The morning call., 1891-07-15
THE SEXTON BLOOD.
BY ESTHER sERLE KENNETH.

unSoVernaDle anger. MOI tnal OSuen Del
ton had not tried to control his fiery temper
while his wife lived-at least he thought he
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 aud son stood facing each other in
the handsome library, and it was Ogden Sef-
ton who had spoken.
"Because am not a boy. l love Ada
Grandmont and mean to marry her."
"Ungrateful rascal. to defy your father F!
So this is your first step on coming of age?"
81 am not obliged to sleep another night
under your roof, strand l will not''
And so Victor Seton dashed passionately
from his home, and did not return.
II Victor'S mother had been alive!-but
there was no one to interfere with pacific
word between the two hot-headS. The dis
covery that Victor was paying court to the
daughter of man who had given him Of
Tense was the cause of the trouble, which
increased us Victor was approached on the
subject, for he loved the innocent girl his
father referred to so cOldly. At the first in-
timation that his son differed from him
Ogden Seton few into passion. A few
hlsty words, aud his handsome hoy he was
so proud of was lost to him.
Victor. on passing out, had said to his
sister that he should never return-that he
was going abroad. A week had passed, and
OLIVES dark ewes were swollen with CRYING.
nd hnH hor El+h
his secret relenting. She was like her
mother, gentle, judicions, winning. and yet
more affectionate than the others. To lose
her mother and then her brother broke the
girls heart
But her swollen eyes were all the express
sions 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 preached the sub
ject
"Olive. do you know where Victor ts?"
"No, father"
Have you heard nothing from him?"
mo, sir. But-father-I think he has
gone abroad"
He had not the means"
mo, sir; but he could have borro wed
money"
And MS the weeks and months went by,
this conclusion was forced upon Ogden SET
ton Victor had college friends who were
had gone with them. Though cut to the
heart, Olive was right in thinking that her
father would make his inquiries. 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 daugh-
Ter. And by tenderly loving her he tried to
cancel the wrong done and relieve the Sc
cret 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 an
other coufdant, Roland Harlow.
He was young gentleman, reliable as
agreeable, whom everybody had confidence
in-Ogden Seton included, and he very
much admired Olive. To this connection
her father was not adverse. Roland was
the son of his partner in business. His fire.
quency at the house made him like one of
the family.
He had dined one day at Mr.. Sefton's
table. There were other gentlemen present,
and Olive presided at the table with the
gentle dignity which made her, in her ex-
IRENE youth and beauty, very attractive.
1t was a quiet family dinner, yet Olive
left the gentlemen half an hour to their
wine; and while the Others were engaged in
discussion, Mr.. Seton bent his head and
said, in low voice to Roland, who sat next
him:
wait this evening after the others have
gone. l want 10 IaiR WlLn you.
Roland noticed, for the first time, bag
gard, sunken look abOu: Mr.. Sefton's eyes,
and a 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 loungng-chair before
the glowing anthracite. surrounded on
every side by luxury, he thought he had
never beheld mora unhappy couutenauce.
There we're new lines 10 the handsome face
and the close-curling brown hair was
whitened about the temples.
81 have confidence in you, Roland, and l
must talk to some one."
THANK you, Mr.. Seton. Can Fhelp
you?"
my childrenW
Mr.. Seton covered his face with his
hands. Alarmed, Roland waited. His
companion could not sit in his chair; but
rose and walked thu floor.
you know how Victor went away,
Roland. My only sou! His mother was SO
proud of him"
He broke down again.
Il may never see Victor again. But
Olive, my little girl, she was always
different-mlld and patient like her m ther
yet not without strength of mind. have
based all my hopes Of the future on her of
late Yet She
Dear Mr.; Seton. what can have gone
wrong with Oliver"
Roland HarlowS 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 conf
dence."
"What has happened?"
iyl.t fnht -
room and leaves the Eouse. She is often alb
sent till past midnight. And she says no.
thing of this nightly INDEPENDENTLY thinks
it unknown. You understand, Roland, that
i cannot force myself to believe any i'll Of
Olive. l will not believe that she seeks bad
company"
'No, no indeedW
"1hen what does this mean? | have not
her confidence. | have lost my children's
confidenceW and passionate, loving Ogden
Seton covered his face and wept In unuttar-
able sorrow,
''aIr. Seton, If you asked an explanation
OF Olive, think sha would give 1t to you -
"Ro and, 1 have thought of this matter
until | am almost i'll. One thing am con-
WINGED of. II Olive wishes to maintain Sc
crecy regarding this matter she will do so.
Mind, If she does-and L sometimes fear |
dare not say wha'! Bat it is killing me that
my child does not trust me.
Don't worry SO, Mr. Seton. l will try
to help you"
III .w?"
sit is delicate matter; but ! am sure
Olive does not fear me. Perhaps | can lei
her To confde in me Of her own free choice. -
God bless you. Roland try, try.
would give the world 10 be relieved Of this
anxiety!
By Thousand Ingenious but Intellectual
ways Roland Harlow strove to surprise
Olives secret, but never succeeded. The
same which was the keynote to it he never
thought 10 utter; and the girl was toe
wrapped in her own thoughts and feelings
to observe the singularity OF his. A Tort
night had gone by, when she declined to at
tend a concert with him, and bidding him
goodnight in the hall assembled to her room.
Roland let himself out, and, crossing the
park, sat down under the trees in the balmy
spring evening.
The truth was, he was overwhelmed by
his thoughts, and sat racking his brain
longer than he knew, for he was suddenly
surprised by the sight of Olive, wrapped ia
a gray waterproof and veil, emerging from
the door OF her house. She came quickly
down the high stone steps, was Joined al
the corner of the park by Ada Grandmont,
and the two walked rapidly away. Before
he knew what he was n hin % he was fn1Ioxvi,o