Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-08-10

in profusion, with sigh of satisfaction, and presently cousin Gladys joins me for a chat.
 We talk of many things, over which falls the glamour of Auld Lang Syne, and by the time she excuses herself to see after the late dinner, have had goodly number of pleasant, and not few unpleasant, reminis- cences of suburban Hastings.
 My friends of the voyage are staying with relatives near Ecclesbourne, and are pleased to notify me by post that they are going farther into the country, and desire my company.
 This can not do, as am ''bound for the hall" in the language, but not the spirit, of Tennyson While thinking of my friends, however, I laugh a little, but end with a sigh, as bright Miss Stanley comes to view. l presume she has entirely forgotten her tribulation on board the Lady Clare, and her habit of being addicted to the bowl" Luckily, am not a victim of sea-sickness and while Miss Stanley lay prone in her state-room, was on deck enjoying the fine weather which we were fortunate enough to have nearly all the way over.
 My cousin keeps Aer open carriage and drives great deal and as driving happens to be my penchant also, goodly share of our visiting IS done on wheels. We drove down to the beach several times and whlled away the hours of the long, dreamy after moons amid the sea breezes and sunbcams. The ships, "white- winged and free; ;' the cliffs, scanned and scared, and above them the Downs, never grow old or common place.
 But Heatherleighl The very name makes me forget the rose-hue for the rue and the shadows, and my superabundance of cour- age, coming as if by inspiration on board the Lady Clare, find has diminished con- siderably.
 Nevertheless, VOW to the treIlised vines at my elbow that I am not afraid of any thing in all England, which wild affirma- tion, l am persuaded, sounds more like bragad ocio than bravery.
 There are several fine old places between Hastings proper ard the country side flank ing Heatherleigh Chacc. Some of these stately residences have quite imposing facades, and others, high ivy-wreathed ga bles, while a number, in their elegance, put you in mind of the days of King Arthur
 But there are bits of sorrowful tradition and legendary lore connected with an occa slonal grand old structure calculated to make one stand in awe of their environs. Strange fatality marks many an old hall, and Heatherleigh, as hear, boasts of one of the most tragical.
 In the gladsome days when she and l were young, l knew tho fair bride of the Perc1val house. She was high-born En- glish girl, whose sweet eyes first saw the light in a beautiful villa near Birmin gham. 1 can imagine her fine face radiant with happy existence as the welcome of Heather leigh's grand old doors fioated around her. An! yes; 1 can see her, vivacious, regal and glad.
 After she became Lady Percival our paths diverged, of course, but often won- der to myself why her refinedlsou went out to me so unreservedly in those days, when 1 was but a cottagers daughter. Affinity of soul," Gladys says. Perhaps she is right, for it is said that sublime re- lationship recognizes DO barrier of circum- stance.
 Lady Percival was supremely happy dur ing my visit at the hall, at least, but then it was the first year of her married life, and every one is supposed to find the matri- monial alliance pleasant enough for that length of time. But never had the pleas ure of seeing my friend after parted from her at the end of the long avenue of elms, where she put her jeweled arms about my neck and bade me "come again."
 It was this side of that affectionate leave taking that all the beauty and sweetness faded from Lady Percivars life and the curses fell. I shudder involuntarily as call to mind the story of the estrange. ment, broken hearts, crape, tears and male. diction.
 There comes a sense of suffocation and dimness of vision as l go back across the intervening years, calling up the memories binding me to the dead.
 Lady Percival has been dead several years, and the proud Miriam was orphaned a decade later by the decease of the austere father, and last male descendant of the Percival house. After his tragical end the spiritual manifestations began, which have been source ofmysterious speculation ever since to those c.uainted with the detailed disclosures.
 To be cOntinue,