Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-04-04
CHAPTER XIV.
THE REpRoBATE SONS EVIL DEED.


The lights were out, the guests were gone,
| and the Ovington mansion was again re-
stored to its usual quiet
Maud Ovington had retired for the night,
and was vainly striving to escape from her
accusing conscience.
The only person awake was Mr.. Ovington
He sat in a large easy chair in the library,
beside table upon which were various pa
pers and documents.
There was q sad expression upon his worn
| countenance, and every now and then he
would pass his hand across his brow, as if
to brush away from his vision some obscur-
| ing cloud. Not vestige of the happiness
which had appeared in his face a short hour
before was to be seen now. Thus he sat for
nearly an hour, when, as if overcome by his
| thoughts, he buried his face in his hands
and leaned forward on the table. Not until
| the clock chimed two did he rouse from his
reverie.
AS he moved his chair, noise behind it
caused him to turn his sunken eyes toward
the spot from whence it proceeded
young, fashionably dress man stood be-
fore him-a man whom he knew too we'll
The sudden and unexpected sight of this
person in his house at such an hour held
The unlimited guest was the first to break
the dead silence of the room. He bowed,
with sarcastic smile, and came round in
front of Mr.. Ovington.
''You are amazed at my visit, old man,
aren't your" he said. ''Sorry to disturb you
at so late-or, should say, eaEly-an hour,
but you were engaged in festivities which
precluded my speaking with you before, so
haven't any time to waste, nor do want
to keep you up-you ought to be in bed
now"
Mr.. Ovington did not reply to this speech,
but kept his eyes averted from the speaker,
and his fingers twitched nervously.
won't ask me to take seat, eh?" con-
tinued the man, impudently. .Im sorry
you are so discourteous However, I'll help
myself"
He made move to draw chair up to the
table,
The old man rose suddenly to his feet,
and, without uttering a word, stepped to-
ward the bell-wire; but, before he could
ring. the intruder placed his back against it.
Don't get angry, Ovington," he said,
coolly; 81 don't wish to bother you long, /
assure you; but you must hear what I have
to say. The last time was in your palatial
residence, you ordered me out, and went
quietly-this time I shall not 60 until am
ready; so rest easy"
He sat down near the bell-wire, and, plac-
ing his feet on an ottoman, took out from
his breast pocket case of cigars, which he
held toward Mr.. Ovington.
"They are fine brand-have one!"
"This is infamous" exclaimed Mr.. Owing
stantly, or 1 shall call for help to eject your
The intruder smiled grimly.
''That would require explanations which
would not be compatible with your high
toned notions. Don't be so foolish, old
man. have something important to say to
you"
Speak on, then," said Mr.. Ovington,
helplessly.
81 came here, sir, in the first place, to ask
you to reconsider your hasty proceeding in
shutting me out from my home, and forcing
me to live life of crime and misery. I am
extremely sorry that I should have acted so
evilly, but it can be traced to boyish folly,
and not to the wickedness of advanced age,
for you know that begged your pardon
with tears in my eyes, and you know that I
meant it. too. That should be sufficient 70
bring your mind to serious reflection on
your unwarrantable action in reprobating
me"
The manner of the man was half-serious
half-angry, and his voice told of subdued
feeling
"Why did you not think of this before?"
asked Mr.. Ovington, sternly.
because of the hatred 1 entertained for
your contemplate move"
''Ah, indeed! And you come here now,
upon the eve of the marriage Of my daugh-
ter, to endeavor to conciliate me- You stole
my money, and then laid the blame upon
one whom I dearly loved. You saw that
old, trusted domestic go to prison innocent
of all wrong, and, when too late I found out
your vile plot the poor creatures term of
Incarceration had expired, and he came out
branded with that stigma which should have
alone rested upon you. Was it not just that
1 should punish you in the manner which
would be most Severe?"
s'You could have handed me over to Off
GERS of the law.
''And have brought reproach upon Maud!"
exclaimed Mr.. Ovington. "That l would
not do, nor can I see how such course
would have benefited you. No; you shall
be the only one to suffer If you have come
here to conciliate me, George Ovington, let
me at once give you to understand that the
task will not be accomplished.
sDo you mean to say that if 1, your only
son, who has long ago repented his evil
courses-if ask you to forgive and take me
back to your affections, you will refuse?"
''Most positively; refuse to have any
thing do with you, or any one belonging to
you
do you wish to force ne to life of
cr;me:'
There is no need of that. You have two
strong hands, and with them can easily win
your bread honestly, if you choose"