ORIGIN AND DESTINY

New Zealand Tablet, 8 September 1910, Page 1431

ORIGIN AND DESTINY

Laura Woodville, beautiful and highly accomplished, was. a r favorite m all circles, and there were many wealthy and fashionable men who, for her personal attractions alone, were ready to approach and offer the homage of a sincere affection. «=>.-..-- Among these was a young man named Allison, whose . family had, in the eyes of Laura's father, everything to render a marriage connection desirable. ;-■ But Laura never encouraged his advances in the least; for she felt for him a strong internal repulsion. While this state of mind was in progress, she met Henry Percival. A mutual regard was soon developed, which increased until it became a deep and sincere affection. In the meantime Allison, confident from his position, became bolder in his advances, and, as a preliminary step, gave the girl's father an intimation of his views. The old merchant heard him gladly, and yielded a full consent to the prosecution of his suit. But perceiving what was in the mind of the young man, Laura shrank from him, and met all his advances with a chilling reserve that was not for an instant to be misunderstood. Percival daily gained favor in her eyes, and was at length emboldened to declare what was in his heart. With ill-concealed pleasure, Laura referred the young man to her father. As to the issue of the reference, she had wellgrounded fears. The day that followed this declaration was one of anxious suspense to Laura. She was alone, late in the afternoon, when her father came into the room where she was sitting. 'Laura,' said he gravely, as he sat down by her side, ,' I was exceedingly surprised and pained to-day, to receive from a young upstart attorney, of whose family no one has ever heard, an offer for your hand, made, as was affirmed, with your consent. Surely this affirmation was not true?' A deep crimson flushed the face of Laura, her eyes fell to the floor, and she exhibited signs of strong agitation. - You may not be aware,' continued Mr. Woodville, ' that Mr. Allison has also been to me with a similar application.' The eyes of Laura were raised quickly from the floor, and her manner exhibited the repugnance she felt. 'I can never look upon Mr. Allison as more than a friend,' said she calmly. 'Laura! Has it indeed come to this?' said Mr. Woodville, really disturbed. ' Will you disgrace yourself and family by a union with a vulgar upstart from the lower ranks, when an alliance so distinguished as this one is offered? # Who is Percival? Where is he from? What is his origin?' ' I regard rather his destiny than his origin,' replied the daughter; 'for that concerns me far more nearly than the other'. I shall have to tread the way my husband goes, not the.way he has come. The past is past. In the future lies my happiness or misery.' . Do you know,' said Mr. Woodville, not giving the words of his child the smallest consideration, that the father of this fellow Percival was a day laborer in one of old Mr. Allison's manufacturing establishments. A mere day laborer I have heard as much. Was he not an honest and honorable man 'Madness, girl!' ejaculated Mr. Woodville. 'Do not disobey me, or the consequences to yourself will be of Ihe saddest kind.' Laura arose, weeping, and left the room. A few months later, and fully avowing her purpose, Laura left the house of her parents and became the wife of Percival. ■ " ( * Years went by, and many times did she approach her old home, but only to be repulsed. One day, while Mr. Woodville was walking with a gentleman, they passed Allison, when his companion said: five years, I shall think she has few of woman's best and holiest feelings.' V : ■ .' Why do you say that asked Woodville, evincing much surprise. - ': 'ln the first place,' replied the friend, ' a man with bad Erinciples is not the one to make a right-minded woman appy. And, in the second place, a man who regards neither virtue nor . decency in his conduct is the one to make her life wretched.' * But is Allison such a man _ . ' He is, to my certain knowledge. • I knew . him when a boy. We were schoolmates. Men like him indulge in

evil passions and selfish desires, until they lose even common prudence.' ' :-v. ;,:•'-'/;: ...- • Mr. Woodville was profoundly astonished. All this he might have known from personal observation, had not his eyes been so dazzled with the external brilliancy , of the persons condemned, as to disqualify them for looking deeper and perceiving the real character of what was beneath the brilliant gilding. £J. months later he was surprised at the announcement that the wife of Allison had separated herself from him and returned to her father's house. Various causes were assigned for this act, the most prominent of which was infidelity. . . ;i Time works many changes, and in a few years, following a- series of business failures, Mr. Woodville closed up his mercantile history, and retired on a meagre property, scarcely sufficient to meet his wants. But scarcely had this change taken place when a claim on the only piece of re al estate which he held was made, on the allegation of a defective title. On consulting a lawyer, he was alarmed to find that the claim had a plausible basis, and that the chances were against him. ' ~ When the case was brought up, Mr. Woodville appeared m court, and with trembling anxiety watched the progress of the trial. The claim was apparently a fair one and yet not really just. On the side of the prosecution was a subtle, ingenious, and eloquent lawyer, in whose hands his own counsel was little more than a child, and he saw with despair that all the chances were against him. The loss of this remnant of property would leave him utterly destitute. After a vigorous argument on the one side, and a feeble rejoinder on the other, the case was about being submitted, when a new advocate appeared on the side of the defence. He was unknown to Mr. Woodville. On rising in court, there was a profound silence. He began by observing that he had something to say in the case ere it closed, and as he had studied it carefully and weighed with due deliberation all the evidence which had appeared, he was satisfied he could show cause why the prosecution should hot obtain a favorable decision. : - . It was clear and strong in every part, and tore into very tatters the subtle chain of reasoning presented by the opposing counsel. 'For an hour he occupied the attention of the court. On closing his speech, he immediately retired. The decision was in Mr. Woodville's favor. 'Who is that?' he asked, turning to a gentleman who sat beside him, as the strange advocate left the floor. ,- The man looked at him in surprise. ' Not know him said he. Mr. Woodville shook his head. 'His name is Percival.' Mr. Woodville turned his face partly away to conceal the sudden flush that went over it. After the decision in his favor had been given and he had returned home, wondering at what had just occurred, he sat musing alone, when there came a light tapping, as from the hand of a child, at his door. Opening it, be found a boy there, not over five or six years of age, with golden hair falling over his shoulders, and* bright blue eyes raised to his own. 'Grandpa!' said the child, looking earnestly into his face. For a moment the old man stood and trembled. Then stooping down he took the child in his arms, and hugged him with a sudden emotion to his heart, while the long sealed fountain of his feelings gushed forth again, and tears came forth from beneath the lids that were tightly shut to repress them. 'Father!' The eyes were quickly unclosed. There was now another present. 'My child!' came trembling from his lips, and Laura flung herself upon his bosom. In less than a year after this reconciliation, Mr. Percival was chosen to a high office in the State; and within that time Mr. Allison was detected in a criminal conspiracy to defraud, and left the commonwealth to escape punishment. So much for origin and destiny. Laura was right; it concerns a maiden far more to know whither her lover is going than whence he came; for she has to journey with him in the former and not the latter way : v