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

- q 49, remind me, rs / look
q at her, OF a pair of
NJ ~ dimpled, baby arms,
%ssNtsE-,s-Ss that never more will
- --,S--=A cling 10 the proud
----a='-3 neck.
Oh! yes and more than that memory is
hidden within the folds Of that black gown
There is a triple story OF bereavement and
II anguish of soul keener than that felt for
The dead, but, as yet, 1 do not know il quite
all
She Is mystery 10 me, and fail 10 com
prehend her many times, although know
'cr history 10 be crowded with incidents
5s-G and tragicaL
The afternoon sun comes through the lat
Nce IN brirht golden bars, and falls lovingly
on her dark hair, revealing to me that II is
not really black, as had thought, but OF a
deep brown color, but she Is not conscious
Of the sunshine
The scent OF the fragrant roses comes IN
rom the little garden below, with the
breath OF carnations and violets growing
P.tAtllul there' but her soul Is shut against
al tl4t IS beautiful IN nature TODAY
She IS so strange and lives within be--
self, IN such an atmosphere OF deep sorrow,
That have never been able 70 penetrate IL
and understand the heart throbbing out its
existence 10 the music or its dirges.
l would love TO talk freely 10 her this
afternoon, but am At a loss 70 know how 10
'~ ~H-AA- 4 ALi4r s4L lt-SL- q poor comforter.
heart IS sympathetic enough, but its emo
lions fail me in words In this. as in many
other things, am very unfortunate, and
The good that | would do is never realized
But finally I venture: Miriam. would Won
enjoy drive on tie beach, or shall II be a
stroll IN the woods 10 NIL up this remaining
piece Of a day?n
Out there beyond the trees, and swell
ing shoreward, lie the blue waters of the
nav. and bavouH h1orr1G fFts b--,,,g .-r.-.sy.
There is lovely drive along the sands, and
the weather Is glorious, and this IS why l
oncr myself and pony phaetOn 20 her, as ac-
cessorles Of u pleasant afternoon by the
sea But have missed il again, and NV
suggestion CRATES ou her optional pleasure
Slowly the great dark eyes are lifted 10
mlue in sorrowfl negative, and | know
have swept an irrespousIve chord.
l am answered further by doleful shake
Of the head; but she essays no word. Small
need; 1 understand her.
She crunches a letter IN her hand savage.
VA letter addressed 10 me Vet more he's
han mine-as IL 70 remind me that its CON
-euts are all she has room for in her
thoughts, aud that drive on the sunny
s--uGs would only mock the shores of moth
IHS 10 which her soul drifts this after
noon.
Then she gets UP as II have annoyed or
disturbed her Dy my question, wnich pre-
sumo have, and gees down the walk 70 the
little wicket opening out 70 the clustering
trees in front of my cottage. The great
white lilies that droop either side the way
are hardly paler than she, or more inno-
cent.
The wind coming up freshly from the
water catches at her gown, and tosses her
'0ng loose curls until she shivers. Per
laps il whispers 70 her Of her far away
desolate English home which stretches out
its arms, fguratively, and begs for her
presence; entreats the proud, beautiful
tace 10 shine once more within its great
mauorial halls. II that is what the winds
and waves are saving, their petition Is met,
doubtless, with = cruel rebuff.
Presently she comes back 10 me but in
stead OF sitting down on the OF oman at nav
feet, as half expected her 20 do, she drops
the letter into my lap, kisses me hUuEriIy.
whispers brokeuly; II can never do il
never" and goes upstairs. make no an
swcr; there are no words left me adequate,
neither does she look FOR reply.
take up the letter. and although I know
10 by heart must needs run over il again.
Il has come AL the yvav from Hastings, that
EeauJiful city by the sea, n mcrrIe old
England, and IS q call from desolated
ETeathcrlCigh Manor. 'Do know auEht Of
Miriam Percival Fairfax II SO, tidinrs Of
her will be thankfully received. The grand
death Of Sir Rupert PcrclvaI and his writ
zen request leaves her the sole lcgatee." l
am not allowed % answer the letter; Miri-
am viii not have IL so, and HeathcrIelgh -
nothing 10 me. OF course i have told her
she had better 90, but with a look OF horror
.l those haunting eyes OF hers, she has re-
fused emphaticaliy, as whispering with
wsIte lips she tells me that she 'hdtes her
ancestral halls and that have no idea
what ask Of herr
Perhaps / don't, and the deep aversion
ranking IN her soul toward her birthplace
comes kissing through the white teeth, and
effectually sIlences me in protesting further.
She came 10 me two years ago, sad and
sorrowiug, from the newly made graves Of
husband and child. Remember" she said
20 me once, that my husband and son sleep
where the shadows Of HeatherI,igh fall not
on them. Ny poor, brave Arthur could not
rest well IL Jhcy did, aud my little one has
forgotten. on his dreamIess pillow, the
curse that turned him away from its male
dictiye doors"
Ihlve not questioned her, regarding her
sorrows and grievances as too sacredly her
own FOR my intrusive inquiries, and she has
only revealed that which she chooses 10 tell.
But she is the daughter Of my dead
friend, and therefore open my arms, and
receive the desolGtc, heart-br1keu woman
into my home and heart. / dattcr myself,
too, that her sorroyvs have been somewhat
mitigated through my efforts She Is
cheerful, even, sometimes we stroll in
the fields, or wander OF among the ragged
hills where the wild heatherbell and bar
berry grow.
One time In particular remember, as "
sit holding the crumpled letter, a scene
that with her face comes back 10 me, as
beautiful dreams come sometimes across
our days OF care.
We had wandered up the hills, and were
sitting at the foot of a tree, resting Our
baskets beside US were filed with the red
fruit OF the barberry, and wreathed with
ferns and gayly- -colored leaves. In the dis
tauce shone the blue waters Of the bay,
and above us beamed the cloudless sky
while the breeze dallied here and there
limiting Of n sterrer season.
Miriam leaned her sunny head against the
messy trunk, and sat looking far OF over
the shimmering waters in the quiet dis
tance, and q look Of almost happiness
came into the perfect face 1 sat watching
her, wrapt in admiration, and hoping that
the dawnlng of brighter hours had come.
She turned to me with animation, saving:
This IS pleasant;s so pleasant and peaceful ~
and was glad TO answer: ''Yes.''
That was last year, and since then the
huctuatng tides Of peace and disquietude
have run So often into "A sea Of counter ,.,,y.