The Sentinel, 1881-12-16, Page 6114a171-.
-
: ATE-NORD A.T-
A *o 01 Love and Barham
By the author of "What Re Cost Rer,"-
.1 “ Gwendoline's Raweet!! and other -
- popular nov.da
•
thik
as
rein
'by tl-
is at
asset.
Give
With downcast head, and handsolasped
ite if in prayer, Mrs.Hepburn listened
•'patiently, as a penitent before apriestsenly• -
at the word "murderer" .a, -shiver seized.
be limbs as takes the poplar when its
leaves turnpale.before the bitter eastwincl.
When all -was read, she took, the letter
from Mrs. Carey% hand, and kissed it.
ffi ha'efaithiu this man," quoted she,
"-who has taken pity upon the whim* ancl
• fatherless-."- ,
"What!' and yet you have never seei
- ti -.1.
14114 nor ban even guess who he is?" cried
• Wenn - the. lieutenant's wife.- . .-
day by
44 _Yes„" said. Mildred -firmly. "Is not
' • theatmi•b- that the very definition of true faith 2
- the most t. riu-.2.- &-
wain- xs- no- pretense or stratagem, I am
- W -e -can' d?i:' 'mire.' It never could havenhteted Graees•
•t-ef Plire- liefety With all -its ginning, to snare me
bavs,. .i44:•
thus. There is nci approach to that for-
, ,
any good', not event -in seeming."' -•
• "But hew strange, Mildred that you can
Make. =Inept; at. whothis friend maybe
• for kindness; not like diet or -need it be,
anichnertiOni sun. or fire, sets the heart at
'once inituiring from whence. the genial glow
proceeds thathas so moyedit. Friend re-
' cognizes: friend,...ha matter imbler what
.
disguise he does. bis: loving- service._ All
love you here„ dear Mildred, to- the humb-
. _
• a„,___ _,,,,,,il‘of test. gaya you,. then, left none at ClYlk
• Ailla-4 by eileileona- you can accuse -of hOneat fealty?" •
. nearly all 4....' "Noone inorethan another,. dear Mar-
, the line . ion,“ answered Mrs.- Repburn,thonghtfUlly-
• more, 46- They were- all respectful. to. me -nay,
atlk...- even kind: ; -hot they could not forget„ I
- -‘-'' ' • thinli„that I was this woman's niece._ They
• liked the Olyffard. race. their natural Lords
' -and especially their late master, Ralph --
but not the interloping Cerra. No ; I can-
' not fix upon a. single face in which SO MU&
Of , pity- ae, this letter. breathes hs - ever
•-ithOWn itself." ' , •
"Then I *mild not go to Olyffe dearMil, hoofs of the pursuer with. a, sinking heart,
- ed exclatmed Mrs Carey ". Remain but- now against. hinaL Grace CIyffard had
here; oroatill better, loom t us Set the - done her worst; which was so bad. that
Is:W to work at mace.- Give -this woman to even she was 'glutted with it, while WAS
ktIOW that if any harm comes to Milly, she ,not Mildred there to be her child's' protector
herself will pay for it withher UP: We do. .-preserver from she knew not what,
not live in times. when morder goes un- 'felloVr-guezdian with she-knewnot whom -'-
punished, and far less dares, with its reek.. and, aid, it not behave her above all things
- ingliana, topoint jibingly at those whom not to_fear ? ' "...7 „i. •
it.has_ made_ desolate." . • The post -chaise :ad • drawn many a
“ Ah, thatvina how my.„ own dear Ray- faniiliar face of child and woman to the
imend. used to. speak," cried Mildred' with doors of: the hamlet,' but the park itself,
agitation. "Yonfeel. as he felt,: indignant. seen over the ,sunk fence, . appeared un-
-nobly brave but again, I. say„ yon do not usually destitute of life for such an hour,
know- - this WOLhalt. She fears nothing-, no keeper with his on, no laborer. with. an
nothing -except that she • should be , axe in hand about the plantations, no blue;
thwarted, -in her- purpose, -.1.:-.clo not want aproned. bearer . of vegetables from the
renienge; I want ray child, my Blilly, If kitchen -garden, nt, message -boy. loitering
she should but say 'there, take, her safe on the path that lea to the village -no
and well,' 1 would premise never to molest external sign of Iife„ it-- short, such as is
her, more:" . ' Ordinarily visible abent *a. great country
. "So wouldnot I, then," cried -the Houten- -household was there„ - The porter at the
arit!S wife with flushing cheeks. "What 1 lodge, too, could not- easily be roused, and
forgive the wretch, who set a man to sla,y. while' she waited, through: the gilded 'iron
My husliarld- ?- No; had she twenty Jives gates the long avertne showed strangely
she would: need to look to, thein, all And desolate. As the eottage-doer opened, she
. if, in truth, she sat above. the flaw, then -drew hackmechanica y,fof she knew the
, I haVe-no ohild,, lis: true, nor, . as -1 hope, :runaway "Miss -Mild ed as..WAS ;" but she
.wit4oet the law I would eiact the . penalty; mart would start to r cognize the face a
_may I ever hear a child if, hltving. borne 'could hear his well-knewn voice in expostJ
it; it should Mike -rho thus forgetful of my hlation With the post- y. -
husband's Wrongs-- Pardo, me, Mil-
dred ; I have a, home tinshattered„ ahus.
band living4 know! not What it is to .be
forlorn :like yoir,, or, perhaps; like yea, r
• ahoUhr alt down content with -any shred of
comfort that Alio destroyet might, permit
me to retain, and almost thankful that so
=eh was left," -
Fora minute or EA over Milaredeface
. - .
passed tracee of some painful inward.
atruggle,. but: presently it grew 'calm and.
evenlimiling. " I love- you for your frank -
mut Marion quite' as much- sefor your
•charity. Some. clay, . perhaps -not 110W-
-, youwill know- lao* much I thank you for
it; how my heart yearns towards youre.
- Perhaps, again„ -after this day and night,
I shalinever see: yeu more; then 064 will
thank you for me,- and far better. May it'
be Icing 'indeed', ere death o'ershado.ws
• yourdWellingi and -Ailey loss like -mine neiver
' be- known to your true, heart. Ney„ do not
Weep, dear- Marlin]. ; it is your ' part, not
Mine; to play the comforter; and that you
• have- . done- SO- He WM. not forget who
repa.4ys.hunian Iova-viith love divine: May
He suffer us; hi heaven, if -hot here, to
meet again." . •
" But- what Mean -,y0t; Mildred?" mur-
• mured Mrs..Carey,. threugh her tears.
• "Whither are you. going?" .
"I start to -morrow Morning, Marion, for
Clyffb EfalL" ' -. e ' • •
-.•7170:er: -•
Yet Naturals not -tali -it t r being fir..'It
is we who are eltere I and INA she , It: is
spring with. her a . , as it was with us
.once -ah ine;'' ho long agol-for she,
•renewS her youth -time yearly. The sume
mer odors are as -kweet now as then, and
-borne lay the samehtiglit clear airs, which•
drive the seltsame Bess of meadow -grass,
although their shore e may shift a little (as
those of oceindo) from eopse to cornfield:
-The-cradlets orfresh 'moss, with their ecov-
eriets of wild -floweret, invite lis as ef old-,
only we' are no longer cshildren. • The
shadows flicker and pass athwart • the .fsee
• of tile peel, and fade away -into light "(like
a good mari's death), 'exactly as they were
• wont be do; but in the faithful -depths We
-see 6- wan, worn face,. and -the wMth-lieiO;
• where once the s.nage was mirrored, and
• the crown of- flowers, . The garden to OW
•eyes hsua become si wilderness, nay, a very
place of tombs, beneath- each of which is
;buried ei dead joy. :
- Thus -was it with Iltlildrea .'Clyffard, as
her long lonely journey northwards are*
• to its close, and through the windows of
the post chaise She lbegan to discern the
well remembered scenes amid which her
'love had ripened f,:' him whoLizapar
,Ionger_zninbrizair an green, with its great
viiill of limestone I eking in the distance
like a Mural drown. ; Ribble, within which
her troth had _been first plighted. Then
• for many an heur her way lay through a
land of rocket aticletretuns, where every done
might have borne Raymond's name, and
runlet babbled it, solinstinct was it with
his memory. The :spring -time seethed to
mock her with its joy. it was nearly
midday when the w eels began. to - rattle-
• !
over theuneven. villa e street that led 'to
the Hallgates,- The last. time they had
doneso it was when 'she had fled with her
marriage with Rttp rt. Strange to gay,
Inver OLI. the very' 7 of her threatened
she felt' lees terror in thus- returning, alone
to brave thernalice a her aunt, and the
atiger oflim she had so slighted, than upon
that occasion. She. had then feared for
Raynaond, aid listened for . the clanging
ogAPTER. xxxr.- -
filiZEPING OASTIME
• - - - - -
There are fevi things.that- try the. tender
:human heart se Gcruelly as the revisiting a
home scene _from which death, Or even
absenpe, has taken. away- that which madeit
...home; for however dear the external
aspeoter of nature. may be to us -and to
some they are.vety dear -it is the aseocia-
- tionWhi.ch theypossess with our loves and,
. friendships which, after all; fonds their
most sacred charm. The Nvond may waVe
elegreeply,' the -fountain leap as -brightly,
. and the, lake -reflect the. peaceful sky as
. faithfully as of yore, but there,. is some--
.. thing missing- to the inward eye :which-
filt..11-1-e- •• neare, the beauty more Completely that if
Write -drought had. dripped the trees of
• &ad • eV -ernes!, and: robbed the dreamt -0f its
tnor song, and the mere of its *Alia flood
411, Naturi seemeoruel then.
der
. ie banks i,ndbraes h0112ife-npoli,
How can ye bloOnt So_fregh and fair
. Row ma ye chant, ye little birds, '
• And sae Weary, fit' Carat - •
ha a, -thought that stabbed many a. bread,
before.Burns Soltouchingly expressedit.
`I-Ye'll-breakmy heartye little birds,
That weaton thrOugh the flowory the= ;
'Te o* depaiteil joys, _
t -Departed limier tnreturn. • .-
Never-merer. And -yet the .sun. SUMS as
114 the clays when'it wets .wont to gladden
nor -has - the treasury . of hea,veia, at
fit, rod= a single star. "From end to
,",,Writes -another poet, very diff,arent
--the Ayrshire- ploughman, but equally
•tibia -hi. regret -",from
ndorall thelandscape underneath,
place that. doth net. breath_ -some
emory. of My friend.", But
as with 1.104„wheithacliwo_to.-do
'est• All is- changed to us,
sdene' remains the eame-
nd.. ready to enchant new
ess. beauty smile even
mind out her falsehbed,
"You know, my •in n, Ws' no utie your
• bringing anybody her at this time," quoth
• Giles ' the porter. " hy . can't you let ,a
poor.deVil, who scar ly remembers what;
. a_ night's restis like, t e a- little sleep ? " !
"It. is a lady, and I did -not like` to tell
her," replied the ether in a tone so low
• that Mildred - could ; scarcely catch , the
words. • . - `.
"Nay,' grinned Giles, "but that only
makes it worse. The roaster will have no
• such fblkwithin his doors." .
“Ay„ but She coines to visit Mistress
-Clyffara." e - - ' ' • • '
In a nabment the gates were thrown
back, and through her veil Mildred could
see the:porter drawn u in the most uncom-
fortable of the attitudes Of respect, and
shading his eyes with is hand, as though
the - glory of the ei Rea personage to
*horn he -was doing honor was almost toe
greatitto look upon. - '
. • The deer that ha& been went to keep at
a considerable -distance from the avenge,
were now feeding close beside it, and 'can-
tered nimbly off as the:chaise rattled by;
while the rooks, more easily moved than of
-Yore, rose in a single. cloud from ' the
swinging_ -branches, end like a household
roused by 'night -alert", inquired of one
another hoarsely what was wrong; where-
upon sorae answered "Thieves!" and
some cried 'Fire!" and others (who'
seemed. half- asleep)" irturmured. "Both!
Botlal" As the visitor drevi nearer to the
house. itself; the, peat:leek on the terrace
began to ecream; but 3Viildred remarked to
herself how. strange it was that, save the
deep bay of the bloodhounds, not a note
come froth the- distant kennel Where the
fox-hounde lay, and from whence' such a
. tumult had been von • -of old to issue in
;
the daytime at the ech of hoofs from the
court -yard. No- sound of human tongue
, was heard; no cheerful noises such as the -
morning brings to -every dwelling ; ho
, human face'oame to the blinded Windows
.qf that -upper floors, and those beside the
door were shuttered dope. . . • ..
- if lit,there death .herel" • asked' .Mildred
,
of the post --boy, letting ownthe glasswith
a trembling. hand, and thinking With
agony of a , small w le face; growing
Iri
pointed and thin, and I cold little babas,
• .which she had not be -en hi -time 'I.:Weill-0 put
crossirise over the sinlees breast. "Speak,
man-, and -tell me the whole truth:"
I. .
"Well,. ma'am," returned the youlig
'fellow, mitigating the Craven dieleetforher
benefit as well as he viss able; ."•it's.what I
_canl incense -you about in a_ crack,- but I'll
not lee to ye. The : master, you see, he's
odd;ancl wilt have- notlilngdone In the day.
time, All the - folks here gets up at. eve„
• and - goes - to bed in the morning. It's
araadkly that they're all asleep, and will
give. me time to tell the -tale- before they
answer the bell. Some Tea's hes lile brains,
and some's an outshutz:* and. Mistress
. ,
Clyffard, she has -Insane for bend as well
a [ - 1
as for Squire Rupert. , .
"But he Must be stark -staring mad,1,:T.ix-
claimed Mildred involuntarily, " thus ha it-
uallY t,0 tun -night int,i'day-:," _ 6 ,•,
' 4:g-1611143'4 Ilikitie.hiti alit; stieklebut4
ncia'ano ; but 'mad'!' a hard word; and • s,
bad one" (here he looked • cautiously
:An onthttliding,an adslitionalplaceofstowage
for that article. •
•
around hiin) “ to speak of hereabouts.
Besides, we oant' be heskt when there's so
mu& gear going. It weuld not be wise in
the mistress to look hirn VP like the rest of
'em. Better hens vii;' a mucky face
than wash itanoas off." • •
." Then this peer gentleman is only suf-
fered to be at large to serve the Purposes of
another?"
"Nay, ma'am," returned the post -boy
apprehensively ; -"1 know nothing nayeelf
-I only tell what I have been told; -and if
the great folk here should come to learn it,
they .would uncouth* at peer Toby
Drawn.
" But what a dreadful. hypocrisy, 'what
an acted lie mild things "
",rtnli; , ms'eto,dinna flite,'Tinterrupted
-the other •; • "if leeing were .choking,thear'd
be hard gasping everywhere. - And again, I
say, speak not o' what I told ye. Ye bread
o' me,t I see, and have an honest kindly
heart, or I should -never ha' spoken -But
-what name shall I- say, for here is some-
body coming' at last."
"Mrs. Raymond Clyffard."
" -Saint; and soldiers! What, are ye
..P.A0Zi* snarl
-a fildir 2
eed indeed ma'am I made
- I
too free with the liquor this cold morning"
• "Do not fear," returned Mildred smil-
ing, I am not -of their - race although of
their name; nor am. I and 'Mrs Clyffard
such -friends, although we are relatives:"
Then, for any sake," returned the man
confidentially, "-let us shot back again to
Landaiter, while yet wif may. We worth
ye, if ye stayliere, and ,be an ' unfriend of
the mistress. Come for your -kind face,
and the trouble in :will take- ye back,
and risk all -ay; though there's an look-
ing devil on the bridge poonder-1 wonder
where he sprung from?--lottering there for
no good, and as much- as to 'sap, 'What we
have stolen, that we keep.' Say the word,
and ride him down like muck. Let'
him take care of his taalas.1
"Thank you niuch," returned Mildred,
-gratefully; "but I havecome hither of my
own will, and. am not afraid to stay • here.'
Nevertheless, as she looked back in the
direction indicated by her new. 'friend, and
beheld the gaunt form -of -the man Cater
standing upon the harrow way, as though
indeed to forbid- her egress, she felt that
she had need of all her courage. '
The next moment the'door was opened
by 1ars. Clyffard:
CHAPTER
WrIEE'S SEilgEVEi
"You have come at last; niece; have
waited: for. yen long," said the Lady of
Clyffe, lettingfallher ice-celd sPllables one
by one, like drops from a petrifying spring.
"..If I do not take your hand, it is not
because I am not glad. to 'see you."
Resolute. severe, unbending as ever Wail
Grace Olyffard,In voice and gesture; - but
her fair featutes hadpsuffered alaange. The
brow waa. no tenger smooth., and the little'
-form had lest its rounded, grace. • Trouble,
and what is.- Worse than trouble, the
:anxiety o!: guilt -the dread selicitude of
one who drives a Chariot on a pity . wall,
unfenced on either side, anddaresnot for,
his life lookfright.cr left, -bat always to
his plunging -•steeds -bad worn at last her
wondrous youth away.' Moreover, she
seemed to take no .pains to keep it; her
attire was loose, and her fine hair Unbraided,
although. it wee . plain she -had- not been
roused from her bed, as ether inhabitants of
the Hall had been by this: time. And
indeed, Grace Clyffard, it -was said, now
never slept. Perhaps, had Ralph been
alive, she world have contrived to retain.
her marvellous beauty, but now, astlicnigh
'aware it was of ' little • Use to her,. she.
neglected it, unwomanly in, that, as in all
else. • A look of icon whieh had set upon
her, when she fret aPpearsd; faded :away
as she gazed in Mildred' face, and marked
its calm resolve.' Twice had her niece
essayed to speak aria twice failed,' -but
itwas easy to observe that her inability did
not proceed from.fear. Even Tobias Drayson,
who was by no meats free from appiehen-
-sion, could see that, as, after. -lifting the
luggage into the -npr, be .threw into; his
farewell Scrape at the door a More genuine
sympathy than could have been expressed
from the bows that Ltird Chesterfield
ever made in hislife: - - .
"Stay one momenc;" cried • Mildred to
this friend of three hours' standing who
was abOut to leave her in the keeping Of
her mortal foe, . ." there: may have been
some mistake here after all -Mrs. Clyffara,
where is-rny child ?" -
She is in they Cator's chitge-4
servant new to you, I think;ibut You faith-
Musfyou needseee her now ? "
"Here, and at once!" returned Mildred
resolutely. "-1 will not stir except t� leave
this liOnse„Innless I see her; unless I hold
her in my. hands."
4Phe hideous thought that already -pierced
the Mother's breast was again at work;
she dreaded lest this fiendish woman, keep-
ingherpromise to the ear, might preeently,
giveto heforphaned- arms her Milly--Ldead;
," Your child safe and well enough," re -
tinned Mrs. Clyffard with a isneer ; " this -
hell will bring her in three minutes.
There!" She rang it, " But do: not look
so haggard, niece, for be sure. I do net ask
you to-Clyfte Hall to play the niourner."-
The -cruel shaft sped net hoine ; the
tnother had no -ears -save for the sounds
she hungered for -the echo, �f a tiny -foot-
fall„. and' the babble of *•-ei baby tongue.
Tobias, too, with bead liside,--awaited them
viith not a little interest: and ?presently
theyeame- - _ • . .
“ then---ruh :to rnaminar" aria a
Woman% voiceolat unkindly, and then -vitD3
heard the pompous stagger of an infant's
feet, and the crow that bespeaks pedestrian
confidence ; and like an arrow froth' the
bow; forth darted Mildred, and Caught her
-child hp as itstranied, like hound in leash„
to meet her froth.. its nurse's hind, and
-hugged it to her :bteaet;_ kissed and
fondled it, and rookedit to and -fie, With
.-muttourous inarticulate joy. .
No -sooner had the first gush Of grateful
happiness e passed away, than her eyes-
glanceatoWard the . doer; It was closed ;.
Tobias was standing -by it no longer, arid
there wasa dull sound of wheels:
_ "It will he better both -for you, niece,
and for your child," sail Mrs: 'Clyffard,- in
her sibilantioice, "not_ to think'e,ny ore
of whatj-, read in yOur mind jiist .now.
* Taknoffenee.
' Scold. .
t Tonere -of the same breed 'or diameter, is
1 Toes.
- -
You have foiled me once„--itli-true but even the knackers afford no happy release .
once with me is enough -2'. ----- when pastivork I) become- unequal -to the
-Mildred trembled:- - Situation." She .had been only, recently
"You fear," continind taken into -Mrs-. ClYffard'eSeryice; but she
.miplaintly, but speaking still ta-C-loW_-__.that famine of -.a . -Stock upon Whom that lady ,s •
.not ssound reaohed_thenuree'ater• you could-relY._._-4er brother William had been '
fear, and yet are wise. -Yonilare----not-_-_-r-isk- year by yeat-eitablishing - -himself . in the
se great a stakeasthat-"f (-44.4einted to • good graces of the Lady of Clyffe, and since
the .infant Gideon'isdeath he had grown to be some,
Mother's- . cheek "upon--n-J1loeing _game. thing more than a - servant. she could
_ _
Mind, I s Weil het-_i.-----haVelou--.---marry.:_. colant upon -him to executeProjects from the
Rupert." . etnisequencei-Of------Whieh:-.'-Clernent shrank • -
in fear; and although he mtich wanted
at the Dene, indeed, her - brother
„could scarcely• -he -induced to stay Without
-him, She had. ratit440d-----shim Clyffe Hall
ellatelother own reasorte.
" „Marry hint ,That was all Mildred
said; but had she cried, " Thai -fiend and
murderess, with bands yet drippingwith
my husband's blood, tow-dare-it:thou to
speak to me of marriage ?"-_,--elae=7-6-Onla_not
have expressed- more hate and loathing,
the,n did her ,,hrinking-forni;2-that-seemed
to fear pollution front the-Womanli. touch,
and poison from the yeti ail.--lhabriathed
Much this Mildred guessed, and on
that account, as • froni the ()diode
mcommen "Marry him new acquaintance with,. great disfavor.
_ --adation---Of=rlomestic spy in which she
stood to herielf,Wiellielited to regard her -
as one tuina wic
iece; that is rio longer necessary. iUu uere
h"‘aullt :rhOenr asks for. There 18 rio harm Iiicy. vv 1 m-mthagiugienhhet
Butsee you speak lumlair,rf_a_P„ 1Se g . g.--raBin ill* was fondof
and which
in
•
mot
h ge waywardness
Rupert, iiimiLinopr„bee*Iiiigiihit Me, and: that_lier_own-ohild piling, no '
your false-Methartifora2yer-u-:-.. sooner had thn---thine-Sarriv the large'
from kith' and kin; -telitik-EPletirself_-__Witlf chamberTallotted to their e, than Milly.
their sworn enehap„---LOanneitAneneh the-'.ettetched44.t--lier little arma-.4... iser new•
anger of my eyeathe while 1 speak of it, nurse. Lucy szeod-Witkher halide' by her
but I have forgiVert:-Yolvthia„---and---Rripert side, not offering to take her from her MP:t-
hee forgotteu it. He deenear.--1-thatilayery ural protector, and still the childstruggled
morrow is his - Marriage' towards her, as it would have said,
fere, that the night' May- jpalfil4e_i_vtieker "Now, let me .go to her, now do; for though
with him than if,,ohcii- ileeplesapillovr-he 11 AM well aware you are my Mother, 'mid
lay longing forhiegypsy-brfde-----lieliuns it :the person to to in the presence of an
into day -hunts, ahoots:ant fisheSISY-inntTo'r. ogress, ii-io-h-ao-ithe who has (I- aria delighted'
ortyterch-lightitthere-:.haiio moon,
and makes the hameeLthernia=-1-Clyffard a
,wonder and a.-je4 thef.country-,--Ahrough.'
And he is mad, too; so nied-„Linece,that_if
did but tell hint"! Thatifillildre-d's
she that is widow of thy-4rother,1---he
_
WouIci pluck-her...fro:ire- thinearms-,-and_dash
her brains out on yonder _court -yard stones -4
and yet the law would holdhim harmless.
But the law stireenot.-Of-eittielfffEihd if.
have his name set to:-$,,nertaiii4arehmeot, 7---Por-an instant thewhole face of the gray
written out and ready fqi2his---43i_tnitTe_mprT wcoat..vaTIFT--uk up with Plesieure, as std.
thin two years back, and which he world denly as a -gas-jet--which oiae turns the.,
havesighedupoiithe.-Vellida-V--liniwhich-he wr.opg way before one turns it out -then
called you his=4On__ungratefgirl-I say once more it became as hard and wrinkled -
that even now, should he but signit,
abileidngdhiseiDgurteeedn4y-yhe_ri -sae rwgi _r -u cr
as whiter's road. "Mrs. Clyttard bade
Me'. treat ,--the - child. with every- care,
returned she That ,wits
hold; and all this-_--good1P-,--_--lieritage-,-ron :to be one of My- chief duties.'
which I have _fixed- ity-eyes--theee-many
yeirs, axid. b.ave .yearri_o what is -expeciea of you eh.,1e;"
in -liked :Mildred, her a,versioh renewea •
weak foolhaVe-
with ereplY; heside this hired take ?"
these ten days, shall-lieneeforte=-Mine--_7_ ,
- - -I--am to yourself,. ma'am,"
sheGwa ec re e C invoking1 yf arclasped eitpedi herhandsHighaatho'
relined the---othi.
er;her, face quits buried .
the ehild„---Wholatighed and -gargled at her
.
Heaven upon hereinffil-soul,_-_----so wrapped kisses like ihi-rieh-ivine escaping from the • .
in greed-that:fora moment she the flask, and - babbling'nf the vintage-. feast •
very presence of niedel-Therisuddenly whereof it was .the pride* shore of -years .
she swooped npori._ • -
not thwart- the, -Mildred.;'---Cii--f=dar t. visiting '. means watching does •
_ _ e no . .
come between: 4t-,--notmeana----playing the spy. upon me
less of all you lovew:Wiiimi_.41-teadjillost-:night and day?"
tseornirourohjoure,,ynt rc,r!tintitayffitletoll'ilootef-I---6_,:vgiuili4rei hsard, What Nes.- Clyffard said,
reilied the other quietly. `. She
When,iAla*ei,11A7u9n' seeGrp,: e -u; pokesintl 07ith S r ahumility, that
ddisarmed beri
It not have _been in the', .
when...,,fien; -nette-r-of-,her_tailx that she should 'behave:
taposiitmti hl w a4cu r3_v-neoetk-Tici-toe:73:1,:atis-=,w_thi-e'n
winds beat endtheraineTrfall=s--„Nit7lercerkhallstohes withsuchre*otSanci.gentleness. Besides.
_ .
hayelt so; - but wlien-_o-ne-e4raine-d_„-_LrseeyQll-
depart not from the time. - 1 will not brook
postponementfor
-" Then I will see him;fiafril."..Anoth,--Mild-
red resolutely... -0 ant
ready. Let him- cornei":..-
Fool-, would yen-liaveAird;rend--17-oi_ii-
limb from limb, yoliiii-a41:1.6-------Child;ais well?
You know 1206 what youask.---:-=-__N-0,---,h-ei.-7--yet-
to-morrew: :Thoseauhkenphe-eksaiieTt-ba
phimpsd- out, thoseeyesfiszbot-=_Tio--teatsi'
those mournful gatments-bcf,po-hrti4id for
others-. befitting (me:on - the threshold of
her bridal: A week hence it : shall be.
You hear me,- 1 do not mince my
Words but de you_heed----1=--.‘1.::--wilVnettake-
your silence .fOreensent:-_-_-S-peak-snak";-TI
to see) just taken hersqt.off, yet I do owe
this singukr-loolcing female an apology for ,
my apparent desertion of her. 'You have
no idea how civil she has been to -me ,while
you have been away really must go
her." A flush ef wounded pride invelun- -
tarityLitole-upon her mother's cheek ; but
she stepped -forward and gave her child to -
Lucy, saying "You have been very kind to
her, I see; may go,a reward-yo*or it I"
whatcould she know of the wrongs _that. :
had been --suffered.: at Grace Clyffard's' -
hinds? No manifestly unfair- to-
jr6a.t_this womaii, who was only doing her 2
duty -and that with delicacy and feeling-
-as one-responaibielor the actions- of her --
mistress. • • •
" You:are right, Lucy, and I am wrong," „
sid Mildred. I ask your pardon for my
angrywords.you knew how cruelly ,
and -inineThiave been treated you :Would .. -
make allowance -let hie;Tani sure.2!
--Lucy bowed her head, but without speak-
ing -
!! want-hovieverito know exactly the
positioninich-1.-ant. _You, are to be piyi
inseparable 'companion. But am' I to be.
ilicikept-anin-dont -prisoner-7
"Youmay -*bent- the park, *her-.
ever you please, madam -that is, - it I am
say. . You, are:TeOntumations---= With you; but not tpon the village side. of
Lucy, take her child!" ; - it, or in the avenue:"
As the woman stepped forward to obey "Your orders are precise enough," said.
her mistressbitteriy." Now tell- have -
hear; I heed....--1-Will--do all4onte,--sk,,An_ a foolish fancyforvisiting Ribble Cave to -
have still thynothing..mOrrow.--Ldo, they -predlude it?"
Rupert and tyon-mairana-nie-r-linit from "No, haadalia; they do not.",
limb; asyouhaiieesia,----hut-.----1-_-will'-net-he It was well for Mildred :that: as thiS.
parted from my - - -- answer came her face Was -turned away
." Gerd," retuthed_Graie-i_-21-'ffE-PialaiFeek, from her whom she addressed, for at those
then,youshallhaYe her tOz_T-youreelf ; and words her features changed from shrink-. •
then after that, it_the-__parchhieht-be---but ingyiale:inispense to the full rose of eiulta-'
egged, shall take her tion. Nor was it at once that she could
not, then you will not_be-hfuoh-:_together, trust herself to yoke her rapturous thought.
you and She..Doilyeu-iinderataii.d.,-me with nober-words.
Mild d ? ",_ " Lucy I I do not know if you have ever *,
• "Ye9,weshali be parted liki--_,_my.,:hulaband loved and lost, as I have done ; , but if 410-„
and myself," returned-MildiAniareely. when I tell you in that cave fell the .finit
"Let me go kengele my chathlter_I caw_ .Whillier-orlove_upon my ear from lips- that
not hear to look upon--iyin*--*ielteCfa_c_e2-L . are dumb, you ; will understandtheYou are no---.5-fiattereri--2:niece._;-bilt:that, pra r I am about to make to you to grant '•
does not affect me. My presence ehalt not .tt'; not, perchance because I tun of your
vex you longer now, nor-Tanynoorei--unleas .dwrilSex and .friendless, you will indulge'
your Own conduct calls for show_ me in what is at worst a harmless w hitt.
Mrs. Raymond ,Cly-lfard-te-flierffe-OM
see you: neverleaveher-"night_rior-:_s_ley,_ae L
have already charged you -Remember, a
Week' hence,- - and -you meet Rupert
Clyffard as his bitrothedAild-lave I
your word, NiticeMildrekr;-_____ -
"You have, Aunt-Tgritop,nswered-
Mildred;
- For is not Weeklienc*.1-!„,._elp-.--priFloious_
boon, to be rejected by no human
_
-
I wish to visit Ribble Cave- alone. T� -me
and to my child that place is hallowed;
you would not surely break in upon Your.
sister at:tile• altar steps, and mar her
prayers?" _ _
The woman's ficerneited at
likksnow before the: sun, then froze a
as iiiiicsklY -ashefore.
"There is no outlet t� the cave .save
4fie,"----c-olitinued Mildred ; and -therefore
presentperd„:-_and least of allelly:50-weman? you will not neglect your duty by remaining.
A - - very eternity of --chinfo-ft-_-=--aspace At the entrance; -log will have us :both
wherein a -ifiCere- Of .--,:1111itiokOaffWbriiaii of secure." _
hope have time,_-:±Cljprinfup, any one .or Lucy shook her head. -" Let us 'talk of `
which may blossom into theTflo_Wersafity,-- .-sonietlabig:elsevinadamit- we must .'needs
CHAPTER'*1-Iit talk; but commt but he weary with-;-
• _ yourlongnight's travel. Here is _refresh.
-A
ment, and when you have 1 taken it, lie- -
Lucy Cator;-:--the woman whowas_ down upon your rbed aricl sleep; as all at
appointed to -belMildred%fiffendant;_ahd_ Clyffe are sleeping new." --
also. her _jailer,. Wria..-4ne-o-f="thcl-sepersons . Not until you have promised what I
airr-the: fairy laleef(althongli: lea small thing perhaps in your eyes-; but
who are elwapl-Middre-----**-heikid-tkileed asked,".pleadecrM4dred,•PassiOns.tely. " •
Wicked dwarf
she was-bytio..--theans lutbineah 1' you Cannot pees What value -
'as thoughshehad hienteinibtO:the-viorld I set. Upton it 17 -Chine, Promise me, . and :I • -•
very gray and--Wrinkledi-_--_-_-and__;ifet7---.With.5-:a --shall sleep in peace." . - :-
beady brightneleiabolit---7,--f-w:-_-sies-that "NO, madam, 1 cealmot," said -
Seethed to promise an eternal youth. 11 it gravely; "your very earnestness foids
was impossible-te-linegine-hera child, it Me to Flay 'Yes.' You will not be sale
WAS equally hard to picture her boweddownwithout my presence. From Ribble Cave
and decrepitwith age. Like the horse thatthere it an outlet. besides the one of which -
we buy at -feurteen,and-Workior-six marl; you speak." . .
and bee4ft--.(atid_belieVe otirhead)l-the:_khile So -lulled was Mildred with- her , recent
as young and aaetropg*----evney Cater joy; thatshedid not gneiti •the woman'
looked .capable--,e,f-Aeingdo-Meatic -service. Meaning,- notWithstanding„, her, grave' tone,
forseveral- geneMItthis-c-yekito-±bothel-the for the heart,_•,when diopeful, is at, disin.
most prudent Mother would:Iiiive.-_-hired her dined as childhood's self to contemplate
to preside over a nursery -et young children, the dreadful void of death. -" What outlet.; _
with tat fear that -.she--LI-Von14-iIratidif (alai- Lucy 7 Then, when -she did net answer:
alas, for - the' peor---Iiiimen,-----Vihe-latta-z-kre.: ff_DO you think that" wculd drown myself,
paddock to take her eene-iti„,andArio--whom. Continued from second page
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