The Red Cloud chief., 1889-09-20

1t was then that hope sprang up in thu
bosom Of the mother.
She would watch as the child grew;
wAtchand paIliafe any dislikes, smooth down
any differences which might spring up be.
tween the two she loved.
She, with he great wealth Of affection,
would avert, or at least mollify, any trouble
threatening an estrangement
To this hope Lady Percival chung as Mir
am developed into beautiful childhood.
Sir Rupert seemed very fond Of his
bright little daughter, and spent many
hours with her after she was old enough to
prat,le her childish witticisms to his
paternal ear. He seemed To ave forgotten
the ancestral anathema, as he amused TIE
| child by the hour, driving or strolling about
for her pleasure. Perhaps he was trying,
in ceaseless endeavor, to foil the evil in
auence lowering over the name, and with q
fathers low break its spell IN this genera
ton. Thus the fond mother argued, not
dreaming that deep IN the heart Of her hus-
band there lurked q terrible dread Of the
day when the happy days should have an
ending. darker and more sorrowful b a
death. He was certain the evil days would
fall, and ne was right
The clouds Of fate were already in the
horizon Of the fair heavens, although the
fair mother, trusting and ever hopeful, per
ceived not their baleful gathering
And so it happened hat the day arrived
when the black cloud Of vengeful darkness
came between the sun and the dial. and ali
their lives were henceforth Swallowed by
the s,oru-cloud without a silver lining.
They were walking in the park, all three.
in the lovely weather and Miriam, running
on before her parents, VS. to all appear
ances the very embodiment Of beauty and
affection. Her bright curls flying in the
soft sweet air, and her tiny red boots twink
ling over the close-cut sward as she sporte6
among the trees, delighted the eyes Of the
mother. She looked up witha word Of A.
fectlorate admiration on her lips, only to
see such a strange, yearninr look on the face
of her husband that she forgot her remark
in the chill Of ap~prehensive terror which
seized her. Such an expression Of deep
emotion on the countenance OF Sir Rupert
could be forgotten. All! what could
it meant Why should she, Of all others,
ask.
Her heart refused its usual beating, and
the trees seemed as il in a mist, while her
husbands face she saw as one sees faces in
a troubled dream.
Then she put her trembling hand on his
arm and looked the wretched question she
did not dare to put into words.
Sir Rupert started as if from q terrible
dream. and looked Town into the face Of
pale. frightened inquiry q moment, as if try
ing TO read her thoughts. '-Sae is older in
heart than in years." he replied, slowly,
with a dash Of keenest pain IN his voice. as
Sis troubled vision turned toward the child.
She Is getting old enough to-hate me, and
II will fall. how or when l know not, but Of
une thing I am certain. and that is the conf
ing arrangement. l have felt a strange
oreseutiment present with me for weeks.
and"
He stopped short, as if alarmed at having
made this confession, and had not Lady Per
cival understood, through previous infor-
nation. MS words would have been Q mean
inyless riddle. As it was, too well b
knew to what ne referred.
Miriam Al this moment came rushing
back to them, shouting in childish giee,
and Sir Rupert caught her in ais arms,
kissed her fondly and then strobe OF across
the park. leaving his wife and daughter to
return to the hall without him
How the coming evil goaded him nc N
ever knew, but the pain n haunting
dread visible on his white, drawn face, in
dexed a struggle against decree.
Miriam looked after her father in Q BE-
wildered manner, then turning to her moth
er asked, with . strange, impetuous air:
"Wh2t ais my father!"
Oh, how the heart OF Lad Percival went
down in the depths Of aRonized sorrow at
the question she dare not answer. She
sank helplessly on the sward and drew the
surprised child into her arms with Q prayer
such as she never yet had uttered.
And q curious i-nquisi,iveness had taken
possession Of Miriam. Pointing after the
retreating figure Of her father, who had
gone Oh to fight his battle with fate alone,
and Of whom she caught glimpses through
the intervening oaks, she asked with more
than usual lnperativeness: "What does all
my father! say, is he angry"
Then Lady Percival took the two little
impatient hands in her own, and said
o~rokenly: Miriam. dear. look up to me-"
and. the child obeyIng instantly, she con-
tinued:
Father Is not angry, my child; some
thing troubles him cry much, and mother
is sorry for him-sorry for US all Is not
daughter feeling sorry for father, tool"
And then came the reply, quick and i'm
petuous, while the beautiful eyes flashed
with an uncertain light, and the pink, taper
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