The Red Cloud chief., 1889-11-15

gave him q powder in . little wine glass Of
MADEIRA. It will strengthen him. she
thought. Then she drew her chair near
him and sat down.
"Allan," she began, ''what I wish you to
do for me is this. When I am gone please
forget that you know Of my whereabouts
should any inquiry come to your ears from
Heatherleigh. Will you do thisr
EYES," he answered; ''they shall never
know through me if you desire to ave
your voyage remain . secret"
81 wish il, most assuredly;;" and then she
told hum of her visit to the Hall when she
was waved of by Sir Rupert in his fury,
dwelling tragically on the sorrowful recital.
snow you know why I wish to be buried, as
it were, from sight n sound of Heather
leigh"
"a know," he answered. II will promise
any thing you desire; you will forgive and
forget my speech Of q n hour ago If it CRATES
on your heart, cousin. Ill am too lonely
and desOlate, and-weil, you will fOrgivess"
He reached out an eager hand and Miriam
took in q warm. friendly clasp the out
stretched palm.
Don't g~rieve," she said, generously.
'You have said nothing wrong, Allan. But
wait until you are well and strong and per-
udpS yOu Will AOI SCS H. wv.
Miriam saw q puzzled, far-away look steal
into those splendid eyes; then a culver OF
the pale lips, and she knew he was battling
with disappointed desires. She hesitated
for Z moment, then passed her hand cares5-
ingly over the noble brow, and up among
the dark, clustering hair. He was her
cousin, all the relative she had, and-well,
she would. So bending over the pitiful,
x-o~ fono nm Tho nil1OrU ch0 nroccnA h0P
lips to his brow.
There is nothing to forgive, Allan; you
and l are the firmest, best of friends" Then
she went to her " apartments, and the
attendant came and sat out the day by Allan.
When Allan Percival was able to sit up
and walk about the apartment Miriam an
nOunced her intention of going home.
Though haven't any," she added, bitterly.
She was thinking of two graves, side by
side, beneath the dark yew trees of the
church-yard.
Allan looked wistfully up, and a sudden,
yearning light almost glorified his handsome
face. But he turned away his head as
Miriam looked up. She should not see that
ne could not forget. She should know that
he could feel grateful, without making him.
self offensive.
"When you are better still, cousin. come
and visit me. won't yOu"
Miriam put out her hand in q cordial,
cousinly n
With a questioning look he hesitated. 81
shall miss you very much" he stammered,
''but@
"And / shall feel badly if you do not
come. want you," she said, with . posi-
tive, imperiOus air.
'.Then l will come and gladly"
Goodbye until l welcome you at the
Rest" she said, cheerfully. almost gayly.
Goodbye, l shall remember, goOd-byer'
and the hanson rolled away.
Allan went back to the gloomy, old silence,
and sat down with his head resting on the
table. He was still weak and the parting
had %unnerved him. though he fancied he
had borne up bravely considering how well
he loved this ~gloriOusly sanity cousin. The
touch of her lips on his brow that day
when she had kissed him forgiveness
thrilled him to his very souls center. But
she was a genuine Percival, and if she
could not return his love, why, sooner or
later, she would cast him off without a
single regret, and he would go to the bad!
Oh! this-this-suspense-but the room
went around him with dizzy velocity and |
he knew no more.
He was too weak to calmly count up III
odds against him in this first deep, true love
of his life, and had tainted dead away In
consequence.
ITO BE CONTINUED