The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-04-04
on the stairway, who had neither moved nor
spoken since the watchers fed.

on the stairway, VINO had neither moved nor
spoken since the watchers fed.
by all the howly saints, howld yer ques-
tions 10 yerself," whispered Ancil "Not
wan av Us knows"
Presently low moan OF deepest anguish
came from the drawing room, followed by a
deep, sobbing sound.
''Ohi howly Maryi an It is Miriam" and
Peggy Clarkson started quickly to her feet
and took a step toward the door.
But the silent, mysterious figure in black
anticipated her movements and came swift
" out in the hall and glided out throu gh the
great doorway, disappearing In the dark
ness instantly.
At this strange visitant's manner each one
present was so astonIshed and helplessly
thunderstruck that for fully five minutes
not soul stirred nor uttered word. After
the shock to their nerves had worn off
enough TO admit of speech, James said: 81
know that it was Miriam" in such a posi-
tive tone that his words carried conviction
to their hearts. rrr--L
Then the commotion among the servants
was simply understandable ana starting IN
the utmost sSpse- They rushed hither and
thlther with lights, calling the beloved mis-
tress in pleading tones to come back, and
grew almost frantic in their vain endeav-
ors to find Miriam. Not trace of her could
be found 1'
After their long and fruitless search to
lind their beloved mistress or unrayel the
mystery of the midnight visitor, they gave
II up, lamenting their failure in heart
breaking exclamGtious of genuine sorrow
The dead master was wholly forgotten by
the excited household for the time, such
was their love for the daughter, whom they
were positive had walked like a spirit into
their midst with face mysteriously vailed,
and had disappeared in some unaccountable
manner.
Whv did sba oo,,,a- 81 20 - a:a -
come in that mannera Why not come and
stay now that there were none to dispute
her presencel
These questions were asked a thousand
times, but not one was found wise enough
to answer
Doubtless it was really Miriam, who,
hearing of her fathers death, had come to
take last look and farewell He who in
life she dared not approach and from whose
heart the strange decree had weaned her,
even in her baby hood
What her thoughts must have been we can
only conjecture; coming back to the child
hood haunts and slipping in like a thief in
the midnight watches beneath the old roof
tree from which she had been banlshed
coming back TO shed bitter tears; perhaps,
on the rigid form of him, who had Forbidden
her 10 call hun father; and then vans nln 9
away into the midnight darkness, like a
thing OF evil, was something only those who
possessed wealth OF daring could do. She
must have had nerve and complete control
Of her will-power, also passionate love for
the dead. to Undertake this stran ge method
OF visiting him thus. -rG EHs- r..
After complete search of the whole
countryside, and no trace OF the absent
one could be Obtained, the more super's IL
uous set that midnight visitor down as 2
hrst-class spirit. Some went so far as to
presume that Miriam might have died and
that her spirit came TO take a last look a. Sir
Rupert, and mayhap feel a throb of tri-
umph over his demise.
But Peggy Clarkson, superstitious as she
was by nature and education, hooted the
idea as simply preposterous, declaring that
II was the young misthress, in puir fish
and blud, for, - said she with great show of
contempt for the theory advanced, ''who
iver hearn tell o. spirits mournin' out loud
over corpsesg'
Be tins as it may, Miriam could not be
found, and Sir Rupert was borne to the
tomb of his ancestors in Oaklavvn, with
neither klth nor kin TO follow him. The old
gray-haired clergyman pronounced with
much feeling: Behold his house was left
unto him desolate, and the day of his death
was certainly better than the day of his
birth Peace TO his ashesp'
In due time the viii of SIR Rupert was
unearthed and made known. Heatherleigh
Hall was bequeaihed Ito Miriam Perclval
Fairfax and her heirs forever" In a codi-
c. attached he pronounced al earnest wish