Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-03
CHAPTER XII.
IN STORM AND DARKNESS

Nevertheless, Lady Maekennon declined
the invitation to the wedding which Mrs.
Clyde penned in her most gracious, graceful
style. She wrote back in that stiff, old
fashioned handwriting of hers that she was
too old to leave home, but that she would
be pleased to welcome her sons wife there.
1t was not warm nor cordial letter, but
still there was nothing in it to find fault
with. Lady MacKennon was evidently a
reserved woman, Mrs. CLYDE decided from
her guarded words; and she thought also.
though she did not say SO, that Miriam's
future mother-in-iaw would be somewhat
difficult person to deal with.
In the meanwhile Miriam was irving to
summon up her courage to seek another
interview with Hugh Ferrars. A final
interview, she told herself, for she would
see him no more. He must take the 200
Sir James had given her and 60 away and
leave England for ever. Nothing else was
safe for him, and she would not seem SO
false to Sir James if she knew it were ab-
solutelv impossible that she should ever
meet Hugh Ferrars again.
Poor Miriami Her heart pulled her one
way and her conscience another. But, then,
she knew she could not follow the dictates
Of her heart. She knew Hugh Ferrars
could be nothing to her were she to sacrifice
everything for his sake. He must forget
her and she must try to forget him. They
had no choice-the danger that dogged his
footsteps was real and terrible, but it would
be made ten times more real and terrible
were she to link her fate with his.
And then she must compromise herself
again in the ewes of Ford; of Ford, who
knew about the diamonds that had come
from Sir James mother; who knew about the
preparations for the wedding; and yet she
was obliged to allow Ford to think that
she went out alone at night to meet DR..
Reed
But there was no help for it. She could
not send a large sum of money by the post
10 Private Dare; and, moreover, she be-
believed that Hugh Ferrars would return it
If she did She knew his fiery, impetuous
nature. but she hoped to prevail on him by
her personal influence to take it. So she
must see him, and she could only see him
bv the assistance of Ford Luckily S:r
James had not said anything again about
visiting the wounded soldier Miriam
hoped he would forget that he had thought
Of doing so, but Sir James rarely forgot an
intended kindness.
Thus on the very day that Miriam had
made up her mind to ask Ford to post an
- - letter to Dr. Reed, containing an in
closure fDare, to Miriam's dismay, when
Sir James called in the afternoon as usual,
he began to talk before her mother OF Pri-
vate Dare.
"Do you know, very strange thing has
lust happened" he said. 81 told you,
Miriam wanted TO see the soldier that you
were SO good to- and 1 called at the barracks
on nv way here and asked Escourt to 60
with me to see him. Well, Escourt went,
and saw this fellow Dare, and a remarka-
bly, handsome fellow he is. He was sitting
on a bench IN front of the barracks, read
ing, and Escourt spoke to him and said who
l was"
"How kind of you to interest yourself in
him, Sir James," said Mrs Clyde, gra-
ciously.
81 was interested in him because Miriam
had behaved so bravely when he was
wounded, and also because he would not
get the soldier who shot him into trouble.
And now am more interested still; but
will tell you what happened. He got up
and saluted when Escourt spoke to him, and
then / asked him how he was He an
swered very briefly; then put couple of
sovereigns in his hand, or rather tried to
put them into his hand, for he would not
take them"
''Extraordinaryp' exclaimed Mrs. Clyde,
raising her eyebrows.
eyes, wasn't it?" continued Sir James.
"'Come, my good fellow I said, they'll
not do YOU any harm, and again 1 offered
them to him. Then he looked me straight
in the face, and drew himself up, and said
haughtily enough, 1 can tell you: Sir, I
do not take aims and both Escourt and I
were struck in a moment by his voice and
manner. The fellows a gentleman, there's
no mistake about it, and l feel heartily
sorry for MIN.
"Do You not think it was impertinent of
him to refuse your money when you meant
it so kindly?" said Mrs. Clyde.
mo, don't; expect it would be impos-
sible for him to take money from anyone
unless he had earned it. That was my i'm
preston, and fancy am right"
Miriam never spoke while this converse
ton was going on. She had hastily turned
her head away, and listened with fiutter-
ing heart and bated breath:
"And you really think he has been born
q centleman?" asked Mrs. Clyde. "This is
81 am sure of it." said Sir James IT
asked DR.. Reed about him later on, and the
doctor laughed. Some poor fellow come to
grief I suppose' he said, and he did not
seem much inclined to talk about him; per-
haps this Dare has told him his history in
confidence. At all events, he wouldn't say
anything, except that he thought he would
soon be all right"
is CeftdAut l. AAuss oSA wi
onel Clyde to inquire about him., said
Mrs. Glide; and then she changed the con- |
versation, and Sir James noticed when |
Miriam again looked round that her face |
had grown very white. |
She lett the room few momen is later |
and hurried to her own. There was no |
time to lose she told herself; Hugh Ferras
must go, or his secret would be discovered. |
AT all events DR.. Reed could be trusted, |
and so she rang for Ford
Ill want you to post . letter for me, |
Ford" she said.
Eyes, Miss Miriam" answered the lady's |
maid.
Tit is 20 Dr. Reed, 4" faltered Miriam,
with dowpcast eyes.
"Yes, Miss Miriam" again said Ford
''You can post it when we are at dinner"
SIS Sir James going to stay dinner" in
quired Ford, demurely. !
''I think So" answered Miriam, with |
shame IN her heart. She felt that she was |
degrading herself in the lady's maids eyes;
that she was degrading Sir James But 4
Ford made no further comments She /
slipped the letter, which Miriam had al
ready written before Sir James arrived, into
the pocket of her gown, and she wondered
how her young mistress could be 30 unwise.
"Surely she is not going to meet him
again." she thought as she tripped down
stairs Then temptation assailed. She
Varied the letter to her own room, drew 1t
,ut, and looked at 1t attentively. II was
,..i.d l,-,f than Ford had seafin0.vaY of |