The Irish standard., 1889-08-31

.rTne letter is for you, Miriam dear, y
said Patricia, entering the parlor softly and
dropping the letter with strange-lo looking
seal in her lap.
ssFor me?'' and alittle surprised look came
over the fine features. Perhaps father had
written, and-and-but no; Ayes, wasn't
that the Percival seal? Yes, the handwrit-
ing was strange; it wasn't Sir Rupert's.
s'The bear er waits for an answer; waiting
below now" said Patty, almost forgetting
the pompous carrier in the waiting-room
in the strange, anxious light fitting over
Miriam's questioning countenance.
ssIndeedl" and Miriam broke the seal ex-
citedly. Her face lost its questioning and
grew drawn and white, so white that Patty
knelt by her side in alarm.
Suddenly she sprang to her feet. II will
go! will go!" she exclaimed, almost wild
ly s'Tell him so no, stay. Write it. Write
that shall come if it be the last thing I do.
Now know why have lived. Poor AAan |!
Poor Allans son! My relative in sorrow,
as we'll as name.''
An unwonted light burned in the depths OF
her fine eyes, and an expression of sympa-
thetic pleasure flashed into her face as she
took an excited turn about the room.
Although Patricia knew in part, she could
hardly fathom the spell the letter had
thrown over Miriam. She guessed, how
ever, that the legend and malediction of the
Percivals had part to play in the excite
ment of her sister.
'sPen and paper" said Miriam, sinking
exhausted into her chair again.
Patty produced them, and Miriam, selling
ohe pen, hastily wrote reply.
s'That is right" she calculated, hurriedly.
s:Take it to the post-boy l am SO glad-so
glad"
She talked incoherently; Patty felt no
little alarm concerning Miriam. She had
grown 80 strangely different, metamor
phosed, as it were, within the last half hour
that she was excusable in feeling no little
concern in regard to her.
Patty took the reply down herself and
gave it to the waiting carrier, who bowed
himself out in haste.
When she returned to Miriam she found
her crying softly, her face buried in the let
ter she had received an hour before.
''Cousin Allan is very i'll and wants me-"
explained Miriam, drying her tears and
looking up ~ never knew where uncle
went to after-after his marriage, but
Cousin Allan is now in London, and Uncle
and Aunt Percival a:e both dead. shall 60
to him at once, Patty. It seemed good to
have some one care for me at last"
"Why, Miriam dear, love you as an own
sister: you must know that, certainly" an
swered Patricia, in panied voice, looking
at her with Drumming eyes.
Miriam threw her arms impulsively
around Patty's neck and sobbed out: 'Not
that, Patty; not that. mean to have one
Of my own house to speak to me, to care
for; a real Percival, Patty"
'Oh!" exclaimed Patricia, enlightened;
!''there, there, do not weep in that heart
broken way, Miriam,'' and she soothed her
as she would a child.
"You will make yourself ill,' warned
Patricia, "and you may not be able to visit
that dear cousin who, of course, would give
worlds to see you''
Miriam unclasped her hands at this, and
Gained herself as much as she was able,
considering the unusual news she had re-
ceived. Never in all her life had she heard
from a real relative; and this one wanted
her to come.
With q nervous eagerness Miriam set
about her preparations for leaving for Lon
don on thu morrow.