The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-03-21
MIRIAM.
The Romance Of HeathGFlGigh Hall.
By MANDA L. CROKER.
CoPYRIGHT, 1889.


ment which followed the butler's astound-
ing udings, Peggy burst out: "Blissid
NarEln an On was shure the masthur had
heart if he only cUd foind it; he's Arthur
repintin' ov his thratemert Of the pufr
chilccrs." And in her excited grief she
rocked back and forth in her favorite
wicker chair, moaning in her grief that a
might be 400 late 10 repint."
One by one they We're won over to the be-
lief that may be the ancestral curse had
been thwartcd, and that soon they might
have their Young mistress and the little
one with them again, until it came 10 old
Aucu, who was keeping company with his
inevitable old pipe in the corner OF the wide
chimney. He stoutly refuted all IDEAS Of
repentance and reconciliation on the part Of
Sir Rupert, remembering, as he did, how
that Lady PercivaI had kuelt at the mas
ter's feet once IN the long ago, something
as Peggy had done that day in behalf of
Miriam, and plead in vain for a restoration
Of love.
''No, he never wud be silly enuff 10 behave
ony such stun. The divil n bit viii he repiut
an ye are n foolish lot, be jabers TO waste
your pity on i'm, " he said, retiIling his pipe
with impatient gesture ''Oi yvudna
wonder, though, an 'twould kill I'm, 4" he
added, mcditatively, as he held the pipe be-
tween thumb and finger, and gazed into the
sickly flame on the hearth. Then, as If he
had sesled the masters fate and passed
judgment on the future, he lifted his gray
mead commaadirEIy and swept his wrinkled
hand across an Imaginary arc above i, say
ing, veugefuly: LET IL kill i'm let IL be
the death ov i'm, an Oi've not a wurrud 10
say. That's just il; let i'm be Arthur gittin'
his desarts. Pay him, Oi say, in has own
chink; IN his very own, an i'm be guide
enun fur 'in.n
But harlIl what was that which came
through the open hanwaya In q moment
Ancii had subsidized in his haruuCue, and
AL had risen 10 their feet and stood listen
ing. There 10 came again; it was the clear,
quick tones OF the mCstcr's bell summon
Ing tLeml What had hRppeuedi Every
face told plainly that the sourd OF the mas
ter's bell, after hours had struck terror
70 their hearts
James ran upstairs with all speed posi-
BILE, and went alone, as not one Of them
dared 20 follow him, although the little sill
very peals OF the bell continued TO float
down corridor and hall IN quick, ener-
getic notes
"Howly MCsesl an what's up nOvl Whiu
viii the ind De rached and the climax Of tins
therible day be forninst usr' And AnciI
Ciarkson walked back and forth excitedly
in the midst Of those who might not make
him answer
James opened the 6oor OF his masters
apartments with feeling ss n something
awful had happened, or would soon happen
the Han. In moment more he stood mute
" .ture Sir Rupert who, with one ~ m
bling hand still resting on the belI-pull, stood
staring wildly into space.
Il wishyou would call Miriam" begged
the master, in a helpless, stricken tone.
She has Just this moment left me 20 ar
range for q journey, and II can not have
her 60. 1 an old, James, and she must have
pity-must stay with me. You viii ind
her in her rooms, think; see her at once,
and tel her she must, for sweet PHYS sake,
give up this journey-voyage, rather"
James stood petrifed 70 the spot for some
minutes. Had the master gone daft, or had
Miriam really returned, and was she now
In the Hall sonewhcrei
Sir Rupert took his hand from the bell
and stretched Il out TO the butler in en-
treaty, while an ashen paleness crept over
his aged face.
Don't lose moment Of time, James,
and II she VIII go, why, ask her 70 leave
the child with me. II will be such q sun
shine in the Hall, the bright little"
BOY" put in James, by way Of enlight-
eument, no longer fearing reprimand from
this gely-altered man.
"Bbyl AhI dear little SON" went on
Sir Rupert. "a sonl Then the evil genius
can at Inst be thwarted. A sonl Go, bring
the Ht.lc one-Hiriarn's little son-and beg
Of her also not 20 make the voyage unless
she must would have prevailed on her
he continued, in lower tone, and sinking
into his chair, "but somehow she wouldn't
listen to me, James. She could not be made
to hOarken."
He ceased speaking and folded his arms
In a ti-Cd way.
"Well, James, VIII you fail me tooi" he
added, pIteOusly.
mo, master, shall not fail, ," answered
the butler, promising something, he knew
not what. Then he stepped outside to think.
What should he doF'
he was certain that Miriam Percival
Fairfax was not in the Hall, and he half
believed Sir Rppert's mind was turned, or
that he had had a vivid dream, which, 70
him, was reality.
Nevertheless he went 10 Miriaua's rooms;
groping around the shadovy silent corri-
dor, and thinking faster than he had done
for many a day.
The key to her apartments was hanging
in its ring in the wall at the right Of the
door, as IL nad nung Tor four long solitary
years, except at the times when Sir Rupert,
seized with sudden fits Of compunctiOn,
would pay VISIT 70 them.
Turning the key in the lock, James opened
the door cautiously and looked in. Not a
sound or even sight OF any living object
met his eager, questioning eyes. II was
plain Miriam was not there, nor had not
been, and that Sir Rupert was suffering
from a temporary haIlucination the butler
felt certain.
Reluctantly he retraced his steps, and
opening his masters door quietly he went in
Sir Rupert was sitting much as he left him,
only his hands had fallen TO his side and
that he seemed asleep. He reused up, how
ever, as James entered, and wan smile
hoYered around his trembling lips as he
asked: "Did she reliuquish her resolve
concerning the trip, and wlll she be kind 70
NE and remain az the Hall?''
''No,n answered James, talking at ran
dom, "she IS going"
''And viii have no pity on her lonely IA
therl Ali ingraGtude; ingratitudei She
win leave me the little son, then, IL she
must gol"
''No," answered the butler, again at his
wits end, but laundering on, ''she VIII
take the baby with her; needs him her
self she says"
Then lam undonc; in the home OF my
ancestors / must die alone, and broken
hearted. But could you not prevail on herl'
he continued, Frightening visibly. "Speak
of her dead mother"
"But, master" said James, much affected
by this unusual softness, and knowing the
utter hopclessness of the case, ''but, mas
ter, Miriam Is gone; / saw her CO.
"Alasi alas another golden opportunity
has flown from me, and 1 am left In my
house desolatet desoiater'
Sir Rupert rose from his chair, and,
stretching out his arms as If TO grasp some
unseen object, took n step forward and fell
prone on the floor. The terrified James
N.n =