The record-union., 1891-09-05
The SBFTON BLOOD.

Slder, 1t became necessity with those
having connection with the Seftons. A
passionate, affectionate, ,clannish race, very
headstrong, very rich, they had long been
a power in the land, Notwithstanding the
characteristic of quick, ungovernable
anger. Not that Ogden Seton had not
tried to control his fiery temper while his
wife lived-at least he thought he had
but if he had been less often angry, it was
rather because of her gentle influence and
tact than that he had really disciplined
himself. And when his wife died, people
said, And now there will be trouble with
Victor"
Victor, with his handsome Byronic
head, covered by close curling black hair,
his dash and grace and extra share of the
hot Seton blood-it was not six months
before there was trouble.
How dare you, sir"
Father and son stood facing each other
in the handsome library, and it was
Ogden Seton who had spoken.
Because am not a boy. / love Ada
GrandmOnt and mean to marry her.
"Ungrateful rascal, to defy your father!
So this is your first step on coming of
age?"
Il am not obliged to sleep another
night under your roof strand l will
notn'
And so Victor Seton dashed passion
ately from his home, and did not return.
If Nictor'S mother had been alive!-but
there was no one to interfere with 4
word between the two hot-heads.
The discovery that Victor was paying
court to the daughter of man who had
given him Ot1enSe was the cause of the
trouble, which increased as Victor was
approached on the subject, for he loved
the Innocent girl his father referred to so
coldIy. At the first intinatiOn that his
son differed from him Ogden Seton flew
into passion. A few hasty words, and
his handsome boy he was 50 proud of was
lost to him.
Victor, on passing out, had said to his
sister that he would never return-that he
was going abroad. 4 week had passed
and olives dark eyes We're swollen with
crying, yet not one word had her father
! spoken Of his secret relenting. She was
like her mother, gentle judiciOus, Win
| ming, and yet more attectionate than the
others. To lose her mother and then her
brother broke the girls heart.
But her swollen eyes were all the ex-
pressionS of her grief. She so feared her
father in his anger, usually indulgent as
he was, that she dared not even name her
absent brother until he abruptly broached
the subject.
mo, father"
'HaVe you heard nothing from him ?''
''No, sir. But-tather-l think he has
gone abroad"
He had no means"
mo, sir; but he could have borrowed
money"
And as the weeks and months went by,
this conclusion was forced upon Ogden
Seton. Victor had college friends who
were off for London that summer-prob-
ably he had gone with them. Though
cut to the heart, Olive was right in think
ing that her father would make his in
quiries. So fiery was his anger that even
in his grief the memory of it made him
angry again. He had lost his son. He
had only his daughter. And by tenderly
loving her he tried to cancel the wrong
done and relieve the secret sorrow Of his
| heart. He even met Olive in the street
with Ada GrandmOnt, yet made no sign.
Olive liked pretty, brown-eyed Ada,
who had been her school friend. She
had another confdant, Roland Harlow.
He was young gentleman, reliable as
agreeable, whom everybody had conf
dence in-Ogden Seton included, and he
very much admired Olive. To this con-
nection her father was not adverse.
Roland was the son of his partner in
business. His frequency at the house
made him like one of the family.
table. There were other gentlemen pres
/ ent, and Olive presided at the table with
/ the gentle dignity which made her, in
| her extreme youth and beauty, very at
| tractive.
| 1t was quiet family dinner, yet Olive
! left the gentlemen half an hour to their
wine, and while the others were engaged
in q discussion, Mr.. Seton bent his head
and said in a low voice to Roland, who
sat next him:
''Wait this evening after the others
have gone. l want to talk with you."
Roland noticed for the first time hag-
gard. sunken look about Mr.. Sefton's
eyes, and look of solicitude came into
his frank, blonde face.
1t was two hours before he was able to
say, Now we are alone" The company
had gone, Olive had retired to her room
They sat by the library fire.
AS the young man looked at his friend
sitting in his velvet lounging chair be-
| fore the glowing anthracite, surrounded
on every side by luxury, he thought he
had never beheld more unhappy
| countenance. There were new lines in
| the handsome face, and the close-curling
brown hair was whitened about the
! temples.
II have confidence in you, Roland, and
[ must talk to some one"
''Thank you, Mr.. Seton. Can 1 help
your"
"My children ~
! Mr.. Seton covered his face with his
! hands. Alarmed, Roland waited. His
| companion could not sit in his chair; but
! rose and walked the floor
You know how Victor went away,
Roland, My only son! His mother was
( so proud of him.
| lie broke down again.
! Il may never see Victor again. But
Olive, my little girl, she was always diff
/ ferent-mild and patient like her mother
| yet not without strength of mind I
have based all my hopes of the future on
/ her of late. Yet She"
Dear Mr.. Seton, what can have gone
| wrong with Olive ?'
! Roland Harlow's face was anxious
| enough now.
at is impossible for me to think any
harm OF my daughter. She has ever
| been purity and truth itself. 1t is my
own remorse that makes me shrink from
! seeking her confidence
"What has happened ?"
might after night Olive steals from her
room and leaves the house. She is often
absent till past midnight. And she says
nothing of this nightly habit-eyidentiy
| thinks it unknown. You understand
Roland, that | cannot force myself to be-
/ lieve any i'll of Olive. L will not believe
/ that she seeks bad company"
mo; no, indeedp'
Then what does this mean? / have
not her confidence. L have lost my chill
dren's conidencep' and passionate, low
! ing Ogden Seton covered his face and
wept in unutterable sorrow.
mfr. Seton, If you asked an explana-
/ ton of Olive, think she would give it to
/ you"
mo, and I have thought of this matter
until 1 am almost i'll. One thing l am
convinced of. If Olive wishes to MAIN
/ tain snprecv raoardiOp this nattar Sba
will do so. Mind, Elf she does-and I
ni M Iianr / do 20 not