Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-10-11

bnOhAh Adlb w AttH WIFI lnt
author Of the calumny. But did no
care TO tell him." he continued, smil
ing, "thst my little daughter hat
brought the charge against him. How
ever, there was only one person in tn,
world, he said, who would dare asser
so base a slander against him."
"And who might that one person be
papap"
Harry Wentworth ~ said her father
gravely.
Harry is incapable of slander, a,
you ought to know" said Grace, will
flashing eyes. "Besides Harry wa,
not my informant, papa"
"Not directly, admit; but he tool
pains, no doubt, that the report shoult
reach your ears, as well as mine, anC
for a purpose, as Mr.. Lestern sug
gested."
Grace made no rejoinder to hel
fathers words, for his was one of those
characters that opposition would only
tend TO impress the belief still NOR,
strongly in his mind. But she reaC
the truth as from an open book-hatino
Harry for rivaling him in her affec.
tions, Albert Lestern knew that if he
could insinuate into the bankers mind
the belief that Harry was the author oi
the reports referred to, her father would
take no further notice of the matter.
and would therefore make no inquiries
respecting himself or his affairs.
A silence lasting several minutes here
ensued, the young girls face mean
while expressive of deep thought pass.
ing in her brain, her fingers working
nervously together as she beat light
tattoo upon the carpet with her pretty
foot, while she persistently bent her
eyes upon the floor, as though studdy-
ing the pattern of the carpet at her
feet.
At length her brow cleared, and she
lifted her eyes to her father face, say
ing:
Assuming that Albert Lestern is
what have represented, man devoid
of honor, and, withal, roue and gam
bier, what result would follow on your
part, papaP"
81 would turn him from my door as
l would pestilencer' said Mr.. Har-
court, impressively.
Grace was already assured of this;
the soul Of honor himself, and set in
his own opinions, she knew that, if
once convinced of Mr.. Lestern's true
her father would indeed
turn him from his door. And know
ing, also the uselessness of contention
in regard to her adherence of the
young man and his suit, she felt that
some means must be resorted to where
by her father might be forced to dis
cover the truth as she understood it.
And here Grace persistently contin-
ued to call up the subject uppermost in
her thoughts, Notwithstanding her
fathers efforts to draw her mind away
to other themes.
81 think, papa" she resumed,
"that must have inherited
of your nature, for | am
equally firm in my belief, as you are
in yours, that am in possession of the
truth respecting the character of the
young man in question. And 1 cannot
believe otherwise unless you give me
positive evidence that l am in error.n
But l have positive evidence that
you are in error, my child.n.
AS how, papap"
uhl. LCSJClu D wv III dSS6N6TdJlO0S OF
entire innocence" said Mr.. Harcourt,
gravely.
"Ah, ah! must 1 then enlighten
you" said Grace; with little shake of
her pretty head. "Do you not know,
sir, that when the criminal is brought
10 justice he ever asserts his own in
nocenceP'
"What wise little head it ISL said
ler father, smoothing fondly the silken
resses shading her lovely face.
'Wiser than you think" she re-
urned, in the same light strain.
And trusting to draw her father on,
hat he might in the end commit him
ielf, she continued:
But since our opinions vary so
widely, is it not our duty to make some
'ndeavor to discover which of us is in
.rror, and thus be able to do Mr.. Lest
I'm justice?"
Assuredly, my daughter. And
I'm glad to perceive that you are inter-
,sting yourself in the matter"
." l take vital interest in the subject,
assure you," she continued, half
mile curving the corners of her sweet
mouth. "And if l am willing to pledge
myself to do whatever you require,
would it not be quite just and proper
hat you, also, should pledge yourself
o me in like mannerP'
"Quite right and proper, dear" he
eturned, ,unsuspiciOus of what was COM
ng.
"Well, them" said Grace, her breath
coming quick and sharp, "if you will
'rove to me, through personal observa-
ion or otherwise-mind, papa, the evil
Ience must be positive-that Albert
.estern is a man of honor, free from
ice and dissipation, and if he loves me
With an honest, pure affection, as you
'rofess to believe, pledge myself to
1--WE him my hand in marriage at the
nd of year as you desire. But, on
he other hand"
"On the other hand, SLY puss," in
her father, laughing immod-
rately, "you have caught the old fox
n trap, have you?"
1t tickled his fancy amazingly, to
hink she had managed the matter thus
hrewdly; but considering himself safe,
e continued:
And you shall find that l can be as
enerous as yourself, dear Grace. If
on will prove to me (repeating her
wn formula) that Mr.. Lestern is what
on profess TO believe, a man devoid of |
rinciple, a roue and gambler, with
|, l pledge myself to give your hand in
marriage to my boy-that is. he added,
easingly, provided Harry does not |
atty refuse to accept the gift"
Grace Harcourt dropped her beauti-
ii eyes, those soul-interpreters, to hide
ne tumultuous Joy now surging through |
very fiber of her being. Soon calming |
erself, however, she said:
lust also pledge ourselves to obey each |
theirs behests unquestioninglyP"
"That is understood, my love. But |
,hen is the momentous period to ar
ivep"
Soon-very soon, trust" she re-
lrned, gravely.
But the important hour arrived even
ooner than Grace anticipated, for a