The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-02-21

alleviate the sorrow she felt lad fallen,
somewhere and somehow, on the iolized
mother.
The nurse came for her charge, but for
the first time the child stoutly refused 10
leave the room.
Leave her 20 me awhile, Hewitt,' the
whlte-faced mother lnuerposed, and the
nurse left them together alone, wondering
much what troubled Lady Percival as she
closed the door softly and went back to the
nursery.
Having arranged the cushions to her sat
isfaction, Miriam went over TO the window
whose narrow panes cleaned in the after
noon sun, and stood gazing far away over the
environs of her palatial home, awed into
silence by something she could not under
stand.
How the mellow light fell through the tall
lssOme elms, and glowed in its sitting rays
through panes, falling at last on the long
sunny curls, and forming q halo of glory
around "the eldest child-a daughter"
as she stood pulling her inexperienced
heart over the dark tItlc-page of her life.
Lady Percival watched her with sense
OF utter helpless msery. The child's sen
tsnce of an hour ago fell like q verdict of
lite sentence, booming them all 30 woe:
"Cause do not love him velly weIl.''
The legend of Heatherleigh Han was be-
ginning 10 unfold its menacing power, and
the tide Of doom had begun TO set toward
Shores OF estrangement- heartache and
tearsi
Lady Percival gazed long on the heiress
of the proud and aristocratic manorial pos
sessions in dumb anguish. But her heart
was making moan against q dreary barren
shore, and the burden of its language was:
''Ohl- Miriam, my own lovely child, why
must It be; why, OH whyl''
And an unseen influence made answer:
'The eldest child, If it be daughter
Sir Rupert never referred 10 the scene in
the park, and, to all appearances, had for
gotten the unpleasant occurrence. But
there wns change in him that rendered
him at times uncompanionable and reticent
The servants noticed the change and
speculated accordingly John, the coach
man, remarked 10 his fellows that ''the
dreary days We're a-settlin' him, and that
halter while hitwould be war TO the lit be-
tween the master aud the young mistress"
But long TO be remembered was the day
or the first real disagreement between IA
ther and daughter.
Miriam had rushed into her mothers
apartments and had thrown herself into
Lady Percival's arms, crying and trembling
IN O very much excited manner. Upon
beng interrogated IN reference to her IN
usual behavior Sue rsplied, amid sobs of
painful excitement, while she clung to
Lady Percivals gown: Il do not love him
one bit, now, and he doesn't love me, either:
and do not care.n
Garrison, who was passing her mistress
rooms on duties intent, heard and saw
Miriam in her paroxysm of grief and anger.
'Oh, Oi'v0 known IL iver SO long that il
wud COON to this declaration ov war. Och
honel am that's the ginuine Parcfval tim
per-" muttered she to herself And the
old kousekceper Communicated the affair 10
the cook with doleful shake of the head
that set the broad white ruffles on the cap
she wore 10 trembling over her whitened
locks.
Subsequently Sir Rupert had come into
his wife's apartment in search Of his dau eh-
ter, yet, after all, dreadtng to meet her.
Finding her sobbing on her mothers knee.
he gave her such strange look of deem.
angry sorrow as perhaps few see in n life
time, and SAID, in voice as strange as his
look: 81 have tried, God IS my witness,
TO love the child and break the power of
the decree which VIII estrange Us, and |
lind IL - useless. l can not love nv child ~
He covered his face with his trenlbling
hands, as If entirely overcome bv the
baleful intent of his own words, and leaned
against the doorway screen. Il can not-''
he moaned, "avert mightier DEGREES than
my own -
Miriam seemed TO understand in part,
her fathers great grief, for she shuddered
ylslbly and ceased her violent weeping, hid
her face in Lady Percivals gown and re-
mained silent.
Seeing this demonstration of fear, Sir
Rupert Went over and, bending down, with
white lips pressed the last kiss he ever be-
slowed on his child on her sunny ringlets-
whllo the tears rolled down the face of
heart-brolzen Lady Percival.