The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-07-02

Poor Herio I told you about his
death. Knocked under completely after
that affair of North. It was horrid bust
ness.
Lady Gladys is at Kingscourt still?"
''She Is They have just returned from
Venice. to spend Christmas there. don't
know what to make of that girl She Inns
had offer after offer, to my certain knowl-
edge and has refused them all point-blank
never in my life met girl so hard to
please. Bah bemoans her but she cannot
understand her any more than I can. I
don't believe she will ever marry now"
Herewards heart beats quickly; does he
think he could explain why the beautiful
Lady Gladys Palliser has never married t?
"Kingscourt looks the same as ever, sup
pose 2" he asks, dreamily.
ut is kept in much better order now
There is more money to spare. The present
Earl will be q rich man some of these days.
Seeing you again, Hereward, has brought
back that old time so wildly to my mind.
You know we did not see each other after
wards What joke it was, putting you
under arrest.
II think it was anything but a joke, +"
Hereward answers, his face darkening sud-
denly. Where is Cartwright"
'Why, didn't I tell you. The fellows
smashed. Went in for some speculation
some awful cheat or other-and let himself
in for eleven hundred thousand pounds"
Hereward goes down to Kingsleigh that
afternoon with Blount, and his friend Sc
own. 1t is comfortable hostelry, though
plain and unpretentious, and bears the sign
of 1.-The Palliser Arms"
COON no thav hovo dioyoca2 NJ a;r 1,,o,-
gage, Blount proposes walking over to Kings
court.
''They expect us to dinner, he announces
taking out his watch.
'They cannot by any possibility expect
me" Hereward answers, laughing. ''No
Dick, shall dine here, and go you to your
ladye-love'"
But they do expect you. told them I
should dine with them this evening" and
bring my best man. You are my best man.
1t makes no difference that I then intended
to ask Simms of Ours. Come along, and
don't be nonsensical."
So Hereward and his friend dress and de-
part.
1t is about five o'clock, and very dark, ex-
cept for the silvery glitter of Orion overhead
and the white blink thrown upward by the
snow. The air is too still to be intensely
cold, and the two men walk slowly up the
path by the river, their thoughts busy with
the events of years before. They are neither
of them superstitious, or the darkness and
profound silence might have encouraged
thoughts of the supernatural as they pass the
spot on the path where the unfortunate
gamekeeper had met his death. The black
trees, the banks of snow-covcred brambles,
the scarcely distinguishable path, are cheer
less and weird and cold and the mill, which
they come upon presently, looks desolate and
lonely, with no glimmer of light in its Win
dows.
II wonder whether Anne Grace Trathaway
has forgotten poor North!
81 should think not, if she ever really
cared for him.
"Do you think she cared?"
elf she ever cared for any one, it was for
him."
'Was she ever as pretty as the people
said p
''She was pretty, but there was nothing in
her face"
"What mischief the girls bring about -
and Blount heaves profound sigh. They
do not speak again till they reach Klngscourt.
The old hall is full of freight as Purcell
admits them its ruddy glow dances on the
old walls. Now dusky pictured face, now
an ancient suit of armour starts out from the
semi-obscurity, as if endued with life or hv
ing wearer.
"Bab will be awfully glad to see you,"
Blount observes, laughing as they take OFT
their great-coats with Purcell's aid. "She has
asked for you hundreds of times, and has
wished more than once that you would be
here on Thursday. But of course we never
hoped you could. 1t is the jolliest piece OF
luck that ever happened! Halo, EVE, my
lad, is that you"
The little Earl, q fine bright faced boy, looks
shyly at Hereward, but soon recognizes him
and runs to seize his hand.
"Bab wants you, he says to Blount 'She
is in the library, and she has got a lovely
thing she wants to show you. She sent NE
for you"
Go ahead then. Hereward so to the
drawing-room like good fellow, and Il be
with you in moment. You'll not mind:
Hereward saunters through the ante-roon,
half wishing to rush EDWARDS, Aalf To lu.A
back. AT the door of the red drawing-roou.
he pauses for q moment, looking i'll. /. Is
also lighted solely by dancing tirelight, and
looks like the ruddy heart of daul,lsk rose.
And there, standing i'll the midst of the gov,
is a solitary figure looking down dre,.iuIiy
into the blaze.
How often has Hereward pinned to see that
face How in dreams has 1t appeared ~
him-faint, shadowy, intangible! How
often has he remembered the last time he
saw it. when he gazed down into the beaut
full eyes and read there-what! He rcmcnu-
beers that hour when, in the old hail, with
its armor and shining wainscot, he had said
farewell to his lady-love as some knighG