The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-03-28

Sir rupert staggered and 1ell prone on
the landing without cry; the servants
carelessly extinguished the tapers in their
terror and Peggy shrieked out that the s'God
above had taken Marcia at her wurrud-"
CHAPTER XVII
Wedding bells rang out clear and sweet
on the soft, breezy September air. It was
the morning Of Patty's wedding. All nat
ure WED with the merry making Of the in
mates of Fairfax Place to make the day one
never TO be forgotten for its beauty.
Nine. Montcalm, the mother of the
groom, and his sister Louise, a pale, quiet
girl. in silks and diamonds, had come down
from London 10 take part in the festivities
The Fairfax family not being yet out
Of mourning, the wedding was quiet
one, and did not take on the air
Of grandeur Nine. Montcalm desired
IT might. She was rather vain and
fond Of display, and this being the occasion
Of the marriage OF her only son, she was a
little disappointed that the momentous af-
fair did not come out in the blaze Of social
glory she deemed necessary. Nevertheless
she was sure that her son Hollis was mar
rying into q very aristOcratic family, and
that his wife was a model Of good breeding
and a beauty Of the pure English type, and
that was something 10 be proud of.
They had lost their property. TO be sure
once, but now they were, If any thing, bet
ter OF than formerly; though people did
say that il was mainly through the super
human Efforts and wonderful business tact
OF the dead brother and son that the Fair
fax house was again recognized in polite
society.
II am so glad that it happens 10 be such
perfect day, IL portends a happy life, you
known
Nine MOntcalm was speaking TO one
Of the guests IN the handsomely decorated
rooms Ut the Fairfax home.
Yes" answered tue oEe addressed. Il
sincerely hope the second marriage Of the
Fairfax house viii prove happier one than
the nrst; though that one was happy enough
had not its first years been clouded with
hard, grinding toll, and the last by the
failing health, and finally the death Of the
husband
II understood they were very much de-
voted to one another" said Nine. Mont
calm, avoiding the mention of toll. which
grated on her aristocratic ears, and devot-
ing herself 10 the heart-side Of the subject
''Ohi certainly" was the rcioinder
Arthur Fairfax was a devoted husband TO
a most devoted wife. By the bye, his
widow will not be here at Patricia's wed
ding. She is Just recovering from a long
illness and, although able TO be about, will
not undertake the trip"
And other guests having arrived, came
up TO claim the attention of the speaker
and get an introduction TO the very aristo-
cratic madame the mother of the groom,
whose vanity was very much fiattered by
the attention she was receiving from Pa
tricia's friends.
No, Miriam could not 20 over TO attend
Patty's wedding; she felt that she had no
part in happiness now; but the day was
beautifui, and Patty, sister Patty, would be
very happy. II was not far over TO Fairfax
Place, lonely country seat, Just outside
dreamy, quiet village, nestled among the
hills, some few miles up the shore. Patty
wanted her to come, but had not urged,
knowing that her heart was sore over her
losses.
She walked the length of the bit Of beach
below the rocks where she had been sitting
out the morning. A great white gull cir
cled over her head and sped away as free as
air The morning sun danced on the calm
waters, and a fewwhite drifting clouds lay
Iazily above the downs stretching away to-
ward the CITY.
1t was on aday something like this, though
not nearly so perfect, that she and Arthur
were married; but not with sanction and
merry-maITing which would smile God
speed for Patricia
Harkl what was thatl Was il Pstty's
wedding chimesi She hardly thought she
could hear the bells of st. Martin from
where she stood But, yes; 1t must be
them. Miriam put her hands quickly to her
\
an overturned boat TO think " as she self
ish-hearted, that she could not bear to hear
| the ringing Of the bills event No; but
some way IL brought 1t all back so vividly-
her own wedding night Not like Patty's
marriage, celebrated in the glow Of the
beautiful morning, amid friends and music
and flowers no, in the shadows and quiet
Somber interior of lonely little All SAINTS
she was gwen away by a stranger, and as
| wife she crossed the gloomy porch and
walked by the dead, out TO the portals OF the
quiet church-yard, without n song, without
! flower, or smile
/ Well, it was Citing, after all; the cere-
mony was only type OF all the rest MOL not
I all, for Arthur, dear, dead Arthur was true
and afectionate, but she meant the dark
! side of the after years She had only the
shadows Of death in view this morning;
/ they We're always trailing across her path
way; their dank denseness haa grown sec
ond nature 10 her soul, for she hAo become
morbid on shadows.
But II wouldn't do, this moping forever
In the mists; she would go up TO the house,
and be glad for Patricia About now the
fair village lassles were strewIng flowers In
1 Patty's way-happY Patty
Drawing the soft, rich wrap about her
frail shoulders, MIriaa uoiled wearily W
over the rugged path toward the Rest, try
ing 70 feel happy for dear sister Patty's
a rock iuttng out from among its hoary
fellows, Miriam paused for rest
She might nave had the carriage and have
driven down the beach road, but she chose
10 be alone The presence OF even the boy
in livery would have disturbed her to-day
she thought, so she had descended tbs
bride. path alone for her morning walk or
| the shore.
Far away she caught sight OF sails CLEAN
ing in the sunlight; some pure white, some
| cream aud rose tinted, and q great wave oi
something like inconsistencies crept ovei
her. The letter which white-wingeC
messenger had sped away with months ag'
! had been answered And that dear friend
of her mothers had said: ''Come;" but onll
1 few days after the receipt OF the friendly
epistle a raging fever had seized her ant
she had lowered between this world and th'
next for days Since then she mad not oeeI
strong enough 10 undertake a voyage, espe
cially unattended
In those uncertain days OF her severe Ill
ness Patricia had never left her bedside
Devoted and kind, she had nursed he
through until the physician said: "She vii
live" Why she mad not been permitted 4
cross over and enter into rest and be witt
her beloved ones was TO Miriam . darl
problem
But now, as soon as she was stronl
enough to warrant starting, she was goin
10 her mothers friend on the shores Of tn
Narragansett, to coy little bay View, a
the place had been described 10 her by letter
A party of rosy-cheeked children passe
her, scampering down the path, their prim
} pretty nurse bringing up the rear with IN
lunch basket on one plump arm, while owe
the other she had swung her hat with il
wreath of wild autumn flowers she ha
/ hr-r ba dcid They made