Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-24

nearest station to Sir James place, but
half moon had shone out to partly lgh
them on their way, and its glimmer fell OF
the waters of the loch as they drove by 1T
side.
Chow beautiful it seems" said Miriam
with enthusiasm, who had never been IN
the Highlands before.
wait till you see it in daylight" an
swered Sir James, with some pride.
They were both sitting Handicapped,
these two. as they approached their future
in Sir James heart. AS for Miriam, she
wss excited by her surroundings, and had
not time to think. But as they drove up
the avenue to the house she clasped Sll
James hand little tighter in her own.
Il feel quite nervous, she said.
He stopped down and kissed her.
"What for, darling?" he whispered.
''You are only going home"
Almost as he said this, they reached the
hall door which was standing open to re-
ceive them, and several servants also ap.
peared. Sir James spoke kindly to some OF
these, and then turned and handed Miriam
out of the carriage, and drawing her arm
through his, led her into the lighted hall.
And as he did this, spare figure in black.
with her iron grav hair plainly braided be-
meath her widows cap. appeared on the
threshold of one of the rooms leading from
the hall, and fixed her scrutinizing gaze
upon the bride.
For a moment Sir James did not see her,
and Lady MacKennon did not advance.
Then Sir James caught sight of his mother,
and with an exclamation of pleasure, ran
up and kissed her furrowed cheek.
"Well, mother, here we are" he said,
'tand this" he added, drawing his young
wife forward, 'is Miriam"
$50 supposed" said LADY MacKennon,
and she held out bony hand enclosed in a
black mitten, "well, welcome to your hus.
bands home, Lady MacKennon."
She did not offer to kiss her, and Miriam
a warm one But she made the best of 1t.
She smiled and put her slim hand with a
graceful gesture into Lady MacKennon's s.
'I'm afraid Miriam will be tired, 1t is
such long journey" said Sir James. 81
think, dear, you had better 60 upstairs at
once and get off your hat and cloak, and
then mother, am sure, will have some
thing for us to eat.
'Supper is prepared, James; thought il
was too late tor dinner as it is past ten, u
said the dowager. Gas soon as Lady Mac
Kennon is ready you can have it"
She spoke with a strong Scotch accent
and looked a woman of very determined
will She was hard-looking, in fact, and
the stiffness of her manner and appearance
made Miriam feel somewhat uncomfortable.
81 shall be ready in d. few minutes" she
said. "Where is Ford? You must show
me the the way upstairs, James"
''Come along, then," he said brightly
'it's so jolly to see the old place again,
mother, and to see you looking SO well.
Lady MacKennon's hard face relaxed.
81 am pleased to see you at home" she
said, ''and-your wife. %
Thanks very much" answered Sil
James. (which room is she to have,
mother?"
1.-The blue room; the best replied his
mother; and with good-natured nod Sil
James led his young wife away.
In 'the blue room; the best" as Lady
MacKennon had described it, they found
Ford, and gaunt. grizzled, hard-featured
Scotch woman, whom Sir James warmly
shook by the hand.
"Well, Jean, and how are you?" he said
kindly. This is Jean Inglewood, my
mothers maid, Miriam, and she has known
me since was a baby"
SAY, Master Jim, said the Scotchwoman
with smile. "But 1 beg yer pardon, nv
leedy, shouldna say Master Jim now, but
Sir James, but 1 have minded him since he
was a BARN"
Miriam smiled, and held out her hand tc
the old serving woman who had nursed her
husband.
''Then must shake hands with you, +"
she said, pleasantly.
Jean made her best courtesy in acknowl.
edgment of this honour, and then Miriam
was left to the care of Ford, and presently
appeared downstairs in charming tea gown
II Ia ell trir,, n
with white lace and ribbon; and her prim
mother-in-law glanced at her costume with
disapproval Sir James, however, was
enchanted with it, and was delighted to see
that Miriam was looking very handsome.
"We bought that gown in Paris, mother.
Isn't it smart?" he said.
81 fear Paris is very sinful city," an
swered Lady MacKennon, with doleful
shake of her head. Whether aimed at the
tea gown or city she did not explain.
Sir James laughed good naturedly, and
then they all went into the handsome old
fashioned dining room where sumptuous
supper was laid out. The heavy sideboard
was laden with costly plate, and all around
had grown gray in his lady's service, and,
too, remembered "Master Jim, )" and looked
with great interest on his bride. During
supper Lady MacKennon relaxed some
what, and it was evident that her son was
the very pride and darling of her heart.
Her eyes rested on him, and softened as
they looked. Sir James, too, was fond of
his mother. He got up when supper was
over and went to her chair and kissed her,
and whispered in her ear as he did SO:
'Tsn't she awtully pretty, mother?"
Lady MacKennon made no reply. She
took her sons hand and petted it tenderlv,
as she might have done when be was little
boy. Then she sighed softly, wishing, per-
when she had been first in her sons heart
But she made no complaint. And when
they parted for the night, as Miriam was
about to shake hands with her mother-in-
law, Sir James called out: ''You should
kiss her, mother"
Then Lady MacKennon did for moment
touch Miriam's lovely face with her thin,
blush-tinted lips
81 am not much given to kissing, James
but she is your wife," she said; and then
she turned and kissed her son.
And when she went upstairs her old serv-
ing woman was waiting to undress her, and,
of course, eager to discuss the bride.
"Well, Jean. what do you think of Sir
James choice?" asked Lady MacKennon.
"Weel, my leddy," answered Jean, ''she's
unco we'll favored, anyhow.
..Beautv's but skin deep, JEAN"
CAV, but the men folks think lot a. it, -
said Jean, refectively.
'It's a snare to them," replied Lady Mac
Kennon, shaking her head; "a pit into
which manv fall"
Neither Jean, nor her mistress, however,
could complain that they had wrought much
evil by their good looks. They were both
plain, hard-featured women, and Miriam's
beauty was no recommendation in Lady