Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 20, Number 6, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 3 August 1889 — Page 2

CHAPTER XI*. HOW THX SIGHT WEKT.

George aat opposite to him, bis hands oo Us knees, the red night cap on bis bead, and acomical expression of astonishment upon Us melancholy countenance. "Well," be said, when Harold bad done, ""blow me if that aint a master one. And yet there's folks who say that there aiot no such thing as Prowidence—not that there's anything prowided yet—pVaps there aint nawthing there, after all. "I don't know if there is or not, bat Daa going back to see, and I want yoa to oome With me now." "NowP said George, rather queasily. ""Why, colonel, that boint a very nioe spot to go digging aboat in on a nigfat like this. I nirer heard no good of that there place—not as I holds by rich talk myself," be added, ^apologetically. "Well," said the colonel, "yoa can do as yon like, but Ihn going back at once, and going down the hole too the gas most be oat ot it by now. There are reasons," be added, -"why, if this money is to be found at all, ft should be found this morning. Today Is •Christmas day, yoa know." "Ye*, yes, colonel I know what yoa mean. -Bless yoa, 1 know all about it the old squire roust talk to somebody if be dont he'd bust ao bo talk* to mo. That Coasey'a coming for 3is answer from Miss Ida this morning. Poor joang lady, I saw ber yesterday, and she looks like a ghost, she da. Ah, bo's a mean •one, that Coesey. Laryer Quest warn*t in it with him, after all Well, 1 cooked bis goose for him, and I'd give summut to have a hand In oooking that banker chap's too. Yoa wait minute, colonel, and 111 com® along, gale and ghoetesses and alt I only hope it mayn't be after a fool's errand, that's all and he retired to put on bis boot*. Presently be appeared again, bis red night cop still on his bead—for lie was afraid that the wind would blow a hat off—and carrying an nnligbted lantern in bis band. 'Now, oolooei, Pro ready, sir, if you be and they started.

Tbo gale was. if anything, fiercer than jqvBr. Indeed, there had been no such tempest ii those parte for years, or rather centuries, as the condition of the Umber by 10 o'clock that moruing amply testified. "This here wind must be like that as the squire tells us on in the time of King Charles, as blew the top of tbo church tower off ona -Christmas night," shouted George but Har--old mado no answer and they fought their way onward without s- -aking any more, for xthelr voices worealmos uiaudibla. Onoethe -colonel stopped and pointed to the sky line.

Of all tbo row of tall poplars which bo bad •sen bending like whips before the wind as he came along, bat one remained standing oow, and as bo pointed that vanished aba

Beaching tbo summer boaso in safety, they entered, and tbo colonel shut and locked the door bobind them, Tlio frail building was literally rocking In tho fury of tbo storm. "I bopo tho roof will bold." sbouted George, but llarold took no heed. Ho was thinking -of other things. They lighted tho lanterns, of which they now bad throe, and tho oolonel slid down into tho great grave be bod so industriously dug, motioning to George to follow. Tliis that worthy did, not without trepidation. Then they both knelt and staml down through tho bolo in the masonry, but the light of tho lanterns was not strong •ewHtgb to enable uwm to mom with clearness. "Well," said George, falling bock upon his favorite expression in his am are men t, as he drew his night capped bead from tho hole, "If that aint a master one, I nlver saw a masterer, that's all What bo you a going to .do now, colonel! Hev vou a ladder borer •"No," answered Haro» "I cover thought •of that but IVo a good rope HI get It"

Scrambling out of tho hole, bo presently returned with a long coll of stout ropo. It belonged to some men bo had leen rocontly employed in cutting boughs off such of the oaks as needed attention.

They undid the rope and let the end down to seo how deep the pit was. When they felt frhut the end lay upon the floor they pulled it up The depth from the hole to the bottom of the pit appeared to be about sixteen feet, or a trifle mom

Harold took the iron crow bar, and having made the rope fast to it, fixed the bar across the mouth of the aperture. Then he doubled tho rope, tied some knots In It, and let it •down into the pit preparatory to climbing -down 11

But George was too quick for him, Forgetting his doubts as to the wisdom of groping about Dead Han's Mount at night, in the ardor ot his burning cariosity, he took the dark lantern and holding it in his teeth, paased his body throu^'i the hold iu the Mr aoury and cautiously slid down the rope. "Are yoa all rightf asked Harold In a •voice tremulous with excitement, for was not ids life's fortuno trembling on the turn I "Yes," answered George, in a doubtful yoke, and llarold, looking down, could see that be was holding the lantern above his bead and staring at something verv hard.

Next moment a most awful howl of tax echoed up through the pit, the lantern was dropped upou the ground, and the rope commenced to be agitated with the utmost vtotax*.

In another two seconds George'* red nigbtcap appeared through the bole, followed bya face that was literally livid with tarn*. "Let me up, for God's sake," be gaepsd, -"or bell hev mo by the legl" "He! whor asked the colonel, not without a thrill of superstitious fear, as be dragged the panting man through the bole.

But George would give no answer unta be -was through the bole and out of the grate. Indeed, bad it not been for the colonel's eager entreaties, backed to some extent by actual force, be would have been out of the summer frqircfj and half way down tbo mount by

W"Wbat

Is

ttr

BY H. RIDER HAGGARD.

roared the ooksoel, In the

bole, to Gc-rtpe, who, shivering with terror, ytwt itta*"*'1 tbo edge thereof. "It* a bfcseed ghost, that's what It is, .j0kuAtm answered Georgts keeping his eyes fixed upon the bote, as though be momentarily expected the object of his fears

"NonssnM,* said Harold, doubtfully. "What rubbish juu talk* ghost «\A white SB,

Mid George

^aii bCTtmi" answwed the oofcmel **why,

wJrSlSe aint," wmtim "WW

•"but If be be, he's seree tootWgb,«d sitting airing of la 3**^* ««„_ ®^Sbbl^. mid a skeleton sit and air Muiailf?

He

would

butt^J**.*^

don to pto«

Mo*nt

tbe colonel.

"Yes, if he*i "Head, may Be, sfr bof tikis one's alive I saw him nod his bead at met" "Look here, George," anserared Harold, feeling that if this went on much longer be should kee bis nerve altogether, "Pm not going to be staffed. Great heavens, what a gust! Pm going down to see for myself.* "Very good, colonel," answered George "and HI wait here tfll you oome up again— that is, if yoa iver da."

Thrice did Harold look at the hole, and thrice, like false Sextos, did be shrink back. "Come," be shouted, angrily, "dont be an Infernal fool get down here and band me the lantern."

George obeyed with evident trepidation. Then Harold got through the hole, and with many an inward tremor—far there is scarcely a man oo the earth who is really free from supernatural fears—* descended hand over hand. Bat in so doing bo managed to let the lantern fall, and it went oat. Now, as the reader will probably admit, this was exceedingly trying. It is not pleasant to be left alone in the dark underground in the company of an unknown "spook." He had some mfit-4m. but what between fear and oold, it was some time before be could get a light. Down in this deep place the rash of tbo great gale reached bis eon like a faint and melancholy sighing, and bo heard other tapping noises too, or bo thought be did noises of a spy »nH unpleasant nature. Would the never light! The oh ill and death like of the plaoe struck to his marrow, the oold sweat poured from his brow. Ah! at laett He kept his eyes steadily fixed upon the lantern till he had lighted it and it was burning up brightly. Then by an effort bo lifted his eyes and looked round him.

And this is what be saw: There, three or four paoes from him, in the oenter of the chamber of death, sat, or rather lay, a figure of death. It reclined in a stone cheat or ooffln, like a man in a hip bath which is too small for him. The bony arms bang down on either side, the bony limbs projecting toward him, tho great white skull bong forward over the massive breast bone. It moved, too, of itself, and as it moved, the Jaw bono tapped against the breast and the teeth clicked geutly together.

Terror sclsod him while he looked, and, as George had done, be turned to fly. How could that thing move its headf llie bead ought to fall off.

Seizing the rope, he Jerked it violently in tho first effort of mounting. Hev be got yew, oolonel sung oat George, above and tbo sound of a human voioo brought him back to his senses. "No," be answered, as boldly as he could and then, setting bis teeth, turned and tottered straight at the Horror in tbe chest

And holding the lanttrn straight against ths thing. Be was there now, and holding tbe lantern straight against tbe thing, examined it It was a skeleton of enormous siae, and the skull was fixed to tbe vertebra with rusty wire.

At this evidence of the handiwork of man bis fears almost vanished. Even In that company he oould not help remembering that it is scarcely to be supposed that spiritual skeletons carry about wire with which to tie on their skulls.

With a sigh of relief be held up the lantern and looked around. He was standing in a good siasd vault or chambcr built of rabble stone. Borne of this rubble bad fallen into bis left but otherwise, though the workmanship showed that it must be of extreme antiquity, tho stone lining was still strong «od good. Ho looked upon tbe floor, and then for tbe first time perceived that the nodding skeleton before him was not tbe only one. Ail round

lay

Next

remnants of the mighty dead.

There tbey were, stretched out in the form of a circle, of which the stooe kist was tbe center. Ono plaoe in tbe circle was vacant evidently it bad once been occupied by tbe giant frame which now sat within the kist

be looked at the kist itself. It had all the appearance of one of those rude stone obwts in which tbe very ancient inhabitants of Island burled the ashes of their cremated dead.

But

if this was so, wbeooe

ouaethe uncremated skeletons! perhaps a subsequent race or tribe bad found tbo chamber ready prepared, and used ft to bury soma amodg them who bad fallen in baitfe It was impossible to say more (MCialiy as, with one exception, there wss iwSteg buried with tbe skeletons which would assist to identify their race ora«c& That exception was a dog. A dog bad been plaosd by one of tbe bodies. Evidently from the position of tbe bonss of its master* arxos, be bad been left to bis lset slewp with his hand rating on his borotTs head.

Bending down, Harold examined theses ted rksktrm more closely, tt was, he discovered, accurately joined together with strong wira. aSr&Twsa tl» work ot band* which were bora into tbe world tang after the ilesh on tfcase mighty banes bad crumbled into dust

Bat

where was tbe treasure* He saw nana His heart sunk as tbe idea struck him tbiit he ted an interesting arcbseologteal di»covery, and that was alL Before undertaking' a doaer sisirrb. be returned to tbe bole and to George to ooow down, sa there was nothing but some boose te frighten him

This tbe worthv George was at hagtlk, with ouch dlOco paraded to When at last be stood basfc&s taut the vault, Bar«M intr*-*"-* to him what tbe place was tv bo* ridiculous were his tsars, wig .t, -mar, succeeding la allaying jtbsu. ~»ai .eufclerablsexftsut

Andrea wben one considers tbs position, tW««*tgtl» bowetatf a]*es

Oh, .Lord, sir!" groaned the unhappy George, "this is an awful business. It's like Judgment" "It might have been if we bad been up above instead of safe down here," he answered. "Come, bring that other lantern."

George did as be was bid and setting their knees against the hollowed stone, they tugged till their musclee cracked.

It's a-moving," said George. "Now, then, oolonel 1" Next second they both found themselves on the flat of their backs. The stone had given with a run.

Up sprung the colonel like a kitten. The broken stone was standing edgeways In tbe Hull There was something soft beneath it "Tbe light, George i" he said hoarsely.

Beneath the stoma were some layers of r-" ten linen. Was it a shroud, or whatl

They palled the linen out by handfuls. One! two! three! Oh, groat heaven I .i.".-

There, under the linen, was row on row of shining gold coins set edgeways. For a moment everything swain before Harold's eyes, and his heart stopped beating. As for George, ha muttered something inaudible about its being a "master one," and collapsed.

mIKE HATTTE SATURDAY EVEKIlStG MATT.

which bad for centuries owEed the reputation of being bauntod, faced by a nodding glrrf^n of almost superhuman sixe, and surrounded by various otber skeletons, all "very fine and large," with the most violent tempest that boa visited the country for years righing away outside, it is not wonderful that George was soared. "Well," be aaid, his teeth chattering, "if this ain't tho mastercst one that iver I did seef" Bat bore be stopped language was not jqnal to the expression ot his feelings.

Meanwhile Harold, with a heart full of anxiety, was turning the lantern this way ami that, in the hope of discovering some tractt of Sir James treasure, bat nought he sea There to tbe left the masonry was in. Ho want to it, a&d palled aside some of the stones. There was a cavity behind, apparently a passage, leading, no doubt, to.thcfsecret entrance to the vault, bat be could seo nothing in it. Once more he searched round. There was nothing. Unless the treasure was buried somewhere, or hidden away in the passage, it was non-existent, that wasalL

Ami yet what was the meaning of that Jointed skeleton sitting in tbe stone bath! It must have been put there for some purpose, probably to frighten would be plnnderers away.

Could

ho beskfcttag on tbe money! He

rushed to the cbest, and looked through tbe bony legs. No his pelvis rested oo the stone bottom ot tbe kist

Wall, George, It seems we're done," said with a ghastly attempt at a laugh. ••There's no treasure here."

May be It's underneath that there-stone corn bin," suggested George, whose teett were still chattering. "It should be he*»«* hereabouts, surely."

This was an idea. Helping Mmenlf to tbe shoulder blade of some deceased hero, Harold, using it as a trowel, began to scoop away the* soft sand upon which the stone chest stood. He scooped and scooped manfully, but he could not oome to tbe bottom of the kist.

He stepped bade and looked at it It must be one ef two things—either the hollow at tbe top was but a shallow cutting in a great block of stwe, or the kist had a false bottom.

He literally sprung at it, and seizing tbe giant skeleton by the spine, Jerked it out of the kist and dropped it iu a bristling, bony heap on one side. Just as be did so there came a gust of wind so furious that, buried as they were in tbe earth, they literally felt tbe mound rock beneath It Instantly it was followed by a frightful crash overhead.

George collapsed in terror, and for a moment Harold could not for tbo life of him think what had happened. He ran to the hole and looked up Straight above him he could see tbe sky, in which tbe first cold lights of dawn were quivering. Mrs. Massey's summer house hod been blown bodily away? and tbe "ancient British dwelling plaoe" was once more, as it had been for centuries, open to tbe sky. "Tbe summer house has gone, George," be said. "Thank God that we were not in it, or we should have gone tool**

With trembling Angers, Harold managed to pick oat two pieces of gold which had been disturbed t*y the upheaval of the stone, and k«m to tbe light He was a skilled numismatologist, and had no difficulty in recognising them One waa a three pound piece of Charles I, and the other a spur royal of Jamas

That proved it There was no doubt that this was the treasure hidden by Sir James de la Molle, and be it must have been also who bad conceived the idea of putting a false bottom to tbe kist, and setting up the skeleton to frighten marauders from the treasure, If by any chance one should enter.

For a minute or two the men stood staring, at each other over the great treasure which tbey bad unearthed in that dread place,

«K«fcng

It

with the reaction of their first eat-

dtemeut and scarcely able to speak. "How deep du ft gof said George.

Harold

got bis knife and loosed some of the

top coins, which were very tightly packed, tfll be coukl move his hand in them freely. Then be pulled out handful after handful of every sort of gold coin. There was a noble of Edward IV double sovereigns of Henry VIII triple sovereigns and gold crowns of Edward VI double rials, rials and angels of Mary roae royals, spur royals, angels, large sovereigns and laurels ot Jamee I double rials and rials of Elisabeth three pound {Awes, broads and half broads of ObariM I, soma in grsaler quantity and bobm» in less, but all were apiesintid. Handful after bandful did be pull out, and yet the bottom was not reached. At last be came to

Tbs layer of gold ptooes was about thirty taebes thick by three feet six long. "We mas* get this into tbe bouss, George, before any one is about," gasped tbs colonel. "Yes, sir, yast but bow be we a-gaiag to cairy it#" thought for a minute, and thsu acted thus: Bidding George stay in tbe vault with tbe treasure, wbteh be was with diffiod^pmsdid to do, be dimbed &e lmpr vised rope ladder, and got in safety tbroogb the bete. In his esciteznent be bad forgotten about tbs maimer bouse having beini carried away by the gain, which was Mil blowing, though with not so much fury as befgr%aad tbe wind swept rtmnjhrtjgu t|pt

met his viow as he emerged into tbo dawning light broke upon him with a rfxv.y The sommer house was clean gone nothing but a few uprights remained of it and fifty yards away he thought be could mni-n the crumpled up shape of tbe roof. Nor was that all Quito a quarter of the great which were tbe glory of the place were down, or splintered and ruined. But what did he care for the summer boaso ar tbe oaks now? Fcrgettlng his exhaustion, ho ran down the slope and readied the house, which he entered as softly as be coald by tbe side door. Nobody was about yet, or would be for another boar. It was Christmas day not a pleasant morning to get up on, so tbe servants would be sure to lie abed. On his way to his bedroom he peeped into tbo dfatng room, where be had fallen asleep on tho previous evening. When be had woke up, it may be remembered, he lighted a This candle was now flaring itself todeith, for bo had forgotten to extinguish it, and by Its side lay tbo paper from which be made tho great discovery. There was-noth-ing in it, of course, but somehow the sight impressed him very much. It mouths since ho awoke to find tbe lamp gone out How much may happen between- the lighting of a candle and its burning away! BmiUng at this trite reflection, he blew light out and taking another went to his room. Here be found a stoat hand bag, with which be ireido haste to return to the TPAnut "Are you all right, George!" he down the bol& "Well, colonel, yes* bat not sorry to sea you bacJc. It's looeesrao down here witb these deodars." /ery well. Look out! Thereto bpg:Put as much gold in it aa you can lift comfortably, and then makftit fast to the ran*"

Some three mtnutea- passed, and tMo George announced that the bagful ot gold was ready. Harold hauled away, and with aooosfakrable effort brought it to the sorfaoa. Than, getting tbo bag on to Us shoulder, he staggered off with it to the honse. In bis inweii stood a massive ssa gping ohsst, tbe companion of his many wanderings. It was about half full of uniforms and old clothes, which be bandied unceremoniously on to the floor. This done, be shot the bagful of shiningtgold, as bright and unoorrapCed now as wheo it was packed away two and a half centuries ago, into the chest, and returned for another load.

Twenty times did he make this journey. At tho-tenth something happened. "Hereto a writing, sir, with this lot," shouted George. "It was packed away in the money,"

Betook the "writing," or rather parchmtut out of the mouth of tbe bag. &nd put it in his pecket unread.

At list tbo store, enormous as* it-was, was eathanstwi That's tho lot, sir," shouted Geoifje, as he sent up tbe twentieth bagfuL "If you'll kindly lit down t&at there rope, IYl«ome up, too." "All night," said tho colonel "put the skeleton back first" "Well, sir," answered George, "he looks wonderfuii comfortable where be layv he du, so if you're-agreeable I think I'll lot him be."

Haroldichncklgd, and presently George arrived, cohered with filth and perspiration. "Well, sir," be said, "I never did think

Georgo roused himself, and together they \that I should get dead tired of handling gold nt. nvor thn nnw nmntv kint. And examined ^coins but-it-to a rum world, and that's a fact piVell, 1 nisir, and the summer houae gone, and jist look at thim there oaks! Well, if

bent over the now empty Idst, and examined it closely. Tbe stono bottom was not of quite tbe same color as tbe walls of the kist, and there Jtbat bean'&a master one!" t- la tT.^.U #AU Ih lila t'Vmi nopttr MW O IYIA was a crack across it Harold felt iu his pocket and drew out his knife, which had at tbo back of it one of thoso strong iron hooks that are used to extract stones from tbe hoofs of horses. This hook be workod into the crack, and managed, before it broke, to pull up a fragment of stone. Then, looking ,e.

This bo inserted in tbe bole, and they both levered away at it Half of tbo cracked sfone camo up a few inches, far enough to allow them to get their* Angara underneath it So it was a false bottom. 'Catch hold," gasped the colonel, "and pull for your life."

Tou never saw a masterer, thatfe what yoa were going to say, wasnt itf Well, and i&Uft one thing with another, nor did I, Ifejirge, if that's any comfort to you. Now loait here, just cover over this hole with some bo|fd8 and earth, and then oome in and get soibe breakfast It's 8 o'clock and past, and £g k. blowi5gJ^f^t^4j53«XS bis baud, oovered with cuts and grime and Tlood.

George shook it "Same to you, colonel, I'm sure.

And

a merry Christmas it ia God

bless you, sir, for what you've done to-night! You've sav»d tbe old place from that banker chap, that's what you've done and youll have Miss Ida, and I'm durned glad it, that I am. Lord! won't this make tbe sqpire open his eyesf" and the honest fellow brushed away a tear and fairly capered with joy,.his red night osp waving on the brees&

It was a strange and beautiful sight to see the solemn George capering thus in the midst of that windy desolation.

Harold was too moved to answer,, so- he shouldered his last load of treasure and limped off with it to tbe house. Mra. Johnson and her talkative niece were up now,.but tbey did. not happen to see him,. and! hereached, his room in safety. He poursdltbelast bagful of gold into the chest, and smoothed it down. It filled it to the brim* He shut the chest and locked it, and then, as he was, .covered with filth and grime*.braised and bleeding, and his hair flying wildly about his face, he sat down upon it, and from bis heart thanked heaven for the woadarful thing that had happened to him.

So exhausted was be that he nearly fell asleep oa ho sat bat remembering himself, bo roset and taking the parchment Croia. his pockety he cut tbe faded silk with, which It as tied, and opened it

On it was a short inscription in the same crabbed writing which be had seen ia tbe old pfhifl that Ida had found.

It ran as follows: "Seaing that the times be so troubles* that so man can bo sure of his owfa, Sir James da la Molle, have brought together all my substance in money from wheresoever It lay at interest, and have hid the- same la this sopalcber, to which I found th» entry by a chance, till such time as peace-come bade to tiii* unhappy This have 1 done on Christmas day, in the year of eur Lard having completed tbo hiding «f the wfcile tbe great gale was blowing. "Jam BR MOLL*."

Thus on a long gone Christmas day, in the hour of a great wind, was. the gold hid, and now, oo this Christmas day, wben another mat wind raged overhead, was ft found once more, Justin tims to save a daughter of the bouse of Dela MoUafrcmafateas bed as

CHAPTER XLL

tPt oot* to wan son pais. Hast people of a certain age and a certain degree of Mcsttivenese of disposition, in look-

faa back

down the vista of their hvss,wbereoo

memory's melancholy light {days iu fitful flashes like the alternate glow of a oeossr swung in tbe twilight of a tomb, can recall fone night of peculiar mental agony. Out way or another it has been with most of ee, Ihetkmg tight of ettar woe, and all will own tbat it tea gbastly thing to faoa if mi bo Ida de la Molle bad found it The •brisk of tbe gnat gale rushing on that qifhiniM eve round tbe stout Norman towers was not man strong than tbe breath of the deeplr that shoo bar Ufa She oould not deep—who oould sleep on sucb the beeald of such a nxrrowf Tbe wafl roar of the wind, tfaecr.iah of falling trees, and tl» rattle of flying stoua* seemed to form a fit accompaniment to the tarmoQ of ber

pMin| ob ber dressing

•own, went to the window, and in the dim light watched the trees gigantically tossing in a great struggle for their life. Auoak bar_ifcw^Tbeoek

stood the gale oufc-~for awhila Presently there came an awful gost and beat upon it It would not bond, and tbe tough roots would not give, so beneath the waigbt of the breath of its destiny tbo big tree broke in two like a straw, and its spreading top was whirled into tbo moat- But the birch gave and bent it bent till its delicate filament* lay upon tbe wind like a woman's streaming hair, and tbe fierceness of the gust wore itself away and spared it "See what happens to those wha stand up and defy their fate,* said Ida to herself, with a bitter laugh. Tho birch has the best of it"

Ida rose and closed tbo shutters the sight of the storm nfferted ber already strained nerves almost beyond bearing. She began to walk up and down tho big room, flitting liko a gbost from end to end and back again, and again back. What oould she dof What should she do! Her fate was upon her she could no longer resist tho inevitable—«ho must marry him. And yet her wholo soul revolted from the act with an overwhelming fierceness which astonished even herself. She had known two girls who-bod married peeplo whom tbey did not like,-being at tbe time, er pretending to be, attached to somebody elsa, and she had observed that tbey accommodated themselves to their fate with onfrntrEcrable easa But it was not s» with her shewas fashioned of another clay, and it made ber faint to think of what was before ber. And yet tbo prospect wasona-eo which she could expect little svmpathy, Herown father, although pa*^Br"Hily be tho

my

mari

whom sho must marry, was olsarly AIM with amaaement that she should prefer CoL Quar-

itch, middle aged, poor and piaiivto 23d ward Coesey—handsome, young, and rich as Crcesus. He could not comprehend or measure the extraordinary gulf whiab her passion dug between tbe two. If,, therefore, this was so with ber own father,.hoar would it be with the rest of the world!

She paced her bedroom till ska-was tired, and then, in an access of despair which was sufficiently distressing in a person of- her reserved and stately manner, Sung herself, weeping and jobbing, upou ber knees, and nesting ner aching bead upon tho bed, prayed avsbe had never prayed before that thi* cup might pass frcui her.

She did not know—bow should sheh-tbat at the* very moment b*r prayer was being answered, and that bar '.over was then, even as-sha- prayed, lifting tbe broken ktoue and reveaCiag the hoard if ruddy gold. But en it wa» she prayed iu despair and agony of mind* and the prayer, carried on tbe wild wings- ef the night, brought a fulfillment withi it Not in vain were ber tears and.supplioatkwa, for oven now tbe deliverer dSlved among.

The-dust and awful treasures ot the ddsdj anda**n- now the light of ber coming happiness: was breaking on her tortured nigbt as the-first cold glooms of tbe Christmas inaruing were- breaking over tbe. stormy fury of the voidi without #V -if*

AudithBii, chilled ahd huihb in body and mind,.sho- crept Into ber bed again, and-st last lost bersolf in sleep.

By half post o'elook, wben Ida camedowu to breakfast, the gale bad utterly vanished, though'its- footprints were visible enough* in shattered trees, unthatched stacks, and ivy torn in. knotty sheets from tho old walls clothed.. It would have beeu difficult to recognize in the cold uud stably lady who stoocUit tbe dining room window, noting tho havoc and. waiting for ber father to come in* th* lovely,, passionate, dishevoled woman who some faw hours before had thrown herself upom her knees pruy big to God for tbo succor sho could net win from man. Women, like uature,- have many moods, and many countenances to- express them. The hot fit. btU passed,, audi tbe cold fit was on ber now. Her face,.except for tbo dark hollows round the eyes,, was white as winter's snow, andher heart.was-cold as winter's ice. "What"d lol"" be wua/—wnwr ikVgaier Upon my wojm, I began to think thacthe old place was coming down about our ears, and the- wreck among tho treos is dreadful. 1 donlt-thiuk there can have been such a .wind Binco the timo of King Charles i,. when the top. of. the tower was blowu clean off. the churcbi—you remomber I was hIiowing,you the entry about it in tbe registers the other day,.the-onosigned by tho parson and old rtir James do la Molle. The boy who has Jywl come up- tells me that ho bears that. poor old lira.. Masseyto summer bouse on the to/ of PrevV Man's Mount has been blowu. away, which, is a good riddance for CoL. Qunritch. Why, what's tbe matter with you! How. pale yoa look I" "Tt?a gale kept me awake I got very, little sleep*" answered Ida. "•And no wonder. Well, my dear,, you haven't wished me a merry Christmas yew knows we want one badly enough! Thare has not been much merriment at. Hon bam of late years." "A merry Christmas to youv father,!'the said. -Thank you,

lovo tho same to you.

Yeu bavo got most of your

Christmuw2a.bc-

fore you, which is more than I bava Uod. hlwa uw, it only aeoius liko yesterday swathe big bunch of holly Uod.to the hook Uiw fitting there fell down oa tho breakfast tabk? nm siuuslied all tbo cujm, and yet

it

is tuoru

sixty years ago. Dour me, how.augrj my poor dear mother wasi ohe nevee could bear tbe crockery to be broken—it waa a littlo failing of your grandmotbert," and h» Ipnjhfld more heartily than Ida bad haarij him do for some weeks* kh« miwU no answar, but buried herself about tbe tea. Presently glancing up, she saw ber father's face, change The worn expression came back, upon it, and bo lost his buoyant bearing. Evidently a new thought bad struck him, and she was la no great doubt as to what it was.

We had better get on with breakfast," bo •aid. "You know: that Coesey ia coming up at 10 o'clock." "Ton o'clock she said, faintly. "Yes. I told him 10, so that we could go to church afterward if we wished to. Of coane, Ida, I am still in tbe dark as to what you have up your mind to do bat whatever it is* I thought that be had better once and for ali hear our final decision from your own bp*. If, however, you feci yourself at liberty to toll it to me aa your father, I shall be glad to bear it"

She lifted ber bead and looked tdm full in theface aad then paused. He bad a cup of tea in hie band, and it was bold in the air Kaif way to bis month, while his whole face showed tbs overmastering anxiety with which to wss awaiting ber reply. "Make your mind eeey, fatbsr," she said. "1 am going to marry Mr. Coesey."

He put down the cup in such a fashion that he spilled have of tbe tea, most of it over bis own clothes, without even noticing It, and then turned away nis faoa "Well," be said, "of course it is not my affair, or at least only indirectly en, but 1 mntsay, my love, I congratulate you oo tbe which you have oome to. 1 quite rtaml that you bave been in some little dwnwiley about tbe matter young women often have been before you and will be ante but to be frank, Ida, that Quaritcb business was not at all suitable, either in ago or fortune, or kt anything dea Yes, alfiMmgb Ciisenij sot everything that am might wish, on tbe whole I congratulate you heartily." "Ob, pray dent," broke to Ida, stmnef, in a cry. "Whatever yoa do, pray dont cou­

lter father turned round again and looked^ at bar. But Ida's face had already recovered

its calm, and ho could make nothing of it "I dont quite understand you," be said "these things are generally considered matten for congratulations."

But for all be might say and all that he might urge in his niiud to the contrary, he did, more or less, understand what her out-. burst meant Ho could not but know that the exclamation was tbo last outcry of a broken spirit In bis heart bo realised then, if he bad never dearly realised it before, that this proposed marriage was a thing hateful to bis daughter, and bis conscience pricked him sorely. And yet—and yet—it was but a woman's fancy—a p»««ir^r fancy! She would become reconciled to tbe inovitablo as women dv and when her children came she would grow accustomed to her sorrow, and bar trouble would be forgotten in their laughter. And if nob—well, it was but one woman's life which would bo altected, and the very existence of bis race, and the very cradle that had nursed them Iron* century to century, were now at stake. Waa all this to be at tho morcy of a girl's fancy* Nol Let the individual suffer.

Bo he argued. And so at bis ago- and in his circumstances most of us would argue also and, perhaps considering all things, we should bo right For in-this world personal desires must continually give way to the welfare of others. Did tbey not do- so, our system of society could not endure.

No more was said upou tbo subject Ida raade pretenso-cf eating apiece of toast tbe the squire mepped up tbo tea upon- his clothes, and than drank somo mom

Meanwhik) tbo remorseless- seconds- crept out It wanted but flvo minutes to the hour, and tho hour woeld. sbo well knew,, bring the-man with it

The fife minutes passed slewly and-in-si-lence. Both her father and- herself realised the-nature of the* impending situation,.but noither of them spoke of it Ah there "W«s the sound of wheels upon the gravel! So it had '-eoind.

Ma. Mt like death itsolf. Her pulso sunk and fluttered her vital forces seemed to cease theirwurk.

Anethor two minute* jAl, and then the door openad and tho pan^msid oame in. "Air. Coesey. if yoa-please, sir." "Oh said the squire. "Where is her "In it he vestibule, sir." "Very good Telli him I will: bathers In«• minuta-"'

The maid went "Now, Ida," said ber father, "I euppoee we had better got this business over." "Yes,"she answered, rising "I ttmtready."

And gathering up ber energies, she passed out to meet ber fete [7b be Continued.]

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