The Irish standard., 1889-08-31
MIRIAM.
The Romance Of Heatlerleiggl Hall
By MANDA L. CROKER.
COPYRIGHT, 1889.

buuQuST uf6W 1uSlI dGt6utlOu W Uu0 1aCb,
and they hurried up the staircase as fast as
their almost helpless master would allow.
He had be come in these latter days of his
Me terribly frightened whenever thun-
4ar-storm came on, and they wished to get
him into his own apartments before the
tempest burst over Heatherleigh.
But he was not to be hurried. He slowly
mounted the stairs murmuring: ESQ proud
30 cold so dumb! Oh! Miriam! No pity;
no Lowell"
Suddenly there came vivid and binding
fash, followed by a peal of heavens artil-
lery that reve1berated through the Hall,
Ind seemed to shake Heatherleigh to it's
ancient cornerstone.
Sir Rupert staggered and fell prone on
the landing without a cry; the servants
carelessly exiting uished the tapers in their
terror and Peggy shrieked out that the ''God
obove had taken Marcia at her wurrud."
HAPPIER XVII
Wedding bells rang out clear and sweet
On the SOFT breezy September air. It was
the morning of Pattys wedding. Ali nat
ure WED with the merry aking of the in
mates OF Fairfax Place to make the day one
never to be forgotten for its beauty.
Nine. Montcalm, the mother of the
groom, and his sister Louise, pale, quiet
girl, in silks and diamonds, had come down
from London to take part in the fes tivities
The Fairfax family not being yet out
Of mourning, the wedding was a quiet
one, and did not take on the air
of grandeur Nine. Montcalm desired
it might. She was rather vain and
fond of display, and this being the occasion
of the marriage OF her only son, she was q
little disappointed that the momentous af-
fair did not come out in the blaze of social
glory She deemed necessary. Nevertheless
she was sure that her son Hollis was mar
rying into a very aristocratic family, and
that his wife was model of good breeding
and beauty of the pure English type, and
chat was something to be proud Of.
They had lost their property, to be sure,
once, but now they were, if any thing, bet
ter of than formerly; though people did
say that it was mainly through the super
human efforts and wonderful business tact
OF the dead brother and son that the Fair
fax house WAS again recognized in polite
society.
81 am so glad that it happens to be such
perfect day, it portends a happy life, you
know"
Nine. Montcalrl was speaking to one
Of the guests in the handsomely decorated
rooms at the Fairfax homo.
Eyes, answered the one addressed. III
sincerely hope the second marriage Of the
Fairfax house Will prove happier one than
the first; though that one was happy enough
had not it's first years been clouded with
hard, grinding toll, and the last by the
failing health, and finally the death of the
hnsband.'
II understood they were very much de-
voted to one another" said Nine. Mont
calm, avoiding the mention of toll, which
grated On her aristocratic ears, and devot-
ing herself to the heart side OF the subject.
ooh! certainly was the rejoinder.
''Arthur Fairfax was a devoted husband to
g. most devoted wife. BY the bye, his
widow will not be here at Patricias we'd
ding. She is just recovering from a long
illness and, although able to be about, will
not undertake the trip"
And other guests having arrived, came
up to claim the attention OF the speaker
and get an introduction to the very aristo-
cratic madame, the mother of the groom,
whose vanity was very much hattered by
the attention she was receiving from Pa
tricia's friends.
No, Miriam could not go over to attend
Patsg's wedding; she felt that she had no
part in happiness now; but the day was
beautiful, and Patty, sister Patty, would be
very happy. 1t was not far over to Fairfax
Place, q lonely country seat, just outside a
dreamy, quiet village, nestled among she
lis. some few miles up the shore. Patty
had wanted her to come, but had not urged,
knowing that her heart was sore over her
losses
She walked the length of the bit of beach
below the rocks where she had been sitting
out the morning. A great white gull cir
cled over her head and sped away as free as
air. The morning sun danced on the calm
waters, and few white drifting clouds lay
la5ly above the downs stretching away to-
ward the city.
1t was on day something like this, though
not nearly SO perfect, that she and Arthur
were married; but not with sanction and
merry making which would smile Cod
speed for Patricia.
Well, 1t was lifting, after all; the cere-
1nony was only a type of all the rest. No! not
all, for Arthur, dear, dead Arthur was true
end affectionate, but she meant the dark
side Of the after years. She had only the
shadows Of death in view this morning;
they were always trailing across her path
way; their dank denseness had grown sec
ond nature to her soul, for she had become
morbid on shadows.
But it wouldn't do, this moping forever
in the mists; she would go up to the house,
and be glad for Patricia. About now the
fair village lassies were strewing flowers in
Patty's way-happy Patty!
Drawing the soft, rich wrap about her
frail shoulders, Miriam toiled YEARLY up
over the rugged path toward the Rest, try
ing to feel happy for dear sister Patty's
sake. Where turn came in the path, by
rock iutting out from among its hoary
follows, Miriam paused for rest.
She might have had the carriage and have
driven down the beach road, but she chose
to be alone. The presence of even the boy
in livery would have disturbed her to-day,
she thought, SO she had descended the
bridle-path alone tor her morning walk on
the shore.
Far away she caught sight of sails CLEAN
ing in the sunlight; some pure white, some
cream and rose tinted, and great wave Of
something like inconsistencies crept over
her. The letter which white-winged
messenger had sped away with months ago
had been answered. And that dear friend
Of her mothers had said: ssCome;'' but only
atew days after the receipt Of the friendly