The Springdale news., 1889-12-06

send for Miriam 10 cheer hiz few remaining days How to do this was noInething which worried them considerably, but the next day after the receipt of t'Ic letter q bright thought struck Peggy's fertile brain, and when the butler carried his masters break fast up to him she put tho missiye on the trencher, not having the heart to deliver il herself. James was also instructed mot to say a Wurrud.n
 Sir Rupert started and moaned pitifully when ho saw the letter, another letter Tn less than year, with heavy black seal, coming from-weit, he know where.
 He looked up in agonized inquiry, but the sorrowfu1 James vouchsafed nothing in answer.
 Sir Rupert Iaaic no effort 10 reach the let ter on the treneher, seeming as if expecting James to say something, or perhaps offer to read it. Then, after some minutes, he said, gently: You may get me some medicine, James, which "ou will find on the library desk below
 Tho butler understood this ruse of Sir Rupert 8 to get him away for moment in order that no mortal eye might beaod him peruse the contents of the letter, and, know ing that for once his absence would be ap- preeiated, tarried in the library for quar- ter of an hour before he came upstairs to au- noanee that there was no medicine to be found on the library desk. James was not afraid of being censured for careIcssuess in not searching for 1t, because he knew as well as Sir Rupert that there was none i'll the=library
 The master of Heatherleigh and his thoughtful servant, for once, understood each other perfectly, and James looked to- ward the trencher. Sir Rupert had drank his chocolate, and the massive was lying in a different position; that was all
 After exchanging glanees with James, his master ordered his breakfast away, and leaning back wearily among the silken cushions of his deep chair, said huskily; Il am not as well as usual 1 believe, James,
 Then ho shut his eyes, and, folding his hands across his breast, sighed deeply. The butler stood for q moment undecided as to whether he ought to leave his master or ring for Clarkson. He remembered, vEidly, an experience in this same gh7stly ! ggo9m that kept h1m on the alert ever since. And sir Rupert was beginning to look ,eAite and act strangely, as on that other time when he fancied Miriam had visited him.
 But James was relieved when. presently. dlvining his thoughts, Sir Rupert said, without so much as even opening his eyes: T Will not need you further how, James I do not need the medicine; will rest and be better by and byn
 "The masters ever so much worse this morning, semehow,o said the butler iu an undertone to Peggy, who was polishing an aneient-looking silver tankard, which had seen more conYiviality in it's time than would ever tighten thedays or ring through the blank evenings again at the Hall. s'Yes. ever so much weaker, , he repeated, putting down the trencher on the sideboard.
 "W hats thatt7 she cried, suddenly, look ing up with an untold dread in her b1g blue eyes. An did ye say the master wa wurrus3n
 "Ever So much James repeated. hand
 ing the letter back to he hoasekeeper, ..for l yeu see he has eaten nothing of the nice l breakfast Marcia prepared for him.
 s'Oeh hoonG walled Peggy throwing l down the polish and sinking into char. An il was that letter that's gone an kilt l the masthur. 0i'm shure il was the duin s of that same Howly motherl an, what if he dhraps off suddin bike, an the ehilder not in sphakin' disthaaee! Woe be the day 1 that he doiesP
 But that trying time had gone by ana the master of Heatherleigh had revived l through the succeeding months, only to sink again under far heavier blow. rrD RE CDSTINITFD