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

1 L
sit holding the crumpled letter, scene
that with her face comes back TO me, as
beautiful dreams come sometimes across
our days of care.
We had wandered up the hills, and were
sitting at the foot of a tree, resting. Our
baskets beside us were filed with the red
fruit of the barberry, and wreathed with
ferns and gayly colored leaves. In the dis
lance shOne the blue waters of the bay,
and above US beamed the cloudless sky,
while the breeze dallied here and there,
limiting of a sterner season.
Miriam leaned her sunny head against the
messy trunk and sat looking far of over
the shimmering waters in the quiet dis
lance, and look of almost happiness
came MIC the perfect face. l sat watching
her, wrapt in admiration, and hoping that
che dawnng of brighter hours had come.
She turned TO me with animation, saying:
"This is pleasant so pleasant and peacefulw
and was glad to answer: "Yes.h
That was last year, and since then the
tiuctuating tides OF peace and disquietude
have run So often into sea of counter cur
rents, ebbing and flowing over that first
great hope, that | am not certain Of any
thing permanent.
/ hesitated great deal before giving her
the missive, thinking that perhaps it might
not be conducive of any good, but after all
have done so, and regretted it Immediately
afterward. | fold up the letter now, wish
ing something had happened to it be-
fore it reached its destination, or that had
had discretion enough to have foreseen the
consequences, and had committed it to the
CRATE as might have done, seeing it was
addressed to me.
While l am indulging thus in selfcon-
demnation she comes down stairs, calm
enough outwardly, the glossy hair freshly
brushed, and | doubt not the tear-stains
bathed carefully OFF the placid face, SO as
not to grieye me. She comes forward and
takes my hands in her two hot ones, looks
pleadingly into my face, and makes a
strange request, request that sends the
blood surging back TO my heart, leaving my
cheeks blanched, | am aware, for she
pauses, looks troubled and dOubtive, and
hesitates. But finally she has finished, and
l have promised to grant her desire, al
though in ten minutes after she has kissep
me thankfully and settled down on the
shadow-fecked steps with a great sigh Of
relief regret having done so.
She knows It is my intent to visit q rela
tive living in the suburbs of Hastings
shortly, and she has asked me "whie there,
visit Heatherleighn But that isn't the
strange part of her request, though it is all
surprising. She looked me calmly in the
eyes and asked me to "bring her portrait
away from the fated gallery with me-"
How on earth am | to accomplish this!
At first it seems easy enough TO me, but
on reflection the undertaking grows stu
pendous, and borders on the impossible l
sit very still, revolving the request in my
mind, and every moment its magnitude is
intensified. But made no sign, and she
sits with. clasped hands, gazing out at the
water, fully confident that will be able TO
fulfill my promise, and haven't the courage
to undcccivc her.
So we sit out the piece of day talking
some but thinking more until the sun goes
down behind the hills, and the shadows
grow longer and denser over the carna
tions and roses, and reach ont darkly for
the cleaning satin of the lilies which they
envelop later.
Maggie, my little maid of ell work, rings
the tea-bcll merrily, then peeps through the
blinds to see where we are. Having seen
US, her bright eyes disappear, and know
she has flown to her kingdom TO keep 1.-THE
tay proper hot" until we put in an appear
ance, which we do shortly.
MlEamI always say simply Miriam
looks satisfied once more. divine the rea
son; she has settled the letter question
positively in the negative, or rather have
determined it for her by my rash promise.
But how am to beard 1.-THE Douglas in
his half is more than | know, and obtain
the elegant portrait of the daughter of the
house, because / am not to reveal her where
abouts-t is her request
Miriam thinks, however, that 1 am the
one all-powerful equation of her life, and
sits over there slipping her tea in full con
fidence, while | choke down my dessert,
measure my powers with broken reed and
transform my digits to ciphers
The day of my departure arrives. Over
against its fair, promising skies falls
shadow. / dread TO leave Miriam. l would
so love to take her with me, but the laws of
the Modes and Persians are not more irrev-
ocable than Miriams nay. She Is to stay
here IN the cottage at Bayview, and see
after my affairs, while | am to go and en-
Joy myself AS if | could enjoy my visit
with that gigantic undertaking supple
mented on like thing of evil
If Heatherleigh was still in its halcyon
days, as when l once visited within its
doors, how differently | should feel about
this matter; but | understand evil inhu-
ences Turk in its long, dark halls, and
march through its desolate corridor since
Sir Rupert's demise.
This is one reason why my little tour
comes to me, in the prospective, like a
nightmare, and feel terror Of it all creep
ing into my brayest moments.
These reports coming to me by letter oc-
casionally have never revealed to Miriam,
which now is one thing | am thankful for,
as have not frightened her by any thing
said to me and kept her away thereby.
/ am positive. too, that she knows moth
ing of these things, as she gets no news
from merTic old England. This, TO me, is
one ray of relief.
But am ready, so is my luggage, and
must bid goodbye to Bayyiew and Miriam.
She clings TO me, pale and sorrowful, but
there is a Wild eager questioning in her
eyes as she lays her teaf-wet cheek agains
mine. Instinetively, know she is thinking
of my promise, and | say, impulsiyely: 81
will bring your portrait, dear" l don't
add ''if cam which, perhaps, ought 70
do. but leave the declarative promise in