Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-12-20
AN INNOCENT DECEPTION.

AN 1NNOOhN1 OuOu1 A1ONI
"Ah, it is delightful. Absolutely
perfect, Mr. Tregarvis! never saw a
more splendid view! How kind you
were to bring me here.
A grim, rock-bOund region on the
North Cornish coast; inland a graceful,
steel-blue river, bound by verdant
pines, and a stately grey house among its
terraces upon the banks. The house
was peculiar in its architecture, as well
as its solitude; and May Probyn's blue
eyes, after wandering over the land
sc&pe, came back to it.
This is a handsome placer
Her companion, a handsome, stall
wart fellow, in miners suit, seemed
aycr5e to replying; but his grave glance
grew gloomy to severity.
.'Do you know who lives there, Mr..
T.cgaryis?' she asked.
The young man answered the queS-
on with reluctance.
No one at present, | believe"
After moment, he added:
1T is called the Grange"
The Girl looked up at her companion
quickly
Our landlady told me its history
Yesterday" ''HoW the owner, Squire
Verschoyle, died there last year; that
his only child had married against his
will; that he received her child when
she died, vet always hated the father,
who was never allowed to see the boy,
who grew up as heir to the property;
yet his grandfather quarrelIed with
him on his dying bed, and left his
beautiful estate to the daughter of
brother, whom he had not seen since
infancy"
The young mans grave, blonde face
was a study in its play of emotions as
he looked at the girl.
did she tell you what the quarrel
was about?"
''She did not know"
Oswald Tregaryis spoke slowly.
1.-The father was good, but unfortun-
ate man. He gave up the boy with
reluctance, at the prayer of his dying
wife He deprived himself of his
child's love; through all his humble
but upright life he lived solitary. But
when the son was of age, he made him
self known to him. The two men came
to love each other. The grandfather
had never shown affection for the boy,
whose heart starved in his breast
through all his youth for 4 little love. 5"
The young man paused for mo-
ment, then went on again.
Ellis father had been miner in his
youth. He returned to superior
branch of it in his old age, and stationed
himself near his boy. There was no
hope that the grandfather would relent,
but this made the two dearer to each
other. Then came the old mans long,
last sickness. He called his, grandson,
and bidding him repudiate his fathers
name, and take his, informed him that
he had made him his sole heir. The
young man replied, In every other way
| have tried to please you, grandfather,
but this | cannot do The old man
may have had some suspicions-h did
not name them, but his anger was ter
ribIe. He turned the grandson he had
never before had cause to reprimand
out of the house,
do you know what he did then?'
Joined his father, went into the
mines, and worked with him"
He was very brave. The grand
father was unreasonably cruel"
The young man hurried away from
the rock against which he had been
leaning.
Perhaps he came to something of
that belief for codicil was added to
his will, bequeathing the Grange to
him in case of his cousins death. But
| am afraid, :" he added, with a quick
upward glance at the lowering clouds
above them, sit is going to rain; you
cannot sketch here to-day"
The girl glanced up at the sky; then
took up the satchel, containing artists
materials.
Il can come up here another time"
she said.
The two went down the rocky slope
to the road. The young man turned
and looked into his companions face
And now you have my history, Miss
Probyn."
I knew" she said quickly.
did you?" he asked.
She nodded.
Mamma and | heard part of the
story the first evening we came
Past turn after turn of the pinev,
winding road they proceeded together
to the old farm house at the riverside,
where the two were acknowledges.
1t was an old-fashioned place, but full
of comfort-honest and respectable
nothing more.
May Probyn and her pale mother
had come there from London in search
of quiet and retirement, they said, and
so became acquainted with Oswald
Tregaryis, who was lodger at the
farm where they took up their temper
airy abode.