The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-12-06
Something like murmur OF regret came

.
| from the lips of the comely matron. The
farmer still held his glass in the air.
! "lou will follow me in what am going
to say. You would think it u sad pity TO
shut up in dark box, where its beauty
aud perfume would be- lost, u flower with
| brilliant eolors and sweet smell"
"To be sure" said the farmer, with q
| nod-''to he sure"
"lf bird has strong pinions, and can
! cut the air like sharp knife with its
wings, you would think il sad to shut up
such bird in u cage, where the strong
! wings could never expand"
alt would be cruel" said the farmers
wife, with unmistakable emphasis.
"In like manner" continued Sir Raye,
'if young man has great gifts, all artists
soul, thirst for knowledge, talents that
! will make themselves known, the will and
! the power to raise himself high above his
| feliow-mep, do you not think 1t quite IS
sad to see such one tied down to some
commonplace lite!'
He saw the first faint dawn Of awakning
fear in the mothers face, the first flutter
Of pride and ambition; and he saw the
first sign Of disaPproval in the face Of the
old farmer. Instinct rather than reason
! told them what was coming.
"That is the case with your boy Nane,"
said Sir Raye. $40 your son has been Civ.
en- great talent. 1t would be cruel TO tie
him down to the routine Of farm-life; for
he has no taste for it, and never will have.
Let him try his wings, let him fly away.
from the home nest, and work his way,
which prophesy will be triumphant
one, and lead him to great honors. Now
make this offer. | am lonely man. l
al the wide world there is not one creature
who calls me kinsman; there is not one
who loves or cares for me. l have no
brother TO be proud of the honors have
won, and have no son TO succeed me- /
am alone in the world"
There was a ring of pain and passion in
his voice which might have touched any
one.
"My proposition is this" he resumed
al see in Vane Fraser, your son, gifts and
talents that will, if cultivated, make
him leader amongst men. Having
no son of my own, l will adopt him.
l will take him home with me, and edu-
cate him in those arts and sciences FOR
which he has most taste. | will instruct
him in my profession, for which he appears
TO have special aptitude. He shall be TO
me an adopted son. grand career, a
magnificent future lies open to him: but
there are few conditions to which his pa
rents must consent before 1 can carry out
my scheme"
| The summer air stirred the lime-boughs,
halfprophetic shadow came over the
mothers comely face, while the farmer,
suddenly remembering that his glass was
! in the air, empticd ii with look of most
profound wisdom.
! "The conditions | wish to make,' con-
tinued Sir Rayc-"and you must think
them over well before you decide rs to
their acceptance or rejection-are these
First, if your son leaves you at all, he
leaves you forever. After teaching, train
| ing, and looking upon him as my son,
could not tolerate the idea of his return
| ing here and leaving me. lie must give
up home If he comes with me-"
"That seems hard" said the farmer
And the mother shook her head slowly.
lizard, | grant; still it is just. II
adopt him and bring him up as my son,
shall not care to know that some day he
may leave me, and that all my trouble will
have been in vain"
Vane's face grew pale, and his lips quiz
cred. He did not speak, but looked At
| his mother the whole time.
~ should treat him as though he
were my own SON. | should wish that he
would take my name. Let him be called
| Vane Fraser Wharf. Unless am greatly
mistaken in him, he will ennoble any
name. Understand me rightly. / AIN
neither cruel nor unkind, l do not for
one moment say that you are never to see
the boy again, never to hear of or from
him, or anything of the kind. He can
write to you as often as he will; he can
come and see you when he wishes. But
TO all intents and purposes you must give
him up. If he acts as | believe he WILL
he will one day stand foremost in the ranks
OF men, and then ii might be to his dis
advantage 10 have his origin known; it
might in that case be against him."
The farmer in low dull voice said
"My son will never be ashamed of his
parents.
"No," returned Sir Raye; she never
need be ashamed Of YOU. But it is posi-
bic that, il he makes a great name in the
world, his lowly origin may be against
him. II you give me the boy at all, you
must give him to me entirely. | am sure
you will see the wisdom Of it. ] give you
three days in which TO consider; and then
you can let me know your decision."-
With these words by way of conclusion,
he stood up, bowed, and moved away.
10 be Continued