Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-09-19

! countenance plainly told him that her heart
was his for all time. He stopped and kissed
her fervently as she looked up.
"Father has insulted you, Arthur, and l
hate him." and the tones expressed an en-
nifty that even the words could not convey.
Miriam, dearest, don't say that" SAID
Arthur, holding out his hands entreating-
ly, but she only clenched one jeweled hand
nervously and answered: II must"
Then she turned away from him and
walked 10 the narrow PANIED hall windows
and looked out She was trying TO calm the
tumult in her proud soul. Away out there,
across the pleasant stretch of park and
lawn, lay the dear dead mother. There,
free from all this wear and tear of soul,
rested mother in the family vault at Oak
lawn.
mother cared for Arthur, and thought
him good and true, and she would have been
willing, | feel assured. Yes; n9ther, you
are willing that | should go from hence,
with Arthur Fairfax; some way feel that
you are looking down from the far-away
home, and giving me plying assurance
that this step is right She whispered
this up against the diamond panes with
pale, trembling lips, while wave of con-
scious right swept away all hesitation and
fear from her youthful heart. Then, after
moments silent prayer, she came back to
Arthur who stood waiting. II will go with
you," she said, her pale face lighting up
with bright, quiet radiance, born of her
love for him.
"God bless YOU" he answered. ~ have one
true heart in all the country side; more than
friend my darling proves; yet, Miriam, you
must not make too great sacrifices for me;
you are giving up a beautiful, luxurious home
for life which, by comparison, must neces-
sarily SAVIOR of poverty; you are leav-
ing an aged father. Perhaps. after all, we
had better wait until retrieve my fortune,
in part, at least Then l fancy Sir Rupert
would give Us his blessing. dearest"
NO." came the answer, decisively. Il
am going with you, Arthur. The bird pre-
fers the freedom of the forest, though
bought with price, to the elegance and
ease of a glided prison-house. The hard
ships and storms of the former are nothing
when freedom and love and sunshine glorify
it, am going with you, Arthur, so please
do not object any longer.n
And he did not. He only drew her close
to his proud, happy heart and pressed a
fervent KISS on the determined little mouth
for answer.
What a wealth OF love had been given
him; and, for the time, he had forgotten
the wrathful vengeance of the father, in
the love of the beautiful daughter, until
the turning of the door-handle gave him q
start.
To avoid Sir Rupert they let them
selves out through rear entrance and
stole across the park together until its
boundary was reached.
''Don't grieve dearest if your father
should say harsh things to you, and hard
,Nf, 70 ba Hall
Arthur said, taking her hand kindly. 'As
soon as have arranged with my uncle as
to time of starting for the mines, l will
come for you
Il shall be so glad,p exclaimed Miriam,
with a smile of anticipation lighting up her
featul es. II will not grieve."
you are brave and good, he said, proud
ly. ~ shall not always be poor, and 1t will
only be for a brief season, / trust, that
you will be obliged .0 feel the incon-
veniences of q sojOurn in tho mining re-
gions God help mel how / wish were
the child of wealth for your sake, Miriam"
"Hushl Arthur, am not dissatisfied with
your fortune, and am only too glad 70 be
with you and to get away from Heather
leigh
And they both looked back instinctively
to the great frowning ga IS beyond the
simmer of the ripping artificial lake, he
with a rising of wrathful feeling, she with
shudder. Then with a fond good Bye he
was gone, and the iron wicket shut with
spiteful click, and Miriam retraced her
steps, bordering this romantic days doings
with a sense of utter loneliness creeping
over her.
II am not in the wrong" she said, softly,
| to the mild-eyed deer in the adjoining
chase as they browsed and looked wonder
ingly at her through the barbed inclosure.
II can not help it If / am destined to in
cur my fathers hatred she nodded to the
great swans at play on the bosom OF the
/ sheeny water, land shall not try
But the deer did not understand, and the
white, graceful birds sailed across to the
opposite shore unmindful Of her presence.
| They had no share in the wrath, the sor
rows or the shadOw-ife of the Hall; theirs
was the sunny side of existence within its
| environs, and all the cares and heart-aches
| fell 10 the lot Of its more intelligent
/ jewellers.
Back into the silent gloom crept the
worse lnan orphaned girl, and GLIDING Sir
| ku., ...s 81 4 10 her apasLs.iou =, ieay-
| ing i1.h ia - .iorance OF her walk through
the park with the son of poverty he lad or
| dered from his mObeyed doors.
| aAIlaA uau Coine iaNo pOssSSSioA Va tHo
| legend; little here and little there had
been revealed 10 her until she knew the
/ traditional curse by heart.
/ There was time when she had laughed
| its import TO scorn, but OF late years she
began TO believe il the truth Of it's asser-
| ton.
| A fortnight after parting from Arthur q
| note was handed her by q servant IL was
from her lover, aud stated that he had per-
| fected his plans for leaving for the mines.
and that he would be at the entrance TO the
| park from the highway with carriage for
her on the morrow. In the afternoon,
dearest" he had written, Il viii come: