The Red Cloud chief., 1889-11-15
MIRIAM
The Romance Of Heatlal@gl Hall
By MANDA L. CROKER.
COPYRIGHT, 1859.

NJ q glance Sne SAW C0aC IL was LOT
Miriam; doubtless the sender did not know
that the Rest had changed hands. At any
rate the letter was Miriam's, so upstairs
sped Patty, wondering at q letter coming in
this p~ost-haste manner. 81 sincerely hope
it contains no bad news" she murmured,
going in search of the owner.
Miriam wa half reclining, half sitting in
her favorite deep armchair near the win
dow. The rich Grape folded about her
rounded form gave her pretty, proudly
arched neck and half exposed arms q mar
BILE w~hiteness by contrast with its somber
folds as she gazed dreamily away out to sea.
The jewel ct her throat cleaning in its bed
of shadOwy black lace seemed to. light up
her pale, proud face with q cheerfulness it
did not possess. The palior Of her sorrow
full ~countenance was not 90 noticeable in
the light of the window as when she turned
in the shadows and you met the yeaFning
look of her sad eyes.
'.The letter is for you, Miriam dear"
said Patricia, entering the parlOr softly and
dropping the letter with a Strengthening
seal in her lap.
'For me" and alittle surprised look came
over the fine features. Perhaps father had
written, and-and-but no: Ayes, wasn't
that the Percival seal! Yes. the handwrit-
ing was strange; it wasn't Sir Rupert's.
THE bearer waits for an answer; waiting
below now" said Patty, almost forgetting
the pompous carrier in the waiting room
in the strange, anxious light fitting over
Miriam's questioning c~ountenance.
AsIndeed!" and Miriam broke the seal ex-
citedly. Her face lost its questioning and
grew drawn and white, so white that Patty
kuelt by her side in alarm.
Suddenly she sprang to her feet. II will
go! Twill go!" she exclaimed, almost wild
II ''Tel him so; no, stay. Write it. Write
that I shall come if it be the last thing / do.
Now I know why l have lived. Poor Allani
Poor Allan's sonl My relative in sorrow,
~ well as name"
An unwonted light burned in the depths of
her fine eyes, and an expression Of sympa-
thetic pleasure flashed into her face as she
took an excited turn about the room.
Although Patricia knew in part, she could
hardly fathom the spell the letter had
thrown over Miriam. She guessed, how
ever, that the legend and malediction of the
Percivals had q part to play in the excite
ment of her sister.
APen and paper" said Miriam, sinking
exhausted into her chair again.
Patty produced them, and Miriam, selling
the pen, hastily wrote q reply.
'sThat is right she CALCULATED, hurriedly.
stake it to the post boy; l am SO glad-so
glad"
She talked incoherently; Patty felt no
little alarm concerning Miriam. She had
grown 30 strangely different, metamOr-
phosed, as it were, within the last half hour
that she was excusable in feeling no little
concern in regard to her.
Patty took the reply down herself and
gave it to the waiting carrier, who bowed
himself out in haste.
When she returned to Miriam she found
her crying softly, her face buried in the let
ter she had received an hour before.
.'Cousin Allan is very i'll and wants me-"
explained Miriam, drying her tears and
looking up. II knew where uncle
went to a~fter-after his marriage, but
Cousin Allan is now in London, and Uncle
and Aunt Percival are both dead. I shall 60
to him at once, Patty. It seemed good to
have some one care for me at last"
"Why, Miriam dear, I love you as an own
sister: you must know that, certainly, " an
.swered Patricia, in . panied voice, looking
at her with Drumming eyes.
Miriam threw her arms impulsively
around Patty's neck and sobbed out: 'sNot
CO8ty Z 8tty : uOt tu8Gs i mean 10 nave one
Of my own house to speak to me, to care
for; Q real Percival, Patty"
eOhI'' exclaimed Patricia, enlightened;
sthere, there, do not weep in that heart
brUken way, Miriam" and she s0othed her
Is she would q child.
"You will make yourself ILL.," warned
Patrica, n you may not be able to visit
that dear cousin who, of course, would give
worlds to see you"
Miriam unclasped her hands at this, and
GAINED herself as much q b was able,
considering the unusual news she had re-
ceived. Never in all her life had she heard
from . real relative; and this q wanted
her to come.
With q nervous e4gerneSS Miriam set
about her preparations for leaving for Lon
don on the morrow.
CHAPTER XVIII.
When Miriam alghted from tho com-
Portable railway compartment at Charing
Cross Station, il was raining in little,
.~disagreeable gusts. The pleasant weather
had nut on another and colder phase aside
from the dampness. and she shivered -
.hedrew her wraps about her.
Hollis and Patty had come down with
her. having an excuse to visit Mme. Mont
.a,m a few days, in order to accompany
mar. They were kind and thoughtful, Mir
IN knew. and as Rollis bundled her into
m omnibus and gave the driver hls direc-
fions. she moved her lips in prayerfultnanHA