The Red Cloud chief., 1889-10-18

SIR RUPERT BROKE THE n OF DEATH.
read the solitary line written in Miriam.
fine. iadv-like hand. Over and over the
one single sentence he went, forgetfu.
of Johns presence. The servant would
have gone downstairs. as was his wont
after delivering a message, but In this case
his inquisitive anxiety overcame his man.
ners, and he stood with hungry eyes fixed
on the masters white, haggard-looking
face, shrewdly guessing il was from the
l0ng-abseut daughter, and trying to divine
the contents Of TIE epiStie.
Presently the Old nal looked YEARLY,
sad from the letter TO the anxious face
bending over hin. and said, as if measur-
ilg each word b. its sorrowful meaning:
He is Gead-F2irfax is dead. and Miriam
isa widow Then ne turned MS white face
away in the shadow of the curtain, and
notioned to John lis dismissal
"N,ran has written" said the tender
hearted John to q servants. as he wiped
his eyes with his handkerchief. '.Her-
husband is dead; yes, Arthur Fairfax is
dead"
A moan escaped the lips of the little
group gathered aDout.tlgeir lonely dinner q;
the close of this memorable DAY. L"Poor
Miriam" and John made another applca-
ton of the handkerchief to hide b tears
gathering in his homes: eyes.
"An' it's dead ye sag he isl Oh! this
vurruld is full OF throuble. Dead, an not
a pairson to comfort the misihress. Oh.
Oh expected it." And Peggy bowed her
gray head ON the table and wept aloud.
"Dead!" echoed AnciI, shaking his
xx-j , n, cd 10rtc us h0 t-rnccoG Tho oShoc Ors
OF his pipe against the broad, hospitable
ianb, and came over and sat down by his
wife. AN now the mastheru be Arthur
an repintir' ov his SINS, ventured he
further as a sort of comfort.
AN he won't nayther" biazed Peggy,
angriiy, and suddenly forgetting to Sob
n her resentment OF any thing humane
as expected of Sir Rupert "Niver! win
he let the young gintleman wurruk hisself
into the grave and nIvera welcome LONE
could he sind-nOt even to her."
As usual, Ancil subsidized with his notions
of charity and devoted himssIft 10 his dinner,
while Peggy enlarged On the Goines of the
past and wandered OF INTO the future, with
very severe opinions concerning her mas
ter.
She was the ruling faction in the west
wing. and waen any one of its inmates ex-
pressed the hope. or belief, that Sir Rupert
would send for Miriam, or may be go to
her himself, "seeing she was in mourning
SO soon again" Peggy would shake her cap
rufies into confusion dire in her authority.
Her negatives usually siienced all hopeful
expectation as with the spell of q seer.
capped with her Hi5eruian climax Of
'niver a bit will the haythunIsh masthur
go TO the childer: he wud dole forninst the
Gay Of puir stubborn maneness."
And uncharitable as Peggy seemed, she
was, nevertheless, right in her assertions.
for not a word Of coincidence or pity did Sir
Rupert send to his be-eaved daughter.
neither CID he express any sympathy he
might have felt for her in her sore be-
reavement-
But Peggy. good old soul, sent a letter
eriUfui CT comfort and loving sympathy to
the lonely-hearted Miriam, ''unbeknowin'
20 the m~aS:hur.' for, as she confided to
John. vino smUggied the missive in with
the mail of the Hall, she needn't think as
how the whole wurruld is goin' Z walk in
the loikes Of his name footstheps." And so
the long letter of coincidence indicted to
Miriam by the faithful Peggy was sent,
and al the servants promised to keep it
secret from the master. They never forgot
his commands of four years age. to never
mention MIciam's name in his hearing, nor
to appear concerned in her welfare for
fear of It's wrath. These orders they had
never broken. with the exception of the
time when they heard Of Arthur Fairfax
having gained in wealth and position. In
keeping their thoughts far from the masters
ken they had ''grown wise as serpents and
harmless as doves"
Some weeks after the cuckoo had sound
ed Its note along the sunny hedges and told
the pleasant story that spring mad come,
there fell another memorable day to the
Hall
All winter long the inmates Of Heather
leigh had lived in utter seclusion from the
merry outside world and catered patiently
to the whims of Sir Rupert And when
the snows vanished from park and lawn,
and the dry alder leaves whirled sorrowful
IL into odd corners at sight Of budding
life. and the dark-budded elms bowed gent
" to the great English ivy which had been
clutching with naked arms At the wealth
cr-s;alned facade and dreary dormer win
dows in their wealth Of bursting new life,
there came . break in the routine.
Up the long silent avenue came, winding
slowly As if in fear Of intrusion, Q close
carriage. Sir Rupert was in his own apart
ments, and the ~rvn were lolling list
lessly about the grounds, when the sound
"A ~heela came IN their ean Ther a4ar4ad