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

themselves suddenly stranded on the ruins
Of its former prosperity.
50 when the mother ofinVention sat down
IN the. Observation-Disclosures apartments
10 devise different arran gements from those
of simply enjoying life, she sent a thrill of
horror through the veins OF their dwellers.
To be thus thrust out of their rank in life
and society, and reckoned with the plebe-
ians, was trying ordeal. The common lot
OF the financially unfortunate cast a dis
heartening influence across their day. The
social circles began 10 forget them and no
member Of the proud, refined family felt
the neglect more keenly than the eldest
son, Arthur, who had, hitherto, many warm
friends within the radius of the bon ton Of
Hastings.
To be thus ignored, many a less suscepti-
bic heart than his had found a bitter fort
une; then marvel not when Arthur grew
morbid over his changed life, and looked
upon their circumstances as something
saVoring Of a criminal oiense.
Society snubbed, society talked and spec
ulated, until, driven almost TO despair,
Arthur determined TO retrieve the loss OF
property in part, 1t least, abroad. To this
end he resolved TO embark IN mining en-
terprise with an uncle in the coal mines,
which promised unoounded success.
But paramount TO all the grievances he
endured in consequence of his unfortunate
circumstances, there was a wretched dread
OF possibility Of more magnitude and i'm
portance TO him.
In his palmy days he had been a welcome
visitor at Heatherleigh, and had been a
favTite OF the house, with the exception of
Sir Rupert.
be, however, had treated him kindly, al
though he could not lay claim 10 title.
This mark OF favor young Fairfax did not
accord TO the real reason, but was pleased
to consider it in the light Of meritorious
worth Had he, for an instant, imagined
that the master OF Heatherleigh was only
condescendIng to hiEl, in consideration of
the wealth ana influence of his family, his
visits 10 the hall would never have been
made in the free and easy manner Of an in
innate friend Of its occupants.
But Sir Rupert's kindly tolerance fat
tered him, and the sincerity Of Lady Per-
clyal pleased him exceedingly; but, after
al, II was really the society of Miriam
which had held him speubound in those
days.
Thrown into her charming company con-
tinually, his heart had gone out TO her in a
sacred attachment before he was hardly
aware of it. But when Miriam, who at
first had received him shyly and with re
serve, had grown to welcome him a-ith cor
dlality and heightened color, he Gwoze TO
the knowledge that he loved her passion
ately. And often, too, he had BATTERED him
self she WAS not Indifferent 10 him
After this awakening it was only natural
for him TO indulge in dreaming of happy
day ''to be-" when the beautiful daughter
Of the Percivals would consent TO unite her
destiny with his.
Little did the young lover know of the
sad days Of reverse and keen sorrow the
future held in store for Miriam as his wife
But since Lady Percivars death he had
Intruded on the sorrow of the hall but
little, for Sir Rupert had seemed so silent
and grieved, and Miriam had not been Wis
ible.
And now, after his own reverses had
fallen, would Sir Rupert ever be kind to
him agsinf Knowing his eccentric ways,
and Of late years his strange reserve, he
dreaded 10 risk a visit TO the gloomy old
gentleman since the failure OF hls father,
and since by 1t he had fallen out of rank
with the Percivals.
How the news Of his family's changed
circumstances had been received al the
hall he had no way OF finding out, ana how
II had affected the one sweet friend Of his
life on whose yea or nay hung his future
happiness he knew not.
ITO be C1Ufi15Jsd1