The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-02-28
but nervous fancy lending a miserable

ing out toward the highway at a quarter to
three O'Clock with a sigh, and found she
was q little early
Her face had been white and drawn with
grief and pain, and her beautiful eyes had
in their depths such wild, despairing look
when Peggy ClarksOn met her in the hall
directly after the interview with Sir Ru-
pert; but now her face gloyyed with salts
faction, and the fine eyes had a pleasant
light she stood bidding silent adieu to
the dear, familiar grounds.
All! what an iron will upheld the fair
girl; truly she had the indomitable spirit
of the Percivals.
A sound of wheels coming slowly toward
the chase, and her heart throbbed wild
~ with expectation. She stepped outside
and crossed the common. "Yes, there he
comes" she said, and in fiutter of delight
she few back TO the place of meeting
Dear Arthur she murmured, Il have
never known but two friends, mother and
you. She has been taken from me, ana /
have only you left, 4" and the pearly tears of
memory dropped on the trembling hand on
the gate. poor mother!"
But the carriage drew up and Arthur
Fairfax alighted, smiling happily TO find
his beloved Miriam punctual. He kissed
her where the tear-stalns showed plainly
on the fair cheek. "Why these tears, dear
est!" he asked, tenderly.
81 was thinking of-of mother" she an
swered, and he understood, for his vision
was misty with emotion as he held her for
momentin silent carcss.
Peggy Clarkson came up with numerous
bundles and faltering step This was TO her
sorrow greater than that she felt for the
dead -Iother
But she bore up bravely for the sake Of
the beautiful girl before her and whom she
loved as her own. Her ownI All! yes;
away across the channel, in the mother
country on the shores Of Killarney, resting
peacefully, was Teddy. Dear little Teddy,
who closed his blue eyes TO this world in his
third year, and was laid away forever,
with his fiaIen curls clinging TO his white
baby brow.
Poor Peggyl Many sorrowful days had
gone over the cycling arc for her, but this
one seemed to her the hardest to bear She
wiped her tears away as she came up with
her bundles and tried to appear cheerful.
All unconscious Of treachery, Sir Rupert
was taking hls accustomed afternoon nap
and while his only child was leaving her
home forever and caring but little for his
gray hairs, he was doing the hours away in
his quiet apartments.
Perhaps father may relent," ventured
Miriam, as her lover handed her into the
carriage.
''oi doubt it, me dsrlint," sobbed Peggy,
wlplng the tears away from her dim old
''Oi doubt II, but may the blissid Vargin pro-
tect ye, onyway."
do not feel so badly, pray, Mrs. Clark
son. said Arthur, '.if Sir Rupert never
forgives us Surely you can trust Miriam
with me, and feel that she viii be happy,
and that is more than she win be here-''
AN you're livin' roght, me mon, OF kin
thrust the childer wild ye; an far be it
from me to help We on in yer runnin' away,
sir. if Oh couldn't"
Thank you kindly" replied he, taking
her tremblin hand in a last goodbye
Cheer up; you shall hear of Miriam fre-
quently. Have care, Peggy" he added in
lower tone, that Sir Rupert doesn'tev
dream Of your being mixed up in this leave
taking, or that you were aware of Miriam's
going"
The old housekeeper answered him by an
affirmative nod, and turned away TO hide
her tears.
With final goodbye, away they whirIed.
Miriam waved an affectionate adieu with
her handkerchief as the turn OF the road
shut them forever from The park and the
fearful Peggy at the wicket.
"Och hooni and me ould heart is broke
intoirely," moaned she to the silent land
scape, while the clouds lifted and ray Of
sunshine shot athwart its aullness.
The brambles and the heath by the way
side were tinged with beautiful flush of
autumnal scarlet, and leaves tinted with
the falntest gold went flying hither and
thither in the breeze. The sunshine which
struggled through the gray canopy and
cast ray Of promise across the day for
Peggy, lay glinting on the sea for Miriam
and her lover as they neared Hastings
Through the lanes, past the hedges
where the blackberry briars formed a
dense barrier, with their browning leaves
and luscious clusters, all familiar
and oil f-fa .a1
'good-byel good-bye!' past all these they
had come, and the downs, the sea and the
cliffs were uncommonly beautiful in the
setting light. The sea breezes blew nm
across the country, refreshing and sweet
the wind-miils on West Hill were whirllng
their great arms, and the old castle near
by caught the western glow with peace
ful contentment, which seemed to saw: s.I
am glad TO be left to picturesque ruin and
forgetfulness.n
The quaint little church at Fairlight was
the destination, but they had taken a cir
cuIuous route TO AVOID trouble uld the mas
ter Of Heatherleigh determine on following
them.
Miriam's heart went out to the gray
haired, feeble father whom she never ex-
pected to see again, and with whom she
never could be happy. She revolyed the
possible scenes OF wrath and perhans
sorrowful regret that would trauspire
when he should be made acquainted with
her flight Then her thoughts turned af-
fectonately to Clarkson, who was SO ''de-
tarmint to help the childer awav unbe
knowust," and her heart ached for the old
housekeeper when she should fall under
the interrogative vengeance Of her master
And great many other things connected
with the Hall fioated before her mental
vision; some of them coming like reproach
tul reminders, while others were 40 dis
fanl hat sha
find them really turning like bad chan
ter in the history of the past
She looked about her Ahl wouId she
ever stand here again and look far ayay To
High Wickhsm and the seal They were
passing gaunt, grim MINUS rock now. and
the sea lay dark strip in the distance with
the faint sunset light showing purple-tinted
on the sky above.
For answer the breeze swept bv with n
low, mournful music, and died away in the
dusks of eventide.
Arthur, partly divining Miriam,s specula-
tons by the pensive look on her sweet face.
drew her to his heart with a fond caress
saying: "Never mind, dearest, I will try
hard 10 make all this up to you Be happy.
See! we have left the clouds behind us.r
and as in happy emphasis the last rays OF
the setting sun cleaned brightly from be-
meath cloud and seemed the seal of
promise.
yours was a beautiful home" he con-
unued, as she looked up with a smile d
trust and confidence, but you were not
happy-perhaps never would have been
within its fateful doors"
NO." she answered, in a positive tone.
''that think were impossible, but shall be
happy with YOU
Then the dreary weight left her. soul and
wave OF happiness, as brightas the circlet
Of western gold, swept aside all misgivings
and the JOY OF assurance beamed on her
face.
Behind them were desolate Beechwood
Terrace, which might never more welcome
the one, and ivy-crowned Heatherleigh.
which could not, would not ever again open
its doors 10 the other Before them was the