VOL. I.-i0. 20.
BLOOMSBU11G, PA., FBIDAT2, JUNE 28, 1867.
PRICE FIVE OEKTB.
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1Y.
I did not sco Hell ngnln until the fol- light. It was Just turning towards the
lowing summer, by which time I was house, mid oven ns 1 entight sight of It,
tin ensign In her Majesty's th Hegi- it vanished.
ment, and under orders to Join the head- "What Is It, Hal'.'" wlsporal Milly.
quarters In Canada. I had n fortnight's "Do you think It was Hell eomlng to
leave, and as the eottage my aunt had look for mo? Do come hack Just to tho
taken was within a mile of the manor, grass."
I spent most or my time with Hell. Yet I went hack with her, and watched her
When the parting came, I was no nearer Into the house. Then 1 turned and went
being in lovo than tho day I met her on my way.
llr.it. Wo had not quarrelled, simply, it,
I thought, becatwo neither of us eared During the stlvrlncr months which
enough for the other to do so. Not a followed on our arrival In India, 1 hint
word relating to tho future had passed; nttlo time for thought, still less for
and yet I was quito sure Bell knew all writing, Letters were a rarity; we
about her destiny, and almost as equally men looked with envious eyes at tlio
sure that she did not like it, I despatch-bags. Almost unconsciously
I ho th had only to complete Its I had allowed my hopes regarding Hell's
term of foreign service; so by tho time first letter to get tho better of my tlls
Hell had gone through a couple of sea- cretton, and found myself looking for
sons, I was nt homo again. ward to tho contents as a test of her real
Hy tlio death of n sister, my mint had feelings towards me. She would surely
become guardian to. a little girl, Milly say something to betray herself, either
Hyan by name, who, at eleven years for love or against 11. When the letter
old, was ono of tho brightest, loveliest did come 1 was half frightened to open
girls I had over seen. Wo were friends It, and turned It over and over before 1
it once; I was "Cousin Ilnl" by adop- broke the al. Hell never crossed her
M,oo Sio.oo tion, and Milly was my champion, my letters, and wrote a largo hand, so tlieso
i'"(io JJ'JJJ second, my backer-up. Hell, looking were four sheets of thick note-paper bc-
iiw 20,00 on with scornful indill'ercnee while siden carte of herself. Nothing could
ai'oo no'.oo Milly's very impetuosity mid entluisl- bo kinder and more cousinly than the
30,00 00,00 aillu nm(io my cousin's coldness more letter, and yet my heart sank, for not
Hvecntor's ami Administrator's Xotlco !i,no; An- palpable : a coldness which suppressed ono single sentence could I.ln anyway
Hitor-HituticoSViO. other advertisements inser- nil my meditated attempts at lovcmak- twist Into anything moro tender; mid
ted according to special contract. j,, mui fe01nei,w continually remind- crumpling it up, carte and all, I thrust
iiusincssnouces,wuuoiiiuileIi.-.e,.,ei,i,..,.,, C(1 ,no t,at u wns ot ncc0Si5ary mat we It Into the breast of my jacket. J was
cents per line. should act as ordinary engaged couples still reading my dear old father's chap
Tianslent advertisements rayamo inntuance- ,, tor nfhnnin news, tlin munition nf the
So, though wo rode, walked, and horses, tho state of the crops, and tho
drove together, spelling most of our hopes for tho shooting season, when tho
time in each other's company, I again bugle sounded, mid we were again under
went back to my duty, and carried alarms. This time I got the worst of It,
wholo heart with me. When another TheSepoyshad invented a sort of ilia,
vear had passed, my fatherbegau urging bollcal machine by fastening a shell with
our marriage. So 1 wrote to Hell, asking a long fuse into a bag of gunpowder; it
her to fix a day. She madea very mat- of cour.-o blow up first, and they calcu
ter-of-fact reply, only nsklng to defer it lated that the soldiers, seeing a shell rol-
for six months; and almost before I ling about, would go up to have a look ;
had timo to think tlio matter over, nor were they far wrong in many eases.
i, near tho court tidings oftho mutiny in India broke I knew nothing of tlio trick, and after
over Kuropo; and the th were ordered the llrst explosion, took a snort cut past
to preparo for embarkation. 1 got a tho shell, anil caino m lor the brunt ol
week's leave and ran down to Devon- it, ono piece smashing my arm, another
shire. Hell looked. I thought, oven peeling my shin. I have an indistinct
colder than usual, and listened passive- notion of a terrible thud, hardly pain
lv to my enthusiasm about fighting, and yet something horrible, and then
promotion, and glory. Not so did Milly , I knew nothing of it nil until the elfects
who-o face was a picture In itself; lier ortheclilorolorm, administered toiaeiu
color would deepen, her greateyes kin- tate the setting and dressing, going oil",
din. and with overv ncrvo tingling, sho I was congratulated by the doctor.
M-nniilut iiiil fnnlnrr nioiis I snokeisomo- "A narrow escape; an inch to tho
i linos, ton. sho would crouch down and right, and Winchester nan ins promo
clasp my artn.whispering, "I lovo you tion, this paper saved your life," and
best of all, cousin Hal; mid 1 wish I Iiolieiuup iseirs crumpiou icuer, mni
was a boy, and then no ono could stop ted together and stained with bloood
inn (mlmr with vou : but girls are such "Lucky for you the paper was thick,'
stupid, useless things, they can donoth- went on thedoctor; "I've known some
in queer shaves for life, but I never saw
'7'lw. nl.ri.t lioforn mv departure had ono to beat tills. Hy Jove, there
nml somewhat softened hy tlio goes tne imgie again; u s nun;
cr; ono had no right to bo 111 or weal
I had princely duarters, and got wd
nnace. I astonished the doctor, 1 asto
ished myself, and. what wns morel
astonished tho colonel, who kindly f-
fered to send mo home, nn oiler 1 s
cllncd. 1 will not say how much He's
etter had to do with my dotermiiinMi
to remain In India; perhaps I win
true soldier at heart, and having a tto
for tho service, had fairly enrolled.y
self In the soldier's lot. Any wi, 1
did not go home, and by the timo pco
wns restored I was fit for duty, mire'
juicing in my promotion
"Somebody has been telling nuou
are going home, Yoo," said tloral
, u few mouths after I hail mymv
tinny. "Don't bo such n fool. 'vo
had the kicks, stay and have tlualf-
peuce. Wo want a few fellows tcid,
tons; there will bo a regular edus
before the next hot season, and pity
of fellows retiring. You'll soonavo
nil others duo after tho first Insertion,
A- It Is, In all casct, more likely to bo satlsfac-
tory, both to subscribers and to tho Publishers,
that remittances and nil communications respect
ing tho business of tho paper, bo tent direct to the
ollleoof publication. Alt letters, whether relating
to tho editorial or business concerns of the paper,
and all payments for subscriptions, ndvcrllsini!,
or Jobbing, nro to bo mado to and addressed
imooKW.vY & nti:i:zi:,
"tWiimWnn Offlce,"
llLOOMSIIUKO, l'A.
l'rlntcd nt rtoblsnn's Iluitdlnrs,
House, by CitAs. M. VANnKrtsr.icE,
Frank It. Hnyiikk.
(tlioirc poetry.
A LETTISH NliVKIt SENT.
These lonnlni! eyes may nevermore behold Thee.
These yen nlng arms may nc er inoi ecnfold Thee,
To my sad heart I never moro liny press Thee,
lint day and nluht I never cease to bless Thee.
It
I do not envy those who may be near Thee,
Who havo that Joy supreme ho seo Thee, tiear
Thee;
I bless them also, knowhii; they, too, lovo Thee,
And that they prlzo no earthly thlnioibovc Thee.
III.
I do not even hope again lo meet Thee,
I never ilaro to think bow I shuuld greet Thee,
low 111 tho dust should I fall down beroro nice,
And Kneeling there, for pardon should Implore
Thee.
IV.
Alas! 'twould be n sin b kneel befoieTbee!
A sin to let Thee know I still ndoroTlu-e!
I kneel and pray that Heaven may bless and
KUlde Theo:
lovo of iny life! to Heaven's earo I confide Theo.
"COUSIN BELL." '
Our summer vacation was over; and
the Sandhurst term again in full swing,
when, having accomplished the day's
drill and study, I wassmokingmy'mid
night pipe in company Willi Jack Clu
ney, pulling the forbidden "baccy" up
tho narrow chimney of our dormitory,
while we related tho various adventures
in tlio way of sporting, larking, mid
lovo-making, which had befallen us
sinco wo Inst parted. When my story
was told, Jack drew a long breath oro
he remarked, , , ,,
"Then you are as good as engaged ."'
I nodded, mid ho went on. "I supposo
you'-0 seen your cousin, and like her?"
"Pretty well'. She's only a school
girl, you'know."
AV sue uitea J"",
I'nini,
... . ... , 1 ..I .... . f .!.... t.n.,..1.
approaching parting, somewhat piqued out uere, ami picmj n piu", 'i
by Hell's apparent iuson-ibility to what it's not much I'd care If they gave us
the increasing intelligence from India fair play, but they don't. Sir Colin
,..i,il wot mm would be a sham lias his petticoats to tne ironi again.
and perhaps long struggle, 1 had talked I'll step in and tell the news when I get
rather moro that I was wont about tho away, narry. sieep is uiu uiiug im
...,!nMr nCii Bnllllor's lot. Suddenly .VOU."
Miilv, who liadboen sitting upon tho Next day wowerent Lucknow.and tho
r.,.',i i.,i im nml erli'il. doctor, ill a purled fury of delight, was
" "I'll i.on woman when you come back, telling me of tho wilful mlstako made
Cotl-ln Hal " liy tlie gallant ".siiy nines," wnen in
iv wild r bitterly, "if I ever come Orderly brought me my share of anothe
-- ' - . . .. ... ,ti
hack. Hut many a poor fellow win one ih.uk
n.,liif lirrnniwi leave India again
Hell's face grew paler, unit liere.veiui
ouivered. but she said nothing; until,
lnolciiiir itt Millv. who stood witli her
eves dilated and her hands clasped, she
Kllll
Vim lu-elii.'liteniiigtliechlld, Harry."
"No he is not," cried Milly, wildly
i,,bi,vr lu.r immls. "He is trying to
frighten you, and you won't be rngliten
ed, becauo you don't lovo him. I be
lievoyoti would not care a bit if ho was
killed'."
Hero Hell got up mid walked ncro-s
the room, and JUUy, who had lost com
mand of her voice.dashed away upstairs,
" I didn't nsk her, tho governor and nmi returned no more.
i,o,. mntlw.r will nut all that square." it olV last words us you wu, imj
" Hy Jovo ! what a cool hand you are, mUst come ; and in the dim little draw-
I lurry;" mid Jack looked as if ho did ng-room, lighted only by the wood-Ire,
not know whether to envy or pity me. i bade good-by to Hell, with something
i cum t (i, t,,b IM rather nick out my vio-v like a nang at my heart, and a
own wife, though, after all ; I daro say mnviy awakened sensation 1
,.!i, i Tlu.v iiminuro it your knew how to account for. 3Iy
way in France, and,-but I think-" ig one ofthoso women to whom weei.
(I , ..I. I I I , , tltlll'l, virii llll'Ill
lllli.l nine nn lllllS. .lilCK." Sinn J , miT is a lircv-ai i , I
You must get your heart up, Harry,
-aid the doctor, one day, "Sir Coli
thinks the air here notovergood forll
sick. I'll have you made as coinfoi ta
bleas possible ; we are to march to-night
And there's the devil to pay among tho
women : they're wanting to carry off
every old kettle they'vetised Hie twelv
months. Faith, I'd r.ttlier bo a doctor
gilt
our majority, and then may do you
like.'
I'll think of It, General," sahUnd
Wliilo tliinlUllg oi it, nnotner ;ier
came from Hell. "Hy Jovo!" Ugh
I, "I'll show her 1 can be Justus d us
he is; I won't go home."
And I did not. Next mail bght
mo intelligence of my father's slcn
death. I wrote home, as I felt iuty
bound, told Hell I had accepted ip
ointment which necessitated l.re-
maining two years longer, andced
her to como out and bo my wife her
women did so.nnd I thought sho :ht,
Hut it is well said that it rcqulr.wo
to make a bargain ; Hell did noo it
in the light I did ; she was willisho
said, to wait. So two years gli'by
and then I wroto again ; again ic n
refusal, and in the pique of tlioi.ent
asked for a post thou vacant, eilng
till further service, so that vcryrly
Ix years had passed since I Ii.ng
and. before 1 made up my il to
bravo my ato and come home f)od
.The overland Journey was mufter
the manner of overland Jonrneyjcn
oral. A full complement of lmns
and children, real widows, and are
popularly known as grass wis; a
sprinkling of men; many goinsick
leave, one or two, like niyselVIng
up their soldiering forever. 1 was
the usual amount of tllrtatiotnuai,
und Jealousy, from which I mud to
leer nrottv clear, until I fell tlio
hands of a pretty little woii-.oing
home on leave, and who I sciund
knew Devonshire. One day.nomo
one began talking of matrlmoflrs.
iime Eivo us her opinion, ng a
story illustrative of her exper nun
set tho wholo table in a roar.
I am going to LynmouthiMrs
Vigne," I said; "I hope yout cut
mo ns vou did your husband
"Then vou know Lyiiraijis n't
itu miserable, dead-all vosorl'laeo ?
nothing but artists, reaumg-aauu
Illgh-church peoplo to bo seiy tne
bv. talking of Lynmouth, trbpo3
of marriage, my sister toils inarm
ing story about their grctfess, a
JIlssLarristonr I daro say jncard
of her, tho story LsJust tlifjor iv
sensation novel ; sho has b'jfjfged
sinco sho wasinlong-clothtfoiishi,
tho reason being that caelum lias
half of what Was once n Mtato,
and there being a curso ufeplnco
until somo old rhyme Is :u ; tlio
m
rhymo Is that . i
The curso ol tho Vco shall b(
irdly
My aunt be-
p-
of
"Ulll I'OIIIU, liu iiui,--, - .
vnwnln", and proceeding to knock tho U.lirsi and when I looked back from he
'ishes ontofmxhausledpipe. threshold I saw Hell knedlng by her
.y chasto l.uua's sacred head, mother, comforting her of cini dst. It
I vw I shall "my cousin" wed.' was very nice to know the terns weio
And so to bed. Three thousand a year she,i i srrv for me, mid I loved my
, 4.. ,.,.,n.i nt nml overv fellow t ,i,.lit dearly, but I was notgolng to
cannot go in for a sentimental now-a- marry her; and I confess I would ratiicr
days. I havo been In lovo half a dozen ,mv0 scc.,i tho mother comforting tne
times" already, but it don't last long, 4ilU,yhtor.
and I daro say I shall fall in lovo with (ioInt! through tho garden, down the
on! niirht. Jack." ...n, t... tin. inurols. upon wlioso Iiroad
And so, with the stoicism of eighteen, glistening leaves tlio moonlight shone
t r,nt ns pen. It was i mm itt-,, fmsteil sliver, i s
,.n t misias Jack said, as good as en- wIlil0 standing in my path,
gaged ; and how this came about 1 had ll)at.ull jiilly clasped her
? i.,i if son mod that somo ,
ueiiei uAiiioiti. , v . .
..i.,,., hundred years before, the ..1,1,1 vou think I was a gliost, Lotisin
,'!i'i...ii.- 1 ,11,1. nut what on earth
1 IJUiHJ w-
urn VOU doing hero alonoV"
"Waiting for you.k I was is such a
1 .hired not stay in tlio room. So I
"oS , .. . , l,.,..
pretended to go to 1.0.1, tuui
to waylay you, Just to bo the very last
the next
hands round
old family property, having fa len to
tho share of Joint heiresses, mm
divided; after all this lapse of time, by
a singular coincidence, tho two halves
camo into the possession of a brother
and sister, each widowed, and each hav
ing ono child. Hence arose an uw.."H"
ment between our representative pa
rents, to tho effect that I should marry
my cousin Hell, and so reunite the es
tates, My father told me all about it
when I went home, putting it to 1110 In
such a plain, busincss-llko way, that 1
,..,.. fr nn Instant thought oi making
any objection. In fact, it seemed rather
a lino thing to bedlsposed of; and when
t.,..i, t..t thn secret out among our fel
lows, 1 gained several steps on tlio social
Make lu.sto
then If Hell
insiiv good by
"flood by then, .umj.
.,.,.1 ,rmv 11 woman, mm
does not earo for me, I'll marry you
..win vnn lenllv? Thank you, nn
. ,i.il- lt.dl will earo enough for
1 nun 1 ut.it'.
v,m. What's that?"
...... ....-(...I mul drew clo-cr to me
Clin ,
.i.,i,i,.rlnL'. and then looking down tl
walk I saw another ilgure.-whlte tin.
ghostlikeen,.ugh in the uncerimu .......
tan a eominksariat olllcer to-n
iiiutrli it is Jack's choice, between th
evil and tho deep sea. You'll have a
eep at Dil Koo-lia without the lullaby
f big guns, that's one control t."
The doctor was a good as his word. 1
ad a plaiKiuin, on which 1 lay as com
fortably as on my bed, and worse pain
than 111I110 would have been forgotten in
the excitement of moving.
It was a glorious moonlight night, so
Ight that we could see where tho bul
ts had peeled the plaster oft' the walls,
r where round shot had rent the stones
ml mud asunder, leaving great yawn-
iif imps. 1 Hoard not a iew i.uiu-i.....
vertlio ruin of what Had been a cu.v m
astern splendor. 1 for my part, was
icartllv thankful to get out 01 it, mm
feel, as I presently did.thepuroeountry
niv thrilling uirougii "
I'hero was firing from the enemy going
n the distance; but so admirable
wero tho precautlonstaKen ny niri. 01111,
fhnt no suspicion of our great move
ment readied the mutineers. Silently
.,,,,1 stealthily tho great body passed
in,, Mirmirrh the desolated ground of
.. hot had once been the uauee s pauice,
thence to tho road by the river, where
the gteat excitement began, and where
th,. ...ininv wero actually within sight;
so that tho open spaco along which we
bad to pass was cloaked py scieens 01
,imftln-'. behind which wo passed with
btted dreatli and an unutiered prnje.
of thankfulness to tho wlsoold man who
...mtriveil so ably for our safety.
Morning brought renewed 1110 uj mo
,..,.,wi..,l mid wearied tnroug, mm
tb.iil iuivit forget tho wild delight witl
..hb.h tlior s iigsun was greeted.
' . . .1 1
men lifted up their voices mid pra.ve..
nml wont. ClsSlllg tllClf Cllllillii. "
r..t,.,u . moil with moistened eyes ineu
... hui.rh at the fun, but gave in to the
excitement at la-t ; tho camp was In a
1, H'' mid (lod mid Sir Colon wer
.i,'i,i.-...l in every dkilect, from tliu full
roll of Connaught boys' brogue, lo the
roti"h rich burr of "Canny Nowcas.se!."
Never had there been siicli a .no vein
When Ijirrlston'S girl weds .3
Of course they hate each V?d of
tlio heiress has IIP tho
church for consolation, afld it In
tho curate. My sister snyaxpc-'ts
an elopement, ami jntheL'0 tho
lady's sido ; now nil' my thicA nro
with tlio poor man."
"They generally are, "Pl'y to
see," said Captain SmitHiu suro
we ought to bo awfully n"ll 1
am suro the unlucky lol appro
date vour kindness. rci will
introduce you ; I daro s some
relation, as lie is going e'ero."
1 did not know whet '"i
til rowing out n feeler, 1 rem mod
to ignore my identity, ti'iised to
Hoot tho necessary in"11. "
r the rest oftho voya 10
are of Mrs. Vigne.
Alter n week In L I went
down to liyniiHiutli, th'omu
gllsh July air giving a il t( my
life, and somehow or -""i?
.1 strong deslro to be v'i 11
ilerco resentinent agiu -ui.ue,
i nor ex-
wlildi wns neither
bilned bv the sight oc sreen
v " 1 1 ,
hills of Devon, tho hV''"' mm
deep lanes through Krou,
bowled me In tlio l
h ove over to meet larnsluplo,
any moro than by thc'ii'il'm-
vei-sation ; lor, alter " "'
father's last days, ho olX Into
family and county iiul(. !ls 1
thought, purposely avl'a
Hell, a reticence ngiiib 1 secret
ly fretted, consider? thereby
hung a tale. (Jl 311
beauty, and above irI("B. ho
seemed never titeil'lng, and
when I reached honlu
bo remarked oftho ltr, until,
determined to brlnglctlll"tf. 1
said, "So, tlio old lt.Bonu, too,
Mrs. Clarko?" ,. ,
' Av. sir. midino"J . wruw
parish, what they want, nnd when It1
tho right timo to give. Ho nnd Miss
Hell nro thick; nnd If It wasn't that
knowed tho truth, sir, of her and you
I'd bellovo what tho country says : but
then I knows better, and more, they
110 say, lie's just tho same as 11 Itoman
priest, nnd could not marry."
All this did not tend to Increase mv
satisfaction, although It did awaken a
terrible, mid to mo an unaccountnblo
tumult In my mind. The moro I tried
to nnniyzo this, tlio moro hopelessly
perplexed I became, until It suddenly
oegan to dawn upon me that perhaps.
nfter nil, 1 was In lovo with Hell. Then
came tho remembrance of her coolness
thesix years collapsed, I read her let
Icrs over again, nnd, taking my stick
went oir to tho cottage. Hell was in tho
drawing-room; it wns too dark to seo
her face, but her hand lay pnsslvo and
cold ns lead In initio as we .stood togeth
er, waiting my aunt's coming.
" It Is a sad return, Hell,', I said, nnd
men her hand shook, but gave no sym
pathetic pressure. "Ono expects chau
ges In six years," I went on, thinking
01 tno curate, "but there are some hard
erto bear than death."
Sho drew her hand nway and turned
partly round; but, beforo she spoke,
the door opened and Aunt Mary camo
111. JJark as It was, I could see how
broken down tho six years had left her,
" My dear boy," sho cried, falling on
my neck-, "i began to think I too would
bo gone beforo you camo home. Why
(lid you stay nwny so long, Harry?"
I looked nt Hell, sho was standing in
the window, only tho faint outilno of
her figure visible. Sho moved towards
us, and touched her mother's forehead
with a caressing hand, saying,
"Don't reproach Harry to-night
mother ; let us bo content that he has
come. Tell her of the war, Harry, and
how you wero wounded; tho friend you
got to writo was not explicit, and you
never explained matters.'
She stood by tho fire, leaning against
tno ciumney-plece, and looking down
at mo as I sat upon a low ottoman by
my aunt's chair,
" It Is rather a long story, aunt." I
said; "but the gloaming is good for
story-telling, and you won't seo my
blushes. So beginning with my land
ing, I went faithfully through my ox.
perlences. When I reached that part
relating to my wound, and as i
spoke of Hell's letter having oh
tallied the credit of saving my life, sho
walked back to thowindow : and when.
having concluded my story. I turned to
look lor tier, tho window was open, and
lien disappeared.
Kvcn the story sho might in common
politeness havo stayed to listen to, had
it not interested her; but beforo I had
time to think much of tho circumstan
ces tlio door (lew open and an eager
voice asked. "Where is he, nunty?
ineytoiu 1110 110 wns hero." It was
Milly; and as she camo Reeling her
way among the chairs and'tables In the
dim light, I met her, and had her in my
nrms beforo either of us well knew, It
and my arm was still rouml her, when
what littlo light thero had been, van
ished; and Hell came In by the window
again. Milly slid nway but her hand
still held inino with a warm clinging
clasp.
now Joint you nro of tho dark,"
said Hell, going up to thollro.nnd fum
bling about for lighten. Milly sat
down and her faco coming onalovel
with my liand.I.feltlt drawn forward
and pressed to her lips, then thrown
nway as sho said,
"Now then, Bell, light all tho can
dies, and as the light fell upon Milly
I was startled by tho change. Tho six
years became a fact nt once, since they
had converted tho child into a blooming
lovely woman. Something of my
thought must havo shown itself In my
face, for Milly's cheek grow crimson
nnd the bonny blue oyes sank.
"How you are changed, Harry!"
cried Aunt Mary. And turning to an
swer her, I saw Hell In the full light.
Sho was a littlo stouter, her hair was
lressed in 11 dillerent way, thero was a
irigliter color In her face than I remem
bered to have seen before, and a deeper
light in tins full hazel eyes that looked
back into mine ; still she seemed un
hanged, mid tlio years collapsed again.
"If It was not for Milly, I could
scarcely be! lovo so many years havo
tasked since I went away, aunt," said
; "Hell docs not look n hit different."
" My growing days wero over beforo
on went away," said Hell, quietly;
'I cannot say you look the same; but
then climate and all that may havo
hanged you."
And so we fell to talking again. It was
strange evening ; Milly did not speak
much, hut I knew she was watching
and listening. Hell talked as quietly as
if I had been away only a week ; and
nlthotigh I threw out a hint about the
curate, and told them of Mrs. Vigne,
tow sho had put me up to Devon gos-
Ip, I made nothing of It, nnd as I
walked home, was utterly miserable
nd dissatisfied. I wished Milly l'd
been my Jiuncce, nnd yet I hated tho
unseen curate, and mentally anjurcu
II, .11 .,0 .. l,r..,..l,.o ,11,-1
,..-! - 1, lllll llvr.. , , til. ,..T ll .
When 1 got to theeottago next uny 11101 iiouuuui ; out mciisuiiii'iiuw count 1101
girls wero out, mid my aunt lying down, j reconcile Calvert with the notions of a
So. sheltering myself from the sun In , rival.
I . 1(1M...... I..,...,.. C..1I ....
a summer seat covered in py minimi 1 . ...n .. .iiiiius.inic; .fiiuw your cu-
ivepers and honeysuckle, 1 lay down 1 ruio is,-- 1 wnispered to Hell, as wo
was something In her faco that I had
never seen beforo, and which, though It
matio mo look again nnd again, I could
not understand.
Presently Milly rushed up, panting
and flushed, her hair loosened from the
net, mid her hat In her hand.
"OHnl!" she cried, leaning ngalns
one of tho wooden pillars, and speaking
inn great hurry; "I havo seen your
friend; she's coming hero with her
sister, nnd sho told 1110 such things
nnout you ; mid so I took a short cut
over the fields, and nearly rnn ove
your curate, Hell ; ho was going to call
at mo manor."
I had 110 gratitude or affection for
Mrs. Vigne. I remembered too wo!
her story, and Milly's allusion to tlio
eiirulo was gall mul wormwood.
"So you keep a pet curate, Hell."
began : "gossip makes wings, but you'll
scarcely belicvo I heard of your curate,
as Auny calls him, beforo I landed."
ieirs nice nusned, and then grew
deadly pale; but her eyes never
flinched, looking back into mine with a
steady gaze, defiant and yet sad, witli n
something in them that set mo think
injr, and kept mo so, until a scorching
breath from my cigar reminded mo
sharplyof Its fleeting existence. Throw
ingitdown, I uttered au exclamation
of anger, thus letting off n small bit of
my suppressed indignation gainst Hell
Now, It is a bad plan, ono of tho very
worst, Indeed, to tako an Inch of lati
tude, when you aro secretly nimrv,
glanced at Boll, as I spoke, and her faco
was coitt and quiet.
" Has it burnt you ?" said Milly.
" Just enough to mako mo wiser for
tho future," I nnswered savagely. "An
old cigar is llko an old love, apt to
burn out, if kept long." Of courso it
was an idiotic, meaningless speech
knew that at once, and daro not look at
Hell's face; so I went on.
propos of nothing, Milly. Do
you remember promising to bo a woman
wnen I camo homo?"
" Yes ; nnd havo I not kept my prom
iso?" said Milly, with a brighter color
in her face, and her eyes turned away
and fixed upon the gray feather in
Roll's hat.
" So well, that I want to keep .nine."
-Milly's faco turned away a littlo more:
but I could seo a wicked smilo hovering
about tho corners of her mouth, Thero
is nothing llko uncertainty to spur a
man on; and although I had not tho
slightest intention of giving Hell up
without making a fight for it, nor was
I In lovo with Milly, yet In spite of
wiese tilings, 1 rusncd on, until I wns
nsgood ns in for both, and had not voi
ces from tho house suddenly broken In
upon tho silence, I scarcely know what
tho Immediate result might not havo
been. As it was, Milly pointed up tho
lawn, where I saw Mrs. Vigne, with a
very liandsomo man by her side, at
whom sho was launching her full bat
tery of nods and wreathed smiles.
"Hell," whispered Milly, "she's got
our curate."
Hell made no reply ; but rising, wont
to meet tho party. I sat still; nnd Mil
ly stood watching them wit h angry eyes.
" ou don't likojltho,grass-wldow.
Milly," I whispercd."'"!,
"I liato her," was tho candid nnswer:
'nnd her sister too. I cannot think
how men aro such fools as to believe in
women llko those."
There was no time for moro: Mrs.
yigri'o was upon us, nnd eloquent in her
reproachful inuendoes, ns to my du
plicity in not avowing myself on board
tho steamer. She wns still talking when
Bell interrupted, presenting tlio curate,
ns "Mr. Calvert, my cousin Harry."
Air. Calvert's eyes met mino ns wo
mado our mutual bows. They wero
blue, honest eyes, hiding n depth of
meaning in the clear light, nnd utterly
ineapnblo of concealment. I liked tho
look of tho man, nor had my liking les
sened when wo adjourned to the draw
ing-room for five o'clock tea. After
which Mrs. VIgno nnd her sister depart
ed, leaving Calvert, who had proven
blind nnd deaf to tho hints thrown out
suggestive of his being driven home,
taudlng beside me on tho door-step,
watching the ponies go down the drive.
"Sharp littlo woiii.m, your Indian
friend," said Calvert, with n queer, dry
mile.
" Women nro utterly ineomprehensl-
lefrom first to la:,t," I said, the ugly
feeling springing up.
"What is a woman like?" laughed
tlvert.
"Kalse.hcaited nml nuujluir.
Unsettled ami chautihu,
What then do you think sho is like?
I.lhonsanilT Mkoaroek?
I. Ike a wheel? I.lkon clock t
Ay, 1. clock that Is always at strike.
Her head's like tho Island folks It'll 011,
Which notlilnit but monkevs 11111 dwell on,
Her heart's llko a lemon, so ni.si;
Khn can es for each In. er a ll o.
II. truth she's It. me
I.Iku the ulii'l, like tho tea,
Whoso ru. Inks will hearken to nojnan.
I.Ike a Il.l. f, llko 111 brief,
Hlie's like nothing on earth but a woman.'
Tlio eurafo stayed to dinner, mull still
liked him. Not that I felt at all like
tlio immortal Mr. Toots. My affections
were by no means disinleresfed ; nnd If
he was really a rival, I could hate him,
1 n'( lll-i. innd lives to enjoy a cigar nnil iliako up my mum jniueii me gins 111 tno (irnwiiig-rooiii.
new one dim 1 urn ; V- ,. , Jl0W ! to begin the conversation I "1 llko him in spite or Mrs. Vigne's
in London 01 tl - (LIl,al.ypar.ll.ia,ic,,l.rnlil,t,,ion,tiud which was to Bol..
ul,ratu wll(,0,1;S'ate, riding 1 decide, my f.ile. My meditations did " 1 am glad of it. Hairy ; ho deserves
sous, up mm J"'1-1'. )l0 u not last long; Hell camo up thu walk to bo liked, mid go-slpdoe., not deserve
'i"i T h 011 hi " knows and sat down paler than tho night be- to bo believed," said she.
bit or""'" "lf,,i hi thii' run. nnd siidlai viTViitlletlV! but there Then, when .-.im 1. wn. n.r ih,.
,.vcry man, wonu
walked off on to tho moonlit lawn with
Calvert, nnd Milly having vnnlshcd
some timo beforo, I wns left to my med
itations, nnd, being idle, Satan of courso
kept up his character, nnd found mo
something to do In thoshapoofn thor
ough resuscitation of thcjenlousy which
had been partially lulled to sleep.
I could see the two figures each time
thatthey turned at tho end of tho terrace.
and nlso that they wero talking earnest
ly together. I envied him his stalwart
figure, hlseay quiet way, his firm senso
and tlio manner ho had of giving it
without letting it annoy you, or mako
mm appear pedantic. I did not won-
der at Hell's liking him ; ho wns Just
the mini to trust in, Just tho man to feel
a pride In loving, and to whoso judg-
ment you could look ns coming
right from nn holiest heart. I was lior
rlbly jealous, nnd yet liked themaii and
nlmost liked Hell better for having won
such lovo as his. As I lay n-thlnking.
Milly glided very softly Into tho room.
nnd, without seeing 1110, went up to the
window. As tho two enmu nnnnsifn.
sho drew back with a sharp angry mo
tion, and, leaning nmong tho curtains
stood there. I could not distinguish thn
expression of her faco in tho dusk,
but 1 could see she was watching with
an eagerness I could not account for.
"Milly," said I. getting tin nml stnn.l.
lug bcsldo her. Sho started violently.
and tried to push past me, but I held
ner last. Tlio spirit of tho morninrr u-nc
in mo again. "Milly," I went away.
You are a woman now."
"Yes, cousin Hal."
"You know nil about tho old engage
ment mado for Hell and me?"
"cs, cousin Hal."
"Bell does not like it. Sho never did.
Her cold letters kept 1110 in India. T
didn't care if I never came home, and
when I did start, tho first thing I heard
was the truth about tills fellow Calvert
and how sho hated mo I did notbellevo
it until I saw it for my self. I seo it
now; so do you. Look there. Millv
Iooknt them. Bell likes tho curate's
little finger better than"
"No she doesn't." cried Millv. nrm.
sionately ; "but he likes her. and sho
goes on in her quiet, heartless wav, till,
till" Hut Milly began to cry, and a
new light broke upon mo. Suddenly.
checking her tears, Milly said, "You
arc ail wrong about Bell. Sho docs not
show it, as I would ; but I belicvo sho
loves you dreadfully."
My heart gave a great throb.
"You don't belivc me?"
"No, Milly dear. It's very kind of
you telling mo this; but I am qultosuro
you nre wrong."
Next day I found Boll In tho garden
alone, nnd, figuratively speaking, I took
a header at once v I told Bell I saw sho
did not love me. I told her I was sorrv
for my share in the engagement, and
that it had been n miserable, ill-advised
scheme from tlio first.
"The long and short Is. vou would
tell me that tlio engagement is broken."
she said, but without looking nt mo.
"it you wish It so. Bell."
"Can you doubt It?" nnd rising from
the garden chair sho turned her faco to
me. It was frightfully pale, and her
eyes had the same expression I had seen
tlio day before. "You aro quite free.
cousin Harry."
"Yourfrecdomismnretothepurpose."
said I, fiercely, half mad with lovo dis
appointment, mid Jealousy.
"W bat do you mean?"
"Only what you say, that you nro
free, Hell, nnd that I nm sorry I havo
nterfered so long with your happiness.
inn 1 known the truth sooner it might
havo spared mo much. I wns a blind.
obstinate fool not to give in long ago;
out, inspito ol common sense, I hoped
gainst hope. I thought if you did not
lovo me yet, another year might make
difference. It was not your fault. I
know. You wero cold enough : but I
ove you so dearly, I I"
"Harry! Harry!" cried Boll. "Do
011 know what you aro saying?"
Too well," I replied, fiercely ; and
ion, llko a veritable mailman, I left mv
tongue loose. I told her tho whole
tory of my Hfo, seeing It with a new
nowledge myself; iiow 1 had learnt to
love her, how her coldness had crushed
my love until 1 thought it huddled out,
and how the story 1 heard in the steam
er mado it nllblazo forth again.
Hell had been standing when I began
o speak, but long before I finished sho
as sitting, her face flushed and her
anils nervously clasping nnd unclasp
ing. As I finished, her eyes rose to
mine, mid nlisolutely startled inc. I
hud never een such lights In oyes be
fore. Her whole expr sslon had chang
ed, and, thinking she might havo cloak
ed her Joy, if only for decency's sake, I
turned indignantly away. The Instant
idler a hand was mion my arm.
"Harry! Harry! cimie back to me.
Aro you blind? Won't yuu see that it
was my love, that I only feared you
thought yourself bound to mo, that I
only wanted to let you try if you loved
any ono else?"
Hut I need not tell all Bell sa!d. or,
how she explained much whleli.-though
probably quito lucid to the render, who,
being In the plain of a lookeron. pro
verbially speaking .-cos most of the
ganuv-wtisdark and iiiexplluibletome
until Hell put it to me In the clear ligl.t
of her love. Ouething, however, I must
add. I h.id b r,i ipulli' urging about the
curate, who was in love with -Milly all
the time, and who told his story mi ef
feclimlly that Milly believed him. Thin
was fulfilled lo tlit'Jetter tho old ttdago :
"Tl.oeiu.oof thu V.s.sl. ill Ik- ilapjiu
When l.am-liiifs lil v,e.l, v,.,,'h w,ii('
th
itt
k
?
ladder