Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-09-22

When ne gOt possession or neWSpa-
paper or book, and who also remind
ed him that "a half hour at supper
time soon passed" He jumped
from his scat mechanically thrust toe
diary irto his pocket, and proceeding
to the diningroom took his accustom-
cd place at the table,
CHAPTER II.
We will pass over three years. In
4 pleasantly situated and well furnish
cd apartment OF Il large and elegant
mansion In Florence -nelr the city OF
f --,were seated two persons,
engaged IN earnest conversation. The
one was a young maiden. taultless in
form, and features and in attire the
other. Il man somewhat below the av-
GRACE stature, in whose broaC, low
forehead, re;reating at an angle of
about toty-livc degrees, and III whose
keen, restless eye, and hawk nose, the
shrewd observer Of human character
would hardly have failed to read the
wordS--as though written in charac-
ters Of fire -''Nloney is my only God.
| will scruple not at any means where
by | may add TO my material posses
SONS"
In comparing the two another fact
also would have manifested Itself to
the eye Of the critical observer, that is,
that this young lady-so fine and deli,
cate in texture, so graceful, courteous,
atlable and winning, so pure and love
lv-was connected with the fortunes
Of this man, by 10 possible ties of
consanguiDity although this fact was
not known to herself
Mark Pclton wa. eminent y-nay.
notorionsly--a money catcher. Twen
ty years ago he had led to the hyme.
neal alter, as pure and sweet and win
some Il maiden as ever was contami-
mated by union for life with a villain
Gus brute bearing the human form.
Their union not being blest Tor
cprseO with offspring, they, some
fourteen years previous to the time of
the interview mentioned in this chap.
ter, adopted an orphan girl, then two
years cf age. Upon her Mark Pelton
had laviShed all the attention and care
one could we'll hestow upon their own,
and denied her no advantages which
could add to her accomplishments or
promote her attracllvcness. But he
had an eye to speculation in all this.
In entire consistency and consouance
VITA his character, 1t was all from mo
tyes of seltiShness, speculation, gain
Nellie Peiton had developed iito
what she was, through the aid Of this
man wLo wIthou; stat had expended
OF his money to plomote her educa-
lion and culture, with u single eye to
his own intnre emoIuments just as
one would f!ttcn an OK. TO bring to
the shanb es. 1t was an investment
which was regarded by him as sure to
bring good income With these
brie! remarks by way Of preface, we
viii now proceed to listen to portion
OF their conversation
Yes, Nellie, YOU must yield to my
wishes in this matter d. You have no
alternative Marry him you must.
But | am surprised, nneratetul child
that you are, that you would shun
such an offer. Charles Gaylord is one
Of the wea1thiest young men In all
these parts, besides being one of the
most accomplished and skihful at
money catching. His keen insight of
human nature seldom misleads him.
He watches his victims from an emf
nence, and at exactly tie right mo-
ment swoops down on them, like the
Eagle on his prey. And when once
he gets EN- in his clutchss he 'heeces'
EN-. Commencing at the bottom
round OF poverty, as lawyer in a dis
tant State, he now, at the age Of thir-
ty five, has accumulated fortune
that many a maiden woud give her
all to share, He's a trump, Nellie
and you ought to tee grateful to me
10: playing my cards 50 as to give you
a chance to catch him =
Nellie Pelton waited to the close of
her fathers words in respectful 81
lence, and then gathering what of
tirmness and resolution she could COM
mapd, looked him unhinchingly in the
eye, and, in clear, soft voice, said \
"Falher, since you virtually compel
me to take such a step, I must dare, |
for the first time, to disregard your
[ hayp lid to this mo. |