The Irish standard., 1889-08-03

oould the Miriam beyond the sea reveal II
she chose to tell it all!
And this was the portrait, then, was to
carry home with me, and ], as yet, had no
plan to assist me in keeping my rash
promise.
Poor grip said softly, as Clarkson
turned the face to the wall once more.
Daughter Of my friend, and come to this
her proud face turned to the wall in the hall
Of her ancestors!
could not trust myself to say more, and
GARRISON led the way to q corner, where the
shadows were fttingly the thickest, and
startled me by saying in q curious tone
can here is the masthur, ma'an1, a hangln
ala alone: all alonel The Leddy Parcival
niver had her portrait painted. She Would
niver sit for it, ma'am, and she was per-
fectly roight in it, too, Arthur knowin' ov
the throubles coomin' down on her daugh
Their from the long loine of mistheries. She
didn't want her face to appear in the fay
thurleigh gallery, at all, at aH!''
Clarkson's last sentence gave me an idea,
and could almost have shouted for Joy at
the promising proposition, but controlling
myself with an effort, remembering in time
that it must be matured, I gave my atten-
ton to the face of Sir Rupert.
Clarkson drew back the Grape covering.
and put aside the window curtains in order
to let in more light A CLEAN of sunlight
aickered for moment across the painting.
Truly he must have been gruff and obsti-
nate, judging from the heavy frownlng
brows and sinister-looking eyes beneath;
yet under the uncompromising exteraer l
eancied could see deep, corroding griess,
that, blighting his life in its prime, had mixed
for his remaining days ''tEle wormwood and
the gall
sAnd this IS he who roams about the
Halle" I questioned: taking my eyes from
the stern countenance on canvas and turn
ing to Peggy.
She nodded in the affirmative, and drew
the Grape back over the portrait Of the
''masthur Of Haythurleigh," as she would
say, and together we left the gallery.
We had now been over the Hall, with the
exception of a few apartments of 'sno in
therest at all, y and the library. To this last
named room we turned our attention. It
was on the first floor, just across the CEN
trail hall from the fateful DRAWN groom.
Nearly one whole side Of the apartment
was taken up with books. [ looked
ut the hundreds Of richly-bound volumes on
the oaken shelves, after Clarlzson pulled
heavy tasseled cord and drew back long
sllken hanging OF green, which MD the ma
jority Of the books from view, and Won
dered who next would aspire to the owner
ship Of such collection of elegantly bound
volumes.
They're as the masthur left 'em,' re-
marked Peggy, breaking in on my specu-
lative reverie, t'an' he was a great mon for
the books, TOO, ma'am."
''Ten me the story of Miriam now," [
said. crossing the room to q great deep
chair, with its inviting cushions, that stood
by the acknowledgement secretary in the
corner.
''Niver bit oy it will Oh b. Arthur tellin'
yes in this part O. the hall, ma'am Ord
be Arthur gettin' into me own soide ov the
house afore Olive q. wurrud to say about it
at aIl.'
"Agreed, Peggy" answered, glad co
humor her by going anywhere, # l only
might hear the story of the daughter Of my
friend.
Once more in her Gown soide ov the
house, C1arlzson lighted her pipe and sat
down where the bright sunshine streamed
in through the white dimity-curtained Win
6ows. could not blame her for wanting to
get back into her own cheerful rooms again,
for felt happily relieved Of the shadows
myself.