The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-11-15
LOST ON THE MOORS.
MARY E. MOFFAT.


cred with purple heather, a sky whose
radiant sunset tints were fast fading into
| neutral grays. Far in the distance some
| slowly rising smoke spirals told of warmth
and shelter. 1t was grateful sight to
the eyes of a young man who bad lost bis
way among the seemingly interminable
| solitudes, broken only by the sound of a
startled rabbit, or whrring wing of a
frightened partridge.
Shoulderiug his game-bag be at once
| turned his steps toward the dusky barbln-
| ger of home comfort.
AS he reached the modest cottage he
| paused almost unconsciously, and looked
in upon the family group just gathered
| around the table for their evening neal
Then he passed on and gave brief rap at
the half open door.
1t was answered by young girl. Dof-
ffng his cap the stranger said
81 am alone, and have lost my way
among the moors. Can you give me the
wherewlthal TO break my fast, and after
that directing hint homeward ?'
"Come in, sill" said the farmer, who bad
followed Marian to the door. "You are
welcome to aught we have. Eat and drink
| first, then it will be time enough to think
| of leaving. Haste, Marian, and set chair
for the youth, and bring hot porridge."
AS Marian obeyed, Louis De Mornay's
eyes followed her with a look of wonder
How bad such pure white lily blossomed
| from such a rugged stem, with skin so
! satiny soft that the blue veins upon the
| temples could be traced beneath it, and
ewes so large and clear in their unclouded
blue that one could easily imagine them
tinted from the sky itself as they looked
out from waving masses of sun bright hair,
fastened only 10y the modest snood of blue
! ribbon.
Louis De Mornay was a young Cuban
| who had but lately fallen heir to large es-
| tates, both in England and upon the con-
| tinent. One of these was a fine hunting
seat in Scotland, in which he was spending
! the autumn months and being of roman
| tic temperament it was a great pleasure to
him to sally out without his gamekeeper
and to make his way over the country
| alone. This was the first time be had be-
! come bewildered as to location, and with
| the enthusiasm of his tropical Southern
nature he added a silent bat earnest
thanksgiving to the old cottager's blessing
over the food of which they were about to
par:ake !; for it was to him like the hand of
fate that he had been led to the home
which enshTined such a maiden.
Never, in his wandcrings over land and
sea- had his eyes rested on one so beauti-
full, and like some blossom which remains
folded in its calyx for years, and then
burstsIat once into gorgeous, love compel
]
ceve into it maid Marians image.
| Size could not but feel the influence of
his magnetic glances and a color stole
softly up into her cheeks, and the blue
eyes scarcely dared lift themselves from
out the ambush of the fringed lids as she
listened to his conversation with her faith
er. Why did her heart flutter SO with
pleasure when he accepted an invitation to
remain until the morrow She was glad to
seek the solitude of her room to question
and chide herself. What had this fiery
eyed stranger to do with her simple cot
tage life? Yet the memory of those burn
ing glances would cope back and thrill her
very soul with their sweetness.
All unwilling oflthe true attraction, far
mer McGregor responded to the young
mans expressed desire to try his hand at
the birds upon the surrounding mOoTs for
a few days by a cordial invitation to him
to remain as his guest.
In his sturdy pride it never entered his
mind that that child of his would think of
lifting her eyes to that dark stranger, who,
though to his knowledge a man of rank
and consequence, was not at all to his taste
in looks, with such midni9 dark hair
and eyes, and a complexion like Spaniard,
| though he we'll liked to talk with him and
listen 20 his stories of other lands and
climes.
So it came upon him like shock, wh en-,
after the strangers stay had heightened
| into weeks, he sought him one morning
and told ID i'm the real attraction. 1t was
his pearl-his white lily-it was Marian.
| The old mans lips opened at first for a
burst of anger, but he was bis guest. He
had eaten of his salt. So he, with an eff
fort, controlled himself and answ cred
quietly, but with firmness which augured
i'll for the young lovers suit.
''My daughter must marry in her own
| -zha ha Sha'S
young yet to make her choice. You do us
honor, sir, by your proposal but the time
| will come when you will thank me for see
ing the folly of such an unseemly union"
''Sr, she shall be cherished she de-
serves to be if you will only give her TO me.
The De Mornays were never known to be
augh5 but a kDightly, chivalrous race
Think again, l beg you. L love your
daughter so truly that it can but be that
she returns it. Such a fire could not burn
| without creating at least ashadowy flame.
s'Have you not spoken TO Marian your
self?''
SIT is the custom of my country to speak
first with the father" and the young man
raised his head proudly to meet :he old
farmers questioning look. 81 have sought
you first"
"That is we'll. 1 should i'll like to have
my girl unhappy. | wish you well, sir,
and success III al! else you undertake"
"The Goish, without the gitt seek, will
be but little good. You take the spring
out of my life and then hope the machine
ry will work"
There was a bitter ring in his voice as he
spoke, but Duncan McGergor was unmov-
ed Marian was bis one little eve lamb,
and no stranger should claim her unless ii
were youth after his own heart.
True to his code of honor, Louis depart
ed without telling Marian of his feelings,
although he did not intend to give her up.
After he bad gone Marian dropped
She made brave effort To keep up, but il
was to no purpose. The light died out OF
her eyes, aud the soft bloom left her cheek.
Her father noticed the change aud taxed
her with it.
81 hope it's not moping you are after
that dark stranger, Marian, He's 1aueht
attractive to my way of thinking. Hell
not be back, either, for he got more from
me than be looked for
: ''Oh. father, tell me, what do yor
mean? ?''