Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-02-21
AARON BLAIR'S ATONENENT.
CHAPTER V.-CoNTNUED.


ened cry. Keeping his arm tenderly
about his daughters waist. Aaron Blair
looked at the young man with wrath
full frown. A greater contrast than
the genileness OF his action and the
intense though repressed anger of his
expression could not wei be.
''Mr. Ormiston," he said, speaking
in low, carefully-repressed tone, al
though the thick network of veins
upon his forehead started out like
strained whip-cords beneath the violent
restraint that he was putting upon
himself, II did not expect this, sir!
We have not deserved this from you!
She, at any rate, deserves all respect
at your hands"
She has it, SIR" retorted Owen,
recovering himself. Bring any
charge you please against me rather
than that of lacking respect for your
daughter You can find nowhere any
one who yields her respect more en-
tirely. or who would more earnestly
insist upon it as her due
MAYBE, maybe" returned Aaron
Blair, with m Jtiou of his hand as
though TO wave the speaker away. alt
does not matter, since you have done
the mischief that hoped to prevent
your doing. You can excuse yourself,
i don't doubt; but don't wish to lis
ten. 1t was bad day for me when
you entered my doors and saw my
girl; but it can't be helped now. l
was a fool when | let you have the
chance OF making her your amuse-
.ment while the fancy for the play
might last; but l had hoped that you
would tire in time, ami that it would
not be so bad as this. There's enough
OF that-go, if you please!n
"Oh, father!" gasped Lily family.
Her face was hidden against him, but
shuddering sob shook her.
Aaron Blair started; the pitlful ap-
peal pierced him like dagger-thrust.
Owen Omissions face tushed his
spirit was reused; he would have been
much poorer creature than he was
had he yielded for a moment and re-
signed himself TO take his dismissal.
His voice was not low and restrained,
but eager, earnest, indignant.
may be fool, but l declare that
don't know in the least what you
mean! What have | doneP Does my
love for your daughter make me IL
criminal? l have loved her since
saw her first You must have known
it. Do you want to dismiss me be-
cause have asked her TO become my
wife,"
'She will never be your wife!' said
Aaron Blair CURLY.
"Who says thatP"
81, for one"
"You leave her out OF the question,
sir. D." Owen smiled triumphantly.
"She has promised to be my wife"
THAT promise will not be kept.
You waste your time, Mr.. Ormiston.
and make worse the harm you've done.
Go, ii you please"
''Oh, father, fatheT--don't don't!'
Lily pleaded. With sudden move
ment she released herself, and, per-
haps hardly conscious of what she
did, shrank from her father and turn
ed towards her lover, whose arm
was about her again in moment.
Aaron Blair, looking at them, turn
ed deathly pale; his broad chest
heaved; his clenched right hand drop
ped to his side helplessly.
lit is you who distress her-not
l." said Owen angrily. Don't you
see she loves meP'-with Implying
triumph. You have no right TO
separate us even if you are her
father. There, there-never mind,
darliug-it will be all right! Don't
tremble so. Mr.. Blair. l can only
suppose that your refusal TO listen to
me arises from some idea that Lady
Elizabeth Ormiston may object to my
marriage. Well, won't ask for your
consent until have obtained hers
and that I'll do without loss of time.
But in any case, | hope you will
understand that neither Lily nor / wi |
give each other up. Goodbye for "a
little while. my dearest; I'm sorry
that you were made to cry upon this
of all other days; but I'm not to blame
for that"
He kissed her, released her, and was
walking swiftly away, when he sud
denly turned back again. Perhaps
the selfishness and arrogance OF his
words Jared upon his own ears in the
midst OF his vexation that he should
have been repealed in such a fashion
by this rough-mannered man; for he
turned impulsively and held out his
hand TO Aaron Blair.
"Don't part bad friends with me, sir
for Lily's sake-we have made her
cry between us as it is. Perhaps you
weren't prepared for this; and, upon
my word / beg your pardon II have
said anything TO annoy you, although,
IL have. l must say that / don't
think it was exactly my fault. Shake
hands, SIR"