The Red Cloud chief., 1889-09-06

in those haunting eyes OF hers, she has re
fused emphatically, q whispering with
white lips she tells me that she 'qsGtes her
ancestral halls" and that / have NO idea
what I ask of her."
Perhaps I don't, and the deep aversion
ranking IN her soul toward her birthplace
comes Kissing through the white teeth, and
eRectually ~silences me in protesting further.
She came to me two years ago. sad and
sorrowing, from the newly-made graves Of
husband and child. "Remember," she said
to me once, shat my husband and son sleep
where tho shadows Of Heatherleigh fall not
on them. Ny poor, brave Arthur could not
rest well il they did, and my little ono has
forgotten, on his dreamless pillow, the
curse that turned him away from its male
dictive DOORS"
I have not questioned her, regarding her
SORROWS and grievances as too sacrcdly her
wi for my intrusive inquiries, and she has
only revealed that which she chooses to tell.
But she Is the daughter of my dead
friend, and therefore l open my arms, and
receive tho des0late, he~art-brOken woman
int my home and heart ! f1atter myself,
too. that her s0rrows have been somewhat
mitigated through my efforts. She is
cheerful, even, sometimes as we stroll in
the fields, or wander OF among the ragged
hills where tho wild h~eatherbell and bar
berry grow.
One time In particular I remember, - !
sit holding the crumpled letter, . scene
that with her face comes back to me, rs
beautiful dreams come sometimes across
our days Of care.
We had wandered up the hills, and were
sitting at the foot Of o tree, resting. Our
baskets beside US were filed with the red
fruit of the barberry, and wreathed with
ferns and gayly- colored leaves. In the dis
lance shone the blue waters Of the bay,
and above us beamed the cloudloss sky,
while the breeze dallied here and there,
limiting Of q sterner season.
Miriam leaned her sunny head against the
messy trunk, and sat looking far OF owe
the shimmering waters in the quiet dis
lance, and Q look Of almost happiness
came into the perfect face. / sat watching
her, wrapt in admiration, and hoping that
the dswning Of brighter hours had come.
She turned to me with animation, saying:
This is pleasant so pleasant and PEACEFUL"
and I was glad to answer: Eyes"
That was last year, and since then the
f~luctuating tides Of peace and disquietude
have run 90 often into Q sea Of counter cur-
rents, ebbing and flowing over that first
great hope, that I am not certain Of any
thing permanent
Ihesitated . great deal before giving her
the missive, thinking that perhaps it might
not be conducive of any good, but after all
I have done 90. and regretted it Immediately
ing something had happened to it be-
Ro-~ -o~nh>A e. A~>%fro%So> 4.HhoH 4 hoA
had discretion enough to have foreseen the
consequence, and had committed it to the
CRATE. Is / might have done, seeing it was
addressed to me.
While I am INDUCING thus in self-con-
she 10 down stairs, calm
enough outwardly, the glossy hair freshly
brushed, and I doubt not the tear-st2ins
bathed carefully of the placid face, 70 -
not to grieve me. She comes forward and
takes my hands In her two hot ones, looks
.pleadingly into my face, and makes .
strange request, . request that sends the
blood surging back TO my heart, leaving my
cheeks blanched, I am aware, for she
pauses, looks troubled and doubtive, and
h~esitates. But finally she has finished. and
I have promised to grant her desire, ii.
in ten minutes after she has kissep
thankfully and settled down on the
shadow-fecked steps with . great sigh Of
relief I regret having done 50.
She knows It is my intent to visit . rela-
tive living in the suburbs of Hastings,
shortly, and she has asked me ''while there,
Q little run over beyond Fairlight and
visit Heatherleigh." But that isn't the
strange part Of her request, though II II Ill
She looked me calmly IN the
eyes and asked me to ''bring her portrait
away from the fsted gallery with me"
How OF earth Am I to accomplish thisl
At first it seems easy enough to me, but
reflection the undertaking grows stu
pcndous, and borders on the impossible. I
sit very still. revolving the request In my
mind, and every moment its magnitude Is
intensified. But I made no sign. and she
sits with clasped hands, gazing out at the
water, fully confident that / will be able to
fulfill my promise, and I haven't the courage
to undeceive her.
So we sit out the piece Of day talking
but thinking more until the sun goes
down behind the hills, and the shadows
grow longer and denser ove the carna-
tons and roses, and reach out darkly for
the cleaning satin Of the lilies which they
envclop later.
Maggie, my little maid Of ell work, rings
the tea-bel merrily, then peeps through the
blinds I see where we are. Having seen
US, her bright eyes disappear. and know
she has flown to her kingdom to keep the
tay proper hot'' until we put In an appear
ance, which We Do shortly.
Miriam-I always say simply Miriam
looks satisfied once more. divine the rea-
she has settled tho letter question
positively in tho negative, or rather I have
determined it for her by my rash promise.
but how I am 70 beard sthe Douglas in
his hal' 10 moro than ] know, and obtain
the elegant portrait Of the daughter Of tho
house, because I am not to reveal her where
abouts-it is her request.
Miriam thinks, however, that I am the
one all-powerful equation Of her life, and
sits v q there slipping her tea in full con-
ndence, while / choke down my dessert,
measure my powers with Q broken reed and
my digits to ciphers.
The day Of my departure arrives. Over
its fair, promising skies falls .
Idread to leave Miriam. would
50 love Il take her with me, but the laws Of
the Modes and Persians are not more irrev.
ocable than Miriam's nay. She Is to stay
here In the cottage ut Bayview, and see
after my affairs, while I am to 60 and en-
Joy myself. Az II I could enjoy my visit
with that gigantic undertaking supple
on like . thing Of evil