The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-07-27

in profusion, with sigh of salts faction,
and presently cousin Gladys joins me for
chat
We talk Of many things, over which falls
the glamour Of Auld Lang Syne, and by the
time she excuses herself to see after the
late dinner, have had d goodly number Of
pleasant, and not a few unpleasant, reminis-
cences of suburban Hastings.
My friends Of the voyage are staying with
relatives near Ecclesbourne, and are
pleased to notify Inc by post that they are
going farther into the country, aud desire
my company.
This can not do, as am s'bound for the
hall" in the language, but not the spirit OF
Tennyson. While thinking Of my friends,
however, i laugh q little, but end with sigh,
as bright Miss Stanley comes to view. J.
presume she has entirely forgotten her
tribulation on board the Lady Glare, and
her habit Of being ''addicted to the bowl"
Luckily, am not a victim OF sea-sicl1ness,
and while Miss Stanley lay prone in her
state-room, I was on deck enjoying the tine
weather which we We're fortunate enough
to have nearly all the way over.
My cousin keeps her open carriage and
drives great deal, and as driving happens
to be my penchant also, a goodly share Of
our visiting IS done on wheels. We drove
down to the beach several times and whlled
away the hours Of the long, dreamy after
Moons amid the sea breeZes and sunbeams.
The ships, "white- winged and free;'' the
cliffs. scanned and CARED, and above them
the Downs, never grow old or common
place.
But Heatherleigh! The very name makes
me forget the rose-hue for the rue and the
shadows, and my superabundance Of cour-
age, coming as if by inspiration on board
the Lady Clare, I find has diminished con-
siderably.
Nevertheless, lvow to the trellised vines
at my elbow that I am not afraid Of any
thing in all England, which wild afirma-
ton, I am persuaded, sounds more like
bragad ocio than bravery.
There are several fine old places between
Hastings proper and the country side flank
ing Heatherleigh Chace. Some of these
stately residences have quite imposing
facades, and others, high ivy-wreathed ga
bles, while number, in their elegance, put
you in mind of the days of King Arthur.
But there are bits of sorrowful tradition
and legendary lore connected with an occa-
s1onal grand old structure calculated to
make one stand in awe of their environs.
Strange fatality marks many an old hall,
and Heatherleigh, as l hear, boasts of one
of the most tragical.
In the gladstone days when she and ]
were young, I knew the fair bride of the
Percival house. She was high-born En-
ghsh girl, whose sweet eyes first saw the
light in beautiful villa near Birmingham.
I can imagine her fine face radiant with
happy existence as the welcome OF Heather
leigh's grand old doors foated around her.
Ahi yes; can see her, vivacious, regal
and glad.
After she became Lady Percival our
paths diverged of course, but often won
der to myself why her refnedsoul went
out to me so unreser sedly in those days,
when I was but a cottager's daughter.
"Afinity of SOUL" Gladys says. Perhaps
she is right, for it is said that sublime re-
lationship recognizes no barrier of circum-
stance.
Lady Percival was supremely happy dur
ing my visit at the hall, at least, but then it
was the first year of her married life, and
every one is supposed to find the matri-
monial alliance pleasant enough for that
length of time. But never had the pleas
ure of seeing my friend after parted from
her at the end of the long avenue of eln.s,
where she put her jeweled arms about my
neck and babe me ''come again."
1t was this side of that affectionate leave
taking that all the beauty and sweetness
faded from Lady Percival's life and the
| curses fell [ shudder involuntarily as
call to mind the story of the estrange-
ment, broken hearts, Grape, tears and male
diction.
There comes sense of suffocation and
dimness of vision as l 60 back across the
intervening years, calling up the memories
binding me to the dead.
Lady Percival has been dead several
years, and the proud Miriam wac = -.
decade later h. rs ere
father. and las male descendant of the
Percival house. After his tragical end the
spiritual manifestations began, which have
been source ofmysterious speculation ever
since to those acquainted with the detailed
disclosures.