The Red Cloud chief., 1889-09-20

whitehead mother ~interposed, and the
nurse left them together alone, wondering
much what troubled Lady PercivAl a she
| closed the door softly and went back 70 the
nursery.
Having arranged the cushions to her sat-
isfaction, Miriam ven over to the window
whose narrow psnes cleaned in the after
noon sun. and stood gazing far ava over the
environs of her palatial home, awed into
silence by something she could not under
stand.
How the mellow light fell through the tall
lissome elns, and giowed in its sitting rays
through panes. falling at last on the long
sunny curls. and forming . halo Of glory
around 1.-THE eldest child-a ~caughter,"
as she stood ouzzling her inexperienced
heart over the dark tIcle-page Of her life.
Lady Pe-civaI watched her with a sense
Of utter helpless misery. The child's SEN
tence Of an hour age fell like a verdict Of
lite sentence, booming them all to woe:
"'Cause l do not love him velly we'll"
Tn legend of Heatherleigh HaIl was be-
ginning To unfold its menacing power, and
the tide Of doom had begun to set toward
shores Of arrangement, hearrache and
tears,
AN eoS(N Ao0s VA ~ AOAANSS
Of the proud and aristocratic immortal pos
sessions in dumb anguish. But her heart
was making moan against a Greary barren
shore. and the burden Of its language was:
oh! Miriam, my own lovely child, why
must 1t De: why. oh, whyf;
And an unseen influence made answer:
The eldest child, if it be q daughter"
Sir Rupert never referred TO the scene IN
the park, and, TO all appearanc es, had for
gotten the unpleasant occurrence. But
there was a change In him that rendered
him at times uncompauionaoie and reticent.
The servants noticed the change and
specUlated accordingly John. the coach
man.. remarked to his fellows that 1.-THE
dreary days were a-settlin' him. and that
halter while hit would be war to the lit be-
tween the master and the young mistress"
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 q cry much excited manner Upon
beng Intercepted in reference to her un-
usual behavior she replied, amid sobs Of
painful excitement, while she chung to
Lady Percivals gown: Il do not love him
one bit, now, and ne doesu'tlOv me, either;
and / DO not care"
Garrison, who was passing her mistress
rooms on duties intent, heard and saw
Miriam in her paroxysm Of grief and anger.
''On. Olive known it irer sc long that it
wud COON to this declaration " 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 Goleful shake Of the head
that set the broad white ruf1es 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, dread,ng to meet her.
Finding her sobbing on her mothers knee,
he gave her such a strange look Of deep,
angry sorrow as perhaps few see In a life
time, and sald, in q voice as strange as his
look: Il AVE tried, God is M witness.
to love the child and break the power Of
the decree which will estrange US, and !
find it is useless. I can not lore my child"
He covered his face with bis trembling
hands. as if entirely overcome by the
baleful intent of his own words, and leaned
against the doorway screen. Il can not"
he moaned, s.avert mightier DEGREES than
my own
Miriam seemed to understand, in part,
her fathers great grief, for she shuddered
visibly 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-
e---1 - -. ,k.Il ~. ha. 81
while the tears rolled down the face Of
heart-broken Lady PercivaL.
fro BE CONTINUED.