The Sentinel, 1882-01-27, Page 6AVE1GED AT laA
:
A. istdra ei Move and Dart's.: ".
. •
•
By the authorof"What. He CosiHer '9
• " Gwendo4ne's Harvest," and ether •
tr'• vernier noVela
t CHAPTER XLV.
TE LAST mum.
• Chill nighthad fallen upon Clyffe Hall,
• • and with it for onee repose. The master
did not take his untimely sport, and hound
• and hunter stood with prinking ears, that
•_listened for the horn in Vain, in kennel
• and stall. A. midden change, Grace tad-
• denied it to be said, had come over his• -
., wild and wayward brain; and evidently
change for the, better. • Still there was
• danger in it. The lull Might grew to long
and settled calm, or might end in it6rra.
• Let. -all about him be kept 'quiet. The
. -household must retire to rest, as though
this limits of darkness were its accustomed
-season let no lights be. shown. - Kra. Clyf,
• faed herself had set the eitample by retir-
ing early, and in her ownbed-ehamber the
-lartai was quenelle& She had neither sent
•for Clement. not Cater to inquire how their
mission had. ended, andhad. studiously
avoided that portion �f- the house which.
Mildred and, her Child were wont to occupy.
She felt no sting of conscierace-forthe deed
-which she had .ordered to be &Iasithat
afternoon,' but it .haunted . her brain un-
• easily. 111"er purpose was asfitre as ever,
but not her mind. She had been wont to
• look as calmly on her past with all its blots
as on the 'future with its stubborn obstacles,.
• and the means which it was -necessary to
. use (fere-Oahe reasoned,' ifologetio in.spite
. of herself)to overcome them. Butnow she
shrank from retrospection, and indeed from
•" thought Of all kind that was not relevant
• to the actbefore her: The Wicked_ who,
have, wickedness upon hand are so far
• fortunate it is when they have gained all
:they have so ;fetidly aimed at .that their
• worst punishment begins. - Grace..Clyffard,
notwithstanding that. she had Steeped her
• Boni in guilt had - as . yet gained nothing.
While Rupert lived, and was at large, he
had lit-borect in vain: Her heart Was Weary
. of debeit and. crime! • -She longed, almost
as the, 'penitent, for peace, hit the hour
i when there should be no further need for
.• lies, deins.nding such continuous care billet
. and speech, and for violent deeds, from
which anxious risk Wei so_ inseparable. .
"'Brit -one Morecrime," thought she -as
though one launched upon a filisserde
• Alps, and bound for a crevasse; should say,
but one- more airde---" and then my pith is
plain said levet to the end: While this hare-
brained fellow dweirs here, I can never feel
• - the raietrese- Of Clyffe Hall. Why should L
wait -until his Madness is full blown ?
-What sardtrhe has but shows itself, in .sly
-. suspicion; Which itself is dangerous to me,
or else in open hate." it was Orange tbat.
• she should thus excuse- herself for vrhat she
- Was about to da, since she: had done Such
. far. worse - deeds than that which she now
contemplated upon theroad ta.her yet 'Un -
'5 • reached goal; but such was the case,
_Perhaps' it was that Rupert ,had been, his
-father's favorite son:- and certainly the
nearest.approach to remorse which she had
ever experienced had touched her With
•. respect to hertreatmentof Ralph Glyffard„
•. the man that had so deeply loved • her; if
. after a sorriewha.t doting fashion.. In her
- . schema against Raymond, She had strength,
eried the triple braise about her heart by
calling to mind his disobedience to the •old•
man's wishes,. as she chose to consider that
• half- promise she had extorted from him
. about Rupert's:- marriage. Raymond had
robbed his brother of - the bride which- his
father, as well aiGrace herself, haddestiii;
'
•
ed for him; Rayrrion.d„ too, had 'So- little
reverence' for the things the old Man had
(held sacred, that it would have veXed hire.
• • to. have Ewen him rule at Clyffe. :But
Ittipert, by no jesuistry of everiher subtle
brain Could she justify her present purpose
• against.him; nay, there was: something
. peculiarly abhorrent in it, item:Quell as it
had'for.ite object the very catastrophe the
fear of -which had embittered Ralph's
• whole life. In -Order:to. overthrowhis son's
• . already- shaken intellect, she was about to
•- employ the self -same cruel weapon by
• which -she had done to death, although in-
• - 'advertently, his father.
.Ward leaden Thee ' are .„ fringed by az low
:peril:lee& „atone; besides r which,, ever: and
anon, hnziaufieti, and fool* down .-npen. the
retie*ardeil; which lies, thengh . at a6 great
..deptu,4*.miderneath. • ITpen either .side
of it spreads -the -stately terrace, and below
.the.-slopibg lawn, ringed by the nioati.- here
'Shining like ebony in theincooitheains, there'
lusterless as a pall- beneath the overshad-
owing bank, • Beyond, the Wooded- park,'
With many 'a...1410V and knoll; -blends
southward with the rich and .t4ateing low-
lands, and on the.-:noith, _ore:ape:bag-way.
upthe base of the barren Fell.. But for
Rupert CLYffard'S-eyee; though bright and
even piercing, naturehas neither charm
-
tor 'awe; and yet theta is ppeeulatien bi-
ttern too.:. He is never tired of Counting
On his fingers one; two, three, and ' font,
and attfie fourth he seems t& measure the
. distatiee.lidni where he stanch to the rose -
garden bellow.- .."There i_ beheld. her .first,"'
.he says;;1_1dOWn yonstoneetaits,,whiPh ever
sines hive' seemed like altar -steps. .Grace
led - her by the hand towards mei as the.
brier brings forth the rose. There was our
trysting-plano, and lthere-yes, -..: there -
beneath the roses, 441 L -lie when all is
over; After life's fitful fever, . men sleep
Well, lie' said -I hope so, for -I have need of:
a longrestand white so well as in the
spot/a-alio ed by theit-inest sabred reqed-.
leetione 2 What is the..chapel to me, or L
tothe ch/�I? .Letil:]VuY. and Bertram,
Roderick a d•Cyril, sitig the odor • of sanc-:
. tity-they , Ike it.; _ it akells in my nose- like
:dead men' bones.: t-Ifvo me the Oddt. of
-rose leaves -t--," : .- - ..f.-
- .._ "_RupettidlYffard t" -V„:
The young man turned, and beheld the
hodihg.phantern:ei his house standing Close
beside him. -1 With a Cry of tenet be threw
up. his arms, ,stepped swiftly „ backwards,
and in an insta .nt had.toppled eVek • the - low
parapet; hilt even as he fell, :that instinct
-which; '-firifilte - our fair-weather -- friend
reasdn4 rerlatifiawith us tilt. death; Made
hint catch; at the same coping, where With
both handsitehung, - Grace elowly. thrust
- her white..ceid face above the balustrade,
and then Withdrew it hastily, terrified to
see him .8°1 near, striving With •feet and
fingers, whom she had thought by_that time
to be lying far below, and past allTetrife;
yet not so hastily but :that his upturned
gaze met hers, and recognized her wicked
-eyes. 1 . - - .: 1,., ' • • : ..
.•
• "One, one;" cried he, and: with Ii,. frantrie
effort such its: a, -sane -nian could ' searcely
have put forth; drew hinatelt upward to the
paripetitself and clutched it with. nervous
gripe. UpcM his holding fast the:Oene Of
another lifettlian his defended.' - If once he
reachedthetog, not all .the subtlety of
Grace.'s brain could hEivij prolonged-her1ife
five minute. She kneW it well: she read
- it in the hungry looks which, even in that
mortal peril, craved for.,vengeince. rather
than for: safety , she heard it inthe.
deadly menace of his One, one; ,one,'.' re.
r- -
t
iterated with frightful hate and.Vehemence;
and yet as though. -it, Were her knell' of
doom. Gras had never .4neatit to fake his
.life; but oral§ to tog hini.6f what little Mere
of rea,sonyOreinaihed.:tit:birn. His falling
hackwards Was. an unfiktiseeti mischance;
but now thatit was a question of his life
or hers, she Was not one to hesitate:, ' She.
threw- herself at once upon his :clutching
fingers, And iwith the fore and furyof a
wild cat, strove to MitopeUthere hold. - -
‘` riend;liar; whom no*,I know, but you
shall pay.for this I " ehriel4dRaipert breath;
less with rage at Leastasteu•ch- as With hie
ceaseless -struggles. .• "I 'ill spoil theface-
Of this fair lady as 90'g:wear Mali."
'!1Ncit so," hissed Grace:- as one by one:
she tore • his bleeding fingers from, their
hold. ... •
• , = • ," i • . -- . ''.• -
"What.' You are - stronger , than,. I ? 't
laughed Rupert harshly ;-•,," then -I go to -
the rose -bed .a day Beene*, -- that is :all."
Yet, with a Madman's crniarneg„.eyen. while
he Spoke he exchanged his clutch of the
st6ne for her own flesh. '.'f.A.ou Bee I have
your hand now, Mrs.•Gradth Since we are
about to part, you mint let rue kiss it." .
But with a pry- of ten* lest .he ehould-
bitesit through; Grace-Snatilied. it from his
now feeble grasp, and - bp fell swift and
sheer upon tb .:gravel walk': Which he had
eo oftenpaceT that very day, and, lay there
motionless: • -
• "He Sought his __ dO4,":" Murmured
Waco, huskilY, as she 'onde more peered
over the balustrade:. - "He..-. drew his death
upon himself, lrand 'perhaps ; it is better se.
HOW strange that he elicitild havereet the
self-sanie fate tatif-7.--r-
Here she stopped, ahdi turned., 1 and
listened; with her hand up0h her heart, to
stilt its. rapid- ithrObbingS. t-. AT.pthe private
stairs dose by, -Which 10W-Ircim her late:
husband's room to the ttreg-top, there was
a .- hurtyitig. step,.. mliese: 5every foptfall-
tamck her With unimaginable' terror., .Grace.
knew the step lga fee as another woman
recognizes -7 that of her inter. It was a
swift and vigorous stride ei.ich as • she well
knew. had belonged but to one man in Clyffe
Hall -and he was dad!"
.,
• She knew that none but Raymond; and
probably Mildred, had been aware of her
having prayed the part of theFairLady of•,
.Clyffe. ' Roperthimstlf most certainly had
no sinpibion of it; and altheugh he hadof` tate- becoine suchadare-devil in Sonia 're-
spect, he still, she knew; 'repined his
supersitions. .It was not uncoffircion with
him, when he did not hunt, to Pees many
tants of the night upon Le roof of Clyffe
in order, as he had told her with
' bated breath, :- to consult his father's, Spirit;
jaihiela roamed about the spot Where he
had died, on matters of importance. • That
very day he had anneuhcedhis, intention of
ea doing, and ever- since nightfall, Grace
had been Waiting for him there, attired -in
her oltt_disguise. Crouching in an angled
the central tower, in her dark and shape --
131S dress-, with. her long hair streaming
• about her shoulders, and . in her hancta
what appeared to be SO,she
looked; "indeed,in the sickly light of that
. crescent moon, a.epectre fit. to imperil the
reason Of the bravest and merit sane.
*. Tarrying so long -alone, in the verr_spot
where'Ralph had perished at her hands, as
•
much • as ;though she had driven a dagger
• : though his heart, had tried even her nerves,
and her face- wasworn and haggard..With
that fearful watch. The night -wind, too,
from off the waters of Ribble. Fell, blew
fill uponher, and chilled her blood; not
only with its cold, but with many a strange
and stealthy sound; putting shrill. voices
. into be gargoyles' month, that seemed to
mock her, evert when..dumb ; using the
- water -pipes as speaking-trumpetic through
Which_ to tell the household where the mis-
trese was; and hurrying the hIanetie.d• and
•• Withered leaves of autumn aloegthe leaden• -
rabf, like some great company . of ghosts:
without a burial -place in mother -earth,
• who run to meet grim Charon at his very
ferry, pnly to be denied the Wiehed-for
` passage.
. At last she hears at door open and. then
-shut, and in the haste and violenceof the
' action, • recognizes Rupert's hand. He can
now do nothing slowly or with care. To:
think, toepeak, except by impatient uncon-
nected- ;Matches, bas long beendifficult
for him,- but of late his very actions ‘have
become hurried. For a•Moment he Stands
irresolute, and throws a hasty glance in
the direction of the sky -light, by which' bis
step -mother -stands hid; then • falls to-
- pacing- rapidly to and Ire along the east-
• ' C AgTRR I. -
• It P.E7iVeS ,LECOY.
.
When fear , _does cotheltpon the, con-
stitutionally bold; ;it 4,1 overwhelming
'Weed. ' The . timid fleeth • - at the.
shadow of- the coming per 1, whereas the
brave -tnan stands =his i-', ground until
. the substance is : cloge upon him,
and it is too late for flight. ,••K When a panic
seizes a fighting regiment, the -ruin is more
complete than in erre unused to war, which
breaks and scatters at the first onset, and
rallies. again Without much sense of having
been beaten. In infancy; the measles are:
lightly caught 'rid 'easily got rid of; but
when they do. eisze open- the adult, the
nee is.. severe in proportien ft') its rarity.
Through - life, Grace Clyliard had been
almost void of fear;inot so 'much from
natural Courage as from the pcissession Of
one engrossing idea -her Own personal
aggrandizement=whibh hed left no ram
for it. When the mind is resolutely fixed.
upon one object , it is canon's to :intluenbee
Which would otberwise.gricvoualy affect it;
but when these rise' beyofia a certain limit
kis none the stronger. for laaving hitherto
ignored them. . . • _ . .; .
hicept in the peels of Ritnond, when he
steed by. the couch °this dYfig father, gild
regarded hid murderess wit .i such vengeful
eyes, we have never 'seeil;i-ititrace Clyffard
tremble, save with rage; wii the events of
the list month; °courting 1.0 they did after
two whole years of anxieWind, self -repres-
sion, had made theenselvek felt within her
_nevertheless. The violent death of her
hated step -son had bee% kagerly, desired,
and ,the 4ieWs'i of - 1..t&t,s -4Complisahment
1
g'itiedily welcomed; the -de, truction of his
wife artd-chird had beendoe ly planned, and
;-
eXeciated_.(aa.sher.,46-tighq Without Icosting
'her a pang of retnettac When she
down but few Metneeitaback,:en Ropeigs.
inanimate bOdy,`-ris it lay in the ino•onlight,
„Wttli,,--tibroad -,atteakLeti-ted_atba'att the.
white abet face -she -had involuntarily
uttered raeigh of teliefi•aks7ol*-might,do,
whoseteileOrtietaili is siverAf-laSt,audislit
has only to teaptheieward. All these.ter-,
riblebecutterices, in short, had been. shticks
Which she had survived, . but by no means
With unimpaired powers resistance; and
like a bridge whichhanlifivelyhOrne:.sotbe
tremendous teat of its ..,strebgthi-Lher_toind_
itood.._ firth; but vastly Weakened by the
-ordeal. -. Her :PhysiCal4oWerai-too,:_had
been severely tried: - Appetite had Ipeg
deserted her, and the,suatChes of sleep,:
which Were stilt vouchsafed.. to - her 'scarce,
brought any _tei3tfor dreams that were ib_.
kaleidoscope Of her pieta ti:ha plaushy-dayc:
7She had suffered more.' than ' she 'dared to
own even to herself diving her '-late lonely.
watch upon- the.reetitop; nothing but the
rest -Ai -Oh that Whitt was about te - be de-
mand,edof her was; the last -service :which
her *pitilesi. spirit, :would require, - of: her
-.failing strength -after _whirth. should surely '
sneceed -tinlarelten --tepbee and ease'-•had-
kepther to her pceit: the very Where
the only - felloW-Tereature who ,liacl:- ever
loved her had s&_rniSetably perished, and
she waiting there to :mental.
ruin of . his beloved eon. She had gone
through with it all; and more; for was not
:Rupert's blood uPon her hands? And new, .
when mindandhodYweroalikeipahausted
in the dread remoVal-ofthatlast-bbitacle,
and cravingiferthe-test.-whidh ,laCheen-
prenaleedthein- .Era,itlie_iitepof that
dead inan_-upouthe--thiret-stair I. :.- • 77--.. ----;'-
- - The Wotds. she had ahstvoea. -0:-eon-
-temp4uo0sJy when spoken that morning by
Clement , and which khad intruded upen.
her . more than Once . that bight, again:
-seethed to ring within her ears: ." I. have
heardlhat spirits WilL-some time re4naact
• the ---seltsa;me ,seitbriiililiiIi. was fatal to
theirnbr-tothoee,dettr-tothem in thisTlifC
andin the seltSame.plice." Was she to,
-see her husband once more stagger and fall,
yonder; and yeas•-•116---idearr Sian Tiii-deed-
coniiing -up te-sueektirnashefere, . and to
Omit 'again.uponher that look of hatred arid
execration which had never faded from her
memory?• As thoughto resolve her 'doubts;
the half -face of theinomrshene forth for a
moment free from the hanging clouds, . and
her .straining.. eyeballs beheld7theilittle-
dixit burst epen-,frozia- Within,andonthe-
threehold Raymond Clyffardsiandiegai in.
,liferWith his arinoutzstretahed,iiind point;
•.ing to herself, while she heard his voice
thundering like the trninp.eftloona-,: ilTli.ou-
devil; I come for thee I".
I :At that dreadsightand-senteraneireasen._
forsook her Seat in the --wretched_ *Oman's •
brain,- and she fled:: Upthe___rooLAt_epeed,
shrieking with-Mantioingth. Her features;. --
Still distorted With the passion : evoked: by
her late struggle, and erowee-dwithfrerizied_
hate, were -a spectacle : to , freeze: a .brave .
Maife. bleed, ...but . not To. e'vnk-ec-Th'4.7-pity.,.
RayinondlineW What had happened at .ei-
glanee; but it moved hiinscarce at all, lii:'
comparison with Oat ;Whiela . he 'did not
see ' . - . - , • . - - - . -
- -• r'13aie; Roe l"--. cried...he. --"Where - art.
thou? Rupert?. - AneWet;Rne, Rirel" - -
Tho echeing. walls that stood above the
;skylight returned-, --0-Rne-;--Rilel-The‘
.hearie,like-Wooda. replied in fainter notes;
the solemn voices of the night that :dwelt
in Ribble • Fell ' gavel dimly back, "Rue -
Rue!" - .Thestartlect-.-9401taking--itsbeitA
lase flight !tom. the iviecriow.er . closeby;
eeeinedto give like. reply. -- -.: - • - -'•
-.
"Rupert, . geed- Rupert, _ it is : I,' .your
brother Rayne:AAP
• --" Look.. in _Ithegarden.;.-look_i-bith-n`rose
garden,".- Oiled a ;necking tongue; and . two
fair . hands were -Plapped_together, in;
.triutaidi ; and again thatlangli rang forth,:
-which, to the ear that had once hoard it,
:.makes- All laughter -have an evil . sound for.
• - . - -- .. . . ..- .
. Sick at heart, Raymond hurried- to that
-part of the .battleniehts which he knew cain-
manded the spot in -_question, -- AO looked
'down. . AS, he.. did- so," _a_prostrate figure
upen. the "grrivel..-Walk-berieath raised him -
sell With -:.difficulty nizion pne__atna, .and
looked up I at ; him, 7Brotter's---face_naet
brotheesfor the first time after :yeara. of-
abserace,-aed after •what separates brother
from .brother . far ".more-thin--,yearer4ar
injustice; wrong: _ ._ ,- -- - ' - ------ •
- -" Ray."'
More than • --broadest ..sea_s7jaii7iti. n:,7
.- -"Rile:"
• .1„,ittre-_ indeed to iay,;.-----but:WIiiiii_-h-eart
speaks to: heart, there is no need of WOW-
BaehlOving tnenesyllable_breatlied:ferth
as much of trust revived, enmity forgotten,_
kinshipandold affection broughtto mind,
as could have. been contained in a .Voliinie. -..
".1,-- -come,. I come," cried Raymond,
passionately; then dashed down - the tutret-•
stair, while the poor-gibbetnig-wretch;_l_Vho 1 • "- 4WaY I away I"- still : .hiurmured • :the
was once fee, besought him in feeble voice, qUiverint_wic age as snatch
,vain." to tarry' and -take from her the - as with feebleness. - .' • • .T..-::-
Shreald which ehe, had Wronghtsepuninegly ' " Do un --man *fret*, :dee lief -JO -Blieli
for Thipert's self:- - - • - •• ;-:„--.---____ -•.-. --•• a time - as this,'. said .--ItaYteend gravely.
From the rose -garden, along the broad 11_ H4'did his best -indeed he did, however:
moonlit terrace, . nieri,carried----the-y.oung it-inay..beena; for you, fat- 0,-- for - all of
Master -Of --Olyife.-inte thehouse,which - lis." - -- . 1 " , - - " ' - • :- - . '
would . -still- ..." be:-..:_ . his for a, little The voice silent, but the lips -atilt
time-. , _ .• There . was - iti7._fite.... • in the: - , laved the same,- "Away, a: y_1"... library, where *hers iitildredi.-reien theri;:fies7 sit- : _.' ."He -watched by night ani day to guard
.ting'withheraleeping .:child'aitd-Lucy..g.0 . niy child and -me," urged Miited piteously.
she had not - dared td retire"tc---rest-thaA: -------"_ Did he -guard thee- r .6rii(4.
nighty, widen Iiit4 laid, him there, .-- A:doe.
tot brought by Itayrnood forquite•angther
purpose. was at the. --Hall :- rand did- what
.could -he. done , the -dying-man. _-_,_Itwas
.a questionof. in hoot; more or. lerrs;A.lifei=
he said; if the patienthaal-heenPteviohsly
insane, tli„at..- Was - not the case -now ±; the
shook which had given hitn_hie-sleathblii-w -and kneed . them . like one who - tench*
had;!strarigeasit might seem, restored his _,santireiental bread, then reverentiallywith-
reason. -.; Mildred rem -libber -id Well when • dre.4,--, - • , - .1.- - • -., .. 4-. , -,• - - . ..- "
i
Rupert had suffered _from . that .fall on 019: "Where is that man's -Mist - a ?" inquired:
night Of. his fathefsiff'deatli=-WEAVa-_-chenge Rupert, when the serving m hadleft the:
for the better been worked in his -thew: room. -- "1 will tai Is She not
tal;ailinent Which 'began. to-develop:itself ihelilildred!s - aunt?" . •• -- : -
anew only as grove Strang- She tehdect -----___"She is out of the -reaCh -61 -forgiveness
him now as Of yore„..although_br. circinn,. andpunithment also,k.tettirOd-Itarriond.
stances 86 fard4erent;.:and=aaslic sponged -solemnly.. ... -. - ' : _ •
away , from_ his --broad -.hrikr, i3o erne -ilk: '-'_ -,11:.;Isshe dead, then?
marretli•the blood that stilt welled slowly - .7" Voi-Itte., worse than tb
forth- from htaTItfespritigebie-- blueeyesretribution' has • overtaken - -
.ewinarningin painless -teats seemed to latilift- hee.". • • - - : .- . -,
of -her forgiveness. - - - ! .: ---- • . ---------2-:-____. "Alas, peer wretch! -.Ten
"1 - thiok,6=‘!_said-,=-Ilay:niond,--:--teliderlyt hretlier."---here:a-shudderali
." thatnly -dear brOther-Wishes-tOsayie_e_me' limbs-41that=is Worse than
thing -t6 yoni-ftildred,-aleher-"2.---"-:•-•---___ -------- ,"-Yiiii-- hfive ' tot -told
.„_
-
resolution not to inks.
eanne-tinie, not to leave
his quarters noiselessly
like a dog on watch. „El
of the wind upon the te
there was not a Bound
the only light came fro
which slept and awoke
Aft'.
t. but, at the
20 four, took tip
la the door -step;
pit the low Moat
without,
be heard; and
he Wood -fire,
ate -now
lull upon _home batte breastplate or
ted and. moth -
kering out Open
alling_into light
• of bird or
senii-darkness,
bilge surround-
an
the..kaster of
nothing clearly
but the, inward -
k flieci Me, i4
e* brother, .that
,
time. Selfieh-
ve path* -and-
gparent; finger -g, self-fndulgent.
-Very first; I Say.
, end • no other;
inother's milk:
and his before
'shoe head, with its t
:eaten -pennant-. new
the heraldic pates, and
the wierd, fantastic
beast -now sinking i
more suggestive ref tilos
ings still.
ClyffenAlMly-;---"_Abd et
With. my -911iward- eye
sight Which iles. been so
very clear. ; Seems ;A
keee myselffor the-fi
hush 1!" said ho Viith
holding up one white t
"1 :know :Self -see
from thelizet, Froin
This ' was the . inadne
-,which.Ldrew itt with
Myfather had itbefore
him; arid allthe Clvffar .yonder, whether
they lived Mad or gone. .„,glae motto Of Out
house writ on that. feonsh . scroll there is
nothing to the purpose;--Itshoilldhe
.-From the Adle:I.was taught
how great a thing w
of Clyffe-one of yore
*hese hande,Lthink,nd
over planted -So greatt
gro* to such a:height-.
jealous - :of . and
-obstacle.. We were h
Clyffards„ because. we p
the great round earth. o
consecutive years in the
were so prosperous,
jealousy, Or inayhap; fe
HeaVenhad laidirpon. us,
Thia I -was given to knew
-4ii)-rdj.rectly ; I gathered
which,,piejed toga
vulgar rumor heard With
:out the story which My
robrated. Then, dwelli.11, Open this, and
never for one moment suffromg Ply thoughts
. -
to stray. from .him Whoa -it coneerned-;--
to worse, until the. propli y-firifilled itself,
nie,Runett. .01yffittirri NOW fro* worse
1 thiek,,if Mildred here liklovedhae, this
fate -if t can all thatf
royself---might
kind., generous.
we inarried
, ,death, .dear
I should Cady
elf. Sooner or
upon the very
:habit rules!
deal with I'
iwn sake, Ray:
liter, since God
ot that I take
Ood-- to death,-.
chide you,
with . recip-es
of .. how' to,
Me these lips,.
i_it..yon; than
4.1.1.1s,-uptm this
.•have no need
But for
it if lleave.n
,
this name bf
Clyffard, and brought this: stately
bahe. of
orekuliner of
lyffe Hall -
'this unhappy
. .
. pained and-
' kneeling .by
:RIVincipd,
and chafing it
teats. . Then,
green ..frinm• i.
pert; hastily..
.1!lt is I," said -Cater, rigintgand approach-
ing the couch With -dovracagrOoks. • : :
"Away, thou 'vitiate!" Jactilated. the-
•
•
to be the Maater-
ri ; Stern- folks, by
-eed of -good was
• hardlycouldone.
are herself was
interposed an
and strong; we
-a handful of
Nen for a few
-at sum of time
tii,y; that out of
the powers Of
Alecial burden..
hirelings, but
rein hint -Sand
with scraps of
the *alba, eked
ber's gloom cor-
had helped to bring up
have been delayed -delay
woman, not averted. •
for one Who is 'pledged
brother, maysay so tam
have loVed- her throughm _
later ---but mark how, .e.y -
threshold Of the grave;
And yet, for once, althou
and ' it is. not ..for
Pear brether and 'sweet
has Willed it. so think
advantage of my, neiglibe
as. some .have - done,
or-to...pack your naercor
have- not used rive
Chiding would 13
indeed, oven if you deser
whore I know werthierp
earth., For yourselves,
•
of warning-kiiid, unselfis
that little one --and oth
:should send them-bearm
place, oh keep them fro
"L -the en
doom -Which in truth haunt
the.Only curse that clings
house,"• •
He paused for breath
laboring chest, while 'Mild
hissidein silence, wept;
holding the cold hand in hi
in vain, dropped. man's ra
midst the hash,: there ea
nigh the door. .-
- What is that?" Baked
•
dying man.
• "Oh, not so," interposed
always meant us Well, bdr
slat; Lucy." '
ayelohd; " he
• he and his
Away! away!" 0011.tinuOn -Rupert, pas-
sionately, and covering Iiidgeyes with his
hand. -
" hionly 'natural 'sir "ifinhed. the Poor
1 9 a
servant map ;."-We are knOvie by the corn-
=pany.We keep ; and I have. kr,dpt the Worst.
Heaven bless you, Master, tOugli you leve
me not. When we two meelagain you will
know--nie better."' With that he moved
alif cut to his faithful heart.
Peat Rupert," whisperetiMildr,ed, "he
leved_your father dearly, sled him duti-
fully.; hired -" -himself out - o the. basest
masters to help your Uncle -Cyril all he
, Rupert with
sudden energy. "Then call him back.
Cater, L know not viliethechou be a true
man or no, but give me. yorikharid; and if
I do net grasp it, it is my -lack of strength
.4bilaids. I thank you andilf I have, any,
thing:to forgive you, -1 forgivt." • • -
Cator carried. the 'thin fingers to his lips
look_of affectionategratitfide stolePier murit-know," said Raymend
he fade of the - camp
A terrible
; her mind
iy well say;
k the wasted
ath."
be -and we
hastening to
his plight ?
"No; no, -Ray," Murmured" he: "we Didthe unhappy wiaman ir reacInees ".
have been. :apart, too • Wog; -he hesitated. and etolealOtifilloWatds hs
with herr.. We. three -and Yes; her niece. -
Then all the rest withdrew saveWilliam"No. Rayrbond 1 feltbackward of
Gator, who, shaking his headin token of myself."
" Thank:GM" fervently;
and from -the depths. of Raymond's
came a great sigh of relief. Then over
Ripert's livid and -wasted fre there stole
.a smile which made it almo t young again,
"Remember, brother, for the sake Of all -
who -follow you, the warning _which
spoke -the only legacy poorlItupert has to:
leave. ; ithat is the .-
Clyffard's curse. And if yolirchildren ask
to hear its history, then tel. them mine:" "
' - - -
-,.-4=11=F:-
. - .
The seed 'which Rupert , owed With his- ,
last breath .ip that good ground, hisbrother '
Raymond's heart, took full effect: From -
the moment that he hega to rule, a new '
system -Made • itself felt -wherever his in .
finence extended: • Over al • the lands -ofi------„,,t
Clyffe there was now a Inas
merely as sluggard nursing
family greatness, .or creati
r indeed -not - -
dreams of .1de-- k -
g for thimeslf., --
*imaginary giants, whibh in , e end became'
too etrpng. for. him and ilia. i He *as not
feared as all his •race had beenbeforelihn•;
;Per .weel he merely respected: like hie- father' -
.-7:ec.was reverenced, honored,.. and ',loved.. :
,TiUe .never hung heavy On -.hi & *Mids.:. •
Generation after generation . of misrule, Of 1.
rule by deputy,. or -of "..laisge atteribad left
him. quite -enough- to do on fell and Atadast
in _fatta : ,and .. - hanilet._ . The --apreading., - ...
park.. was no longer :,a.. hat -pkridise.
to all but some - half4-doze .-hutnee,-cresi, '.:-
tures. - The "Lai, -10 seonaitheloog daye.
of mourning were.accornplie ed,-Was.,:set. iti.
,order as it had never been -Before, and did -
net want for guests.-- The county familiesvveloomed- with open arms -as •though he 1 .
were some repentant prodige . eir :sown
i .
"house,-.--a.Clyffard-that was i either .. alaancl.7' "
caned •-nor - "a :reoline, . EU was as 03-617 a -
sportsman as the best of them;.but- he. WI, ,
learned to live not for hisown'pleite---
iiiuroet_is.a.:cisi.ffoti,iatod. ,wsartoy.o_e_caaTtame i)altl.-, Ilitiiit tvRiety4 :
because - that: Word" would .- do.1-..-•het - wrong;:-... -
net . that she took the . -lea in anything s -
Wherein -it becoMesa woman to :follow,. or -
not to raeddleibut that She h. .a.farliardtir' -
part to act than.lie.and playid it to perfec-
tion.
_.. i:vi-;6,' a a l Carr to--atx:trt.,with, one.d. an
upstart race, despiired•WIlet . re known, lied fa'.
well known in --these parte, and:no-Mere-'-
,tier to getting on With-,prou .-and simple - -.
town -bred folkscannodetstair What star- '•
country gentry is a misfortune of that sort.
Moreever; flieugh :mtiOli waskeptOthicealikr -
it was understood that to the machinations :
;of Grace .GlYffard.--a _hopeless dangerous lunatic for life," but well - and carefully
I:
-tended inr-a -place far other, than. that to .,
which she had doomed poor upert-it iVes-
understeed,-.1-eay, that-Xlidied's aunt and
ntiPles had worked -;.great.1 evil to ''-the
family _into which she h Married,
an act in itself -40104 ..inipa enable; .i!i'veh-
if &doh had not been the case; for eagles,
said ; the --.-country bode of inOta.l obliga-
tion, --ShOrild_iinatch with ea leti,:- and not •
choose their Mates out the neet.of. :"Spar..‘.", .
row -hawks. -,'.:Xity,•even- her Whele'letiSe- ,
lioldi.Matinured- something• ef this, .:and -
• remembering• what •the laet-I.4 4Sr of Plj‘ge
.had been; ;at rfitet-selnaltted, to- herniece's
rule With an • ill grade. - But Mildred had .
been used he misjudged when -friendless, :
And Uow.. She had.. her -hash ild'a. love to -.
-strengthen her, and hold he " -firm.. before
the eyes:of:all, - Vntil.theyS -w her aright„--
shewaSeonteht to do her duty, a•ud wave , •
recoMpebse. from bthers.' ;pi It: nal* at
Jest: 2. One by one. she gained her .foel. all -
over to her own side, by .bribe that ..none`
with pearts. dan-be-eo stubborn as to :resist '
Ur_ leng-mliumility,:goe ill- .and ,:a desire ,.
.teplease, that. would t b, - denied,: but. -.
rOseagaii4-no matter *h cast "back," with j.
,sroilee and pleading ha _ :-• •
... .,
- Beset° that ..Riity nd-Thie Wits-
thin' eateftil- of their condtict o. their kind:, .
-diclnot forget', their. friends. : alter Diek- -
soh; down at'Sahdby, had soonno :.need.t6.....
smuggle , for the reinaindei, of his days;' "
although .he did it, to the 'I t; ft -ern -lova
arid „habit.; while -young Riehard--Btock .
married -Eheeb-e -- (Whioh was .to'lia,ve.heen
such a long engagetne-nt, -beesise he had no
boat of his - 'criVra-, peer _felle i). that - Sarno .-
Clyffaids' sake had Tbetne 86:- ong his hur-
1
summer. . The faithful servant Who, forthe.:._
den of. contumely and --disgracfr. .reaped.- as
_greatirewardashe could tlaej. ..genaded, to-
.,accepti,in holding the,sarne - Ida ahdlarSi.
his lathers held • there he . worked"' and
-prospered, but a solitary nd well-nigh
ffiernilees man;- - for the • -ia 70 _times_ at
Clyffe were not :to hfa-tasteh the_ master
and - 'his :wife ...„inabent, be i . ought,
over, Cator„ like bis .iiew-,Muk rees; badoldtT,
i
too:. much; and :. iciat -..sin - thgpi 4. What- -'-
they gained iv mere love and.iion 1- mote-
againet„ Whicia; -to • one- pt - 'it3. mipliant '
I
antipathies ' and --inistriists.fg to . conteMP- •
u
-Spirit, Were Onsupportahle;. At his Own .
special desire Lucy ,yeinaiii cl-atitheall....
ta`great,dOtneetie-poWer, and altabifdtriii•V .
- all things appertainingto the friertrfOrlf..
.lici was ' unwilling.- -'that - She 'should- suffer.,
through his misfortune and feltfullyequal .
to bearing his own . hurdewt 6 -carrying of.:
which, indeed; it .mbet be Coefe.si3ed, Was .
not entirely-. -displeasing to his ',sombre- . - •
nature.' 7,.#onlf-iiiirle„,to pip* iXtOVevek*e
rhept,iii play thelOnntaiii of' ndly feeling,
master, who always with the -
k.
which lay too deep Within him for ordinary
occasions to 'evoke, by coming: . to see the
inest.:•cdtdiergteeting, aMi.te-dandle MiSe-
Millynntil that-young:1s* gr4t5t .00-fgg for
. :Another countenance:not re ' - aldefor -
el
ineli attention's:. .- - ,,:, . ..- - .1.t-1-. _ :4
-reinarli; while it.chilled.her parents'-.Velim;-:
personal beauty was also welcome to-Milly,.
as honey and th,ehoneyeombi- which latter it so .greatly.resehibled.. 't Lor,!gedpapa:ii•
she wotild:eXclitini,..allodieg.t the 'ravages
of etnalLpox,:" what a. funny: i'facei_loit'V,u
-got l-'.' '" . _ - . ..-- . • .. . : -' " . - ' - - . - - "Yes, my dear;".woeld the ' hod- lieuten-
ant :make. answer,- enjeyingthe hiltla naive •
"it's very .expensiimlifedived,.* i 510,2111.1:0!/.1
- -'B)..it --godnialxima, • _waS eive , . a greater
.favorite L. " Yet.. " The CareY, .- had '---.eff
bourse : been - informed of all that ' had
"taken - place -.. at, Clyffe;.. • -... bd.. - of se -
inn& of Raymond's strange irnprisminient .
air did not of the "Martin's .
West." But at first, -and indeed for many -T.-.
months, no invitation was issued from the .. -
Hall, even to friends go dear as they. 'When
--
it did -arrive at Lucky Bay, couched in ths::-::
most affectionate terms that ilayjrip.na and ••
Mildr d could jointly fen, it:could , not he
Batisf tory as . valid. Another,-, Stringer,
1
imine„ iately . accepted, ' for , - reason as
-.very. ii)tch-Lionaller than r lir. .‘S ter, *.,,.:
,..,,„d iiliortlt 4tVilSalt.. a dVitionv,...:,
could suspect of being anadmiealtYpfacial. ..,
WhOm -.7filfeVen the sanguin -:.lienteriant.-
. ,-
Continued e e.''. - - '
.... .• :.... __.-.. .. •