The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-04-04

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ESED.
vague, uncertain dread. Surely some
thing was about to happen beneath the
frowning gables of Heatherleigh tonight.
And from q superstitious fear they
launched OF quite naturally into super
stitious lore, with al the zest OF a true
Hibernian.
Hour after hour was thus whiled away
until, incredible as it may seem, the little
group had entirely forgotten their master.
Suddenly Peggy, who had been vividly
portraying the fatal warnings and blood
curdling feats of an ancestral banshee,
started up in genuine alarm ''Whyr' she
exclaimed, ''an' we've been sittin' hear q
teIlin' ov the ghostliest things, an have
forgotten the master. An it's fun mid
night an he must he schlapin', for he hasn't
been Arthur wantin' one ov US; an the
lamps in the haythunish dark hall haven't
been loighted aythur. Woe be the dayI'
With this energetic prelude she stepped
cautiously out in the hall for the purpose OF
lighting the neglected lamps. Cropping
her way TO the nearest lamp she was about
20 light il when a slight movement on the
stairs arrested her attention; a slow, shuf-
fing movement came 10 her ear, rather in
definite, but she was sure some one else
was in the hall besides herself. The motion
continued, though seemingly mu11ed.
She was about ready TO scream from
sheer desperation when something like
half-groan and half-sigh smote on her
acute ear. In an agony of fear she few
back TO the library, and with very wild.
frightened eyes and white face she rushed
INTO the midst Of the gossipmg servants
As she did so she gave vent TO half
suppressed scream. They al sprang -
their feet in alarm, asked in a breath
''W hat is il, Clarksoul"
"An' shure as Pm a born chiIder' she
exclaimed, a light breaking in on her fright
ened mind, that shure the unasthur's COON
in down the stairway all alone in the dark
ness ov the night"
They all looked incredulous and seemed
about 70 accuse the housekeeper of insan-
~, when her husband came forward and
placing his hand on the door-handle, sad,
aalf derisively:
'.Histl ye, Peggy; an he cudna COON
doom the stheps alone ma more than St
Pathrick cud sin -
He opened the door slowly, and they all
came to listen for any unusual sound in
the hall Breathlessly huddled together in
the dark doorway they listened.
And Peggy was right in her affirmation.
She had neither gone insane nor heard a
spirit tramping about, for Sir Rupert was
coming down the dark staircase unaided
and alone. Step by step, painfully, slowly,
wearily, but surely coming.
'Blissid Vargin - groaned Ancil, stagger-
ing back against the door ''An' it's roight
We are, me lass, the masthur is coomin'
down the sthairs.n Then IN a suppressed
undertone he terrified them by saying: .An
phwat ef he shud miss his footing, or make
the laste missthepl"
And instead of going to their master to
assist his uncertain steps, or lighting the
lamps in the dark hall, they stood shudder-
ing involuntarily. Stricken with q par
alyzing fright, not one of them thought of
going TO their masters assistance, or even
essaying to move. They stood rooted TO the
floor like so many useless statues, listening
20 Sir Ruperts slow and painful descent,
and waiting for something they could not
define
Down, down, the dragging, muffied steps
came, with long intervals for rest; and
sometimes a labored breathing, sometimes
a sigh.
But suddenly there was frantic clutch
ing Of the polished balustrade, a reeling to
and fro, smothered groan, then an un-
earthly, hopeless cry for assistance, and the
master of Heatherleigh fell down the few
remaining steps and lay struggling in q
violent convulsion on the floor OF the hall.
His fall seemed to unlock the benumbed
senses of the household, and affrighted and
bewildered they rushed to and fro, some TO
Sir Ruperts assistance, and some for
lights.
James brought the lamp from the library
hurriedly, while Peggy made vain endeavors
TO find the hall burners. He shrank back
in abiect terror from the writing form Of
his master, and held the lamp high over his
head with wall no one could ever forget.
But Ancil and John, who had in these last
days of the Hall become faithful and most
willing nurses, lifted Sir Rupert from the
flocr and bore him into the great drawing
room al the left, layln HIM down gently on
the deep, luxurious sofa by the great double
windows.
Then John ran for the physician, while
Peggy and her husband did all in their DOW
er to restore the dying man to conscious
ness, interlardIng their work with all the
extravagant and useless Irish expletives
known. But their efforts Were not success
fuI. Sir Rupert never gained conscious
ness, and expired IN their arms before DIR.
WhItelake arrived
When they all gathered about the wasted,
rigid form Of their master at the instance
Of the physician, who solemnly pronounced
him really dead, the revulsion of feeling
was puzzling, if not strange, TO witness
From the excited, worried experiences OF
the night the reader doubtless imag1nes q
scene of bewailIng and inoonsoiaoIe grief;
but was not the case. Their lives had
been one Of eternal vigilance, one of con-
slant worry for years, and when they
finally realized that the master of Heather
leigh was really gone, and this everlasting
fret was ended, they stood gazing calmly
down on the still form and whispering
quietly 10 one another: sit is well; it Is
well"
DIR. Whitelalze expected some one of the
great Irish hearts 10 cry out and bevail the
fate Of Sir Rupert, but every face was de-
corously calm summer sunset, and he
was disappointed