The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1875-08-05

ensnaflng your Waru anectiohs, "hu
have tainted me with the poverty
which I can not help, and with an in
gratitude which I have not had.
You will be sorry for this charge
presently. That I love your ward
better than my life is no warrant for
your suspicious. She is content to
wait for me and I will not come again
until I can offer her home. / will
not bind her-I have not bound her
by a promise to become my wife.
With the uncertain future lying be-
fore me could not do that. But
she has faith, and will wait a little
while. When she distrusts me, from
the first moment of her doubts she is
free from any claim of mine."
II do not affect to understand this
high-Aown nonsense" Wrayford said
to Grace, land lido not believe in it.
"Mr. Wrayford," Victor fastened
to reply, II am very poor, but I will
outlive your want of trust in me"
Tell him" said Wrayford between
his set teeth, as he addressed his ward
again, "that coming here tomorrow a
rich and prosperous man would only
make me hate him the more intense
ly. That there is nothing in the past,
nothing in his future, which can win
from me any thing save contempt fol
the trick which has been played upon
my confidence"
II cannot tell him that" murmur.
ed Grace.
"Then tell him to co.
Wrayford went out of the room in
haste he went back to the Nest
where the bright thought had come to
him of which he had been exultant
madly exultant, only a little while
since. Now, what a change what
a long, blank misery, stretching on
without 2 break, seemed before him
from that day! He had struggled
hard for wealth, but it was wealth fol
Grace's sake; and now approaching
it, feeling that he had only to stretch
forth his hand to obtain it, knowing
the value to the utmost farthing that
his discovery of the color would bring
to him he had missed the opportuni.
ty of winning her for whose prosperi-
ty he had toiled for years. She MAS
gone from him forever.
1t was dark night when he went
down stairs again, and found Grace
sitting at the table by the lamp-light,
working diligently, as in the old
times before the robber came. It wa
80 like home still that he could al
most hope for her, looking at the pict
ure. She was very pale, but it was
with her old smile that she glanced
toward him as he entered. The rival
had passed away; would the passing
fancy for him, born Of a girls first TO
nance, follow in good time? HI
tried to think so, for was not Victor
Dufoy william whom he had I'M
masked, and whom it was possible
that he should never see again?
"You are alonew he said, on enter
ing.
eyes"
"That man has gone away forever ?
"Victor has left for London was
the evasive answer. 'May I speak
of him now?''
"Not yet. Give me time to recov
er myself-give me week or a fort
night, Grace, to look this calmly il
the face"
every WELL" said Grace, with 8
long sigh.
"And now let us speak of some
thing else-of better times and of q
different estate from this. The tidt
has turned, and there is good luck i1
store for u.s."
Grace regarded him obviously
Was this another phase Of his eccen
tricity which her guardian had evinc
ed that day?
1.-THE color is fxed-the problem
is solved, Grace. A week hence and
we shall be rich" q.
"Rich!" said Grace, with a little
shiver-"oh dear-rich!'
She saw Victor receding further
and further from her as her guardian
became prosperous-she saw riches
hardening Abel Wrayford's heart
and increasing in himi that strange
pride which he had already exhibit
ed. Had he made this discovery be
fore her last interview with Victor
and was it that which had made him
hard, repellent, and unjust?
aWhen did you discover this color
Abel?" she asked, eagerly.
"Early this afternoon"
S"I knew it was sure Of it,! sh'
cried. She gave way, suddenly ant
burst into tears. burying her face il
her hands.
Wrayford realized the position al
once, and accepted it. He drew him
self away from her, and searched 70,
the papers which he had dropped up
on the floor in his first agony; find
ing them at last folded carefully OF
his little table in the corner where b
was inclined to work at times.
let her think so,''' he muttered tx
himself perhaps it is best"
He allowed her to weep on, though
every sob went to his heart, aud h
tried hard to sink himself in the cal