Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-09-26
MIRIAM.
'Tle Romance Of HeathGrleigh Hall.
By MANDA L. CRoCkER.
CopsRroHr, fsSs.
CHAPTER X.

CHAPTER Y.
'Howly motherl an we'll put it off till
the arack o. doom if we cam Peggy ejacu-
lated later, when Sir Rupert had re-
tired, and the servants had all huddled
around her in the west wing to hear the de-
tails of Miriam's departure. Nothing suited
her better than to entertain them in her
graphic way and impassioned manner with
weird and strange recitals of fortunes pos
siDle and impossible, and often she had held
them spell bound until the great clock of
the central hall warned them of midnight.
"But we all know full well, " she reflected
''that the masther t0iH be knowin' NV it ter
morrer by somamanes, an mark ye," mov-
ing her right index slowly around the circle
like the finger of destiny, "mark ye, there's
not a mothers son of ye knows a single
wurrud of the runnin' away whin the
masthur's wrath runs hoigh" And all
promised with one accord to faithfully
keep their knowledge a secret for the
''Swate childer's sake" Peggy said, while
her auditors knew full well that it was for
her own sake as much, and more, than for
Miriam's that they were enjoined to such
secrecy.
''An' we must kape the saycret for the
loife NV u.s." supplemented the housekeep-
or once more, as they were about 10 sep
arate for the night; ''ye know if We don't
We'll be whooped out o. the Hall quickern'
wink; ony way, maybe We'll be kilt roight
on the spot, an which is wurrust NV the
two Or not to say"
At breakfast the next morning Sir
Rupert settled himself in his accustomed
seat and looked about him; he would wait
for Miriam, something he scarcely remem-
nf 10 dn uh1ah hae
ual early riser
The butler stood respectfully near, quak-
ing in every limb, in dire anticipation of
the impending storm about to burst over
their unllcky beads, and perhaps sweep
them from Heatherleigh like chaff.
miriam is late" said Sir Rupert "Call
the housekeeper."
/ Clarkson was waiting in the next room,
and at look from the terrified James
came forward as If by magic, hating at q
respectful distance, demure and innocent
looking enough to win the favor of anyone,
however austere.
1t was evident that she was in better
trim for the emergency than her fellow
servants were.
ASK the maid if Miriam is i'll" the mas
ter commanded, rather than said. Then
he relapsed into a silence to be felt. He
was thinking that perhaps the disagree
ment of the day before had unnerved the
almost heart-broken daughter. Perhaps
he had been too harsh-ah perhaps he had.
Little did he dream when he asked for the
maid that she had gone Declaring that
she would not stay TO hear the anathemas
sure to fall, little Mary Ferris had left only
a few hours after her mistress went away
and, at the time the master of Heatherleigh
called for her, she was relating again the
instances in connection with the flight OF
Miriam to the jewellers of her fathers vine
covered cottage, some three miles from the
Hall
Clarkson went, without moments hest
tation, in search of the girl, whom she
knew TO be far enough away. "Howly
MOTHER she murmured, as she went up
stairs, ''defind us in swate marcy The
masther'll be for the KILN av US all in less
an no tonne. Oh feel it in me bones"
Opening the door of Miriam's room she
peeped in cautiously. as if fearing that the
woeful tradition had taken form unto itself
and was but waiting to Stay the first in
truder. Then. remembering the fair,
proud face of its late occupant, Peggy went
over TO the bed and knelt for a moment in
prayer, making the sign of the cross as she
did so.
"Oh, me darlint, me swate mauvourneen,
an it's a towerin' pashun yer faythur'll
be inl''
After giving vent to her excited grief for
a moment longer, she went down stairs
slowly and, as she afterward expressed it,
with me heart a-iumpin' roight in me
mouth
AN shure an the maid must be shlap-
ing; an Miss Miriam isn't IN her part
ments at ali, sir"
mot there Then where the deuce is she's
Speakr' he Numbered, bringing his
clenehed hand down on the table with such
force that the silver echoed to the china
service an linking of his wrath.
"An' indade it's not OF that kin tell We,
masthur." answered Clarkson, the wild
look deepening in her large blue eyes.
Faith. sir, an Oh haven't set eyes on her
blissed self since she went a-walkin' in the
park on yestherdry-'dadeO OF haven't, sir.n
"And youl" cried Sir Rupert, jumping up
and facing the terrified butler.
Poor James shrank back from the tower,
| ing form of his wrathful master, wishing
| he might shrink into space for the time
| and stammered out that he Thought he
had heard Miriam in the hall the previous
| evening"
1 tOF minute SAf KsupSFL stOOu lrresOlute
| looking about him. Suddenly it dawned or
| him that she might have fiown-gone witt
1 that impudent, poverty stricken Fairfax
This exasperated him beyond endurance
and he fairly shrieked out his next word:
1 in angry accusation.
You are lying, sir; playing the role Of
hypocritieal innocence She has gone,
l verify believe, with that rascally lover ot
hers; and you are all knowing TO it-an IL
the pisi TO deprive ne ef my authority-my