HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Advocate, 1887-08-24, Page 2The CPT!' .49;149 figPtla the *P4,
/Ns& a low bro)vn Cabin, elP grolV4 up IMP the
ground,
Vor the chinks wero 1410 with toprter, and green
Moss had grown. arinina,
411 the 11..h• wa i11od with murmurs of the sum-
mer bird's last tlitill,
Fer the autunm leaves liad faUeu 4;44 the peril
had gone tp
GA the rail -fence i3oven, urchins at (Mee lia4
(Maimed to light,
l'erched up like op many rayons, ,puly all their
heads were ivhite ;
Laughing, chattering—it were thraldom if they
passed one ntoment
They were Very, very hungry, for their "Pap 0
had gone to
All p.t once they heard the platter of the waggon
on the bridge,
Where the winding waves of MillVreek. drained
'the ditches of the ridge;
Thea their glad shouts of 0 Hooray " all creation
seemed to till.
Vhen they ran to tell their mother, " Vap " was
coming from the mill.
All u time the blind old sorrel reined up at the
cabin doer,
And the meal with glad assistanee safely landed
on the floor;
And the good wife sweetly smiling, ail the cake -
pans went to All,
For the heart was very thankful that the cora
had left the mill.
Supper over, every urchin with apiece of Johnny
cake,
Went to eat it by the roadside, and the echoes
there to wake; -
And the solemn Judge just passing, from the
house upon the bill,
Smiled to hear the information that the "corn
was home from mill."
Then a vision flashed across him of the days of
long ago,
When he, too, through all the summer had to
plough and plant and mow;
When he made the dreadful scarecrow from the
clothes he couldmot fill.
When across the back of" Jerry" he had packed
the, corn to mill.
Then he thought of one bright being who had
wandered s.this side,
Dropping golden grains in furrows that he fol-
lowed on to hide;
And upon the horse behind him, laughing, chat-
tering, never still,
With her golden curls all flying, he had carried
her to mill.
And throughout the next long summer how his
heart was full of pain,
.With the thought of all the beauty he could not
see again.
With the thought of pale hands folded, as he
covered up the hills,
With the thought of golden ringlets as he rode
off to the mill,
nut the children, laughing, playing, nor the
Judge with solemn brow,
niiew the scene just then enacted in the great
house down below;
Where, the miller, white and dusty, busy with
the grinding still,
Smiled when Bess, the cottage maiden, brought
"- his supper to the mill,
How they, seated close together—watched the
wheels go to and fro,
And the water dance and sparkle in the mill race
down below
How be clasped her tight and closely, while she
listened very still,
Listened to the "old, old story," in the shadow of
the mill,
Thus our lives flow on forever, echoes of each
act and word,
Will with joy and sad remembrance in the com-
ing years be heard.
Life is like a false thread winding through the
mystic future still,
We must work an unknown mission, like the
waters at the mill.
SIR liUGA'S LOVES
•
CHAPTER XV.
ERLE ARRIVES AT DEDJIOND
"She hath a natural VAS° sincerity,
A simple truthfulness, and these have lent /ler
A diguity as nameless as the centre."
'What thou bidd'st
Unargued I obey; so God ordains;
God is thy law; thou mine; to know more
Iswoncan's happiest knowledge,and her praise.''
Lady Redmond sat in her a blue nestie,"
but this brignt winter'smorning she was
not alone. A better companion ,than her
white kitten, or her favorite Nero, or even
her faithful friend Pierre, the St. Bernard,
occupied the other velvet rocking -chair.
Outside the snow lay deep and unbroken
on the terrace, the little lake was a sheet of
blue ice and the sunshine broke on its crisp
surface in sparkles of light.
The avenue itself looked like the glade of
some enchanted forest, with snow and
icicles pendant from every bough; while
above stretched the pure blue winter's sky,
blue -grey, shadowless, tenderly indicative
of softness without warmth and color with-
out radiance.
Fay in her dark ruby dress lookedalmost
as brilliant as the morning itself as she sat
by the fire talking to her husband's cousin,
Erle Huntingdon, who had come down to
while away an idle week or two at the old
Hall. ,
He had been there for ten days now, and
he and Fay had become veryintimate. Erie
had been ,much struck by the singular
beauty of Hugh's child -wife, and he very
soon felt almost a brotherly fondness for
the gentle little creature, with her soft
vivacity and innocent mirth.
It had been a very pleasant ten days to
both of them, to Fay especially, who led
rather a lonely life.
Erle was such a pleasant companion; he
was never too tired or too busy to talk to
her. He was so good-natured, so frank and
.affectionate, so eager to wait on her and do
.her any little service, that Fay wondered
what she would do without him.
Hugh smiled at them indulgently. It
.always pleased him to see his wee wide
happy and amused; but he thought they
were like two children together, and secretly
marvelled at the scraps of conversation that
.reached his ears. He thought it was a good
thing that Fay should have a companion
for her rides and drives when he was too
busy to go with her himself, and somehow
Hugh was always too busy now.
So Fay and Erle scoured the country to-
gether, and when the frost came they gutted
for hours on the little lake.
Sir Hugh stood and watched thorn once,
and they carne skimming across the ice to
meet him, hand-in-hand, Fay looking like a
bright-eyed bird in her furs.
It was delicious, Fay said, and wouldnot
Hugh join them ? But her husband shook
his head. When other people came toskate,
too, and Fay poured out tea for her friends
in the damask drawing -room, he always
kept near her, as in duty bound ;but he took
no active part in the festivities, and people
wondered why Sir Hugh seemed so grave
and unlike himself, and then they glanced
at Fay'd happy face and seemed mystified.
Erie in his heart was mystified, too. He
had always liked his cousin and had looked
up at him, thinking him a fine fellow; but
he noticed i great change in him when he
came down to the old Hall to pay his re-
specte to the little bride. He thought Hugh
leoked moody and ill; that he was often
irritable about trifles. He had never. noticed
that' Sharp tone in his Oleo before. His
cheerfulness, too, seemed forced; and he
lava grown strangely unsociable in his
•
habits. O 09nrSe, he was Very busy, with ing ; but for a long time ph° could pot 444
his own estate and his wife's to look after • out whieh was the chief favorite
but be Wondered Wii:( VaY did.40.t .aoe.qn$11
.27 43greW impatient at last, in lierPrettY,
PanY him when he rode to some distant imperious way, andpnt a stop tehis unsatis-
farm, and why he 1313,11t himself tip so much factory rambling etyle ,of talk, by asking
in his atudy. The old Hugh, he reinOm- him a few downiaglat questions.
bered, had been the Meat genial of com- "You ere terrxhlY` vague," She said,
panions, .tvith a hearty laugh and a fund Of wrinkling her fiirehead in a wise Way and
intreor ; but he had payer heard him langli folding her little white handa pulier lap;
once in all these ten .days. they looked ethslirdly dimpled and babyish
hearted way When Ivatched Hugh and
Erie felt yaguely troubled in his kind. in spite Pi the brilliant ,diamond and ewer -
hie little wife together, Hugh's pan maor ppa leadrreberapipntsgesIat4113t:teultottpanidEeult, you
lailkHrigmarole?ostiasst
did not satisfy Erha's chivalrous entliusi.
mina. He thought he treatedEay too much YOU silly boy, and now tell meexactlY What
mored her and petted her; but he never this Miss Selby is like. I think you said
hu
like a child, He was gentle with her, h
asked, her opinion or seemed. to take pleasure he'r` °nallmj awmas'4ne4YegleYelid.!'s t aqseriPtiens'"
re-
in her soeiety, turned Erle, pulling 'Nero'is glosay
"Why on earth bas he married her 2" heawfully jolly girl, plenty
ni
said once tO himself as he paced his eo- ears. "She is an
of go in her, lights pp' well Of an evening
fortable room rather indignantly. "He is and knows exactly What to say to a feiloW
moment, and yet the poor little thing girl who will dance like a bird half the —keens, hire atiVe,,Yian know; the sort of a
a
not a bit idlove with her—one sees that in
adores him. It makes one feel miserable night and get up early the next morning
to see her gazing at him as thoughshe were and havesal hour's e -anter in the Park be.
worshipping him; and he hardly looks at fore breakfast,"
her, and yes she is the prettiest little erect. " in a mystified tone, "She seems a
ture I have seen for a long time. How very active young person; but you have net
Percy would rave about her if he saw her • made me see her. IS she tall or short'
but I forget, Percy's idol is a dark.haired Erie?"
goddess." "Well, she is not the tall, scraggy sort,
"Alt the went on Erle restlessly
neither is she a diminutive creature, like
same,"
no man has any right to treat hierwife as Your ladyship. Miss Selby is medium
a child. Hugh never seems to want to know height and has a good figure*"
what Fay wishes about anything. He set- " yes, and her face ?" demanded Fay
ties everything off -hand and expects her to with a baby frown, "you are very bad at
be satisfied with what he has done; and description, Erle, very bad, indeed."
she is such a dear, gentle little thing that "Well, she is not dark," returned Erie
she never objects. It is Yes, dear Hugh,' desperately, "not a brunette, I mean; and
or Certainly, if you wish it, Hugh,' from she is not fair, like the other one, she has
morning to night. Somehow that sickens brown hair—yes, I Ban sure it is brown—and
a fellow. I daresay she is a little childish good features. Well, I suppose people call
and crude in her ideas' that aunt of hers her exceedingly handsome, and she dresses
must be a duffer to have brought her up well and holds herself well, and is altogether
like a little nun; but she is sensible in her a pleasant sort of youngwoman."
way. Hugh had no idea that she was read- Fay's lip curled disdainfully. "1 do not
ing the paper for an hour yesterday, that think I admire your description much, sir.
she might talk to him about that case in Plenty of go in her; well, who cares for
which he is so intereoted,or he would hardly that? And lights up well of an evening, as
have snubbed her as he did, by telling her though she were a ball•room decoration. I
she knew nothing about it. She looked DO think she peemo a frivolous sort of ores. -
disappointed, poor little 'thing, there were tun*"
tears in her eyes; but Hughnever saw Oh, no," replied Erle eagerly, for this
tired or dull, and I don't call that treating very short of the truth. "You have not
would not do at all. Fay's little satire fell
them, he never does see if she is a little
a wife well." hit it off exactly. Lady Maltravers is frivo-
Erie was working himself up into quite a bus, if you like—a Mild edition of the re -
virtuous fit of indignation on Fay's behalf; nowned Mrs. Skewton—thinks of nothing
but presently he became secretly anxious. but diamonds and settlements and all the
Before the end of his visit he grew afraid vanities for which your worldly woman
that more was amiss with Hugh than he at sells her soul. It is a great wonder that',
first guessed. He had often stayed with him
before and•Hugh had visited them at Bel.
graveHouse, but he had never noticed any
sign of self-indulgence.
He thought Hugh was beginning to take
more wine than was good for him. He com-
plained of sleeping badly, 'and had recourse
to narcotics. He was reckless of his health,
too, and worked °item far into the night,
and When Erie remonstrated with him he
only said he could not sleep, and he might
as well occupy himself.
But in reality he never guessed, except in
a vague way, the real reason for this change
in his cousin. He would have been shocked
and startled if he had known the strange,
morbid fever that was robbing Hugh of all
rest.
He was hungering and thirsting for the
sight of a face that, he said to himself, he
had better never look on again; his very
nearness to Margaret kept him restless and
made his life intolerable. •
What a fool he had been to marry, he
told himself; to let that child bind him
down to this sort of life. If he could only
break away for a time—if he could travel
and try what change would do for him; but
this quiet existence was maddening.
He was trying his fine constitution terri-
bly and he knew it. He would tire himself
out riding over his estate, and then sit up
over his letters and accounts half the night,
till his brain seemed stupefied, and yet he
had no wish for sleep.
Erle told him he looked haggard and ill,
but Sir Hugh only laughed at him ; there
was nothing the matter, he saidcarelessly ;
he was tough, like all the Redmonds, and
he had never been ill in his life. If he only
slept better he should be all right, but want
of sleep plays the very deuce with a man,
and so on.
"11 I were you I should not touch spirits
or narcotics," observed Erle quietly, "your
nerves are a little out of order. Yon should
take things more easily and not sit up 'so
late; one can form the habit Of sleep."
But Hugh only scoffed at the notion o
nerves, and during his long visit Erle saw
little improvement.
He was thankful, and yet puzzled, to see
hat Fay did not notice the sad change in
her husband. Now and then she would say
to him rather timidly, as though she feared
a rebuff, "You are not quite well to -day,
are you, Hugh? Your hand is so hot and
dry; do stay quietly with me this morning
and I will read you to sleep," but Hugh only
laughed at her anxious face.
Run away my pet, for I am busy," he
would answer. "If you want a companion,
here is this idle fellow, Erle, who never did
a stroke of work in his life, I believe," and
Fay would go away reluctantly.
Erle had already grown very confidential
with Fay. In her gentle way she took hire
to task for his desultory life. Erie owned
his faults very frankly. It was quite true,
he said, that he had not distinguished him-
self at the university and had been chiefly
known there as a boating roan; but he had
been extremely popular in his college. It
is all very well,' , he grumbled, as he sat in
Fay's boudoir that morning, talking to her
in his usual idle'fashion. "What is a fel-
low to do with his life? Perhaps you can
tell me that. Uncle ought to have let me
make the grand tour, and then I couldhave
enlarged my mind. Ah, yes 1 every fellow
wante change," as Fay smiled at this, "what
does a little salmon -fishing in Norway sig-
nify ; or a month at the Norfolk Broads?
That is all I had last year. Uncle talks of
the Engadine and the Austrian Tyrol next
summer, but he travels en grand seigneur,
and that 10 such a bore."
Erie was perfectly willing to describe his
life at Belgrave House to Fay. She was a
shrewd little person in her way, and her
quaint remarks were very refreshing.He
i
even thought that he would confide n her
after a fashion, and hint at a certain diffi-
culty and complication that had come into
his life; he was, rather desirous of knowing
her opinien ; but he began in such a rofind-
&bent fashion that Fay was quite perplexed.
She understood at !Mit that he was ,talking
about two girls, who both seemed to influ-
ence him, and for whom he had speciallik-
. '•' '
imagine nayself.boaltot the, cottage without
Hugh."
"Do you know ;" observed Erie care-
iesslY, as he sauntered back to the fire-
place, "that 1 have been here ten daYS and
must. begin to think of my return If
there is one thing I bate, it is to outstay,
ray welcome. I phonld Ina afraid of boring
you hoth if I stayed much longer. Well,
what now?" breaking off in some surprise.
"4h, Prim i" exclaimed Fay SorroWfullYi
the smiles and the dimples disappearing in
mpment, "you are purely not going away
yet. What shall I do without you?" con-
tinued the poor child. "Who will ride and
gterreand skate With me When You are
"Why, your husband, to be 'sure," re-
turned Erle lightly, watching her as he
spoke, "You have not forgotten your hes-
band, you'nauglity woman 1"
Fay never knew why a madden sharp
pang allot through her at Erle'soareless re-
' '
mark.
It had paver occurredto her pimple
mind to (ideation her husband's right to
keep so entirely aloof from her and to give
her such fragments of his time. ' But noun
RS Erle spoke, it dim unconscious feeling
came over her that another was usurping
his rightful place.; that it was her husband
who ought to be riding and driving with
her, and pot his young cousin, but in her
wifely loyalty shelititled the feeling, and
spoke firmly, though with crimsoned cheeks,
like the brave little woman she really, was.
"Why, you extremely foolish boy, she
said, " don't you know that Hugh has
something better to do with his time than
to waste it on Me ? You see," she continued,
with much dignity, "he has my -estate to
look after as -well as hie own and it is a
large one, and be las am reliable bailiff."
"Dear, deli," replied Erle, with much
solemnity.
"And he has to ride over to Pierrepoint
on magisterial business ever so often,"
and here Fay stammered slightly over the
long -world, but recovered herself in an
instant •, " and he visits the infirmary, and
ltohoekre.,,
safter any of his people who are ill
Here Erle again said, "Dear, dear
but his provoking smile died away after a
glance at her face.
"And," continued Fay, her mouth
quivering a little, "you must see how proud
I am of being his wife and must not think
that I am sorry that he is able to spend so
little of his time with me, for I would not
have him neglect his duty for the world;
no, no, he is far too good and noble and
with such an example before her eyes, Miss( useful to waste his time on me ;" and Fay's
Selby is not as bad herself; but she is a face wore sucha sweet tremulous smile as
wonderfully sensible girl and never talks' she spoke that Erle whispered under his
that sort of nonsense. Why, she goes to breath, "You are a darling," and went
early service. and looks after some poor out silently, and perhaps for the first time
people; not that she ever mentions these in his life forgot to hum as he put on his
facts, for she is not a goody-goody sort at furlined coat.
all." And Fay, standing alone in her little
Oh, no, she has too much go in her," room, whispered softly, " No, no, my bonnie
returned Fay calmly. "1 was quite right Hugh, your Wee 'Wide loves you far too
wlien I said that she was an active ,young well to keep you all to herself," but during
perrlse7,. And now, about the other one, the remainder of the day she was a little
E
quieter than usual; and Erle missed the
"Well," Eris 15egan again, but this time gentle fun that rippled into such a stream
he utterly broke down; for how was he to of girlish talk. He had no idea that every
describe this girl with her beautiful frank now and then his words came back to her
mouth and her soft smiling eyes. He had with a little throb of pain, " You have your
never found out their color at all. Would husband, Fay."
Fay understand if he told her of thespright- Yes, she had her husband; but would
liness and sweetness that, in his opinion, the time ever come to the girl -wife when
made Fern so peculiarly attractive to him. she should know she had him, but that
But, to his astonishment, Fay grasped the she could not hold him, when she should
whole situation in a moment. learn that he had given her everything
"Oh, you need not tell me, you poor but his heart, and cry out against him in
boo," she said, with a knowing nod of her that bitter waking that all was worthless
head, "so it is not the young lady with the to her but Shat?
go in her, though she does dancelike a bird; CHAPTER XVI.
it is this other one with the fair hair and
pretty smile," ' FAY' 13 DILEMMA.
"How do yen know, you little witch?" Blessing she is ; God made her so ;
returned Erle, staring at her with an bon- And deeds of week -day holiness
Fall from her noiseless as the snow;
est boyish blush .on his face. "Do you Nor bath she over chanced to know
knew that Bliss Trafford is poor; that she That aught were easier them to bless.
makes her own gowns and Lowell.
teaches the
vicar's little girls; and that Miss Selby, of '
whom you speak so rudely, is niece to a And through the windows of her eyes
countess ?" We often saw hor saintly soul,
Serene, and sad, and sorrowful,
"Well, what of that ?" responded Fay Go sorrowing for lost Paradise,
scornfully, "11 your lady love be poor, Erle, • Gerald Massey.
you are rich enough for both;" but he in- A few days after that Fay met with a
terrupted her with an alarmed air. slight accident.
"That is the worst of chattering to a 'The snow had been falling very heavily
woman," he said, in a lofty way. "11 you all night, and when Fay went to the
give them an inch, they take an ell. Who window the next morning, she looked out
said I was in love with either of them? Do on a white world, and not a vestige of the
'you know my uncle has spoken to rneabout blue ice could be seen for the drifts that lay
Miss Selby? Be says she is a fine girl and heaped on the little lake.
after his own heart, and he has given me a. She called Hugh to look ant with her.
otrong hint that an engagement with her "What a pity," she said, sorrowfully- "for
will be greatly for my interest." we had asked the Romney girls and the
But Fay turned a deaf ear to all this. Spooners to come up and skate this after -
'And the fair-haired girl with the pretty noon. Erle is so fond of youngladiee, and he
smile; if you marry her, Erie ?"
"In that case my uncle would refuse to al dei:pirpeosseDtobrearSe pwoiolnl ebre inmemskena skating." yg,.,a, and now
have anything more to do with rne. No "01 course the men could sweep the snow
doubt he would disinherit me, as he did his away fast enough," returned Hugh, with a
own daughter,iand Percy would be his heir. hasty glance at the glorious prospect out -
Ah, it s all very well talking, Fay," and side; there were tiny bird tracks on the
here Erie looked at her rathergloornily. "1 white surface, some brown sparrows and a
have never learnt to work, and I should robin were hopping across the snow. Not a
make a pretty mess of my life. It would breath stirred the laden branches, though
be poor Mrs. Trafford's experience over they drooped under their snowy festoons.
again. And he shook his head when Fay " I daresay the ice would be right enough
suggested that Hugh should let him have for a little while ; but the air feels milder,
one of his farms. He knew nothing about and there is danger of a thaw."
farming; a little Latin and Greek, -a smat- "Never mind, we will see how it is to.
tering of French and German were his morrow, and Erle shall take me for a walk
chief acquirements. "1 should have to instead. I suppose," a little plaintively,
turn boatman, or starve. No, no, Fay; I "you will be too busy to come too?"
must not swamp my own prospects for a "Oh'
yes, far too busy," Hugh assured
mere sentimental idea. And, after all, Misil her, as he seated himself at the breakfast
Selby is very nice."
Fay was very angry with him when he Ftaabylereaanddhcoerms—meanfceewd notes
—inga nhdi st hleent t
sat
said this, for she had taken a curious fancy silent behind her silver urn until Erle
So this Vern Trafford, but Erle would not sauntered lazily into the room, and then
listen to her; he got up and shook himself she brightened up and began to talk.
and walked to the window, and then Very ' "1 think I will send off a note to the
gravely proposed a game of snowballing in Vicarage, and ask Dora and the others to
the avenue.
Come all the same, and we will have a nice
Fay thought he was serious and expressed walk thio morning --that is, if you do not
herself much shocked at the idea. Hugh mina, Hugh," looking at the handsome
would not like it, she was sure; one of the abstracted face bent over the paper ; but
gardeners might see them. As it was, Hugh she had to repeat her question before it
had told her he was afraid the servants reached Hugh's ear.
were not sufficiently in awe of her ever "Oh, no 1 it does not matter to me," he
since they saw her playing hide-and-seek in answered, indifferently. "Ask whom you
She hall with Nero.
She confessed that she was 'very fond f ldiikde ,y Levey; y ?T The h S1 pboyo noel? ma ne adnRe mi n eyyesu,
it, though, and had snowballed Nero la'st want them ;" but it may be doubted
year in the Daintree Garden, and Aunt whether he ever heard her thanks is he
Griselda had not been shocked at all. buried himself in his paper again.
"Don't you sometimes wish you were The dogs were delighted at the prospect
back at Daintree?" asked Erle, turning of it walk, when Fay consulted theni so a
reund from the window and contemplating merry party started down ,the avenue
the pretty flushed face rather curiously. —Fay in her furs and little sealskin hat,
"Oh, no," she returned quickly, " how which made her look More a child than
can yott ask me snob a question, Erie? I ever, and Erie in that wonderful coat of
could not imagine life without Hugh. Does hie, lined witla sablen and the two big dogo
it not seem strange ?" she continued seri- racing on before them, and ploughing with
ouslY, "I have only been Married about Wtheir-nose'd in the deep cold snow.
five months, and yet 1 find it impossible to I They had walked about two railed, and
were thoroughly enjoyingtheraselvea, when
all at once Fay slipped.
How it happened neither of them had
any idea. FaY WaS eure-footed• she
skimmed over the frozen f3 no ve as lightly as
a bird. Erie never had to offer her any
assistanoe--412e would as soon have thought
qf helping a robin. It must have been
orange -peel, e,sFay suggested—only neither
of them oaw any—but all the same, just as
prie was walking calmly along, striking
carelessly at the branches With his 'king)"
cane, and Fay chattering and laughing in
her usual fashion, all at once she slipped,
and her foot fl eemed tri double upunder her,
and she sank down comfortably on the
snow, only with rather a pale face.
It was very awkward and embarrassing,
a most unfortunate circumstance'as they
were two miles from Redmond Hall, and
there was Fay protesting that she did not
think she'could ptand, much less walk;
and when Erie knelt down to exainine the
dainty little foot, and touolled it lightly.
Fay turned still paler, and uttered a little
cry, but the next moment ehe laughed.
"1 am afraid I have sprained my ankle.
It was very silly and awkward of me.
and I cannot thhill how it happened. No,
it is not so very painful, unless I try tar
move. What are we to do, Erle 2"
That is just what r don't know," he
returned, disconsolately, looking down the
lane, while thetwo dogs gazed wistfully into
his face'as though they were quite aware
of the dilemma, and felt very sorry for
their little mistress. "1 suppose you could
not ride on Pierre's back, you are hardly
small enough for that • and with all my
goodwill I am afraid I sbould not succeed in
carrying you two miles—these furs are
heavy, Fay --and yet how am I to leave
i
you sitting n the snow while I go in search
of help. I suppose," with another look,
that only landed him in ,ploughed fields,
"there is not a house near, and yet this is
one of the Sandycliffe lanes."
"1 don't think we are far from the Grange
—the curious oldred-briok house we passed
the other day. This lane leads to the
Sandycliffe road, and I expect we are not a
quarter of a mile from the village."
" All right," responded Erle, cheerfully ;
"1 can carry you as far as that easily."
"Oh 1 but we must not go to the Grange."
returned Fay, in rather a regretful voice.
She was suffering a good deal of pain with
her foot, her boot hurt her so, but she would
not make a fuss. " The Ferrers are the
only people who have not called on us.
and Hugh would not like me to go
there."
" Nonsense," replied Erle, impatiently;
"what does that matter in a case like this.
I suppose you think that good Samaritan
ought to have left his card first before ha
helped that poor traveller ?"
Fay tried to laugh, but it was rather an
effort. 'You do not understand," she
said, gently; " Hugh used to know the
Ferrero, and he says they are very nice
people ; he is the blind vicar of Sandycliffe,
and his sister lives with him. I do not
know whether they are old or young; but
Hugh said that he had had it misunder-
standing with them, and that it would ba
very awkward to renew the acquaintance;
he does not wish me to visit them."
"Perhaps not. I daresay the Samaritan
and the unfortunate traveller were not on
visiting terms afterwards, but under the
present agreeable circumstances we must
certainly avail ourselves of the first shelter
that offers itself. Hugh would quite
approve of my advice, and in his absence
you must allow me to judge for you ;" and
there was a slight peremptoriness in Erie's
voice, to which Fay yielded for she offered
no resistance when he lifted her from the
ground with his old playful smile.
Fay was very small and light, but her
furs were heavy ; still, Erle Was strong and
wiry, and he carried her easy enough—
he actually had breath to joke too—while
the two dogs bounded before him barking
joyously, and actually turning in at the
Grange gates of their own aocord—at least
Pierre did, and Nero followed him.
Erle looked up curiously at the old red-
brick house, with its picturesque gables
and mullioned windows, and then, as he
deposited Fay on the stone seat inside the
porch, and was just raising his hand to the
knocker, the door opened, and a very tall
man in clerical dress appeared suddenly on
the threshold. Erie's hand fell to his side,
and he and Fay exchangedpuzzled glances;
it must be•Mr. Ferrers, they thought, and
of course he did not know any one was
there. He stood with his face turned to
the wintry sunshine,and his grand massive -
looking head bowed a little. The net
moment Pierre jumped up and licked his
hands, and tried to put his huge paws on
his shoulder'whining with delight. Mr.
Ferrers started slightly. Why, Pierre,
my fine fellow, I ought to know that rough
greeting of yours by this time; it is a long
time since you have called at the Grange;
whom have you brought withyou, Pierre?"
stroking the dog's noble head.
Erie came forward at once. " My
cousin, Lady Redmond, has met with
rather an awkward accident in one of the
lanes—she has sprained her ankle, and is
in great pain; may I lift her on that com-
fortable oak -settle by the hall fire while I
go in search of help. I am Sir Hugh's
cousin, Erie Huntingdon."
" Lady Redmond," ejaculated Mr.
Ferrers; and Fay wondered at the sudden
shadow that passed over her host's fine
face. "Oh, yes, bring her in, Mr. Hunting-
don, but we must find a softer couch than
the oak -settle. Margaret—where are you,
Margaret ?" and the next moment a clear,
pleasant voice answered, " I am here.
Rely ;" and a tall, gracefuldooking woman.
with dead -brown hair and calm beautiful
face, crossed the long hall. .Fay seemed to
see her coining through a sort of haze,
and she put out her hands involuntarily;
Margaret's voice changed as she took them.
" Ah, poor child, she is faint. Will you
bring her into mymorning room, Mr.
i
Huntingdon, there s an easy couch there,
and a nice fire ?" and Margaret led the
way to a pleasant room with an old-fashioned
bay window overlooking the sunny lawn
and yew -tree walk; and then took off the
little sealskin hat with hand that trembled
slightly, and laid the pretty head with its
softly ruffled hair on the cushions, and
then put some wine to Fay's lips. Fay
roused herself and drank some obediently,
and a little color came back to her face.
It is my foot, the boot hurts it so," she
said, faintly.
(To be continued.)
rifty thousand soldiers guard the rail-
road when the Cear travels': But oven this
great army cannot keep off the train boy.