The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1875-08-19

kuocKed tnree times at the door.
was afraid that you were absent Q,
ILL.," >. '>,""s 5's.* 7'>@ss.@.s5.s.5s .:-:1
]. GLOW did you obtain admittancein
to the placer :. ..:..- >~:s al Z
* Whe outer door was open"
= must have left it unfastened,
suppose said Abel, !. musingly
"Well,p z M turning sharply to his visitor
"you are here-what is it that you
require ?" r,.s..,. :,
Il have your permission to enter
Mr.. Wrayford p he inquired.
- 81 have no power to forbid you the
house now," he said, almost regret
fully. s....>.c., d.. -.
Victor Dufor entered the room very
sadly. He had come back to Grey.
moor full Of hope, full of faith in the
power Of time to have cancelled an
old injury, or that which Abel Wray.
ford had taken to himself as an in
jury; but his reception was a chill.
ling one, and the young Frenchman
saw at once that the difficulty before
him was insurmountable.
Abel Wrayford regarded his rival
with a cold but scrutinizing gaze, see.
ing that the world had changed Vic.
tor, and guessing that he had brought
news of his good fortune. He waved
his hand carelessly toward chair,
and took one himself when Victor
was seated. ..- j.
Il am prepared to hear the reason
for your visit to me, Mr.. Dufoy," he
said ill., .s .....:
-*"Oh!Sir," cried Victor impetu.
ously, "you know the reason that. has
brought me here. I have returned.
to claim Grace for my wife-to assert
that my position is established-that
the French government has been len
lent, and forgiven all old follies. I
am prepared to take back Grace as
my wife, hoping for that permission
which you will be generous enough
now to concede to me- -;
"1t is not. a matter with which I
have a right to interfere said Abel,
| still more coldly. Il have done with
the subject forever"
"But Grace looks forward to your
consent, Sir, and believes that I have
only to prove my good faith for you
to grant that favor which I ask"
Il give no consent to this match"
said: Wrayford, sharply.
+. Il have a right, then, Mr. Wray-
ford, to demand your objections to
my marrying your ward" = 'f
II have nothing to explain" -
"And yet you,' said Victor "were
my benefactor-a kind, generous
Christian, to whose care and gentle
ness I owe my life.'
"We need not prolong the discus
sion," said -Wrayford, rising again
II am tired of it. I am busy, and
have task to fulfill before the sun
rises"
"But your consent"
"Does not stop the way to your
marriage with my ward" he said. II
am passive, that is all. I will not
utter one reproach at past decep-
ton; but I do not pardon it, and I
have no consent to give"
"What possible reason can urge
you, Mr.. Wrayford, to render your
ward unhappy"
"Unhappy!' he repeated.
"What cruel stubbornness is it
that steps between her happiness and
mine, and makes you unworthy Of
yourself? Mr.. Wrayford is there q
reason why you will not think Of me
or study her, or is this madnessp
Abel Wrayford lost mis- presence Of
mind, and all that cold demeanor
which he had hoped would outlast
the interview, and turning upon his
handsome rival with eyes blazing
with long pent-up fury.
"shall I tell you, Mr.. Dufoy?" he
Kissed. "Would you be glad to
know the truth, all the truth from
which Ihave suferedS"
eyes, Sir, l should be glad.''
!. "You might regard this in another
light, and go your way, if you were
merciful," he said, eagerly. "But
there! there! I cannot expect mercy
or sympathy from you. Think me
mad"
"No, I cannot draw back now. Mr.
| Wrayford, I will respect your secret,
but I ask you to trust me with it for
Grace's sake-in Grace's name"
"And for Grace's sake you will
keep silence?-you pledge your hon
orr" fl: "a .:.... '.,......
II pledge my honor" ,45
There came a wild hope to Abel
a strange wild hope-that Victor Du-
foy would see that his love was very
poor and weak in comparison with
that which had been the growth Of
his own life, and would retire before
the greater passion. ::'s f.:,;, :
"Then,"' he said, II love Grace
Edmonds!" &l'':-.. j. @ .,.~&s...: Al Il
""You! you r cried Victor; Eyes,
but as a father" .u1*,.:'>.S >:=1a- !
"As lover" interrupted he furi.
ously-'tas q girl whose progress from
childhood I have watched, and for
whose love / have waited, yearned
for, prayed for .@ .,'.' .>...
| "Great Heaven!' :. ..:.'.-.: .
:, 1T was her fathers wish that she