Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-09-05


in profusion, with sigh of satisfaction,
and presently cousin Gladys joins me for
q chat.
We talk Of many things, over which falls
the glamour of Aud Lang Syne, and by the
time she excuses herself TO see after the
late dinner, have had goodly number of
pleasant, and not few unpleasant, reminis-
cences of suburban Hastings.
My friends of the voyage are staying with
relatives near Ecclesbourne, aud are
going farther into the country, and desire
my company
This can not do, as am ''bound for the
nall, = in the language, but not he spirit, Of
Tennyson. While thinking of my friends,
however, laugh a little. but end with sigh,
as bright Miss Stanley comes to view. l
presume she has entirely forgotten her
tribulatioK on board the Lady Clare, and
her habit of being addicted to the bowl"
Luckily, am not a victim of d.sickness,
and while Miss Stanley lay prone IN her
state-room, was on deck enjoying The line
weather which we were fortunate enough
to have nearly all the way over.
My cousin keeps her open carriage and
drives great deal, and as driving happens
TO be my penchant also, goodly share of
our visiting Is done on wheels. We drove
down to the beach several times and whIled
away the hours of the long, dreamy after
Moons amid the sea breezes and sunbeams.
The ships, "white- winged and free;' the
cliffs, scanned and SCARED, and above them
the Downs, never grow old or common
place.
But Heatherleigh The very name makes
me forget the rose-hue for the rue and the
shadows and my superabundance of cour
age, coming as II by inspiration on board
the Lady Clare, find has diminished con-
siderably.
Nevertheless, l vow TO the trellised vines
at my elbow that | am not afraid of any
thing in all England, which wild affirma
uon, l am persuaded, sounds more like
bragad ocio than bravery.
There are several fine old places between
Hastings proper and the country side flank
ing Heatherleigh chace. Some of these
stately residences have quits imposing
facades, and others, high ivy-wreathed ga
bles, while number, in their elegance, put
you in mind of the days Of King Arthur.
But there are bits of sorrowful tradition
and legendary lore connected with an occa-
slonal grand old structure calculated TO
make one stand in awe of their environs
Strange fatality marks many an old hall,
and Heatherleigh, as | hear, boasts of one
of the most tragical.
In the gladstone days when she and l
were young, | knew the fair bride of the
Percival house. She was a high-born En-
gish girl, whose sweet eyes first saw the
light in q beautiful villa near Birmingham
1 can imagine her lne face radiant with
happy existence as the welcome of Heather
leigh's grand old doors foated around her
Ali yes; can see her, vivacious, regal
and glad.
After she became Lady Percival our
paths diverged, of course, but often won
der TO myself why her refined lsoul went
out to me so unreservedly in those days,
when / was but a cottager's daughter
AFFINITY Of SOUL" Gladys says. Perhaps
she is right for it is said that sublime re-
latonship recognizes no barrier of circum-
stance.
Lady Percival was supremacy happy our
ing my visit at the hall, at least, but then it
was the first year Of her married life, and
every one is supposed to find the matri-
mOnial alliance pleasant enough for that
length of time. But never had the pleas
ure Of seeing my friend after parted from
her at the end of the long avenue of elms,
where she put her jeweled arms about my
neck and babe me ''come again.
1t was this side of that affectionate leave
taking that all the beauty and sweetness
faded from Lady Percivals life and the
curses fell. / shudder involuntarily as
call to mind the story Of the estrange-
ment, broken hearts, Grape, tears and male
diction.
There comes a sense Of suffocation and
dimness of vision as go back across the
intervening years, calling up the memories
binding me TO the dead.
Lady Percival has been dead several
years, and the proud Miriam was orphaned
decade later by the decease of the austere
father, and last male descendant of the
Percival house After his tragical end the
spiritual manifestations began, which have
been asource ofmysterious speculation ever
since to those &C, tainted with the detailed
disclosures.
Tomorrow shall set out for the Hail,
which only remember for its elegance as q
IL setting for the almost divine beauty of
my dear dead friend, as / call her TO mind.
Yes, l shall know for myself if these un-
canny tales be true. One bright CLEAN OF
hope in regard 10 my visit Of commission
Is that the old housekeeper, Peggy Clark
son and her husband, are yet occupying the
servants quarters at the Hall. l remember
her odd but honest vIsager ana Il she re-
members me as kindly as 1 SO her, shall
be well taken care Of, at any rate. She was
once very fond Of me as ''me Leddy's guest"
and am in hope concerning Miriam Por-
trait.
Poor Miriam, in the far-away cottage al
Bsyviewl fancy she is pr0menading sor-
rowfuliy and alone, among the late lilies,
and thinking-cf ne.
4 am back agsiH in C0asin Gladys bright