The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-02-15

never after that stroke OF sorrowful fort
me known 10 be; for all pleasure went
out into q blank solitude with the fight of
Lady Percivals gentle spirit.
The merry-malzers and social visitors who
in Lady PerCiva.' : time, througed the hlth-
crto couvivial atmosphere of Heatherleigh.
gradually dropped OF after her demise
never again to enter the hall as welcome
guests. Every thing changed at the Hal
under the master s regime, until, il time,
not a solitary visitor came 10 cheer or
break the silent mCnotony Of its desolation
Sir Rupert was given 10 morose and mel
ancholy days, and ii was no wonder, under
his spell, and grew 10 be iuhospitabIe
old gentleman who, IL his seventieth year,
had come to even dislike a merry face.
Miriam had but few associates or visit
ors that she dared entertain at the Hall on
this account; and under the influence Of
such diStasteful solitude she grew tacituru
and sorrowful The shadows Of her uu-
favorable abode told on her, and all the
vIvscity and freshness of her young life
seemed degencrating into passionIess ex-
istence in the frigiiity OF the Hall.
No wonder; even the servants became
GUM after the sunshine Of Lady PercivaIs
heart went out from their day, and they
moved silently or with smothered grumble
in their respective grooves, under the chill
ing influence Of Sir Rupert's unsociable
reign.
But there came time, as Il comes TO all
whether their lines be sad or JOYOUS, a
break in the home life Of the pale, silent
daughter.
This change happened 70 Miriam when
the tide of time set to the strange, joyless
shores Of the fatality that decreed the
shutting OF the doors of Heatherleigh
against her, leaving her 10 drift away in
sorrow's mists from its grandeur forever.
What had befallen her unlucky relatives
had at last fallen with vengeful hand on
the pale, proud daughter Of la5 Perciyals.
we sat and talked Of her, in the dull
cleaning of the autumn night so betting
her history, and listened TO the itfuI gusts
OF the angry elements sweeping around
the Hall BY lUe / mean the old hou seleeper
and her husband, who were still occupying 2
the servants quarters, as / had rightly
heard. 1t was in accordance with Sir Ru-
perts wishes that this faithful couple stil
kept their rooms in the west wing, and oc-
caslonally showed curious visitors over the
main building. In the absence of visitants S
the Hall was kept locked, and the supersti-
tous old pair never intruded on its dismal
silence alone.
These two old servants, / soon found,
were very much devoted 10 the memory of
their dead mistress and the long-lost
daughter. When l heard their lamenta-
lions Tor the young mistress" and beheld
their tears, was tempted to disclose her
whereabouts to the sorrowing twain, but
on reflection remen oercd she would never
return as they desired, nor hold converse
with any one within the environs of her
birth place, and as she was virtually dead
to them might as well hold my peace.
But when the conversation turned on Sir
Rupert, they had but little 10 offer in his be-
half; although their tones were RESPECTFUL
enough, / could see they had not forgiven
HIM for the merciless doings of an unnatural
father.
'You must show me the hall and tell me
the story" l said, as we sat around tho
cheerful wood fire kindled in the great
chimney that filed up nearly one whole end
of the apartment This room was SO cheer