Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-04-28

in the old dreary house, looking in ill-con
cealed discomfort from the fire to the serv
ing woman, and from the dogs to the pas
sive and resigned face of his silent host.
When the woman came and wheeled thu
old mans chair to the board, he perceived
that he was also crippled The cron.
turned TO HIM.
"Will ye sit by, sir?" she asked.
As he rose the door opened, and he stood
arrested in the movement. A lady entered
so fair, SO pure, SO cold, that she NIGH
have been made of snow. She hada loose
black mantle about her, which she threw of
showing a regal form, hab:ted in rich
black stuf-the brocade of former gen.
Grafton. She paused, her still face lighting
with look of surprise as she observed the
stranger. Redmond stepped forward, with
the grace of courts revealed in the uncon.
scious act.
81 nope am not intruding. lady Z l have
been overtaken by the storm among these
mountains
"What is your namel" she asked, look
lsg him in the face, nor giving other sign OF
interest In his handsome presence.
81 AN the Lord of Redmond" he an
swcred 81 will trouble you no longer
than can avoid" he added, little
hsughtily.
Lord Redmond, said the lady, "you
are welcome-you are very welcome, Lord
Redmond"
Shespoke with energy-without warmth;
but Redmond, confused by the strange
ness of bis position, observed only that her
manner WAS q peculiar one; and though
wishing himself well out of the place, took
his seat ct the table, as she desired
The meal was good, and she served him
bountifully; while the old mau, for the
first time breaking silence, began telling in
. rambling. incoherent, yet not uninterest-
ing way, the story Of some famous storms
among those hills.
L was five years ago Barbara; you
were slip of girl, and Bess had to be
carried IN my arms. Do you mind her hair
curling over my arm in the wet l-and how
she cried for fear she was too heavy for
me?"
He paused, and looked across the
board at the young lady-a troubled, wist-
full look in his face, showing some half
remembered pain in his broken mind.
"Where is Bess, Barbara" he asked,
suddenly.
She is dead" answered his daughter
with strange smile.
dead" repeated the old man drinking
from his pewter cup like satisfied child.
In spite Of long fast, Redmond could
rot eat; These strange people had risen
among his rosy bridegroom visions like
ghosts at feast.
Il am very tired-too tired to eat," he
said, rising from the table. 81 would like
to go to rest; for 1 must be on my way
early in the morning"
Barbara bowed her cold, beautiful face.
''Kathy will show you a room-her room
He shall sleep there once, his last sleep!
she murmured, turning away.
''She is crazy, loo J" thought Redmond,
leaving the room
The chamber into which the old woman
ushered him was large, irregular, full of
hooks and shelves, on which were piled
articles OF female apparel.
elias Miss Barbara given me her own
bedroom, l wonder?' he asked, looking
about him, as soon as he was left alone.
At the head of the bed hung family
portrai;-a hale man and three children, a
boy and two girls. In the dark, bright
beauty of one he failed to recognize the
childhood of the pale, cold woman he had
Just left, but the infantile beauty of the
youn2es: girl had in it something familiar.
ga pretty child; the cyes-whose do they
remind me of ~ he mused,
His eye wandered, and fell upon scar
ls, cloak flung over chair, and then to
a pair of dainty shoes hanging from peg.
There was knot Of pink ribbon beneath
the little round mirror Of FURNISHED steel,
and Leghorn hat hung out from an over
crowded chest.
"a last years birds nest, said Redmond,
giving tapestried chair little shake, to
clear i. of dust, before he threw his cloak
on 1t; ''and am tired enough to sleep any
where. wonder what my little bride will
think" was his last thought, as he CON-
posed himself to sleep.
He awoke with the dawn, and sprang
up. Early as it was, breakfast was await
Ing him and his horse was saddled ut the
door.
81 am afraid that you have been put to
trouble on my account" he said, as Bar
bara appeared. and took her place at the
table. II meant to have taken my leave
without disturbing any one in the house"
"You could no. have done that" she an
swered, looking at him with the same strange
smile he had noticed before.
1t was cold, almost a cruel look, he
thought, as he hastily suppej the milk, and
tasted the wheaton bread, still with little
appetite
As he arose from the board, his hostess
arose also.
''The storm is over, but the rain has
made some of the tarns impassable,' she
said. 'sMy horse is saddled; will ride with
you and put you on safe road out of the
gap.'
In vain he protested. She mounted a
black horse, and rode at his side down the
path. She wore black cloak, her pale,
chiseled face under its hood. Redmond
looked at her covertly, wondering how she
could be 90 beautiful and yet 80 repulsive to
him.
'.Your father never goes abroad y he
asked, by way Of conversation.
n "