Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-10-10

or the shadows rewarded his anxious vision
He stood perplexed and disappointed fol-
some time, and the white-faced, frightened
servants watched him with bated breath
What nexti The question was plain IN eacl
face OF the mucl-tormrnted household
But the question was answered without
delay, for Sir Rupert, as II recolecting hun
self, suddenly stretched out his arms TO
ward the row OF reversed portraits opposite
him, and while a light OF recognition glad
dened his old face he exclaimed, almost
Rleefully; "Ah now Miriam Is here after
ALL
They assisted his eager steps across Y
the portraits indicated by his unnaturally
bright eyes, and insiinciively paused be
meath Miriam's picture James turned over
the portrait, at q look from Sir Rupert, and
Peggy held the taper up close TO the beautf
ful face looking calmly, proudly down from
its heavy black drdpery on the midnight
visitors.
And Sir Rupert exclaimed eagerly, clasp.
ing his thin fingers ia rapture: 'sOhl
Miriam, my daughter, you ne here; the old.
merciless tradition Of our house Is al fault
at last There Is love loo, instead of hate.
existing between ia. between Sir Rupert
Percival and child Is il not so, Miriam %
aud his face lighted UP wonderfully with
loves wistful Questioning
Peggy hi her face ia her apron and
sobbed conyuisively, while Ancil aud James
brushed the nnbidden tears from their over
flowing eyes in sllenre.
Obi the eager, hopeless que tloning of an
affection that came too late!
Lord what pass il has come tor
moaned the sobbing housekeeper. and
ma ~.
Yes, too late Is the only certainty OF the
Hail.
Sir Rupert caught at their meantuy. es.
peclaliy the lament OF the honest butler, on
whose tai. .,ful arm he rested. A shadow
o. deep disappointment crossed his features
as he looked from one weeping servant to
another, and then, as il realizing something
CT the cause Of their grief, he dropped his
hands neryeless by his side, and<murmured
In a blank, uncertain way: "Ahi see how
1t is at last -
Then standing quietly as IL revolving the
matter more thoroughly in his mind, he
burst out with; 'tMerciful God / had for
gotten. Miriam is indeed here; but she
only is here TO gaze on her aged father
with merciless reproach. She will not
speak TO me, her poor old, stricken father
Obi she Is beautiful, but so cold; heartless
and cold as my only daughter, and dumb to
all entreaty. Yes, James / am too latei /
don't quite understand it; but feel that /
am too late for reconciliation for some rea-
son. Miriam understands it; / know by her
looks. Take me away, James; take me
away before my old heart is slain in its
faithfulness; before she kills me with her
proud, cold, wordless contemptr'
SLOWLY mltherl an what taching this
expairiance wud be 10 sum o. thin as holds
spiteand hithred among themselves. eff they
only cud be here to hear an sce,p said
Ancil, desperately, as he turned the portrait
to its reversed position
Then they started with Sir Rupert for
his apartments.
81 wish to his highness that this may be
his last trip" exploded Marcia desperately,
as she banged the massive door to its place
with an angry wrench, and turned the key
in the lock viciously.
"Hushi ye haythenish spalpeen," repri.'
manded Peggy, sayagely. AN yen need
to chop out this nights lesson fer yer avil
feelin's"
''It's no evil thing TO wish him dead, I'm
sure" responded Marcia, with @ defiant
toss Of her head The dismayed Clarkson
made no response 10 this assertion, and