Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-02-08
CHAPTER Y
Ethel's Appeal.

Sir Leonard Gordon was not alto
gether satisfied with his daughter. He
had seen an expression of pain on MISS
Digby's face that annoyed him. Yet
he. knew that the more he said to
Ethel, the more it affected her.
4 ought to have married years ago,
he said to himself, and then Ethel
would have been accustomed to obedl-
ence. 1t will be difficult to manage her
now"
He found the task even more difficult
than he had anticipated. Ethel had
been thinking seriously, and the more
she pondered over the whole affair, the
greater became her dislike to it.
II must make one more effort she
thought; Il will make one more appeal
to my father. 1.-The refuses to hear me,
let it be so; if he consents, then all the
love of my life will hardly suffice to re-
pay him.
She was silent and thoughtful dur
ing the remainder of the day. Sir
Leonard, watching her, wondered as to
the nature of her reflections.
Us she making up her mind to obey,
or to revolt he said to himself; but
even he was not prepared for what she
did
The same evening Sir Leonard was
sitting alone in his own study-a room
that he should have used for the pur-
poses of reading and writing, but
which was more often devoted to
cigars and meditation. The night was
so fine, the balmy air so sweet, that he
had lowered the lamps, had opened
wide the long French windows, had
drawn the chairs together in order that
me might lounge at his ease, and sat en-
joying the luxury Of a choice Havana.
The moonlight fell on tree and
flower, on silent fountains, and deep,
clear lake-moOnlight so bright, so sill
very that it was far more beautiful
than the light of day. The dew lay
like shining diamonds on grass and
leaf. The night wind was laden with
the perfume OF new-mown hay in the
valley, of the hawthorn in the hedges.
In the woods .. nightingale was sing
ing, and the faint sweet notes fell
were cleaning in the sky-it was one
of those nights that awake all the po
etry in the depths of mans soul
Sir Leonard thought of many things
as he sat thereof the high-born Lady
Angela, who had been dead so many
years-of the beautiful, proud, imperi-
GUS daughter, whom he had loved as
fathers seldom love their children-of
the fair-faced, gentle woman who was
to be his second wife. There came to
him as he unused, a certainty; he had
loved Lady angela. and he loved Helen
Digby, but he could see now that the
great passion of his life was the love
he had felt for his daughter. There
was nothing to be compared with that;
and now, with the clear stars shining
on him, and the fragrant night wind
whispering of high and holy thoughts
it occurred to him that his love had
been wrong. He had shown it by over
indulgence-by indulging his daugh-
ter's every whim and caprice. He had
been amused where he should have
punished her; he had laughed where
he should have scolded; he had given
her all power and authority where he
should have insisted upon obedience
He saw it all, now that the clear. calm
voice of wise and sensible woman
had pointed it out to him, and he re-
solved to do all that he could to atone
for 1T. He must be firm with her, not
yielding to her persuasions, but insist
l.;
wishes
Just as Sir Leonard had reached
this point in his meditations, two
white arms were clasped round his
neck, and beautiful face dropped over
his.
Papa" said a sweet musical voice,
/ knew that | should find you here,
and | know that you are thinking of
me-"
You are very right, Ethel; l am al
ways thinking of you, my darling"
Then your thoughts must be pleas
ant ones, said the girl, with the as
sured voice of one who knows she is
dearly loved
She laid her face against her
fathers; she kissed him and caressed
him in her loving, half-tender. half
imperious fashion.
am come, papa" she said. Ito
make one more appeal to you-to ask
you once more if it is not possible to
induce you to give up these two plans
of your marriage and my going to
ST. Ina's Bay"
My dearest Ethel. l thought that
that matter was settled. l am sorry
that you should renew the subject"
She unclasped her hands from his
neck, and, going round knelt down in
front of him. Sir Leonard thought he
had never seen anything so fair as her
face in the moonlight
Papa, darling, I never prayed YOU
10 grant me a favor You have been so
kind and so good that there has been
no need for me to ask. But do pray
YOU to grant me this grace-do not
think of marrying, and do not send me
TO st. Ina's.'
Tears were shining brightly in her
beautiful eyes as she raised them to
his, and her voice trembled with emo
ton.
Il pray you, papa, by all your love
for me-by all your kindness to me.
| will make it all up to you; 1 will
give you all the love of my heart;
will study your happiness in every
7 will hi,,I- 3