The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-04-04
CHAPTER XIX.

"
ID We left the inmates of Heatherleich PaV
terrified over the prostrate form of the mas
ter But he was not dead, as Peggy sup
posed only dazet and stunned. After re
lighting the tapers they carried Sir Rupert
TO his apartments, where he revived rres-
emily, Marcia declaring in an aside TO the
coachman that ''he had the lives of a cat or
ne would have been dead and buried long
ago, as became him"
They stared with him until the thunder
storm had spent lts fury and swayed away
IN the distance with low, sullen roar By
that time Sir Rupert had gained his usual
quiet demeanor and was sinking into slum-
ber
II was now nearly morning, and the warn
ing Of chanticleer notified them Of daybre.s K
And as Peggy SAID, ''she niver was known
oV the tonne whin the masther didn't kape
awake an tearIn' around like possessed
until there was no tonne left for any one oy
them 10 schlape 'ceptin' himself"
But there shortly came time when the
master did not even tear 'rOund.'' In the
stlIly sweet weather another step toward tu,.
long, long home was indicated In those
days Sir Rupert did nothing but lie on the
couch and stare aImlessly At the frescoed
ceIIIng.
These days were days Of comparative
peace az the Hall and the servants We're
lett 10 their own sweet will pretty much
=
Church, an old friend of the masters, came
In by request and read TO h N for hou-
sometimes the servants kept Sir Rupert
company, and whiled away the hours in his
rooms 70 please his childish fancies
One afternoon after the rector had taken
his departure, an unusual silence peryasied
the Hall, As II the house hung wavering il
the balance OF some terrible destiny.
Sir Rupert broke the gloomy spell by
sending summons for Ancil Clarkson,
who was busy in the garden And when
that broad-shOUldered SON Of Erin made his
appearance, hat in hand, he was electrified
by seeing his master walking about his
apartments. ''Seei" SAID he, sI am much
better this afternoon, Ancf, therefore
must go downstairs, and want you 10 as
sist me in descending"
SO the willing servant, ready 10 CRAFTY
his masters strange wish, almost carried
him down the long flights of stairs and
through the central hall until the front en-
trance was reached. .. .
The wish 10 be down stairs was not so
strange to Ancil as for the idea 10 get into
Sir Ruperts head that ne was able to en-
dure IT,
Nevertheless, he was down at last, and
placing him in hls ong-unused rolling chair,
which had kept lonely vigil behind the door
for months, Ancil wheeled him out on the
steps, and, reclining peacefully, Sir Rupert
watched with a half-smile the waning
light OF another summers day
The lovely English creepers nodded in
the bright soft air of midsummer, and
dropped In sweet profusion from the wealth
er-staIned colonnade; aud the birds twit-
tered sleepy songs in the shadowy fastness-
es OF the hoary elms, but Sir Rupert seemed
not to see. He needed nothing of the peace
ful present, nor even noticed the patient
Ancil, who, leaning against a column,
watched his masters countenance and
waited further orders.
No; Sir Rupert saw none of these; he
was looking beyond, to the open space,
where Miriam stood once with outstretcheG
arms; toward this spot he only cared to
gaze. And he had said ''go;" had forbade
ner coming across the threshold; the
threshold now so desolatel
Some way the golden shafts of Pickering
sunlight falling slanting through the dark
crowns of the elms seemed TO him to-day
like golden baby curls, and the dark, hover
ing shadows nearer still put him so much
in mind of Miriam's dress. The somoer
Grape fell down into folds like that when
she bade him goodbye" That last, last
goodbye.
He clutched the arms of his chair in q be-
wildered way, and murmured, family: ''It
has been SO long, so very long since she
has been here; don't you know 1t has,
AncilP'
Upon being answered in the affirmative,
ne paused a moment anu IDCQ SllO. 10
not understand il at all; will she not come
soon now, Ancill' but the servant did not
answer. The cruel words of his master on
that memorable day flashed through his
reJentive memory, and he held his peace.
Atthis Sir Rupert grew nervous and dis
appointed. Signnying his desire TO go In,
Aucil wheeled him back into the hall.
Might go into the gallery to see Mir
lamp asked the master, as Ancil pre-
pared TO assist him upstairs. The question
came In a faltering tone, as IL coupled with
the fear of being denied, and Ancn carried
his master thlthcr without word. Steady
ing his trembling linn bs on the threshold, Sir
Rupert managed 70 walk, unassIsted, across
the room. Long and sadly he fingered be-
fore the portrait of his daughter without
word. Then he was ready to go upstairs
again.
Ancn was thinking, all the way up the
long fight Of steps, If he dared speak TO his
master concerning Miriam What wouSd
the penalty be should he mention her in
the connection he desired.
"Aasthur," SAID he, as he arranged the
pillows comfortably on the couch and as
sisted Sir Rupert TO lie down, '.Masthur,
wud ther be ony harrum; an moight we
not sind for the young misthressi An she
wud COON 70 yez, Dim quite shure."
All exhausted and white, Sir Rupert
shrank down among the pillows, and
answered only by an impatient gesture.
Then be turned wearily over TO the wa!