Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-11-14

-T-~-=ss' zSIWsgIA,. W. N
--------z=sc 80 - ===---s-
"ALLEN Is BRINGING FRIEND WITH HIM.
herself into my arms earle Fairfax /
Earle Fairfax p she repeated. II wonder
why-O, wonder whyp'
"Miriam,'' said !, don't you want 10 see
the old gentleman; Arthurs urcle, pre-
sume"
For moment she lay quite still, making
no response. Then she said slowly: "He is
good. kind old man. such friend Of
mine-such friend of minev'
The words were whispered with colorless
lips and pallid cheek. was sorely puzzled
TO know why, if he was such good, kind
friend, she felt this way at mention Of his
name.
People don't generally grow white as
death at the prospect Of seeing a friend,
not generally, at least, and was at a loss
to fathom this new phase Of affairs.
made no reply. l simply released her,
and she went directly TO her room, with the
letter clasped tightly in her nervous fin
gers. 'Old memories" | said, by way of
excusing this, to me, unexplainable freak of
Miriam's. Doubtless his name was inter-
woven with some painful memory, which
the mere mention Of was like the thrust of
dagger"
She did not come down to dinner and
did not see her until the breakfast hour the
next morning. She was cheerful as usual
and seemingly anxious that should forget
the little episode of the previous afternoon.
Launching off into conversation, in which
was sure that her heart had not the least
interest, in order to detract my attention
from the pallor Of her countenance, she
managed to become unusually laxative dur
ing the breakfast hour.
Perhaps" said TO myself, "she is not
paler than usual, and l am yoking up yes
terday's circumstance with morbid fancy
of my own imaginative brain.n
But when Maggie, my little maid, said
solicitously behind my chair after Miriam
had excused herself for walk in the gar
den: at seems to me that the lady is ill I;
she is uncommon white-faced and talks
sort o. wild like, don't you thinkl"
thought, ahl well, then my conjecture is
not ali an imaginative affair, after ALL But
] said to the maid that "the warm weather
might have something to do with it."
"Ohl well, She pears so anxious like"
persisted Maggie II shouldn't think the
weather would give that worry TO her look
and manner, ma'am."
shadow had fallen athwart the path of our
guest. and with natural inquisitiveness was
doing her best TO wiring a confession from
me,
"Well, well, Maggie" Isaid, finally; "letit
pass, and if she is really Ill or worrying about
any thing she will tell us by and by, If it is
proper for us to know" Thus admonished,
the maid gave me look of suspicion and
began clearing away the breakfast things
In silence, while sought Miriam, deep in
the garden of roses and lilies IN front Of
the cottage.
"Dissembling,n 1 said, as she greeted me
with wintry smile from behind rose
hedge, but the beautiful eyes told no tales,
and the lips touched not on the friends
coming, as | half expected them to do, dur
ing the morning.
During the afternoon, while | was en-
gagged in the re-arranging of cluster of
stately lilies which the wind had tossed
ruthlessly from their fastening, a cab
drew up at my humble gate and two
gentlemen alighted Instinctively | knew
it must be they whom we were expecting,
and dropped my Irvine and went down the
graveled walk to meet them.
Sure enough, as one of them came for.
ward, recognized my acquaintance of the
Heatherleigh park.
AS soon as he looked up he smiled and
extended his hand. Il remember your
face,' he SAID, gladly. Then he introduced
an old gentleman, in dark gray suit and
gOld-bowe glasses, as "Mr. Earle Fairfax,
of suburban Hastings, Eng"
"She is in there" | said, indicating the
direction of the library door with wave of
my hand, as Allan looked inquiringly about
the little front parlor into which had con-
Quoted them.
knew she would rather meet him alone,
with no eye to criticise or intrude on the
sacredness of their greeting, and l knew
also that she was in there waiting for
Allan, because caught the swish, swish of
her dress, and the soft closing of the library
door as we came in.
Allan Percival gave me look Of such
joyous gratitude that | thought had he
asked me TO carry "a thousand letters to the
ends of the earth for hun, instead Of one
little request that he did, that look re-
warded me in tull for every thing.
Then he stepped into the library and
closed the door behind him, while did my
best to entertain this friend of Miriam's,
although could see plainly that he was
very anxious to get glimpse of her, as his
eyes sought the library door frequently. |
was fully as anxious that she should meet
him, for had a curiosity to see them to-
gether; il there was any secret between
them, perhaps might be able to guess 1t
should see their meeting.
After awhile Allan came out Of the
library, foil, " I'd by 4 Ram, whose face
was a study. She seemed quite glad TO see
the old uncle Of her deceased husband, but
there was a frightened, inquiring look on
her face that dared not put itself into
words, al least not before US.
noticed Allan watching her with grave,
uneasy expression when she conversed
with the uncle. Evidently he read the
riddle no better than did, aud the worried
look on her face set him i'll at ease.
could see that Allan loved her madly,
and said TO myself that now, after he had
crossed the ocean at her bidding, If any
thing would happen to separate them again,
it would wreck his life completely.
The next day Allan had some letters to
mail, and he drove the phaeton down to
the city. | had expected Miriam would
ride out with him, but for some reason she
did not, so he went alone. After his de-
parture Miriam took her uncle into the
library to show him the portraits Of her
self and family ''as they were once" she
said to him with an appealing look.
went out to see after some dessert had
ordered for dinner and to offer a few sug-
gestions 70 Maggie. knowing that was not
needed in the library. Instiuctively | felt
that the portrait business WAS only ruse
of Miriam's 70 get Uncle Fairfax all to
herself for a confidential talk. Doubtless
it was her privilege I thought and some
way felt glad that Allan was out Of ear
shot, and that it, whatever it might be,
would be over before his return.
! Having an occasion to 80 into the parior