The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-04-26

| '"SSi uc uioSL uiSuIy krUtlIylug 10
my paternnl PRIDE"
And Theodore did believe those oily,
llypocrltlcal words; and since his
father rejOiced ut his sons success,
Theodore had. ut last. won from him
that love for which his heart had so
long aud vainly yearned-and believ-
Ing thus. the young man was now In
tcnsely happy. and pressing the Wis.,
counts hand. warmly and gratefully
lie eXclaimed:
by how many years of my life
would have purchased those sweet
and precious words"
"Oh, know you well, Theodore,
and have never doubted your heart"
While Theodore with great emotion.
said:
"Alay the day arrive when you shall
have need to test that heart. dear
father. and then shall you behold all
that 1t contains for you of affection
and devotion"
There was EOw u long pause In the
conversation. and the visconnt rose
from his chair, and slowly paced the
room.
At length. lie stopped. and placing
his hand on Theodore's shoulder, said,
with heavy sigh:
THAT day, perhaps, has already ar
rived"
And Theodore was delighted that 1t
should be so.e
OF his fathers early life. Theodore
had been told. and Ind heard. nothing;
and concerning. his past career, the
Viscount now proceeded to relate a
somewhat skilfully invented story.
In his youth. Norton Sowerby had,
lie knew not how, incurred the dis
pleasure of the then Viscount Dare
leigh; without knowing wherefore, had
been rejected by his relatives. and cast
forth penniless, TO struggle with Il
world with which, having been nnrsetl
In the lap Of fortune, and reared In
ease and luxury, he had been little
fitted to contend.
And his most unmeritel sufferings
had been fearful.
Certainly lie would have succombed
beneath the horrors of his misery, the
pangs Of hunger-for even to that bad
lie been reducel-but for the help
which had been most freely and gem
'crously afforded. by noble family who
had had pity on the sufterings which
they We're certain he had not deserved.
Continuing his supposititious h.:,-
tory, the viscOunt said that five-and-
twenty years had flown away with
out his having again beheld his bene-
factors, and without having effacetl
from his memory the generosity Of
which lie had been the recipient.
That having at length succeeded to
his title and his fortune, the ViscOunt
had been eager, in some way to requite
those who lii his misery Ind so he.
fr1ended him.
Theodore would readily believe, and
would rejoice, aa greatly almost as did
the Niscount himself. that found a.
g,lin were those who formerly had res
cuetl his father from AFFECT misery
perhaps from death itself.
And Theodore, who had been moved
almost to tears by tbis atrot iously
false recital, did. indeed. rejoice that
lie himself, would be able to express
the gratitude he felt towards his
fathers benefactOTs. x.s ~
but. alas" said the yiscount, CIV
ing very doleful expression to his
features; "those generous friends
fortune has changed with them. and
now that have beheld them again, 1
have found them as they first knew
me. poor and deserted"
mo, no." Theodore warmly cried;
"they cannot be poor, since we, faith.
er, IRE wealthy"
And now. without being observed by
Theodore, the viscount's eyes We're
fixed penetratingly upon the young
man, as he said with q melancholy
mir. Theodore, poverty has also It's
pride. have offered, would have
given gladly. half my fortune" The
viscount paused and sighed. "My Of
fers have been ,nobly refused" he re-
sumed, speaking very slowly; ''and
you alone. de1r Theodore-you can aid
me to acquit my debt Of gratitude"
And with seeming great emotion and
affection he grpsped and. pressed his
sons hand.
This testimony Of tenderness, for
which he had never before given his
father credit, was almost 0verp0wer.
ing to q heart which had so long been
craving for that love which, as 1t now
would seem, It had never lacked.
In what way could 1t be In Theo.
dOre's power to be Of service to the
viscount Nm the matter now In ques-
ton the young man wondered, anxious,
Il a. We know, for an: opportunity to
1 prove his devotion to his father. 4
i And terribly. was that devotiou
about to be tested. !.
TOT the noble family to whom I
4 owe that I am Lying stlll." resumed
the vlscount, and still unobserved by
Il him, 'Sintently watching Theodore's
looks. a0f that family there remain
but noble widow and her daughter.
That daughter 10 young and lovely.
good and yirtuous. 10 the possessor OF
An honlrabls name. and will be In.
debted only to husband"