The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-08-17

the pleasant story that spring had come,
there fell another memorable day to the
Hall
All winter long the inmates Of Heather
leigh had lived in utter seclusion from the
! merry outside world and catered patiently
to the whims of Sir Rupert. And when
, the SHOWS vanished from park and lawn,
and the dry alder leaves whirled sorrowfu-
ly into odd corners at sight of budding
life and the dark-budded elms bowed gent
" to the great English ivy which had been
clutching with naked arms at the wealth
err stained facade and dreary dormer win
dows in their wealth of bursting new life,
there came break in the routine.
Up the long silent avenue came, winding
slowly as if i'll fear of intrusion, a close
carriage Sir Rupert was in his own apart,
meats, and the servants were lolllng list
lessly about the grounds, when the SOUND
ctfwhcels came to their ears. They started
vP with beating hearts as the welcome
| break in the fnonotony daWned on them
.-ss:. -: cz.:o;:.iaaSion Of surprise burst H.
Voluntarily from '.lS:T lips While they
came together Gu the tagging as II oy
magic, and gazed at the carriage and into
each others faces in an inqulrlng, myst tined
way
H,sac t,1e tarriase stepped at the front
entrance a lady dressed in deep mourning
alighted and leading o bright little child
slowly along over the flags, she came to-
wa11l chem. And when quite near she
threw back her black vail revealing very
sad, but familiar face. twas Miriam; M1r1-
al. the ioat-lost daughter.
Sir Rupert looked from his window. He
had Weakened from his drowsy, hstless
dreaming he SO much INDUCED in, and
heard the unusual stir below. And, hurry
ing to the pane, he was just III time to see
and hear the tumult.ous greeting OF the
servants. It was some minutes, however,
before he could make out who it was that
had come and raised such an unearthly
hubbub among the generally well-behaved
inmates OF the hall.
CHAPTER XIII.
Drawing aside tho heavy curtain he
silently watched the animated group below
A wsn3ering expression taking the place
of the usual sullen demeanor was soon sup
planted by one of recognition. Then a
pleased, happy light so foreign to him
uawned in those hard, cruel gray eyes as
they rested on the crape-clad figure Of
| Miriam and then on the fair child now III
her arms.
And, doubtless, the angel Of love, posing
on white wings above the gr y-hairea
father, was waiting &c catch the first sy.'
liable Of endearing fr:givenesc: but the
| light died out IN his face, and M WORT cf
affection had escaped the thin lips, although
! they worked convulsively IN their struggle
against tio better prompting. In moment
| more the victory in favor of cruel hardness
of heart had been won, and the uncompro-
missing lines settled back around the firm
mouth, and the spirit of his accnrsed an
! ceator swayed Sir Rupert with it's 6vil
| power
Hurrying down the long fight Of stairs as
fast as his aged limbs would carry him, he
reached the great nall door just before the
daughter essayed to cross the tagged pave
ment in front.
standing there; but oh! how changed, how
frail and white-haireG he had grown since
since. Ahl well, how careworn his face,
but-he was still angry. Her heart sank
like lead at sight of the stern, repulslve look
on his countenance, but she said in visit
full, piteous way: ''There is father" But
the glad light of recognition which lad
leaped to her sweet eyes and had tinged the
fine face with little flush Of happy light
died out suddenly, leaving it paler by con-
trast, for no answering gladness Of heart
reflected in response on the paternal brow.
"Begone! begone!' he shouted, as Miri-
am made q move toward him. "Don't come
| near me unless you beg my pardon, my
forgiveness; unless you can do that, don't
| come near me, say!"
His angry face was startling and pitlful
in the extreme to see, framed in by the
long, white, silken locks tha+ swept his
shoulders.
He was cllnging to pillar now, as she
gazed at him, with his left hand and arm,
and waving his children impesios.s.syy eff
with his right
Miriam put down the wondering child on
the paved walk and stretched out her arms
toward her father lmpulsively, while a
strange light crept into her proud face.
''Fatherv' cried she, deprecatingly. The
aged face, despite its angry expression, had
touched a longsilent tender chord Of affec-
ton in the heart Of the woman 80 sadly es
tranged from paternal love, and with con-
ticting emotions she ute red the endearing
name.
For moment Sir Rupert's face lost the
hard lines; it was evident a long-silent
chord of his heart was also touched, and he
turned away, hiding his head behind a
column, lest any should seq the conflict
waging between love and pride
Miriam made a step forward hoping--she
could hardly have told for what. Her foot
fall aroused Sir Rupert, and with a desper-
atsness born of Satan he fell hack on the
evil in his soul, ever sufficient to the
emergency, and faced the group once more.
Miriam paused; Was there reconciliation
beaming On that paternal faces No.
Don't come near me; don't cali me that"
he cried, vehemently; "don't call me
father after after" .
His voice failed him, and he chung to the
column nearest him for support, looking the
Geaance he could not utter from sheer ex-
aaustion.
The little group on the flags were silent
and almost terror stricken at the fury of
the old man.
Il have gone far enough, it seems,'' said
Miriam, after long silence, in choking
voice. Then in an undertone she continued
talking; partly to herself and partly to the
white faced group around her:
''Father will not forgive me unless beo
for the boon, and that, Of course, shall
never do. had Thought to come back to
Heatherleigh If Sir Rupert cared to have
me do so, and had fondly drean1t of making
his remaining days pleasant, if could.
|