Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-07-26
LURED AWAY;
Oh,
The Story Of a Wedding Ring
CHAPTER TX.
BY CHARLOTTE n. BRAEsIR-

daughter was dead, but his granddaugh-
ter was living The love he would not
give to Katrine might, and in all proba-
bflity would, go to Ismay; he would. be
willing IN % for his grandchild that which
pride and anger would not allow him to
do for his daughter.
Mr.. Ford lamented that Ismay was mar
ried-that was the only drawback to his
content; yet much, of course, would de-
pend on the man she had married. The
lawyer sighed rs he thought of the great
gulf between Squire Schofeld's steward
and the proud Lord CarIswood-a gulf
that it seemed impossible to bridge. He
could form no proper estimate until he
had seen Ismay If she was hOpelessly
vulgar ii she had contracted such habits
as could not be cured if she was a coun-
try-bred peasant, without taste or refine
ment, then ne must leave the matter en-
tirely to Lord Carlswood's discretion-he
would not urge him to adopt her.
He must see her, and then form his
Judgment; it would be more prudent to
see her as a stranger. and not TO give her
the least idea Of what err&nd he had come
upon. He had taken Il cup of tea with
Mrs. Hope, who implicitly believed that
he was what he represented himself to be
"a travelling artist; at the same time she
thought him very curious gentleman, he
asked so many questions and he seemed
30 deeply interested in what she had to say
of that unfortunate woman.
He cleyerIy drew from her description
OF lsmay's home, and then said he should
like to make "A drawing of it.
Nothing can be easier" she told him.
"Mrs. Waldron is very amiable and sweet
tempered she will be pleased to give you
permission"
He went, and was more charmed with
Ismay than he could have anticipated; her
wondrous beauty, her grace, her charming
manner, all delighted him. And then,
too, sh" had son, the lovely laughing boy
he had neld in his arms, child of whom
even the proud Lord Carlswood might be
proud. He was surprised as we'll as de-
lighted She spoke with some refinement,
there was no vulgarity in her accent; and
yet, despite the presence of the beautiful
boy, he was tempted to wish again and
again that she had not been married.
"What n sensation she would have Gre
atedl She would have made one of the
best matches in England; with that face
and that figure she would have created a
perfect titrOr."
still, though he was so marvellOusly I'M
pressed by her, lie could not tell how the
muster Of Bralyn would receive the news
of her marriage He decided that he would
trust To no letter but would 90 to Bralyn
himself. ana then he could tell Lord Carls-
wood all
There was missing only one link in the
evidence; he wanted to see the lOCket and
the ring. There was no course open to
him save to tell the vicar what was his
real crrand. and he did SO under promise
- OH,
the lockct. Although he was prepared for
IL, still the sight of Lord Carswood's we'll
known features did startle hint was
the sure confirmation of all the other evid
ence.
Mr.. Ford FASTENED back TO Bralyn. Lord
Cnrlswood was greatly agitated.
You say she is beautiful-so like her
mother2 What were they thinking of to
let her marry SO yOung2 If that could
but be undOnel What is her husband likep
lie is II true son of the people-hand-
some, strong, with fine face and manly
figure industrious, and very clever, they
say, ut all kinds Of mechanism. His mania
In invention. lie ~ 4 complete radical in
politics, believing in the rights of the
workman, and is eloquent after n grand
rugged fashion of his Own-for he makes
speeches. and is looked upon as u leader in
his own small circle"
Lord CarlswoOd hcrd up his hands with
a gesture of horror.
Enough he cried. "And what do you
say his calling is"
Mr.. Ford looked half puzzled.
Il can hardly tell YOU" hc replied
''Somc people call him the squire's stew.
ard, others his gamckeeper me he
seemed 10 hold both Offices"
Does his wife seem warmly attached
GO htmY' was the next question.
The lawyer smiled.
81 am better judge, my lord, of the
merits OF law case than OF lady's affec-
ton suppose she loves him. All wives
love their husbands do they not2"
"By ne Means" was the cynical reply.
''You say the boy is healthy, and likely to
liver
II am no judge Of children, either; but
never saw more beautiful child. He
looked strong and we'll
Then there was silence some minutes:
the old lord seemed cngrossed in thought.
His brows were knit his lips FIRMLY closed.
and his hands tightly clasped. Once
deep sigh came from him, and then he
was silent again.
lie raised his eyes mt last. ana looked III
the lawyers face. BY the strangeness of
the glance Mr.. Ford felt sure that some
difficult proposition was coming
Lord CarlSwOOd rose from his seat. He
went over to the mantel piece, above
which hung the portrait of Jocelyn, Lord
Carlswood, who had fought So bravcly for
the Stuart king, Charles the Second He
looked long and earnestly ut the pictured
face-a dark face, full of noble resolve,
fun of fire and valor-and then he turned
slowly aud looked Mt Mr.. Ford again.
The Carlswoods have fallen very low
during my lifetime" he said; their name
is suliied. their honor furnished. But |
have not fallen so low as to allow man
of that kind TO make his home here"
"A man of what kind2" asked Mr.. Ford,
In surprise.
THAT low-born. ill-bred radical.
should expect all the dead and gone Carls-
woods To rise up in wrath against me If
even thought Of such a thing"
luen what do you propOseH" asked the
lawyer
His lordship paused before he replied.
Perhaps my plan may not meet with
your appreciation" he said but | may
tell You mt once that am indifferent about
that. This is my fixed resolve, and Meth
er heaven nor earth shall move me from
II. will adopt my daughters child-this
bright, beautiful Ismay will make her
wealthy heiress. She shall have the
large fortune that was To have been divid-
ell between my two younger boys. | will
adopt her son. He shall be my heir He
shall be Lord CarlSwOod of Bralyn after
me. But-listeu to me. Ford do all this
solely on the condition that she gives up
this l"w-born husband of hers and CON
sentS never 70 see him again II she will
not agree the whole matter must end-she
may remain where she is, and | will find
another heir"
There was another long silence. during
which the singing OF the birds and the
whispering of the wind among the trees
could be plainly heard; aud then Mr..
Ford's voice broke the silence.
1T is not right, my lord" he said, alb
ruptly. Such separation as that is
against all laws human and divine-it is
against the customs of men and the viii
OF Heaven"
Nevertheless, it must take place. Twill
never receive the husband here"
Yet You would receive his child"
He is of my own race, but his father
is alien to IT, He has noble blood in his
veins. His father has none He has no
claim on me, nor will ever acknowledge
one"
"My lord - said the lawyer az will On