Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-14

aio2o an the SetnclluS usrhneSs aIteT OIL
james left her.
~ bring nothing but misery" she cried
s'misery to Hugh, and now to poor James
misery, and he said disg-ace--but shal
never do that, never, never, whatever b,
may say"
His words, in truth, had cut her to tn,
heart
'He was always so good and kind" she
moaned- "Oh! SO good, and that / should
have wounded him so! And / cannot tel
him the truth or perhaps he might forgive
me; but no, no, that is impossible-Hugh
Ferrars' life, and Joan's home and honor
depend on my silence. must bear the loss
OF his love--ot everything-but it was hard,
hard of him to speak such Words
She knew not how long she sat there be.
moaning her fate. But after some time 6
rap came to the door, and Ford entered.
''0h! my lady" she said when she saw
Miriam's bowed figure.
Ford already knew some tragedy had
happened in the family. Dinner had been
served, but only the Dowager Lady Mac
Kennon had appeared at the board Sir
james had gone out with a gloomy brow
and armed with a heavy dog-whip, and
Miriam had never rung for her maid to
dress her, and Ford had been afraid to in.
trude.
''But she can't starve whatever happens" !"
she had said to the butler, and the butler
agreed with her, and between them they
settled that Ford should go upstairs and
see what refreshment young Lady MacKen-
non would partake Of
Il advise a bottle of champagne, Ford.
You recommend that" said the butler, at
raises the spirits better when they are
down than anything, and L suppose the
young couple have had a quarrel or some
nonsense"
Ford discreetly pursed her pretty lips.
She had given out in the household, at
Kintore, that she was on very confidential
terms with her lady, and the butler was
curious to know if she knew any more than
he did. But to do Ford justice she made
no revelations. She said nothing, but
looked much, and then went upstairs to see
what her lady would take.
And as Ford entered the room Miriam
raised her tear-stained face The candle she
had lit was still burning, and by it Ford
saw the tears, and grew afraid that some
thing dreadful had happened.
"My lady, you must have something to
eat, ;" continued Ford, lighting the other
brought up little champagne; will you try
that, and don't give way SO, I dare say it
will all come right
Miriam shook her head despairinglv.
81 am sure Twas always against it, went
on Ford; ALWAYS frightened, my lady, you
see there sre such spies about, and sup
pose some OF them have been CARRYING tales
TO Sir James ears! He's not been in to
dinner, but has gene out with such face,
the butler says"
''Gone outp' interrupted Miriam.
''Yes, nv lady," but Ford had the discre-
tion to drop the story of the dog-whip, as
.
worse "But never mind Just now do try a
little champagne, it will cheer YOU, and you
see the butler has drawn the cork.
Miriam drank little of the sparkling
wine Ford held toward her, for she felt ut
terly worn out alike in mind and body. The
long unusual walk she had taken, and the
excitement she had gone through, had
worn her out, and she felt half
fainting."
"And now you must have something to
eat" said Ford. There's some lovely
chicken and tongue, and 1 will bring it up
In minute.
NO, 1 can eat nothing; I am very tired,
will lie down on the bed, think"
''Now, ny lady, well just have you in a
fever again, like YOU were at Newbrough-on-
the-sea, if you don't eat something. Do try;
is there anything elseyou would like? The
butler said there was pheasant.
81 will have some tea; nothing else"
She could not, indeed, be persuaded to
break her fast Her lips felt parched, and
her hands began to burn, and her head and
heart ached. She Law on the bed, and Ford
went in and out of the room, and in about
two hours later came TO tell her that Sir
Il thought o1ss lSp Toa would Like to know, nv
LADY," she said.
Yes, thank you, answered Miriam.
1t was indeed, relief to her mind to
know that he was in the house again, and
she lay hoping he would come up to in
quire about her. But no; she saw nothing
of him, and so the weary hours Of night
dragged their slow length away.
1t was quite true what the butler had told
F ord, that Sir James had gone out at din
ner time with gloomy brow, and armed
with heavy dog whip. He had left Mi
riam indeed with his heart bursting with
rage, jealousy and despair. But he would
himself on that hound, he told
himself, as he strobe downstairs; as he went
to the whiprack, and took the heaviest
whip he could find there. He meant to
Dare, and he walked as quickly
rs he could along the lochside to Strathloe,
full of this purpose But when he reached
pointed. He entered at the open door and
the landlord at o2ce appeared, deferentially,
to welcome him.
"You have come 70 see about your horse,
Sir James," lac said.
Sir James had forgotten all about his
horse; had forgotten everything but the
overpowering Jealous passion in his heart.
i came to see that man who is staying
lie said, abruptly.
Then, Sir James, you're too late," re-
piled the landlord. Nh. Dare cam in an
hour or so ago and called tor his reckoning
it wasn't much-and paid it, with some
thing besides, and went away. But he's
left his bag behind him. sa maybe he'll soon
be back again, but he didn't say sa.'
An oath rose on Sir James lips which
with difficulty he supp ressed.
"He seemed sare downhearted. the wife
said, when he cam in, continued the land
lord; Il fear he's had i'll news, tor he was
pleasant-spoken gentleman.
Sir James asked nothing further. His
enemy was gone; he was baked of his ven-
geance, and so nc strobe oct Of the little inn
without once mentioning his horse, TO the
utter astonlshment OF the landlord.
Something's game wrang WI Sir James,"
he decided, but be was Il discreet man and
kept his opinion 10 himself
Something, indeed, had gone wrong with
him. In one afternoon he had lost all in
terest in life, all hope. 1t seemed to him as
be walked back To kintore that everything
was done for him. There WAS stony look
Of grief In his eyes; stony weight of grief
on his heart His mother, who had been
watching for him anKlouslv, went out to
meet him as he entered :he hall, and drew
him into the dlniug-room where she had kept
the dinner waiting for him. But Sir James
refused to break bread. He drank some
Mhisky and sat staring into the fire like