Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-12

peSbase Ior an hour, Miriam. as Sir James
M fond of music; and l should ike him to
mink that you plav well"
Very well, mother" said Miriam,
quietly, and then she left the room. and
Mrs Clyde smiled placidly as the door
closed behind her. She smiled because she
thought she had conquered, and Mrs. Clyde
was a woman who loved to conquer. And
after q few moments of thought she sat
down to write to the daughter she had
conQuered-to Joan, wife OF General Conray
and her letter also was little triumphant
In it, however, she made no allusion to
Miriam's objection TO be married on the
day she had settled. She simply told her
daughter that Miriam was to be mar
ried on that day, and she invited Gen.
eral Conray and his wife to be
present at the ceremony, and trusted that
they would be her guests for few days be-
fore and after the marriage. Then she de-
tailed the attractions that Sir James Mac
Kennon possessed-his wealth, his position
and his character, just as she had detailed
them a few minutes before to Miriam 81
am in truth perfectly satisfied with the mar
riage," she wrote, ''an1 consider Miriam
the luckiest girl in the world"
And this letter duly sped on its way, and
reached on the following morning a hand
some stone house. standing in its own
by General Conray, who commanded at this
time also division of troops, which were
stationed in the neighborhood. This house
was named Tyeford Hall, and from the
upper windows you saw the blue sea line of
the southern coast. 1t was furnished house
when General Coaray toon it, as its owner
was an invalid and lived principally abroad.
and was glad to let Tyetord Hall to so good
o tenant as the General. And Mrs. Clyde's
letter arrived there in the Generals letter
bag, and the letter-bag was always unlocked
nj breakfast time by the Generals own
hand.
And while he is handing out the letters
one by one, and glaucing with MS keen eve
n the superscriptlon of each, let us look at
him. A tall man, gray-headed, with sharp,
well-cut, stern features was the General
He had thin lips shaded bv heavy, gray
mustache, and mis- eyebrows were gray also.
he was between so ana so; a soldier every
Inch OF him But he was not popular
commander He was too rigid, too hard,
and had no sympathy to give to the short
comers, under mis- orders
Such was Mrs Clyde's son-in-law, and
In outward appearance he was not very un-
like her husband. But though they were
old friends his character was very different
to Colonel Clrde's Mrs. Clyde could
never have guided and controlled him as
she did the Colonel with her silken rein.
And his wite-the fair woman, who was
sitting opposite to him at the breakfast ta-
bic as he drew out the letters; what of her?
Joan CLYDE in i1er girlhood had been con-
ridered remarkably pretty; singularly like
her younger sister Miriam, but with more
strictly regular features. Their height, hair
and coloring were, however, wonderfully
similar, and they had the same dark, ex-
pressive ewes But the expression in these
dark eyes was very different in the two Sis
ters. Joan's were languid, dreamy, shy;
while in Miriam's there was more force,
more power. Instinctively you knew the
younger sister had stronger will,
stronger mind. But they were both at
tractive, though people said that lately the
beauty of the Generals wife had waned.
She was glancing at her husbands stern
face as he drew out the letters, with a sort
of half-frigtened look in her large eyes.
And she nervously held out her hand for
the one which he presently handed to her
Here is letter from your mother,
joan" he said.
Even his voice was hard and rigid, and
he did not smile as he gave Mrs. Clyde's
letter to his wife.
"Thank you," she answered, and she
took it in her hand and opened the envel-
ope.
We already know the contents of this
letter-the announcement that Miriam's
wedding day was fixed, the invitation and
the praises of Sir James. Joan read all
this, and her sensitive lips quivered little
rs she did so.
"what is it all about?" asked the Gen.
eral, presently, looking up from his letters,
and as he spoke he held out his hand to re-
ceive Mrs. Clyde's back, for he always read
his wite'e letters.
'It is bout Miriam's marriage with Sir
James MacKennon," answered Joan, as she
placed the letter IN his hand.
Then the General read it in his turn, and
after he had done so he laid il on the table.
"Well, think it is a very good thing for
your sister," he said, ''and your mother
seems very pleased about it.
Eyes, think mother is very pleased. but
1t seems rather a short engagement" an
pwered Joan.
1.-THE shorter the better, 1 should say,
under the circumstances, said the General,
tersely, and Joan's delicately tinted face
flushed as he spoke.
Mrs. Clyde is quite right to hurry on
the marriage" he continued; "quite right
Sir James Mackennon might not be so
willing a bridegroom it he knew the ex-
traordinary circumstance attending your
was an engagement"
Joan's bosom began to heave, and she was
evidently painfully agitated
''Oh! do not speak of it," she said, tremu-
ulously.
"But must speak of it and think of it,
toe" answered the General, sharply. "Re-
member, Robert was my nephew, and can
mot forget, If you can, his miserable fate"
81 do not forget" murmured Joan with
quivering lips.
by your sisters own confession she was
with him that night, and it is the mystery
about the whole affair; the want of motiv.
that l cannot understand, for / do not be
leve Robert had an enemy in the world"
Joan did not speak; she was in truth too
deeply moved.
However, believe it will be cleared
up some day." continued the General, ris-
ing, and gathering together his correspond
ence; "such deeds are seldom unpunished;
in tact, they bring their own punishment.
Still no words came from Joan's quiver-
ing lips
ter's heart, it seems" went on the General,
half bitterly; ''it's just eighteen months
ago, and now she is going to make this fine
match Poor Robert"' and as he said these
last two words he left the room, carving
his papers with him, and Joan was left
alone.
She buried her face in her hands, az the
door closed behind her husband, and tears
rushed through her slender fingers
Poor Robertl' she moaned, rocking
herself to and fro as if in uncomfortable
grief Poor Robertl''
CHAPTER VI
MIRIAM's REQUEST.