The Springdale news., 1889-10-18

" " t9 tlNu tutiJ HDtJC l4 sLlit, AF ttl ttIH bosom Of the mother.
 She would watch as the child grew; watchand palliate 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 mellify, any trouble threatening an arrangement.
 To this hope Lady Percival elung as Airl- 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 prattle her childish witticisms to his paternal ear He seemed to have forgotten the ancestral auathema, as he amused tae child by the hour, driYng or strolllng about for her pleasure. Perhaps he was trying, iii ceaseless endeavor, to foil the evil ln- tlueuce lowering oyer the name, and with a father $ love break it's spell III thls genera ton. Thus tue fond mother argued, not dreaming that deep m the heart of her hus- band there lurkcd d terrible dread of the day when the happy days should have an ending, darker and more sorrOWiul than death. He was certain the evil days would fail, and he 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 that the day arrived when the black cloud ot vengeful darkness came between the sun and the dial, and all thelr lives were hcnceforth shadowed by the storm-cloud without q silver lining.
 They were walking in the park, all three ia the lovely weather and Miriam, running on before her parents, " s 10 ali appear ances the very embodiment of beauty and affection. Her bright curls flying in tht soft sweet air, and her tiny red boots twink lIug over theclOse-cut sward as she sporte5 among the trees, delighted the eyes Of the mother. She looked up with a word of af fecuonate admiration on her lips, only tJ 1 see such q strange, yearnng look on the face ! of her husband that she forgot her remarl in tue ehIll of apprehensiye terror Whici l seized her. Such an expression of deel emotion on the countenance of Sir Ituper could never be forgotten. An! what eoHlt ! it meaut Why should she, of all others ask.
 Her heart refused it's usual beating, ant the trees seemed as if in 3 mist, while he 1 husbands face she saw as one sees faces Il a troubled dream.
 Then she pat her trembling hand on hi dfIi eIlu ibOhGu ti5 NIttGiltu qICo tlOA III did not dare to put into words.
 Sir Rupert started as if from tefribl dream, and looked down into the face 0 pale, frightened inquiry q moment as if try Ing 10 read her thoughts. "She Is older il heart than i'll years,2 he replied, slowly with dash Of lleenest pain in his voice, . lis troubled vision turned toward the child .sShe Is getting old enough to-hate me, an V f,II yhnp l ,,pt n one thng am certain, and that is the com ing estrangement. I have felt 8 strang presentiment present with me for weeks and-''
 He stopped short, as if alarmed at havin made this confession, and had not Lady Per eiyal understood, through previous mfoI nation, his words would have been mean ingless riddle. As 1t was, too well sh knew to what he referred.
 Miriam at this moment came rushin back to them, shouting in childish glef and Sir Rupert caught her in ais arms kissed her fondly and then stredeoff aeros tue park, leaving his wife and daughter [ return to tae hal without him.
 How the coming evil goaded him no on ever knew, but the pain and hauntin dread. visible on hIs white, drawn face, II dexed struggle against decree.
 Miriam looked after her father ill a bt wildered manner, then turning to her mott CT asked, with strange, impetuous air " hat ais my father7"
 Oh how the heart of Lad y Perciyal weH down ill the depths of agonized sorrow 8 the question she dare net answer. Sh sank helplessly on the sward and drew tn surprised child into her arms with praye such as she never yet had uttered.
 
 And a curious inqulsitiveness had take possession of Miriam Pointing after tn retreating figure of her father, who ha gone off to fight his battle with fate alone and ot whom she caught glImpses throug the intervening oaks, she asked with nor than usual lmperativeness: What does ai my fatherl Isay, is he angry49
 Then Lady PercivaI took the two littl impatient hands in her own, and sai brokenly "Miriam, dear, look up to me, and, the child obeying instantly, she col tinued:
 Father IS not angry, my child; somi thing troubles him very much, and motht is sorry for him-sorry for us all. Is nc daughter feeling sorry for father, too!o
 And then came the reply, quick and in petuous, while the beautiful eyes fiashe , with an uncertain light, and the pink, tap(