The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-03-07
EBENsBURG. PA. FRIDAY. MARCH 7. lss

haythun how angry he is. He's all tore up
an he's Arthur wantin' yes this minute:
an it's the loikes Of We TO be hurryin' roight
on"
James ran upstairs to the bidding and
almost few along the shadowy corridors.
bent on obeying his masters behest, and
shortly stood before him. The quiet, airy
peacefulness of Sir Ruperts apartments
contrasted strangely with the stormy soul
ofits occupant.
The breeze that came In over the open
easement from the sea, fresh and sweet,
only famed an aged face flushed with
anger, played with whitened locks timidly,
and died amid the silken curtains unheeded
Nature and natures soothing influence
had 10 part in the thoughts of the proud
soul seething in its own wrath No; the
legendary curse had fallen, and Sir Rupert
as one of the victims was busy trying 10
cope with its influence.
You sent for me, sirr' questioned
James, softly, the strange light in his
masters face startling him.
"Hes, / did," returned Sir Rupert, saw
agely- Have my dinner here IN an hour
Since that undutiful daughter of mine has
gone with that beggar FL have no one dine
with me hereafter; I'll take my meals in
my apartments up here. Do You under
stand meF'
y
''And hereafter do not want her name
mentioned in my home; she has forfeited
all right TO Heatherleigh, and heuceforth
she is no child of the Percivals. Now
wish you 10 remember what have said. -
And with m impatient wave OF his hand he
bade the butler retire, and leave him alone
for the nonce.
With another meek "yes, sir" James
glided out Of the presence Of his master
and downstairs as il the evil genius of the
Hall was at his unfortunate heels.
Lord what a passion the master is in, -
communicated he when among his fellow
servants in the wing once more. And ex-
citedly, and perhaps with some exaggera-
tion, he repeated Sir Rupert PercivaI's 5
words
'.Howly St Pathrick,'' groaned old AnciI
Clarkson from his corner, where he sat
with his accustomed mug of ale on his knee,
forgetful, for the time, of its deliciousness
in the blood-curdling topic Of the masters
wrath"
"YOu may go down now, and if need
you will ring for you; otherwise l want
no one near me to night" Sir Rupert sai6
an hour later, as the punctual butler set
down the tray at his masters elbow.
James was not summoned again that
evening, and feeling relieved he joined the
servants circle once more, and around the
wide chimney, whose fiickering flames and
BAO"AAl6 GIDtES u2nLB0 LDClr earnest
faces, they sat and speculated to where
this last estrangement would lead
The next day brought a great change in
the manner Of the master Of Heatherleigh
1t was as if he had gone through some great
sea of SORROW. AbSept and softeued IN tone
and gesture, he wandered aimlessly about
the Hall, thinking
He opened Lady Percivars apartments
and walked through the long-silent rooms
fOnHhiup lfffiR ~ har
and there gently, as If in communion with
the dead.
After this, he took down Miriam's portrait
from where it hung by her mothers, over
the marble mantel in Lady Perciyal's pri-
vate parlor, and carried it away to the
lonely gallery. Pausing at The end of the
row OF fated portraits, he looked long auG
earnestly on the clear, fine features of his
beautiful daughter, and then said half audi
bly,: Miriam! my daughter, Miriam, 1 am
alone! an unable to undo what 1 have
done; and, too q Percival never eats his
words.
'Iwould have saved you, my child, could ]
have done so; but the fatality Of the family
has overtaken yOu, and what could your
poor, desolate father dol You have forsaken
Heatherlelgh for poverty-stricken com.
panion, and have gone with the choice OF
your heart, as did Allan here. Alas Allan
that have now no brotherl Alas Miriam
that now have no child. Henceforth you
are dead TO me; good -bye-aye, worse
fareweili'
Having kissed the portrait Of the proud
vtlIful child, he hung itup for moment FOL
another view OF the sweet face. ''TrulJ
she was regal then" he said, with a deer
sigh Then he turned the face of hi:
daughter to the wall with a shiver, and
sealed the doom of mis- mother!ess child
After this he tottered upstairs TO his
apartments with much feebler sep than ht
had ever known Surely this was, by far
me greatest sorrow Of his long, loveless
existence. Ahl yes, II was the hardest
blow he had ever experienced
Bereaved of his beautiful wife, whom ht
loved tenderly, how crushed and sorrowfu
his days had been in the great, lonely Hall
But he knew where she was resting; thii
other bereavement, why, this was so differ
snt, so differentl Poor Miriaml he knew
nothing Of her wandering away; perhaps
might never know aught OF her more. tn,
rest Of them went that way-Allau did.
The curse of temper and circumstance
was worse than death Yes, in comparison
death was kind
The threatening breach had now wideneC
beyond repair between Sir Rupert and hi
child, and ''too late' was written across tn,
seal of her doom. He must bow also TO tht
inevitable.
HeatherIeigb hnried he d,nghter IN hi
s. -. : q
- - ,o,Io,,- T1Se go 49, .-o-,e
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mis- own apartments; long, companionlesi
walks about the grounds with his hands
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