Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-11-04
Heron's Nest.
BY BERTHA NJ. CLAY.
CHAPTER I.


the whole world so desolate girl as l. had
watched Them those far stars, shining in n
deep blue sky In different cline from this
a cline where roses grow wellnigh oil the
year round, and the silver seas are rarely
ruffled by storms l had watched them from
between high gray walls, which know now TO
have enclosed the court OF q convent; and since
then have watched them from the grand old
gardens OF Heron's Nest. All through my
lonely, desolate childhood, uncheered by the
warmth and the brightness Of the sun OF love,
the stars were as friends to me.
/ remember, rs In a dream, a journey over
stormy seas; hear far-off echoes of voice;
aud have q faint recollection OF face bend
ing over mine. But the first vivid impression
of my life is of standing at the window Of the
housekeeper's room at Heron's Nest watching
the shadows grow darker and the snow fall one
Christmas eve. There was no rejoicing In the
grand old mansion. II was all dark and dis
NAL. The snow beat lercely upon 1t; the wind
sobbe6 round IL; but loud and sweet above the
moan Of the wind came the Ginning Of the
church bells Tome they spoke plainly enough.
They said, "Chrlstmas is come-Christmas Is
come" wondered II they said the same to
everyone else. I spoke to the only friend
had, Mrs. Paterson, the housekeeper.
What do the bells Of Heronsdalc church
really sayi" asked her
BELLS do not speak," she replied, smiling.
''You cannot say they are dumb" rejolned.
'Iisten" '-and slowly l sang with them,
christmas is come-Christmas Is comci'
Mrs Paterson shoo6 her head.
"Graca," she said, not unkindly, "you are
too full of fancies."
"To tell you the truth" answered, ~ hard
IL know what are fancies and what are not Is
1t n fancy Of mine that because 1t is Christmas
Eve the snow falls more softly and the stars
shine more brghtlyl Is it my fancy that puts
real music into the chime of the bells-that
fills the air with strange sense Of mysteryi"
"GracIa," said the housekeeper solemnly,
''you had better 10 to bed"
''Oh, mop cried. "Do not send me away.
1t Is cold and dark In nv room. Let me stay
here in the warmth and light with you. /
want TO watch the sky and see II the Christmas
star shines tonight"
She murmured to herself wish that Heav-
en- would bless the child and her fancies, but
she was not angry.
SLOW fondly mothers win kiss their children
tonight" went on. ''Iow warmly will old
friends clasp hands, II one man has wronged
another, how freely he will be forgivenl
wish some one would kiss me-"
II win kiss you, Gracia," said the house
keeper.
And she did; but 1t did not seem to satisfy
the craving that felt.
"Are you not happy herel" she asked kindly.
SHOW can be happy when belong to no
one-when have not friend or relative in
the world-when / have not even namef"
said bitterly.
you live in a beautiful house, you wear
good clothes, and have everything girl can
wish for" she answered.
Il want none OF those things" cried. II
want some one 70 love me-"
Il have made plum-pudding and some
mince- pies" said Mrs. Paterson, with view
to diverting my thoughts. "You shall have
hot mince-ple for your supper, Gracla, If you
will stop talking. You almost frighten me-"
But plum-puddng and mince- pies had no
charms for rue. loved the pale moonlight,
the softly-falling snow, the light of the stars.
/ longed to go out and see II could penetrate
the mystery that seemed TO lie around.
wanted TO hear more distinctly the bells that
seemed to chime, christmas is come-Christ-
mas is comer'
That is my first vivid recollection. How the
fair cline where the roses grew, how the high
gray walls had disappeared, / could not tell.
Here was, q child Of ten, and no one had the
slightest knowledge about me. No one knew
why was at Heron's Nest; no one knew my
parents, my name, my position. ] might be
the daughter OF peer or peasant. Ihad not
friend. In the whole world there was not
more lonely child than /.
Everyone called me "Gracia"-the house.
keeper, the old butler the headgardener, the
Vicar, his wife and daughter; had no other
name. When anyone said abruptly, "Gracla
whatf"--as people often did when they asked
my name-I could not answer. "Gracia," the
simple name-notbing but "Gracia"i The
keenest Of all pains 10 me was having no name;
and when ! read the story OF the sbadowless
man ] believed that understood what he had
suffered. ] was part OF the place, Just as the
pictures and statues aud carvings we're; and y
grand old place II was true.
The Squire who owned Heron's Nest at the
| time Of my fret memories of the place was
called Wolfgang-a name OF which, though
not Ivy any means an attractive one, he was
very proud, because many of his ancestors
had borne IL; and OF this Wolfgang Dacre o
story was told. When young man he spent
season in London. and there fell madly in
love with Court beauty, said 10 be one of the
| loveliest women In England. He had not the
least chance OF winning her, for she was .
Dukes daughter, and a great beiress; she was
a coquette, too, false OF heart rs fair Of face.
The handsome young Squire, who worshped
| her as though she were goddess made very
agreeable addition to her list of admirers. She
had no intention of marrying him; but she en-
joyed the pleasant pastime Of flirting with
him and revelled In the sport. She liked to
see the young mans face pale with emotion,
flush with anger or love, just as she willed.
She delighted In exercising her power over
him, making his honest heart thrill with rap
ture, then sink with despair He was the IA
vorite OF all her admirers; but she never
thought Of marrying him. True he was of an
cent descent his name one OF the Oldest In
England, his wealth great; but then he was
only country Squire, and she was Dukes
daughter She accepted his homage, smiled
upon him until her beauty almost maddened
| him, wore the flowers that he sent her, let him
clasp her hand until every nerve in his frame
thrilled with delight Mt the touch, waltzed
with him when the very sweetness of the music
| dazed him; but she never dreamed of marrying
him. Had anyone suggested such thing, she
would have been indignant. When the day
came that Wolfgang Dacre laid all he had
In the world at her feet, che laughed at him
and held him up to derislon. He left London
never to return. He shut himself up In the
| old manor. house, a man whose life was embitr
tered forever by the light love Of n woman.
/ There ne lived for some vears LADY Mill