Loading...
The New Era, 1881-09-01, Page 6$eptemberi, 1881. 'shoot the iarankerol A clear little tauticl came skipping out , In the glad new day with a worn' shalt danciug feet and with flowing hair She an with joy ip the mended air, "Deal sing before breakfast, ion% ery before night!" What a croak to darken. the ehild'e delight And the stunid old nurse, again and again, Bepeatea the ancient duu refrain. The childpausea, trying to understand ; --Butiter -eyes- atta-tata-great - world -rainbow-- ; Ber lighspannea a m. d.foot hardlY touched the carat. Ana her.0001 trimmed over with int:meat mirth "Never mina -don't listen -a() sweet little maidi Mae sum of your morning song," 1 said ; "4 1 Pain merit meet you, why, all the 010r0 Oad, a the rapture that came before. "O tsars Ana oorrow are plenty enough. Storms may be hitter and paths be rough, But our tears that' fali, ince the dear earth'e shewers - . That hop to ripeo the irate slid newer% "80 gladden the aay With your blissful song.. Sing oa while yo o may, dear, sweet and strong I make spoof yoer moment of pure delight,. No matter what trials may come 'before night." LOVERS VET. • , (By the author)! "Sladohne's Lover.') onounat xxxm. Thursday evening, and the hand of the ____Grreolul-olock-pointed-to-a-cpiarter_to 10. Lord Earle at reading. Lady RelenitEar left Lillian asleep, and bad taken up A book near him. Lord Airlie had been elsiitohing for Beatrice a plan of the new wing at Lynnton. Tlooking up suddenly, she saw the time. akt 10 Hugh Fernely would be at the shrubbery gate. She had not a moment to lose. Saying she was feeling tired, she rose and went to bid Lord Earle goed,night. He .remembered afterward how he had raised the beautitul face in his hands and gazed at it in loving admiration, whispering something the while about "Lady Airlie, a L'innton." He reinena« bared how she, so little given to caressing, had laid her head- upon his shoulder, clasping her arms roundhis neck, kissing - his face, and caliing hitt% ber dear • papa.' He remembered the soft, wistful light ill .1.ier' beautiful eyes, tbe sweet voice that lingered•in his ears. Yet no witsning.came to him, nothing told hini the fair child he loved so dearly stood in the shadow of deathly peril. If he had known, how theta strong arms would have been raised to shield her -how the stout, brave heartwOuld have sheltered her 1 As it was, she left him with jesting words on her lips, and he did not even gaze after her as slie quitted the room: It he had only known where and how he should see that face again 1 Beatrice went up to Lady " Hehaua, who smiled, without 'raising her eyes from her book. Beatrice bent down aud touched the kind, stately face with her lips,' • "Goodnight,. grandmammta'. she said. "How studious you.arel " , Goodmight-hletalotr,py child,!' turned Lady. Helena, and the fair face turned frdm her with a smile. "You have left me until last," said Lord Airlie;" good -night, my Beatrice.. '•Never mind papa ---he isnot looking at uS; give it always• now -its light will never leave me more, Look at me, Xleatriee," he cried ; "let ine see those dark eyes again." But the glance she gave him had in it nOthing but coldness and dread. In the excitement a hie jaw he aid not notice it, "Words are so weals," he said, "1 cannot tell you bow I have longed for thigl 14011r. I have gone over it in fancy a, thousand times; yet no dream, was ever so bright and sweet as this reality. No man in the - wide world ever loved any obe eta I love you I3eatriee." She could not resist the passionate torrent -of words -they mufit-have--tOuched the heart of one lees proud. She stood perfectly still, while the calm night, wind eeemed to thrill with the eloquent voioe of the speaker. "Speak to me," he nal% at leagth. "How coldly.you listen 1 Beatrice, there is no love, no 3ey in your face, Tell me you. are pleased to see me -tell me you have remembered Ina. Say anything -let me hear your voice." "Hugh," he answered, gently, drawing her hands from his strong grasp, "this is all a mistake. You have not given me time to speak. I am pleased to see you, well and safe. 1 vin pleased that you have escaped the dangers of the deep; but -I Cannot say more. I -I do not love you as you love me." His hands dropped nervously, and he turned hls despairing face from her. " You must be reasonable," she con. tinned, in her . musioal, pitiless voice. "Hugh, was only a dreaming, innocent, ignorant child when I first met you. It -was-not-lo-ve-I--thought of.-Yowtalked4 me as ne one aloe ever' bad -it was like reading a strange wonderful story; mybead was filled with romance, my heart wits"not filled with love." "But," he said,.hoarsely, "you promised to be mywife." • ' _ - "1 remember," she acknowledged,." I do not deny it ; but, liugh, 1' did not knew what I was saying. I spoke without thought. Inemore realized what the Words meant than Icon understand now what the wind is saying." . . • A long, low moau came from his lips; .the awful despair in his. face startled her. "So I have returned for this 1" he cried. "1 have braved untold perils, I have escaped the dangers of the seas, the death that lurks in heaving waters, to be slain by Gruel words from the girl . I loved and • truste&" He turnedfrom herr unable to check.the bitter sob that rose to his lips. . "Hush, Hugh,';' elie said, gently, "you grieve me." •' • "Do you think of my grief ?" he oried. "1 comae here tomight, my heart on fire with love, toy brain dizzy with happiness. You have killed me, .Beatrice Earle; as surely as ever mau was Maio." , • : . Far off, front amongst thetrees, she sew the glimmer of the light in Lord Airlie's room. It struolt her with a sensation at fear, as though he were watching ber. "Let us walk on," slm.sttid--" I de not sta.ndin,," here:" • Theywent through the shrubbery, thrringn the broaci green stadia of the •park, where the dew-dreps, slagne open fern leaveo and, thiek-graitha long.tiveimanLehest:. nut trees«where, the Wind moaned, like a human being: in deadly pain ; on to the shore of: the deep, cake Ta'ke, where -the green• 'reeds, hent arid swayed, and the moonlight shone in the rippling water.• • this,while Hugb had net spoken a Word, but had wallied in silence by her side. He, turned to her at length, and she read the. rising passion in his face,. • • •, • -"You promised rae," he said, ." and 'yeti must keep your promiee... log said you. .wOuld be my wife. Nct 'other man: must dare to speak thyon of lover he criedf ••graspingher ann. "Ip the sight of Heaven; •youare naine, Beatrice t arle.". • •• • " I ana not," she answeredprotidly, "and • I never will be ;• no mai wohld, Or aoind, take advantage -of a promise obtained from a wilful, loolush.thild," • " will appeal to1.1or4 Earle," . he said - ".I Will lay my claim before him:" .*. • "�u may do so," she replied and; although he will never look upon me again, he Will protett me from You.' , •She saw the, angry light ilanie in his eyes, Mae heardbie breath tome in..quick, ' short gasps; eaid the danger:a1,:quarrelling • with him.struck • her. '. She laid her 'hand upon his arm*, and he trail:Oiled • et the gentle touch., • ••• • ' " she 'said, "do not be angry. You are a brave Man -; .1 know that in your life you never shrank frona danger -or feared pant The brave are always gener- ous, always noble; think of. what X am going to say. Suppose thatbY the exercise of anypower -you could -really compel Me to. laii your wife, what would it benefit you?.' I should .riat love you, I fell, you candidly. I should detest you for spoiling lily, life -I would never see you. What would you gain by forcing me to keep.my promise" •. . He Made no•reply. The wind bent the reeds, and the.water cattle up to the bank, with a long. low; 'wash. • . "/ ampea,1 to yourgenerosity," she Bola= " your nobility of character. Seleasi? froth a promise I made in ignorance.. I 'appeal to your very love to me -release nae, that I may be happy. • '• , • " Those who lovetruly," she continued, 'receiving no reply, '" never ,love selfishly. If I cared for any one as . you dolor -nee, I ahouid consider ray • ownhappiness• last of all. , If you love ane, 'release tee; Hash.. I oan never be happy with yon." • . • "Why notr he asked, tightening the grasp upon her arra; Not . from, merCenary Inotivele," she replied, earnestly; "not beeause my father is wealthy, my bane magnificent, and you belong to another , grade of soeiety-not for that, but because I do not love you. X never did love yam as a girl should love the man she meann to marry." "You are very candid," he said, bitterly; ," pray, io 'there any one elsayou loye in Mile way 2." • • • • That Cs beside the question,": she tePlied, haughtily ; ." I am speaking of You. and myself. Hugh, if you will give me my • freedoni-ifr, you will. a;gree to forget the foolish promise. of a foolish child -I will respect and, esteem yeti while t live,I shall bless you every day, your name will he a sacred. ono Math -rite& in nay heart, your mentory will be a source of pleasure te me. You shall be my friend, Hugh, arid I will be eatrue friend to yoln" • " Beatricel" he cried, " do not tempt Me 1" - • " Yes, be tempted," she said-'‘ let me urge yen to be generous, to be noble I See, HUgli, I have never prayed to anymah-I pray to you; I Weuld kneel hero, at your feet end beseech yeti to release the from a promise X 'never meant to give." Her Wade touched him. She ,turiv the Softened lOok upon his late, the flaming • anger die nut of hie oyes. . " Iltigh," she said softly, " I, Beatriod Earle, pray you, by the love yott bear me, to release me from all clainl, and leave me me one.kiss.”' rt. She rinsed her face to his, and he kieseo the proud, sweet lips. . • He touched the. golden lead. a You will never part with it," he saki: and Mie smiled as ohe answered, to, never 1". • „. Then she passed dot -cif his aight, and las who.would have laid detail his life for her, saw her leave him „without': the fainteet suspicion of the shadow that hung over her. The smile. still Wageredon her lips as she stood iu her earn remit. few more. hours -one inore trial -she said to herself; then she would be free, s.nd, , might' enjoy her • happiness • to its full extent. How' dearly Hubert hived her -bow unutterably happy she would be .when Hugh released her 1 And he wohld-she never doubted it. "1 shall not want you agitirai' she said to her maid. "And do not call me fu the morning. I am tired." • • The door of Lillianis: room was not closed; she went in. The night littxtP was shaded, and the blinds closely drawn, so that the bright inaonlight *could net intrude. She went gently to the Side of the bed where her sister lay, Poor, gentle, loving ,Lillian 1 The pale, sad face, with its wist- ful,avearied expression, was.turned -be-the wall. There were some traces of • tears, and aven in eleepTfieep sighs passed the quivering lips. Sorrow and woe were impressed on the fair face. Yet, as Bea, trice kissed the clear, &din brow, shewould gladly have changed places with b.er. "1 will soon . make it up to her," she said, gazing long. and 'earnestly .on the sleeping face. "In a few weeks she shall be happier than shahas ever beau. I will make Master Lionel go on his kneels to her." She left the room, . and Lillian. never knew who had bent se lovingly Over her. Beatrice took froaa her wardrobe a _thick, warm shawl. She dreW•it overher head, and so half hid her face. Than she Went noiselessly down the staitcase that led from her suite of rooms to the garden. How fair and beautiful the night was - not cold, although it was September, and the moon shining as she lind rarely seen it shine before. It seemed to sail triumphantly in the dark blue sky. It poured a. flood of silvery light on the sleeping flowers and trees. • She had not lingered to lohk• round the pretty dressing-reom as elle left it. Her eyes had not dwelt On: the luxurious cham- ber, and the white bed,'Wherein she Ought to have. been sleeping I,. but, now that she stood outside the Hell, she looked up at the windows With a eende of loneliness arid fear. There was a light in Lady- Helena' room and main Lord Airlie. She shrank back; what would lie think if he saw her now? Deeply she fell the humiliatiou Of leaving her father's' hoose at that bettr Of the night; she felt the whole shame of what she was goilig to do; but the thought of Lord Airlie netirea her. Let this due night pass, and a life -time of happiness lay before her. ' . • The night wind momied fitfully amongst the trees; the breeches of the tall lime trees swayed over ,her head; the fallen leaves whirled round her feet. She crossed the gerderss the moon cast grog° shadows upon the broad paths. - At length she saw the shtubbery gate, and, by it, erect and motionless, gazing on the bending trees in the park, was Hugh Fernely. He did not heat her light footsteps-ethe wind ainongthe lime trees drowned theni. She went up to him And touched his arm gently . - "Hugh," the said, "Ian here." Before she could pteveht him, he Was isneoling at her feet, he had clasped her bode in his own, and vras covering theta 'With hot kiesett arid burning tears. " hly darling," he said, "my Own Bea. -trite, I knew yen onle!" Ile tOse then, and, before she &told step hita, he tot& the elaewl from he heed and raised the beautiful tweak) that the moon. light fell dearly open it. 4‘1120Are hUligtirea tttla thirsted," he field, "tor &tether look et that face. 1 shall see ellence ; they bad wandered down to the very edge of the lake. The water rippled in the moonlight, and, while Hugh. Fernely thought, Deatrioe loolsea into the clear depths. How nearshe was inhertriumph 1 A few minutee more and he 'would turn to her and tell her OUP was free; His face was growing calm and gentle, She would diemiss him with grateful thanks; she Would hfiliten borne. liovreottim would be that night's sleep 1 When she saw Lord .Airlie in the morning, all her Borrow and ehrune would have passed by. lEfer heart beat high as slie thought of this, ft think it must be ito," said Hugh Fernely at laett-" I think I mustgive yon up, Beatrice. I could not bear to make you miserable. Look op, my .darling; let., me see your fitcri oncemore before I say goodbye." ar. She stood. before him, and, the thick dark shawl fell from her shoulders upon the grass; she did not miss it in the blinding Joy that bad fallen upon, her, laugh Eernely's gaze lingered upon the peerless features. "I can give you up," he Baia gently, "tor your own happiness, but not to another, Beatrice. Tell me that ,you have not learned tit, love anotheraince I left you." She made no reply -not to have saved her life a thousand times would she heve denied her love for Lord Airlie. Bis lase Was still warm upon her lips-threee same lips should never deny him. "You do not speak," he.added, By Heaven, Beatrice; if X thought you had learned 'to love soother man -if I. thought you wanted to be free from me to marry -another ',X-should,--go-madaemad... ,witli jealous rage 1 Is it so? Answer me." She saw a lurid light in his eyes, and shrank from WM. He tightened his grasp upon her arm. Answer me 1," he cried, hoarsely. " wil know." : Not ffir from her Slept the Lover who *would have shielded her with his strong arm -the lover to whom every hair upon her dear head was more precious than gold or jewels. Not far from her slept the kind, loving father, who was prouder and fonder of her than of any one on earth. Gaspar Lawrence, too, who would have diedfor her, lay at that moment not far away, awake and thinking of her Yot, the hour of . her deadly peril, when she stood on the shore ofthe deep lake in the fierce grasp of a half-I:maddened man, there was 320 one near to heln her or raise a hand iii her defence. But she was no coward, and ell the high apirit of her race :rose within her.. Loosen our grasp, Hugh," she said, calmly-" you pain' um." "Answer Me! " be cried. " Where, is the rtitg I gave you?"• , ' • He seized bath hand:laud looked at them ; they were firin and cool -they did not tremble. AU his fierce, angry eyes glanced. over. them, not a feature of her beautiful fact quivered'. " "I'Vbere is my ring? "he asked, "An- swer Me, Beatrice:" • ' "1 lis,ve not Wove it lately," she replied, " flagh, you forget youtself. Gentlemen do not speak and act in this way." "1 bonen 1 ,am going mad," lie said, • glocimily:"..I ralincroish rnyclairn to you; Beatrice; for your own sake, bift I -will never give you•up to be the wife of any other man, Tell me it is not so, Tell rne you have Ja0t been so doubly false LLB to lovsamaother, and•I will try to do all you wi4Bfiliaa'Ito live an my. Unloved; and untharried,',' she answered, controlling her augry indignation .by a strong effort, " because, when 1 Was ale:Ay and neglect- ed girl, I fell into your power? I d9 not • 'ask such a sacrifice frana you. I hope you will love' and naarry, and be happy." ' • "rshall not care," he said; "hat hap- pene after I aria Wite-it will not hurt my jealous, angry heart. then, Beatrice ; but I should.not like ,to thihk that. while you were my Prornieed wife, and I was giving. you my eery thought, you were loving some one else. Lathould like to, believe .you Were true to nae while .you ere my own," •- He said to himself, with A wild, horrible laugh, that ho had watched all night by her grave. Ile turned and fled. One meeting JAM1 with aerce, wild eyes full of the ere of madnese, with pale, haggard fame full of deepair, would have shunned him. He fled, through the greeu pork, out on to the highroad, away through the deep. Winnwoods- he knew not whither -never back; crying out at times, with a hollow, awful voice, that he had been all night by her grave; falling at times op his face with wild, woeful, Weeping, Rraying the heaveus to fall upon 'aim and bide 'AM forever from his fellow naen. He crept Itito.a field where the hedge. rows were bright with autumn tint, Ile threw himself down and tried to close his hot, dazed eyee ; but the oky above him looked blood -red, the air *teemed Ailed with flames. Turn where he would, the pale, despairing face that had looked Op to him as the watere opened was before him. He arose with a great cry, and wandered op. He came te a little cottage, where rosy children were at play, talking and laughing in the bright sunshine. • Great heaven! ,t/ow long was it since the dead girl, now sleeping_under the deep waters, was happy and liftht as they? Heed again. Thin time the piercing oryfilled his ears; it seemed to deaden his brain. He fell in the Pala near the cottage. Hoots afterward the children out at play found him lying izr the dank grass that fringed the pond under the elder trees. slept in her room all night. We cannot And her." Ife =fled. at first., thinking, as she bad done, that there most be some mistake, eatd that Ws mother Was fanciful and her - Vous; but, when Lady Helena, in quick, hurried worde, told him of the onfastened door and the ribbon'his foe grew serious. He took the ribbonfrona the imaid'It hand -.it seemed likea livieg part of hie dough - ter. He remembered that he had eeen it the night before on laer arose, when he had held up the beautiful face to Idea it. He had touched that same ribbon with his band, "She may have gone out into the grounds, and have been taken ill," he said. "Do not frighten Airlie, mother ; I will leek round' myeelf." He went through every room of the house one by one, bot there was no trace of her. Still Lord Earle had no fear; it seemed se 'Irtterly impossible that any harm pould have happened, to her. ••• Then he went out into the grounds, half expecting, thebeautiful face to Braila upon him from under the shade of her favorite trees. He called aloud, " Beatrice 1" The wind rustled 'through the trees, the birds sang, but there came no antiwar to his cry. Neither in the groods nor in the• gardens could he discover any trace of her. He returned to Lady Helena, a vague fear emu. ing over him. , "I cannot And her," he said. "Mother, I do not understand 'this, She eannethaVo left as. She was not unhappy -my beauti- ful child." The first faint flush Of dawn, a rosy light ' brolter-ha-the-oster golden shimmer 'was on the lake •as the aunbeams touched it. The forest birds awoke and began to sing; they flew from brawl' to branch; the flowers: began to open their "dewy eyes ; " the stately swans wane out upoti the Jake, handing their arched necks, sailing round the water lilies and the green sedges. The sun tthone out at length in his • majesty, wain:dug and brightening the fair face of gature-it was full aud perfed day. The gardeners came through the park to commence their work; the cows in the pastore-land otood to be milked, the busy world began to rouse itself; but the fatal secret hidden beneath the cold, dark water remained still udtold. • CHAPTER XLI, • • • The sun shone bright and warm in the bre,akfast-rooin at Earlciecohrt. The rays fell upon, the calm stately face of Lady Helena, apon the grave counteoance of her son, upon the bright, handsome features of Lord Airlie. They . sparkled on the deli- cate silver, and showed the pretty *china to perfection. The breakfast was upon the table, hut the three occupauts Of the room had heal waiting. Lady Helena took her .seat. • . . -"It seems strange," she said to Lord Earle, "to breakfast without either of the airle. I would not allow Lillian to rise; and from some caprice Beatrice forbade her maid to call her, saying she was *ad."• Lord Earle made some Ittughing reply, but Lady I.Ielena was not • quite please& Punctuality•with her had always :keen. a 'fa-vorite virtue, lur eases -of, -real •illness, allowance was of course to be made; bot she herself hacl never considered a little extra fatigue a sufficient reason for absent-- ing herself from table. • • The two,gentlertten talked gayly during breakfast. • Lord Earle asked Hubert if he would go with him to Holte, and Lord Airlie said he had promieed to drive Bea- trice to Langton Priory: ' Hearing that, Lady -Helena thought if :time to send .some litIle warning to her • grandchild. : She fang for Susette • the Maid who waited upen Beatric,e, and told her to &al her young mistress. , • She stood at her writing -table, arranging some letters, when the maid returned. Lady Helena looked at her itt utter wonder -Abe girl's face was pale and soared. . "My lady," she said, "will yeti Please genie here ?' You aka, wanted very particu- larly." • Lady t,ielena, without .speaking to either' , of the gentlemen, went to the deer where , • "Come away, Airlie 1" ' said Lord Earle. the girl 'stood. ' . • - " I shall() mad. 1 °I 'will call all the ger- . " What is it, Susette?" sheasked, what She Made no answer, fearing to irritate him if she tad the troth, and. soorning to deny the love that was the crowning 'bless- ing of hearlifei His anger grew. het • silence.. Again the dark Abash rose in his face, and hie eyes flanied with fierce light. Suddenly' he" imMght sight of tie gold locket she wore .rbund her neck, lostened by the Mender &AM: • What. is this thing'. you wear.?" he aske&;.qt.tiCklyaleu-threw aside `my ring. What is • this? Whose portrait have you there? Let me see it." . "You forget' yotirself again," she said, drawitigherself hatightilyatatay. '-"71-haVe- no account to render to yea of my friends." " 1 Will see who is there 1" he exied, beside himself with angryrage. #' Perhans • I shall know then •Why you wish to be freed from me: Whose face is lying near your heart? ' Letare see. If it is that of any one who has antwitted me, Twill throw it into the depths of the lake." • You shall not see it," she said, raising her hand, and clasping the Tittle locket • tightly. "lam not. afraid; Hugh Fernely, You never USG N40101200 to MO." ' But tbe hot anger leaped up to hie heart; he Was mad with cruel jealousy and rage, and tried to :Match the locket from •her.. She.defended it, holding it tightly *clawed in one hand, while With the other she tried . • to free herseltfrom hie grasp. It. will never • be known how'. that fatal accident happened. Men will- never 'know • whether. 'the hapless girl fell, or whether. Hugh Fernely, in his • mad rage, filing her into the lake. There was a startled scream that rang through the deer 'air, a heavy fall, a splash amidst the waters of the lake. There was ' one awful, despairing glom from a pale, horior stricken face, and then the watere closed, the ripples spread Oyer the broad surface, sod the sleepiog lilies trembled for a few mitutes, aud then lay still again. Once, and Mace otly, awoman's white handy -thrown. upas it were in agon- izing supplication, cleft the dark waters; and then. all was over ; the wind blew the ripples more strongly, thejr. Nvashecl on the grass, and the stir of the deep water. subsided. • lltigh tamely. ad not plun,ao into the lake after Beatrice -it Was too late to dove her; still, he might have tried. The cry that rang through the sleeping , woodo 'seemed to,paralyte hitt-he stood like one bereft of reason,sense and life. Perhapsthe verystidclehriess of the event overpowered hint Heaven wily .knows what passed in his dull, crazed. mind while the girl he loved Rank without help., Was it that he would uctt eo.ve her for another-athat, in his cruel love, he preferred to know libr dead, beneath the cold. Waters, rather than. the living, happy. Wife of another man Or Was it that in the Sadden shook and terror he never thought of trying to save her 2e stood for hours -it seemed to him as years -watching the Bot whete the pale, agonized face had veanshed-watehbag the eddying ripples and the green reeds. Yet he never sought te savo her -never plunged hito the deep waters, vihence he might have rtisened her had he wished. He bettor moved. He felt tui fatigue. The first thing that roused. him was a gleam of gtoy light in the oedema Oky dud the sweet, faint ktertg of a little bird. Then he saw that the day had broken. , They allowed hina to enter, and Lord Earle and his mother wont with him. None iu that room ever forgot hie ery-the piercing ory of the strong man in his agony -as he threw himself by the dead girl'a side. "Beatrice, my love, my darling, why oould 1 not have died for you ?" ot,ind then with team Of eympatlay, they showed hira how even in death the white cold hand grasped his locket, bolding it so tightly that no ordinary force could remove it. 44 In life and in death.1" she had said, mad she hod To be continued - in peace," "Let me think," he replied -"give me a few utinutes ne matt could part with the cleareet treasures ho has so hastily. 'Let Me thitik whet I loge in giving you Up." CHAPTEZ XL, They etohd for some time in poked There was no slip of paper, no letter, ne clew to her absence. Mother and son looked blankly at eattother. 1IIiona1d,' she oried, "where is dm? Where irthe poor ehild?" He tried to comfort her, but fear' Wee rapidly mastering him. , "Let us see if Airlie, can suggest any« thing," he said. • They went down to the breakfast-roorn, where Lord Airlie still waited for the girl be was never more to meet alive. He tUrned round :with a smile, and asked if Beatrice was coMing t the smile died from his lips when he saw the pale anxious faces of mother and son. • " Hubert," said Lord Earle, '*" we are alarmed -let us hope without cause. Bea. trice cannot be found, She has not, seem- ingly, slept in her room. My mother is frightened," . • Lady Helena bad' sunk pale aud trem. bling, upon a couch. Lord Aline rooked bewildered. Lord Earle told him briefly how they had missed her, and what had been done, "She must be trying to frighten us," he said; " Oho must havehiddeu herself. There can't he anything wroogr Even as , he. spoke he felt how imposeible it was that hie aliguified 'Beatrice should have done anything wrong. • . • He could throw 320 light upon the sub- ject. He had not seen her feed since . he had kissed her wheit bitldiug her good -night. Her maid was the last person torwhom she had spoken, Susette • iota left her in her, own rciom, bad siuce then nothing had been seen or heard of Beatrice Earle. • Father and lover weot out, together,. Lord Airliviraggestifil thatellelid perhaps. gone out 'into the garden and had met with some accident. ahere. Theywaeit • carefully over every part -there was no trace ofBeatrice. They, went through the 'shrubbery out into the park,Where the quiet lake shone amidst the green trees:" ' Suddeuly, like the thrust, of a sharp sWord, the remembrance of the mornieg spent upori the water came to Loyd Airlie. .1Ie palled to mind Beatrice'sfeet-the cold shudder that seized her when she declared that her own Moe with al mocking smile wao looking up at her .frorrs the depths . of • He walked hurriedly toward the lake: A. Was calm and 'olear-the tall *reeds and green eedges swaying ih the wind, the white lilies rising and falling With the ripple. . The blue sky and green trees were reflected in the water, thepleasure boat Nvasleatened to the boat -house. How was he • to know the horrible secret of the lake? • • ...a. Care by imagination. At a large hotel the not uncommon dilemma aroge etthere being only one roem in the house vacant when two visitors required accommodation for the night. It was a double -bedded chamber, or was soon converted into stela, and the two guests, who were both commercial travellers, agreed to ehare it. One of these gentlemen was a confirmed hypochondriac, and greatly alarmed hie companion by waking -.-. him up in the middle of the night, gasping for breath. ." Asthma." he panted out, " I am sobject to these spurned:lc attacks, ' Open the window quit:lily ; give mat air I" Terriaed beyond naeasore, the other jumped out of bed. But the room .fwas pitch-dark; he had no, matchee, he, had forgotten the position of the whidew. • "For heaven's sake be quick!" gasped the invalid. "Give me more air, or I shall choke!" At length, by dint of groping wildly and upsetting half the furniture in ' be apartmeht, the Window was found; but .it was an old-fashioned casemeet, and he hasp or catch was to be discovered. "Quick, quiak ; air; air 1" inapleted the apparently dying mail. "Open it, break it or I. shall -be suffocated 1" Thus adjured his fried lost no more time, but eeizing a boot smashed every pane; -and the offerer immediately experienced great relief. "Oh, thank you, a thousand thanks," "Ha 1" he , exclaimed, drawing deep oighe which testified. to the great coinfort he derived," I think, in another moinent I should have been dead!" And when he had sufficiently redovered and had expreetted his heartfelt • gratitude, be described the intense distress of these attacks and the lentil of time he . had suffered from them. After a while both fell asleep again, devoutly thankful for • the result. It was a warm summer night and they felt no luconvettieace from the brokeo window, but Whoa daylight relieved the pitoh.doakness of the night the window was found to be still entire 1 Had invisible glaziers•been at work already, or was the eilisode of the past night only a dream ? No ; lor the floor was still strewn with the broken glass. Then, as they looked round theroona. in. amazon' ent, the selotion of the • mystery -presented its.elf hi the shape of an antiquated bookcaoe, whose latticed glass doors were a ehattered wreek. The spas- modically attacked ono was cured from that .moment. So much • for imagination. - Chambers' Journal. vantri, an have C., regular searcli,"'. • • is the niatter?". • • Id. 4 few minutes the 'wildest coithisiott "For mercy's" sakot my. IOW' retdied* and dismay reigned in the Hall; Women the maid; "cothe up -stairs. tI cannot wept alood, and Men's': wee grew pale with find Miss Beatrice -she is not in herroom."; fear,. The beautiful, brilliant young mia- sma the girl trembled violently; 6r Lady tress luiddisappeared, and none knew. her Helena Would have Smiled atheaterfora • fate. They searched . garden,. park, and• ' grounds; meta intot basfewent hither and "She • is probabisr With Milts Lillion," she said; "why "make 'sit& & .reystery, thither; while ,Lady Earle lay half •dead Susette 1" • • • ' • • with fear,' and,Lillian. rested calmly, kuow "She is not there,* my lady • I cannot ing nothing of What had happened. findher,",--was the answer ' It was Lord Airlie who, first -suggested "She may have gone out into the garden that the lake shatilda be dragged. The sun • or: the grounds," said Lady'lleiena; rose high io the heavens then, and dhona "Ivy ladY,"!Stisette. whispered, and. her gloriously over water and. land. • " 'frightened fate grew deadly pale; "her bed They found the drags'and Howson; the has net been slept:in; nothing is touched butler, With Lee and Patson, two gardeners, in her roonl ; she has not been in it all got into the boat. Father end lover stood • tight." - •'. •• • side by Ride on the bank. The boat glided A shoek of unutterable dread seized Lady softly: over the water; the men had been Earle; a sharp spasm seemed. to dart once round, the lake., but without any through, her heart. • , • • f•result. Hope was rising again in. Lord "There must be some atietake," she Airlie't hea�,w.heta he saw those in the said, gently; " I•will go up-stairswith pm." boat leek at eacili other, then at him. • The roomswere Without occupant; no "My lord," said Cowden, Lord Earle's disarray of jewels, flowers, or dresses,no valet, coming -up to Hubert, pray :take little slippers; no single trace,of Beatrice's my , master horde; they have.found some:. presence was there. • -• • thing at :the bottom . of the lake. Take . The pretty white bed was uototachedno him home ; and please keep' Lady Eftrle one had slept in it; thablindewere drawn, and the Women out of the vra,y.". • - ari4 the sunlight struggled to enter the "What is it?" criedLord Earle. "Speak roam: • Lady Helene, walked mechattically to me; Airlie. What is it?" • • • to the Window, and drew aide -the toe "Come away," said Lord Airlie. "The oortaine; •then shalooked round. • • merawill net work While we are here." "She has not slept here," she said; "she 'Their had found something beneath the roust have slept With Muse Lillian. You water; the drags had caught in a woman'S have frighteued ree, Susettel Iwill go and dress; and the onieti • in the boat stood see myself.". metionless until Lord Earle Was out of '. Lady Helena went through the:pretty sight.' •• •', , silting room, where the books Beatrice had Through the depths of water they -saw. been reading lay upon the table, on to Lil- the &int of a white dead face, and a float- lian'e chamber. ing mass of dark hair. They raised the The "paling girl was' awake, looking 'pale body with. reverent halide. Strong men andlangoici, yet better thanshe had looked wept ahead coathey did so. r One covered, the night before. Lady Earle controlled the quiet (age and another' wrung the drip. all emotion, aud went qinelay up 'to her: ping 'watch, from thelong hair. The sun "Have you seen 13eatrieethie morning 2" , 0hono on,. as threigh in mockery, while they she asked. "1 want her." ' carried the drowned girl hotne.• ' • Net" replied Lilliau.; "I have not seen Slowly . and with halting steps they car. her silica just before chimer last evening." tied her through the ivartia duhny park "She did notaleep with you, thdo" emid where' 'he was never more to. tread; Lady Earle. through the, bright sunlit gardens; • "No, elle did hot sleep here," responded through the hall and up the broad stairease, the young girl. '. . the water dripping from the dark hair and • Lady Helena kissed 'Lillian's face, exta falling in large drops, iuto the pretty quitted the room; a deadly, -horrible fear. &amber •she had so latelV quitted, full of -wee 'turning her faint and old. Prom the life and hill ope. Tey laid her on the white rente of rooms Lord garl had prepared and ,bea Wherefrom her eyes would never more arrangedfor his daughters a staircatie ran open to the morning light, DA went away. whichlea into the garden. 'Ito had thought "Drowned, drownedl Mewled and at the time how Oaf:nicht it would be for diad 1" VitttEl the cry that went, from lip to them. As Lady Helen. emtered, Susette lip till it reached Lord Earle Where he set, stood upon the %tears with a bow Of Pitik trying to soothe his weeping mother. ribbon in her hand. • "Mowed 1 Quito dead 1' Was the cry "My lady," she Baia," fastened the that reached Lillitte in her siclaroom, and outer door of the stairease last night brought her , down pale and ttenahling: myself. I looked it, and shot the bolts. It Dtowned and dead hours ago Were Cm is unfastened now, and I have foutici this werds that drove toed Airhe toad with lyingby it. Mise Earle wore it Set evening 11 ' on her dress." . • " Something terrible must have hap. pened," exclaimed Lady Helena. "SuRette, ask Lord Earle to come to me, Do not say Wad te any One," Ile stood by her side hi fear mintiteta looking in mute weeder at her pate, seated face. " Donald," she said, '4' Beatrice bag p61 • itibeirt Earnrd rand Niti4 Mother. " London letter 88413 Europe, as You kuovr, royalties -are nearly all related: • When one dies all the..:rest_go :into _ ing and suspend pleasure. A comnion result of this •is whale passage of arms betweenthe Queen and'the Prince of Wales at this.morcient• The Duke of Saxe•Ooburg died two or three days ago, just when the Goodwood races were •in full swing; and when the. Prince of Wales was 'enjoying himself very mueli, indeed at the mansion of the- Duke of Richmond. Instantly the . Queen telegraphed to the ,Prince desiring him td return t�London. • The Wince tienl. bunt word that he could weep just as freely for. the departed second cousin at Good- wood as la •...Marlborough • house., The Queen insisted cin hid not going to thp races, The Prince replied that he raust,'wherisupon the Omen:, in a great rage; telegraphed, positive 'orders to ,the Duke .of Bachmond• not to allow any dancing at' Goodwood • Imam' during the•races. '• Thus the Prince goes 16 the races in the daytime, but tias to contents himself without tripping the •par- tidularly light and fantastic. toe which he loves' to wield vsrhen any fair dames are about., I, now hear , that he will go ,t6 Coes next week, but the newspapers have been 'asked* net to. :t� hie presence, as he iotends to be at 'the regatta almost intopnito The Queen, too, being at Osborne, would he -a trifle too handy for •hitri; • and he • would'in all probability find that merry- making at Cowes.tvas •followedby a little enforeed penitence at ()Aherne. • The • Prince evidently • has lost none. of his original diead- rif" his , august mother's anger. Imagines or atenson A short time ago a fine specimen ole water spaniel gave birth to a litter of five • healthy pups at No. 813 Hempstead street, • and a few days afterward a, servant 0 napped Iwo them. At first the mother did not seem to display any teeling of 'regret, but it soon becanae apparent that the supply of milk was intended ter fiVe instead of three mouths. This tact hemline .somatent to the Mother that stila sought Pie a remeciy,,,,,,,aud discovered it in the. gimps of two ' kittens, -which she badly took from their quarters under a lumber pile in thesame yard. These two adopted children were placed: with their stepbtothers . • and. sieter, and were fed by their new • 'guardian or stepmother.' She could not hove mistaken them for her offspring, Inas- muela as she knew of their' existence before her babies were taken from h'er, and saw them daily, She could have taken the kittens before had she thought they were part of her family, but it was only when she was obliged to And relief for her breasts that she resorted to the Modell mentioned.-Masouti Repo/Aim. . to tomes They could riot tealize 5. tIOW had it happened? What had take!). her in the dead of night to the lake? - They sent messengere right and left to surotron doctors in hot baste, as ths?Ugh human skill could avail hor now. . "I Mast SOO her," gold Lord Airlie. "11 you dci not Wish td kill Me, let me toe . • now Mika are Cavell the . In e repOrt of Sir Edward Thornton, lately 'Minister at Washington, and now Atabitseador at'StaPetersburg, attention is drawn tia certain bayeterious Area both in warehouses and aboard ship, which, after careful inquiry by a police committee and a board otunderwriters in New York, have been traced to consignments of black silk, The immediate cause of danger is, it appears, the chemical materials now used to glare weight as well as imptoved color to the silks. The art, says the report, has oohed such perfection that the weight of the 'lethal silk- cat! be inoreased four -fold without apparent adulteration; but the mieorals, vegetables, acids and While thus used, combined with animal subetames and the natural gorra of the Bilk, consti- tute a fermentable eompound which generates eirbonization or oombustion under pressure, Coniinertent and heat, That the black Bilk goods have igbited spontaneously from these coos and caused eerione fires is &moldered to abundantly.proved by the evidence. -Len - den Neits. The, position of auditor of 0, S. Beltway, rohaered temporarily vacant lay the resig- nation of hit H. Taylor, has been Otaferred upon IL 3. Pelton. • Mr. Felton heti been eugegoa la the aerviee of.. cotap, any, and latterly ha a ofdoe of ohief • Waiter eletk; •