The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-08-10
evil seemed lurking in the very air; or was
it but nervous fancy lending miserable


influence?
Miriam put her hand on the wicket open
ing out toward the highway at quarter to
three O'Clock with sigh, and found she
was little early.
Her face had been white and drawn with
grief and pain, and her beautiful eyes had
in their depths such wild, despairing look
when Peggy Clarkson met her in the hall
directly after the interview with Sir Ru-
pert; but now her face glowed with salts
faction, and the fine eyes had pleasant
light as she stood bidding silent adieu to
| the dear, familiar grounds.
/ All! what an iron will upheld the fair
| girl: truly she had the indomitable spirit
! of the Perciyals.
| A sound of wheels coming slowly toward
| the chase, and her heart throbbed wild
ly with expectation. She stepped outside
and crossed the common. eyes, there he
comes" she said, and in q futter of delight
she flew back to the place OF meeting
| Dear Arthur she murmured, II have
never known but two friends, mother and
| you. She has been taken from me, and
have only you left,'' and the pearly tears of
| memory dropped on the trembling hand on
! the gate 'Poor mother"
! But the carriage drew Up and Arthur
! Fairfax. alighted, smiling happily to find
| his beloved Miriam punctual. He kissed
| her where the tear-sta,ns showed plainly
on the fair cheek. ''Why these tears, dear
este" he asked, tendert-.
II was thinking of-of mother" she an
swered, and he understood. fer his vision
was misty with emotion as he held her for
moment in silent caress.
Peggy Clarkson came up with numerous
h1371 loo,
a sorrow greater than that she felt for The
dead mother.
But she bore up bravety for the sake Of
the beautiful girl before her and whom she
loved as her own. Her own! All! yes;
away across the channel. in the mother
country on the shores of Killarney, resting
peacefully, was Teddy. Dear little Teddy,
who closed his blue eyes to this world in his
third year, and was laid away forever,
with his faxen curls clingirg to his white
baby brow.
Poor Peggyl Many sorrowful days had
gone over the cycling arc for her, but this
one seemed to her the hardest to bear. She
wiped her tears away as she came up with
her bundles and tried to appear cheerful.
All unconscious Of treaehery, Sir Rupert
was taking his accustomed afternoon nap,
and while his only child YVES leaving her
home forever and caring but little for his
gray hairs, he was doing the hours away in
his quiet apartments.
"Perhaps father mag relent," yentnred
Miriam, as her lover handed her into the
carriage.
sOi doubt it, me darlint," sobbed Peggy,
wiping the tears away from her dim old
eyes Il arde" TO get "a last sight of Miriam.
"Do not feel SO badly, pray, Mrs. GlarK-
con eai1 Arth,7~
forgves u.s. Surely you can trust Miriam
with me, and feel that she will be happy,
and that is more than she will be here''
SAM you're livin' roight me mon, Oh XIII
thrust the childer wild ye; an far be it
from me to help We On in yer runnill' away
sir, if Oh couldn't
>Thank you kindly replied he, taking
her tremblin g hand in last goodbye
"Cheer up; you shall hear of Miriam fire.
quently. Have care, Peggy" he added, in
lower tone, ''that Sir Rupert doesn'teve
dream of your being mixed UP in this leave
taking, or that you were aware OF Miriam's
going"
The old housekeeper answered him by an
affirmative nod, and turned away to hide
her tears.
With a final goodbye, away they whirled.
Miriam waved an afectionate adieu with
her handkerchief as the turn OF the road
shut them forever from the park and the
fearful Peggy at the wicket.
'Och hoon and me ould heart is broke
intoirely,'' moaned she to the silent land
scape, while the clouds lifted and ray of
sunshine shot athWart its dullness.
The brambles and the heath by the way
side were tingeG with beautiful flush of
autumnal scarlet and leaves tinted with
the fantest gold went flying hither and
thitner in the breeze. The sunshine which
struggled through the gray canopy and
cast a ray of promise across the day for
Peggy, lay giinting on the sea for Miriam
and her lover as they neared Hastings.
Through the lanes, past the hedges
where the blackberry briars formed a
dense barrier, with their browning leaves
and luscious clusters, all familiar
hooks and old friends, who seemed to say
"good-bye! good-bye!' past all these they
had come, and the downs, the sea and the
cliffs were uncommonly beautiful in the
setting light. The sea-breezes blew up
across the country, refreshing and sweet,
the wind-mills on West Hill were whirling
their great arms, and the old castle near
by caught the western glow with a peace
full contentment, which seemed to say: II
am glad to be left to picturesque ruin and
forgetfulness."
The quaint little church at Fairlight was
the destination, but they had taken a cir
cuitous route to avoid trouble, did the mas
ter of Heatherleigh determine on following
them.
Miriam's heart went out to the gray
haired, feeble father whom she never ex-
pected to see again, and with whom she
never could be happy. She revolved the
possible scenes of wrath and, perhaps,
sorrowful regret that would transpire
when he should be made acquainted with
her flight Then her thoughts turned af-
fectionately to Clarkson, who was SO ssde-
tarmint to help the childer away unbe-
knownst," and her heart ached for the old
housekeeper when she should fall under
the interrogative vengeance of her master.
And great many other things connected
with the Hall foated before her mental
vision; some Of them coming like reproach-
tul reminders, while others were so dis
tasteful that she drew sigh of relief to
find them really turning like bad chap
ter in the history of the past.
She looked about her. Ali would she
ever stand here again and look far away to
High Wickham and the sea? They were
passing gaunt, grim MINUS rock now, and
the sea lay dark strip in the distance with