The Red Cloud chief., 1889-09-27

ing N aged father. Perhaps. after al, ~
had better wait until I retrieve ny fortune,
in part, at least Then I fancy Sir Rupert
would give Us his blessing. dearest"
NO." came the answer, decisively. Il
am going with you, Arthur. The bird Pre-.
fers the freedom Of the forest though
bought with . price, 70 the elegance and
ease Of q gllded prison-house. The hard
ships and storms Of the former are nothing
when freedom and love and sunshine glorify
it am going with you. Arthur, 70 please
do not object any longer"
And he did not He only drew her close
to his proud, happy heart and pressed z
fervent KISS on the determined little mouth
for answer.
What q wealth of love had been given
him; and, for the time, he had forgotten
the wrathful vengeance Of the father. in
the love of the beautiful daughter, until
the turning Of the ~door-handIe gave him .
start
To avoid Sir Rupert they let them
selves out through a rear entrance and
stole across the park together until its
boundary was reached.
"Don't grieve, dearest, if your father
should say harsh things to You, and hard
things Of me, on your return to the Hail."
Arthur said, taking her hand kindly. "As
soon as l have arranged with my uncle as
to time of starting for the mines, I will
come for you"
Il shall be so g,ad,' exclaimed Miriam.
with a smile Of anticipation lighting up her
features. Il will not grieve."
"You are brave and good" he said, proud
~. Il shall not always be poor, and it will
only be for q brief season, I trust, that
you will be obliged to feel the incOn-
veniences Of o sojourn in the mining re-
gions. God help me! how I wish I were
the child Of wealth for your sake, Miriam"
Hush Arthur, l ann not dissatisfied with
your fortune, and m only too glad to be
with you and to get away from Heather
Leigh"
And they both looked back instinctively
to the great frowning gables beyond the
simmer Of the ripping artificial lake. he
with a rising Of wrathful feeling. she with
q shudder. Then with q fond ''good- bye he
was gone, and the iron wicket shut with q
spitefui click, and Miriam retraced her
steps, pondering this romantic days doings
with a sense Of utter loneliness creeping
over her.
81 am not in the wrong" she said, softly,
to the m~ild-eyei deer in the adjoining
chase as they brcwsed and looked wonder.
ingly at her through the barbed Enclosure.
II can not help it If I am destined to in
cur my fathers hatred" she nodded to the
great swans at play on the bosom Of the
sheeny water, and l shall not try"
But the deer did not understand, and the
white, graceful birds sailed across to the
opposite shore unmindfui Of her presence.
They had no share IN the wrath, the sor-
rows or the shadow-life Of the Hall; theirs
was the sunny side Of existence within its
environs, and all the cares and heart-sches
fell to the lot Of its more intelligent
jewellers.
Back into the silent gloom crept the
worse than orphaned girl, and eludiug Sir
Rupert she glided to her apartmenrs, leav-
ing him IN ignorance Of her walk through
the park with the son OF poverty he had Or
dered from his moneyed doors
Miriam had come into possession Of the
legend; q little here and . little there had
been revealed to her until she knew the
traditional curse by heart
There was . time when she had laughed
its import to scorn, but Of late years she
began TO believe in the truth Of it, asser.
ton.
IrO NJ C0yrYYrRn1