Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-05-31
A SCHEMER FOILED.

Papa is not like himself. He never
was harsh to me before" murmured
poor Kate.
"Yet you must not be unmindful
that your father believes he is acting
for your best interests" was the rather
doubtful remonstrance of Mrs. Scott.
Papa is acting entirely under the
influence of Percy Talbot" the girl
asserted excitedly; "if he were not, he
would understand how grievoCs it
would be should l marry man whom
/ detest-how utterly impossi-
bic it is when my whole heart is given
to another. Oh, mamma, surely you
cannot blame me?"
What could the gentle wife, the
troubled mother, say2 She loved her
husband, unreasonable as he might be,
she idolized her only child, and she
shrank from holding either blamable.
So she remained silent, while two big
tears rolled slowly down her fair,
faded cheeks.
Mamma, my dearest. you do not
blame me, do you?' pleaded Kate,
crossing the room and throwing her
self on her knees beside her mother.
at would break my heart to give up
Robert. l love him so dearly-oh,
mamma, so very dearly. You like
Robert, too, and so did papa before
this Percy Talbot came here to make
nothing but trouble for us all. And l
have fancied sometimes that YOU dis
trust him quite as much as do. You
Go not really wish me to marry him, do
you?"
Your father is determined that you
shall be his wife, Kate" said Mrs.
Scott, winding kindly arm about the
slim, kneeling figure, and drawing the
pretty, brown head to her bosom.
Il know. And if l disobey him, he
declares he will no longer recognize
me as his child" returned Kate with a
little gasp of anguish; "he will send
me away from him, from my home,
and from you. Oh, mamma, it is hard!
And yet, if you would not blame me,
if you can trust me, / had rather 60.
After time papa might relent, and
wish me to come back to him"
The mother sighed, but she clasped
the pretty pleader more closely to her
tender heart, and fondly kissed the
sweet bright face.
II do trust you, Kate" she answered
with much earn8tness. always
remember, darling. that wherever you
may be, shall trust my daughter to
do the right. If you choose to 60
rather than become Mr.. Talbot's un-
loving wife, shall not Judge you too
harshly; and it may be that sometime
the storm will pass over, and that this
trial will end happily for us ALL"
After such concession the mother
could scarcely refuse to acquiesce to
anything her child might decide to be
best. And SO Kate took her last re-
gretful look of the dear familiar rooms;
with quivering lips she kissed her
weeping mother; and then in the
early, quiet morning she left the
pleasant house, the doors of which, as
it might be, had been closed upon her
forever.
"she has made her choice" her
father said briefly in grim anger; "and
henceforth she is dead to me-"
: From his home, his heart, his lips,
he had banished her; and he forbade
the mention of her name in his pres
ence.
And for Percy Talbot he began to
manifest singular partiality-a special
liking that was frequently shown by
considerable monetary favors. Per-
haps he fancied that he owed some
sort of reparation 20 the luckless indi-
vidual who had been so signally dis
dained by his handsome and refractory
daughterl
cit seems strange that a rich man
would borrow such sums, and so
often," Mrs. Scott ventured to observe
"You know nothing about such
matters, Maria," was the sharp re-
sponse. Talbot can be trusted with
anything. He is shrewd man too,
and if our last speculation succeeds, I
shall be as rich as he is"
"What speculation, Peter?" his wife
inquired uneasily.
81 doubt you would understand if
should tell you," he answered testify.
He had yet to learn that his own un-
derstanding of the speculation into