New-York tribune., 1883-03-12
THE ADOPTED DAUGHTER.


The house q story and a half high. with dormer
windows in the roof and small balcony between them
In the Of the house, beyond the precincts of the
grove, was large gardn and 70 thrifty orchard. The
rough arm-buildiHgs beyond these, near the hills
and one Of them built against the rocky and Jagged
side Of the most precipitous among them. why a
stranger might have asked for it was kept filed with
hay, which ess damaged by the water that
drlpped from the damp walls.
The question had been asked moro than once and re-
piled to by the owner OF the place. with Indifferent
shrug:
"Ohl 1t is my fancy to keep II there, and have the
reputation of being an eccentric man, you know.
As the hay used il is sprmked with salt and the cattle
like IT,"
As Mr. Grafton was knowg to he what In Kentucky
is called "an Oddly" the explanation usually
ceptcd with smile, and further comment was made
OH his fancy to keep his hay in a damp place.
To one was he more OF an euigma than to hts own
wife though he loved her and they had lived together
in harmony for more than twenty years. lie was mae
who loved nature oil her varying m0ods, and as he
gaZei Oh the gorgeous sunset Lis lips relaxed into
SMILE and for few brief moments he forgot the errand
which had brought him from the field in which he had
experimenting the nbors Of the negroes employed
upon the place
His thoughts were recalled to the present by touch
upon his arm, and voice ihat always sweet to him
spoke close beside him:
" How absorbed you must be, George / have
spoken twice to you and yOu did not heed me TIL
touched you. Did not letters III saw POmpey riding
the field, and LOra declared that he nad pack
age Of papers in his hand Was there letter among
them for her She Is anxious ut not hearing for 50 long
from her father"
The person who thus spoke was y handsome woman Of
forty with blooming taoe bright ey and most engag
Ing expression. TO- whose face or hard
expression came because sho true and strong
the OF her heart and lull OF all gentle, womany
sympathics
She was simply but beconmgy dressed. and wore a
IN her dark troses because her husband loved to
Grafton turned with start back to this lower
world with all cares and worries, ana cloud fitted
over his face he drew the Of hls wife within ma
and moved slowly la the direction OK the house lie
have no letter for Iora bui-but Mr. Ford will be
here tonight After all thosc years he ia coming 10
claim MS dalgnct, ana ,,kc heI 't1ln ou Jua iis
he hnd told the unwecome news abruptly .enough /;
but he knew the woman 40 speaking 20, and knew
tha; suspense % her would Do worse TO bear than the
PLAIN truth told without GircumiocuiiOn.
Mrs. Grafton flushed deey tho usn1l sgn of euotiOn
with her aud her eyes hAshed through sudden tears
she said, In low, passionate tones:
Suppose LOra refuses 10 20 win her fathcrl What
right mas Ire to come bitner m thisabrupt manuer
and tear her away from Us obe IL my p,9sesee' ne
gave her when she out BABY and have doue
mothers part by her For years be has neglected ner
only writng occasionally 10 you on business anu lheI
dcn,aly inquIIing how sic vas 6etung on. MAat ON
going 10 DC married again e.
Sly dear you talk and ask many questions
l III
Ford wants MA daughter; SIC must 20 WIN mn but
/ hardly Thank lie would ere TO claim her II he 10
about 90 install ucW mistress IN his h0use. do not
Ike the dea OF parting from LOra myself, but 1ywhat
right Withhold ncr nom her tatner when he
Claims her e.
By tie right Of love- Of care, such few parents
give tncr children. .or the last fourteen years was
size 10 and Nh. Ford distinctly slated tna N
al lroDa0Ly ~ sA1u!l never o. ~ PosiI'n n 'iih
his and-and II 10 smpy shameful 10 put forward a
clam to her now"
hc m teunf nav he oh
H. Only allowed you 10 take all he trouble OF her on has
hands wDNe sac would have been "A buroen to HIN.
Vow thai you have trained her into loving and oya
pie nun - FrS 9tr't, bi. o",n ,rlfsh n,tnrc swooDs
down upOn IA. and says, GIye Iue my own. claim
Der. aud will her You may well surrender ~
one. Jnla for stepnen Ford never YET failed 10 DO
what he s.id ne would, nc declared Eis nteu
tion 10 take Lorn away with him tomorrow"
4" Io-aOTOw 2! repeated Mis-. Grafton almost In a1
appalled, tone; 80 sGon as that with no prepar.I
non, no thought for what We must sunerf George,
think II a. outraSe 10. MA 70 piokO'e Si'l thg aaa
you-you are ready mey 10 submit to IT, know there
Is SOME mysterious tie between yOn and Mr.. Ford which
have been able To IAtAOu tat nc has some IN
nuence sou tnat IL OF painful nature, Tor you
Az always unhappy after hearing fon hun What it
And wny nss he now determined 30 suddenly to take
mis- daughter from us Z"
spoAe scanned his face with eyes that seemed 10
Durn his very heart. coiddsw broke out on MS
mus ache, nut lie managed to say, almost brusquey
'Nhat nonsense you talk jult A. II tOrd'a iancy to
thing do wtH - affairs and mine dare say ne ONLY
TO take Iora Oh tour ana tnen Drns ner BACK
II
piuy her " ho does, shall not object 10 being left
Al nsrs,o of sorrowfu incrcduitty came iuo the
face Mr. Grafton, and she nfed her hand fFoIn his
arm, -. 49, ,.,o.,;o, ,,,or,, . a.t,.d ,o,,
what there aud tLIs nari man, and you
teII lae la r,p.y thai may 20 from nome trip
,th nv odnpied daughter Les al taat be settled
hereafter: bat tell hat COnInre you To cOnude
~, , tor feel tuai II Is " significance 60 you That
stoud know the sccre, tic that eAAis between you
aud Mr. Ford NOu do not dare 10 th~ait nun IN any
way, yet he have real power over man IN your
Gsal.on stood rosoute few moments. and then said
with evident effort:
III thrre .. see ret between Julia. it is one u
can do yod 10 good to kAow. For yeas tAa, n'1as &
p,Ecr over M la. been tue dark thread WOten INTO
me OOi ~ ny life am about 10 escape noun H. les,
Shall SOON DO lice from his Ion erasp Our compact
h fuulcd aud IL ide tU ak nic It's nnture OF
40 dcuaud Why it was made Thi - tne ono tnhg you
VIII never lcrn from me. u y better Tor you, my a. 9r
love that n snail be WnerU ignorance Is bisS 'as
0y TO bc wisr the poet says. Hcagkcn 10 his WISDOM
and sune your Wonan's curiosity where 1t mignt be
Tie shasty aitcmpt at playtulno3s nth which be
uttered tho last words touched ana alarmed bis WIG
more than his previous manner had done.
George" earnestly said, II were only moved 10y
curiosity should despso myself only ash To be taken
your confidence ~ matter wnleh Is N1 70 ~ 81
To you, since n moves you 80 deeply. Oh, my nus
bnnd tell iue the whole truth that we may take counsel
together IA man ana WlIe 5hqu.u. p1hu ~ no. Geny
years OF faithful love entitled me 10 thls commence
from you 1t Is my rish George ana u''"Ah" IL A'
Julia" said Grafton with serious imprcsiyeness
~ ,,nio ,on a nnpnv woman DO you think
/ coad have done this II had onrdened yoq
have mad NV struggles and my trials, hut have Kept
them from you was possible hnd th's Tue AT
no.uherr oil our home has been Kept ce from the peti
worries that must ever assa man In his rela Ions win
the Outside world. As to stephen Ford ana nYscH,
that chapter my lie is about 10 be closed ana whe
tbat "a done il snail bo sealed forever by me- Never
again shall II be rvupencd; least oil nl 10 you. - -,
Then there something recorded III III whch unhI
not expose 70 light Of day said his wiie IN sieu
tnnes OH George. II you had been less rctcent 10
wnrd me should have been far happier woman
have known for years that some cloud 9Wereu oSgt %
Won I have wntched you In your moody nts ana ielJ
how pOwetoss am 10 comfort you as long as chuo cVh
ddenoe Il withheld from me nave Iue pv'VS,Jil ei
home FOR yo but OF late have had Vnguo leel
ing that We living on the edge OF pIoclpce Gov
moment of our lives" , H., .t
Grafton cast an alarmed glance at her ana no owl
dently shrank away from her side III ho"iSo 'o"' W
asked: ,,,--
Has It indeed been so. Juiat When ltgii. tnoughiti
was taking the best means 70 insure your tTanqmlty
bnye acted for the best My Judgment pOnien OUT 10
Iue the only course that possible TO me- ana pur
sued H. wish to shield you from evli, yet yon-you