The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-08-24

stretching their magnificent lengths across
the way.
<sDrive to Oak Lawn she said to the
solemn looking lad in front, who had felt
great lump in his throat through 1T ALL and
was ready to mingle his tears with those OF
<'sthe sorrowful lady inside'' at the word.
Then she leaned back against the cushions
and covered her tear-stained face with the
Grape of the heavy vail she wore.
"A sadder company never gathered in the
servants quarters beneath the frowning
gables of Heatherleigh than assembled
there that evening after Mirian's coming
end 3Css~-.-1..l '-e'~rr
That evening Wnen james sJo45 sorty UP
to the mast er's apartments with q tray OF
tempting delicacies which Maria, the cook,
had prepared for Sir Rupert's late dinner,
the while she wished she might put "a wee
bit of suthin in it, he found his master SO
sham ged silent and taciturn as OF late, to
tas sure, but with such a gentleness OF tone
and manner as he had never witnessed in a
ferciyal during all his faithful years at the
Ball. The bewildered butler rubbed his
.astonished eyes to see if he were really
awake. He had read in old legends of
s,rusty, miserable individuals being spirited
away after some browning act of deyiltry
by COLLINS, and nlilder persons sent to
breathe peace III their stead, and may be-
well, may be
But no: it was really Sir Rupert, but
transformed during the last few hours III
the solitude of his lonely rooms into a
passive, mild-mannered gentleman, whom
10 serve would be his souls delight hence
&sorth.
"Janles, you may replenish the Goals and
wheel my chair d little nearer the CRATE, if
you please; it seems rather cool in here
notwithstanding it is spring time"
What long, friendly speech, and to a
servant at that! And he had said please
If you p7ease!n' Such surprise from such
source almost turned the brain of the
dumbfounded butler. He never obeyed
orders more readily in his life, and he al
most held his breath for fear the spell might
be broken and the austere old master might
he dropped again before the fire, thus Bit
terly ending this delightful illusion.
The Goals glowed anew in the CRATE. the
easy chair g!ided noiselessly to the most
cheerful corner, where the light shot little
rudy CLEANS through the shadows, and
happy hearted James felt as if some good
fairy had condescended to wave her magic
wand over his lucky crown for all time.
snow bring the lights, James," and the
.much-changed master of Hestherleigh shut
his eyes and leaned back with a sigh.
When Sir Rupert dismissed the mvstified
butler kindly for the evening, awed and be-
Wildered beyond expression, he rushed IN
among his fellows and reported the miracu-
lous change in the master as soon as pos
sihla
One by one they were won over to the be-
lief that may be the ancestral curse had
been thvarted, and that soon they might
have their young mistress and the little
one with them again, until it came to old
Ancil, VINO was keeping company with his
inevitable old pipe in the corner of the wide
chimney. He stoutly refuted all ideas OF
repentance and reconciliation on the part Of
Sir Rupert, remembering, as he did, how
that Lady Percival had knelt at the mas
ter's feet once in the long ago, something
as Peggy had done that day in behalf OF
Miriam, and plead in vain for a restoration
Of lc1s
But hark! what was that which came
through the open hallway? In moment
Ancil had subsidized in his harangue. and
all had risen to their feet and stood listen
ing. There it came again; it was the clear,
quick tones of the masters bell summon
ing them! What had happened? Every
face told plainly that the sound Of the mas
ter.'s bell, ''after hours,'' had struck terror
to their hearts.
James ran upstairs with all speed posi-
BILE, and went alone, as not one Of them
dared to follow him, although the little sill
very peals Of the bell continued to float
down corridor and hall in quick, ener-
getic notes.
James opened the door of his masters
apartments with feeling as if something
awful had happened, or would soon happen
the Hall. In moment more he stood mute
~ before Sir Rupert, who, with one trem-
bling hand still resting on the bell-pull, stood
staring wildly into space.
81 wish you would call Miriam" begged
the master, in q helpless, stricken tone.
She has Just this moment left me to ar