The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-02-28


"No," came the answer, decisively. 81
am going with you, Arthur. The bird pre-
feis the freedom of the forest, though
bought with price, 10 the elegance and
ease of 4 gllded prison-house- The hard
ships and storms of the former are nothing
when freedom and love and sunshine glorify
IL am going with you, Arthur, SO please
do not object any longer.''
And he did not He only drew her close
TO his proud, happy heart and pressed
fervent kiss on the determined little mouth
for answer.
What wealth of love had been given
him; and, for the time, he had forgotten
the wrathful vengeance of the father, in
the love of the beautiful daughter, until
the turning OF the door-handle gave him a
start
To avoid Sir Rupert they let them
selves out through rear entrance and
stole across the park together until its
boundary was reached.
Don't grieve, dearest, if your father
should say harsh things to you, and hard
things of me, on your return TO the Hail."
Arthur said, taking her hand kindly. "As
soon as have arranged with my uncle as
10 time OF starting for the mines, l will
come for you.n
Il shall be so glad" exclaimed Miriam,
with smile of anticipation lighting up her
featm es. Il Will not grieve."
'You are brave and good, - he said, proud
only be for a brief season, trust, that
you will be obliged TO feel the incon-
veniences OF n soiourn in the mining re
g.ons. God help mel how / wish / were
the child OF wealth for your sake, Miriam"
Hush (! Arthur, i am not dissatisfied with
your fortune, and am only too glad TO be
with you and to get away from Heather
leigh"
And they both looked back instinctively
to the great frowning gables beyond the
Simmer Of the ripping artificial lake, he
with rising of wrathful feeling, she with
shudder- Then with fond good bye he
was gone, and the iron wicket shut with
spiteful click, and Miriam retraced her
steps, pondering this romantic days doings
with sense Of utter loneliness creeping
over her.
Il am not in the wrong" she said, softly,
70 the mild-eyed deer in the adjoining
chase as they browsed and looked wonder
ingly at her through the barbed inclosure.
Il can not help il If 1 am destined TO in
cur my fathers hatred" she nodded TO the
great swans at play on the bosom OF the
sheeny water, land shall not try.''
But the deer did not understand, and the
white, graceful birds sailed across TO the
opposite shore unmindful OF her presence
They had no share in the wrath, the sor-
rows OF the shadow-life Of the Hall; theirs
was the sunny side of existence within its
envlrons, and al the cares and heart-aches
Ien 10 the lot or its more intelligent
owellers.
Back into the silent gloom crept the
worse than orphaned girl, and eluding Sir
Rupert she gnded TO her apartments, leav-
ing him N ignorance of her walk through
the park with son OF poverty he had or
dered from his moneyed doors
Miriam had come into possession of the
legend; a little here and little there had
been revealed to her until she knew the
traditional curse by heart
There was time when she had laughed
its import TO scorn, but of late years she
began TO believe in the truth Of its asser-
ton.
A fortnight after parting from Arthur
note was handed her by servant. 1t was
from her lover, and stated that he had per-
fected his plans for leaving for the mines
and that he would be at the entrance to the
park from the highway with a carriage for
her on the morrow. sin the afternoon,
dearest, he had written, Il will come:
there Is no need of me asking you to be
punctual in meeting me at the iron wicket
near the chase at three o'clock, as know
you viii not fail.'
FAIL No, not for worlds, yet a strange
yearning for the dark old Hall, a longing to
De reconciled to the gray haired father,
took possession of her. But more bitter
than the waters of Mara came the prompt
ings OF pride and wounded filial affection
Ii Is utterly useless to grow morbid over
impossibilities. She must bow TO the rod of
heartless destiny, and go unpardoDed and
unloved.
The morning dswned at last that closed
the long, nervous sepnight of waiting.
Miriam woke from terrible dream of
death, and.in an agony of doubt and terror
she sprang from her couch lit was but q
dream" she said, smiling family to her
scared reflection in the mirror, "but a
dream" Yet She could not help but think
that even dreams were significant some
times. She dared not mention it TO Peggy;
Tor that credulous creature would, with
her Irish propensities for the mysterious
interpret terrible revelation, no doubt
And the yawning mines, the black pits and
the blackcovered hearse of her night
vision would be all but dire realities by
the time Clarkson would be done with
them. She must not dwell on this: she
must prepare for her flight Her face
assumed an ashen hue and her eyes
dilated as she thought of this the last day
Tor her within the hall as its heiress.
Disinheritance would be her doom. That
was what had fallen to the others: those
that had gone before her, and whose
| portraits she had so often seen in the
| gallery.
OH yes. She must needs pay a visit TO
/ her kindred Of the silent room. doubly her
kindred now, for the day had arrived at
last that another child of the Percivals was
ready 10 depart from the frowning shadows
OF Heatherleigh. How many sad hearts
had gone from beneath its roof, with the
day Of wrath treasured up against them.
'1f it must be, it must,'' she said, bitterly,
as she walked the shadowy, silent length of
the low gallery alone an hour before her
departure. taking last view of the re-
versed faces, hung in line ''like so many
gibbetted souls" she murmured. ssI can
not help being that eldest Child neither
am TO blame for the curse of an ancestor
falling to hapless posterity. All! YOU dear
proud one" she exclaimed, with a tremor
Of anguish in her tones, as she turned the
last portrait of the doomed to the light
"You were a youngest child, poor Alleni
and where are you to-day? Ali my fair,
noble-browed relative, ! fancy some one
will stand here some day and ask that
same question concerning me; perhaps not
so very far hence, either.
"Alas alas that am one of voup' she
exclaimed, wildly. "What a thing love is.
TO win US all away from our ancestral halls
into so-called mesalliances, bringing down
thereby the wrath of our fathers and dis
inheritance
"Ahi goodbye mol farewell to you all;
am doomed also, and must be goingr'
She turned the face of the hapless Allan
TO the wall again, and waving a sad adieu
with trembling hand, while tears Of anguish
bedimmed her vision, she left the long,
lonely gallery, shutting the door gently as
il on the beloved dead instead Of on so many
portraits only.
''This IS my last visit TO the gallery" she
whispered with prophetic lips, ''the lastti
shall come"
CHAPTER TX
So az happened that after having sought
her father in a last hope of reconciliation
and failed, insomuch that the ending proved
10 be but stormy interview and wrathful
parting, Miriam stole quietly out through
the uark 10 meet her futurc husband.