Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-11-22

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were alone | should defy you. You
might do your worst. But these innO-
cent children must not suffer if. can
prevent it. Col. Ken6eld, am willing
to give you everything possess, if you
will but spare them. Will that satisfy
yOu?'
"Ah, now you begin to talk more SEN
sibly." said Ken6eld, whose avarice was
the strongest passion he had. LET us
see /; how much are you worth %
Il have my place. all paid for, and
the stock, which is quite valuable. That
is my all. To secure the peace of my
family am willing to give it all, and
leave US all penniless. have toiled
hard and we'll to build up this home.
and it seems hard to give it ali up. but
tits better so than that you should put
in operation your cruel threats
"Well, Strady," said Ken6eld. who
had at once made up his mind to accept
the old mans offer, but wished to pro-
long the uncertainty for the sake of tor
turing his within with it, 81 will think
it over and let you know. 1t is getting
late now, and | want to get in before
dark, - and he rode on, Strady stepping
aside without another word.
Rob had stood in the bushes close by,
and heard the conversation. At first, he
expected the two men would ight, and
decided to see that his father was not
harmed but soon every other thought
was lost in utter astonishment at the
words of the two men. AS soon as Ken
field was gone, he stepped from his place
of concealment. and said:
Father, | did not come here to play
the eavesdropper, but to help you if that
man attacked you; but have heard all
that has passed between you. What is
this mysterious power which he holds
over you? Why must you give up all
you have to him I? What was the mean
ing of that talk about mother Evident
ly, all this concerns the whole family, so
why should not | know it, knowing what
have just learned, that there is some
dreadful secret between you and that
man, which places us all in peril ? 1t is
but fair that should know the whole.
"Rob, said Strady, Il am very sorry
you were there. but | cannot blame you.
And, knowing what you do. it is but
fair, as you say, that you should know
all. [ feel that | can trust you, my boy,
as few fathers can trust even their own
sons. But you must first promise me
never, under any circumstances. to lisp
to any one word of what tell you"
Rob promised; and, as they walked
homeward. his father told him the story /:
when your mother and were young,
we lived, as you know. near each other,
in little village in the south of Ireland.
When she was eighteen and | was twen-
ty-one, we exchanged vows of betrothal,
though without her mothers knowledge,
as she had always seemed opposed to our
keeping company. although she express
ed herself as quite friendly to me other
wise. | had no relatives, my father and
mother being dead, and | had always
worked hard and saved my earnings, Sc
l had few pounds laid by. 1t was our
intention to keep our engagement secret
for three years, by which time | should
have sufficient laid by to give us com
Portable start in life
About this time, however, the young
owner of a goodly property adjoining
that of Meg's mother, appeared as q
suitor for her hand. He first obtained
her mothers consent, and then pressed
his suit to Meg herself, but was o.
course rejected. He then resorted tC
threats, and informed Meg that her ia.
ther, before his death. had become in
volved in debt and had mortgaged hii
estate heavily. The mortgage, with IN
terest. now amounted to more than the
property would sell for. He held th'
mortgage. and he bluntly gave Meg th'
choice of marrying him, or he would
turn her and her mother penniless from
their home. She bade him do his worst
aud came to me with her trouble. tolC
her she and her mother should not lacl
for home SO long as had my strength
But the brute. who was no other thai
Mark Ken6eld, had prevailed upon Neg
mother, a very weak and very proud wo
man, to forbid me the house, to forblC
Meg to see me and to endeavor to fore
her into a union with the man she loath
ed. Meg met me the Dext day, au'
with tears in her eyes, declared tha
though she loved me and ever shoul'
continue to do 50. and despised Kenhel'
as much as she loved me. she could no
disobey her mother in matter tia
would bring such dreadful consequences
for she believed that if she were duye
: from her home and reduced 20 poVert
she would die Of a broken heart. 5
great was her pride. Meg thought tha
time would cause Kenfeld to see th
uselessness Of trying to change her fee
ings towards him. and that he Noul
not wish to unite himself for life wit
one who would not. could not love hiu