Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1886-11-27
Heron's N est.
DY BERTHA " CLAY.
CHAPTER l

deep blue sky in d different cline from this
o CLINE where roses grow well-nigh oil the
year round, and the silver seas are rarely
ruflei BY storms. had watched them from
between high gray walls, which know now TO
have enclosed the cGIrt Of convent; and since
then have watched them from the grand old
gardens OF Heron's Nest. All through 10y
lonely, desolate chldhooi uncreered by tic
warmth and the brightness Of the sun of love,
the stars were as fri2,ds to me
/ remember. as In dream, journey over
stormy seas; hear fsr-off echoes of a voice;
and have faint recollection of face bend
ing over mine. But the first vivid impression
OF nv life is Of standing at the window Of the
housckeepcr's room az lIcron's Nest, watching
the shadows grow darker aud 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 fercely upon it. the wind
sobbed round it; but loud AMI sweet above the
moan Of the wind came the Ginning Of the
church bells. To me they SPOKE plainly enough.
They said, "Christnas is come-Christnas is
comen / wondered If they said the same to
everyone else. ] spoke TO the only friend
had. Mrs. Paterson, the housckeepsr.
What do the bells of Heronsdale church
really sayl'' asked her.
BELLS do not speak," she replied, smiling.
"You cannot say they are dump," rejoinej.
'Listcn w-and slowly | saug with them,
"Christmas is come-Christmas is come"
Mrs. Paterson shooG her head
"Graeia," she said, not unkindly, ''you are
| too full Of fancies."
'To tell you the truth" Ianswered, 81 hard
| IL know what are fances and what are not Is
| II fancy of mine that because ii is Christmas
| Eve the snow falls more softly and the stars
shine more brightlyl ls it my fancy that uts
| real music into the chime OF the bels-that
| fills the air with a strange sense of mystery:'
"Graca," said tie housekeeper solemny,
''you had better 60 TO bed"
Oh no.' | cried. DO not send me away
| 1t is cold and dark in nv room. Let me stay
here In the warmth aud light with you. /
| want to watch the sky aud see If the Christmas
| star shines tonight"
She murmured to herself wish that Heav-
| en- would bless the child and her faucies, but
she was not angry.
| ''IIow fondly mothers will kiss their children
| to-nightr' went on. How warmly will old
| friends clasp handsl If one man has wronged
Il hnOtUeI, NOW lEttll nc VIII DC AOi 5lfEA'
| wish some one would kiss me"
| ~ viii kiss you, Gracia," said the house
keeper.
the craving that felt.
"Are you not happy here:' she asked kindly.
| "fIow can he HAPPY when l belong TO nc
oue-when / have not friend or relative in
the world-when have not even a namel"
said bitterly.
''You live In beautiful house, you veal
good clothes, and have everything girl car
| wish for,n she answered.
81 want none OF those things,n>l cried. 90
want some one TO love me-"
Il have made a plum-puddng and some
mince-pie a" said Mrs. Paterson, with view
to diverting my thoughts. ''You shall have
hot mlnce-pe for your supper, Gracia, If yol
will stop talking. You almost frighten me. ,
But plum-pudding aud mince-p pies had NJ
charms for me. j loved the pale moonlight
the softly falling snow, the light of the stars
longed to 90 out and see if could penetrate
the mystery that seemed 10 lie around.
wanted to hear more distinctly the bells tina
seemed to chime, christmas is comc-Christ
mas is come!'
That is my first vivid recollection. How tn
fair cline where the roses grew, how the higi
gray walls had disappeared, | could not tell
Here was, a child Of ten, and no one had tn
slightest knowledge about me. No one knew
| why was at IIerons Nest; no one knew m
| parents, my name, my position. ] might b
the daughter of peer or peasant. l had no
q friend. In the whole world there was not
more lonely child than l.
Everyone called me "Gracia''-the house
keeper, the old butler. the headgardener, th
Vicar, his wife and daughter; had no othe
name. When anyone said abruptly, 'Graci
whati"-as people often did when they a>ke
my name-I could not answer ''Gracia," " tb
simple name-nothing but "Gracia"i Tn
keenest Of all pains 10 me was having no name
, and when read the story of the shadowles
4 | man believed that understood what he ha
: suffered. was part of the place, just as tn
pictures and statues and carvings were; and
, grand old place 1t was true.
| The Squire who owned Heron's Nest at tn
? time Of nv first memories Of the place va
called Wolfgang-a name Of which, thoug
, | not by anv means an attractive one, he va
d very proud, because many Of his ancestor
Q had borne It; and Of this Wolfgang Dacre
story was told. When young man he speT
A a season in London. and there fell rnadly
q | love with CouIt beauty, said 10 be one OF II
n | loveliest women in England. He had not Il
least chance OF winning her. for she was
o Dukes daughter, and great beiress: she vi
I | q co0uette, to false OF heart as fair Of fac
y The handsome young Squire, who Worship
her as though she were goddess made ve
, agreeable addition to her list OF admirers. 81
e had no intention of marrying him; but she e
a ioyed the pleasant pastime Of flirting wi
him and revelled in the sport. She liked
= see the young mans face pale with emotio
n flush with anger or love, just as she willie
{ She delighted in exercising her power ov
= him. making his honest heart thrill with ra
= ture, then sink with despair. He was the T
&C yorite of all her admirers; but she n'v
thought Of marrying him. True he was OF q
y | ciept descent his name one or the Oldest
/ ] England, his wealth great; but then be "
only country Squire, and she was Duke
u daughter. She accepted his homage smil
upon him until her beauty almost madden
him. wore the flowers that he sent her, let n
II clasp her hand until every nerve in his fraE
thrilled with delight AZ the touch, waltz
with him when the very sweetness OF the mu
j. dazed him: hut she never dreamed OF marTyi
1t him. Had anyone suggested such thing, :
wouId have been indignant When the q
ii came that Wolfgang Dacre laid AL he
is in the world az her feet, she laughed at h
le and held him up to derision. He left Lond