The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-08-10

weird and strange recitals of fortunes pos
sible and impossible, and often she had held
them spell-bound until the great clock of
the central hall warned them of midnight.
ssBut we all know full well, ''she reflected,
shat the masther tciH be KNOWN NY it ter
morrer by some names, an mark ye,' 'mov-
ing her right index slowly around the circle
like the finger of destiny, 'smark We, there's
not mothers son of We knows single
wurrud of the runn1n' away whin the
masthur's wrath runs hoigh." And all
promised with one accord to faithfully
keep their knowledge a secret for the
'sSwate childer's sake" Peggy said, while
! her auditors knew full well that it was for
F.; her own sake as much, and more, than for
Mil'iam's that they We're enjoined to such
secrecy.
cam we must kape the saycvet for the
loifs NV us" supplemented the housekeep-
j er once more, as they were about TO sep
arate for the night; aye know if We don't
Well be whooped out o. the Hall quickern'
wink; ony way, maybe We'll be kilt roight
| on the spot, an which is wurrust Nv the
i two Oi'm not to say.''
! At breakfast the next morning Sir
Rupert settled himself in his accustomed
i seat and looked about him; he would wait
! for Miriam, something he scarcely remem-
/ bered of having to do, she beng an habit
ual early riser.
The butler stood respectfully near, quak-
ing in every limb, in dire anticipation OF
the impending storm ABOUT to burst over
their unlucky heads, anu perhaps sweep
them from Heatherleigh like chaf
Miriam is late,'' said Sir Rupert "Call
the housekeeper.''
| Clarkson was waiting in the next room,
and at a look from the terrified James
came forward as If by magic, hating at a
respectful distance, demure and innocent
looking enough to win the favor Of anyone,
| however austere-
1t was evident that she was in better
| trim for the emergency than her fellow
! servants were.
''Ask the maid if Miriam is ill., the mas
ter commanded, rather than said. Then
he relapscd into a silence to be felt. He
| was thinking that perhaps the Disagree
nlent of the day before had unnerved the
almost heart-broken daughter. Perhaps
he had been too harsh-ah! perhaps he had.
Lutte did he dream when he asked for the
! maid that she had gone. Declaring that
she would not stay to hear the anathemas
sure to fall, little Mary Ferris had left only
4 few hours after her mistress Went away;
and, at the time the master Of Heatherleigh
called for her, she was relating again the
instances in connection with the Hight OF
Miriam to the jewellers Of her fathers vine
covered cottage, some three miles from the
Hall.
Clarkson went, without moments hest
istfon, in search Of the girl. whom she
knew to be far enough away. "Howly
mother,'' she murmured, as she went up
stairs, tidefind us in swate marcy! The
masther'll be for the killiu' av us all in less
an no tonne. Oh feel it in me bones.''
Opening the door of Miriam's room she
peeped in eau tiously. as ii fearing that the
woeful tradition had taken form unto itself
and was but waiting to slay the first in
truder. Then, remembering the fair.
proud face OF it's late occupant. Peggy went
over to the bed and knelt for a moment in
prayer, making the sign Of the cross as she
did so.
ooh, me darlint, me sWate 1nauvourneen,
an it's tovverin' pashun yer faythur'u
he inr'
After giving vent to her excited grief for
a moment longer, she went down stairs
slowly and, as she afterward expressed it,
''with me heart a~jumpin' noight in NE
mouth''
cam shure an the maid must be shlap-
ing: an Miss Miriam isn't IN her part
ments at all, SIR
'.Not there! Then where the deuce is she?
Speakr' he numbered, bringing his
clenched hand down On the table with such
force that the silver echoed to the china
service an mixing Of his wrath.
''An' indade it's not Oh that kin tell We,
masthur,' answered Garrison. the wild
look deepening in her large blue eyes.
s'Faith, sir, an OF haven't set eyes on her
L .;~ CHI ,i-iJ,i
park on yestherdry-' dade CT haven't, sir"
"And you?'' cried Sir Rupert, Jumping up
and facing the terrified butler
Poor James shrank back from the tower
ing form of his wrathful master, wishing
he might shrink into space for the time,
and stammered out that he Thought he
had heard Miriam in the hall the previous
evening""
For minute Sir Rupert stood irresolute,
looking about him. Suddenly it dawned on
him that she might have fown-gone with
that impudenJ, poverty~stricken Fairfax.
This exasperated him beyond endurance,
and he fairly shrieked out his next words
in angry accusation.
s'You are lying, sir; playing the role Of
hypocritical innocence. She has gone, /
verify believe, with that rascally lover Of
hers; and you are all knowing to it-all in
the plot to deprive me Of my authority-my
daughter"
He waved his trembling hand toward the
group of frightened, white-faced servants,
who had assembled in the hallway, and
stood watching, with bated breath, their
passionate master. Having delivered this
scathing accusation, he strobe past them,
bound for Mirianl's rooms, and bent on an
investigation for himself.
After fruitless search for the willful
daughter whom he had loved and hated al
ternately all her life, he came down again,
breathing vengeance con the whole crew.
for their perfdy, and vowing that it would
not be good for them if found treacherous
20 the interests of Heatherleigh.
II want the chaise al 0ncen' he yelled,
cycling the coachman wrathfully. Il will
sift this matter. He who defes Percival
might as we'll dare the Almighty he con-
tinued in thunder tones. II am going to
see if shelf they break over my authority
in this daring manner"
The parting words of young Fairfax, to
which he gave but little heed at the time,
aside from treating them contemptuously,
rang in his ears now like calls Of al aveng-
ing angel. It looked now very much as if
| Fairfax had not spoken idle words.
| In short time the Heatherleigh trap was