carriage sweep to-
| ward the porch Miss Redruth arose after
mechanical fashion from her chair, 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 gentleman whose face
| flushed at sight of her, and who took off his
hat as sudden rush of emotion swept over
his soul. The carriage drew up at the
porch, and the gentleman sprang lightly out
and ran up the steps.
t., otto hn cd in,
deep, agtated tones, embracing her. You
have not changed, at least, in the nine years
since we parted!"
Miss r druth submitted to the embrace,
and presented her right cheek to her broth
ers caress, but she did not offer to kiss him.
She was superior to such small weaknesses.
q | am glad to see you back in England,
George" she exclaimed quietly. You have
changed, | think; but then your life has
not been so quiet as mine"
She withdrew herself from his arm, and
led him into the low, quaint, pleasant draw
ing room.
The Colonel halted lust within the thres-
hold, and looked about tho room with an
eager, eXpectant gaze.
He was handsome, distinguished looking
man, of some fifty years, with complexion
deeply bronzed by Indian suns, with keen,
dark eyes, 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 countenance a look of sternness
and command that well became him.
"Where is Ignatia?'' he asked, his face
suddenly cloudng with disappointment.
Why is not my child here to welcome
her father? She-she is not i'll?
ono, George" answered Miss Redruth,
with embarrassment. "She does not know
that you are expected to-day. | thought it
best not to tell her, and-and I 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.
D." You meant to surprise her? Will she be
back soon?''
"Sit down, George said Miss Redruth,
with perceptible uneasness. 81 have some
thing to tell you before ignatia comes. Did
did you hear anything over at Sleaford
Did you meet any one you used to know"
b" did not" said the Colonel wonderingly,
seating himself at window commanding q
view Of the road. Was there anything for
me to hear?" he added, with sudden
change of countenance. THE child has
not grown deformed, nor Lad the small pox,
| nor"
" How old do you think the 'child is?"
demanded Miss Redruth grimly. "You left
her little girl, and she seems but little
girl to you still. But she is twenty years
old, 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 together.
81 know that she is good" said the In
dian soldier, with tender emphasis. al re-
member well her loving, sensitive nature,
her winning ways, her bright, impetuous
spirit. She had a noble intellect-you do
not mean, Jacob, that she is not so clear
headed as she wasp he added, in sudden
alarm.
"No, she knows enough was the reluct-
ant reply.
"Ah!" said the Colonel, trying to smile.
"She has lover, then? 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"
al could not well come home earlier,
jacob said the Colonel. my daughter is
an heiress, and as such must take her place
in society. If she has an unworthy lover, l
will undertake to wean her heart from him.
Surely she cannot resist her fathers loving
counsels.''
1t is too late for counsels," said Miss
Redruth, with sort of grim desperation.
"lgnatia Redruth is beyond the reach of adj
vice. You need not blame me, George.
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