Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-09-12

How tle mellow light fell through the tall
hssome ams, and glowed in its sitting rays
through panes, falling at last on the long
sunny curls, and forming a halo of glory
around 1.-THE eldest child--a daughter, .
as she stood pulling her inexperienced
heart over the dark tltle-page Of her life
Lady Percival watched her with sense
OF utter helpless misery. The child's sen
tence of an hour ago fell like verdict Of
life sentence, booming them all TO woe !;
"'Cause do not love him velly we'll"
The legend Of Heatherleigh Han was be-
ginning TO unfold its inenacing power, and
the tide of doom had begun to set toward
shores Of arrangement, heartache and
tears
Lady Percival gazed long on the heiress
Of the proud and aristocratlc immortal pos
sessions in dumb anguish. But her heart
was making moan against dreary barren
shore, and the burden Of it's language was
"ohi Miriam, my own lovely child, why
must 1t be; why, OH whyln
And an unseen influence made answer
1.-THE eldest child, If it be a daughter"
Sir Rupert never referred 10 the scene in
the park, and, to all appesTan ces, had for
gotten the unpleasant occurrence. But
there was q change in him that rendered
him at times uncompanionable and retieent
The servants noticed the change and
speculated accordingly John, the coach
man, remarked TO hts fellows that 'the
dreary days were a-settlin' him, and that
halter while hit would be war TO the liz be-
tween the master and the young mistress. I"
But long to be remembered was the day
of the first real disagreement between IA
Their and daughter.
Miriam had rushed into her mothers
apartments and had thrown herself into
Lady Percival's arms, crying and trembling
In very much excited manner. Upon
being Intercepted in reference to her un-
usual behavior she replied, amid sobs of
painful excitement, while she chung to
Lady Percivals gown: II do not love him
one bit, now, and he doesn't love me, either;
and / do not care.n
Slarkson, who was passing her mistress
rooms on duties intent, heard and saw
Miriam in her paroxysm of grief and anger.
"Oh, DIVE known it liver so long that it
wud COON to this declaration ov war. Och
hone an that's the ginuine Parcival tim
per-" muttered she to herself And the
old housekeeper communicated the affair to
the cook with q doleful shake of the head
that set the broad white ruff1es on the cap
she wore TO trembling over her whitened
locks.
Subsequently Sir Rupert had come into
his wife's apartment in search of his daugh-
ter, yet, after all, dreading to meet her.
Finding her sobbing on her mothers knee,
hsgave her such strange look of deep,
angry sorrow as perhaps few see in life
time, and SAID, in voice as strange as his
lock: II have tried, God is my witness,
to love the child and break the power of
the decree which will estrange us, and l
find it is useless. can not love my childp'
He covered his face with his trembling
hands, as if entirely overcome by the
baleful intent of his own words, and leaned
against the doorway screen. Il can not,m
he moaned, "ayert mightier DEGREES than
my ownp'
Miriam seemed TO understand, in part,
her fathers great grief, for she shuddered
yisibly and ceased her violent weeping, hid
her face in Lady Percival's gown and re-
manned silent
Seeing this demonstration of fear, Sir
Rupert went over and, bending down, with
white lips pressed the last kiss he ever be-
slowed on his child on her sunny ringlets,
while the tears rolled down the face Of
heart-broken Lady Percival.