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Lorsquci le document est ttop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seui clich^, 11 est film* A psrtir de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prertant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes sulvsnts illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 'l^V ■^ 1 3 32 X 6 ■t' . !i ,.*»-A. . J .<•■;;>. i>U»*>'''^,;l:.^ . / ; ;; POFOIiAR NOVELS. *T MAT AGNES FLEMING. J.-A woimsRFut womah; C^KOBUnS'S BXYXKGS. •f / t J-^llADJ^ABRIAOK. • «.-0»lC HIQBrs HY8TKBT. ^ r.-KATBITAWTOIf. . Jk-aXIB dF CHABLTOXr. ^ 10.'-€ABSIXD 9T 8T0B1L " «.-UWTJK)B A WOXAR. U.-A Wira'9 TBAeUIDT. " • ^ «.— A OBANOBP SBABT « "SP^*^^""* PA8SI6W. . U.-8HABIKO HXB CSOO. ^-A WRONGBD Wlni. J*— ™ A0TBW8' DAUOHtKH. Ifc-THB QUBKN.OV TBS I8LB (iftw). I'f • All nblfoitfld aBifonn wttb tUai wIbh£ fw*. •« » » a W. BILIINOBAM, ipaMUfcM. New York. ^' f »- -mmmm. \ f f4c^ «% M ■^i Kfl^ i: ti n^ . -trlnl U .t V V *». ^ -^ / T ^ tf' rif*"-!! (■#•-# tar ■*■« «t.. ' < >■ 't ' t It ni: IV. V. ri. ^ XL xn. XIII. XlVi, tcv. ivL ■J ■ , . - * ■ ' CONTENTS;- L '•":^' U - \'. -.. • ^ f., ■■■■■" ^ - ^ ^^ amppeiis Isle. ..».,,*. ,.,..,,. _. ..^t 7 The Ma^c Mirror. 4 ....»- m* 'I4, The Maniac's Curse so ^t^" The Haunted Room ................>.. »^ 43 '^ The MidAight cry . w ...... ^ V. . . . 53^ "Off with the Old Love, and on with the New.".,.... .,...,... 0a The Heart's Struggle ... .... i ..'.....;., ^*, 7* 4^ The Triumph of Passion .... . , . * , . . 4 ; . .^ . -< 81 ^ !| Thf Vision of the Isle... ^.,,.,...;^^.,;.. 94 One of Fortune's Smiles. .,«;.,> ■^^;\, 4 , , . 101 ^^' The Storm—The Wreck.... I... :;.,.; 1.V m ^ Sibyl's Return t9 th^^Isle. . . .... ,..,.. .v. 121 ri he Meeting' ;;;'i'»^.,.^;..i:v..,,.., ,.;.,. :.'!,,">». 131 '.^h (lf-Torture...........>.v..^.......'... 151 ^ toodand Pocdt. ,.;..„.....,..,., 160 ,.s ■:Km^^U:.U „\ ^. ALuUBcrorethoTempcat/w.v-t---.^* >^^ XVllI. The Fatal Note. , * .. . • • '* *- ••'•"• * " ' * *; . .11 . XIX, That Day /^....^. •••••;•/••***'*.*** ''*'ltj ^'' XX. What Caipe Next... --••^►••r''V.;*"***''^-^>^ .^ XXL That Night :^:f •'"'*'^^;!: «9 3ptII Next Morning. ...^••.••••••••••f'*' , XXIIL Mofliit.gi»l|l>»»4.>n.---" — *r '^3 ^ XXIV. GMrti«— ^-•-•*^"*r''^-;'C ' a67 XXV. The Maniac's Story.... **!^-' J ""^ XVI. Remorse ,..i....^..-.>*>^— *^ ^' HXVII The Widowed Bridegroom...... -.r.r-i* ^* xxvm »M>w^ii*M*oi»»wte..v"--^^^*'^-"^^^^^^ V :itxm Tli^I)e.oiionoii^n....rir.----^-.^ i^>: XXX. SibyFs Doom ,..,.......%^-»^^r. % XXXJ. %e Bankrupt He*ir.*..i.w.^--^'--^va^^^^ . ^IL;4.»otherSt^Withi.««lVi^'^-'V^ '{ xxxm>eB««»^*^^ '^"":;;;;*' ^ ^' XXXJV. fixpianalaons ♦ \]U ?A.K ''t\ -\ }^ ^. \ THE OtJfeEN 01^ /THE:Us£E A HASTY WOOIM .'f- «* ^ i I II Hil l . \z -*• I ^ .^% No sound But oceaii's roar, K &«• «ft«u« tbtftold. w»i»aw-hirtf malot te# tiieoieL p Jl BOUTatat mil^ftom the mainland of BT ^wixh £^ a» tocft-boun* coast washed by^t&e waters of U&- broad Atlantfe, was an fsliet ]u(6wii fo tbe cbja of whfefcr write as Ctenpbeirs Isle. \/^ / ^ The felai** was smari— about two miTca Fn Ibi^aiuf',. the saaKf hi bnw-lth^ but feit3c aad lT«.urfou8. Ths^Ai dease ^mevat forest, whfch as yet the destro^ing^ ax ha4i ^^' scaw^ tottehed, reared itself hrg;h and 'i.i7' •r ,^fU'<^tfi %^'^'>v,.^- It ^ 1 mM^BVWM m^ T / %|;s«^ feigned here, savb when sdmo g«iy party from the dppo- ' lice coast visited the islaft^il to fish or shoot partridges. , Sometimes during the. sunimer, pleasure parties were held here, but in the winter all Wfts silent and dreary on th^ lonely, isolated little ,«pot;^>--'^ •->■ '\'--"' -r'^^'':'''^' ;;/-^kl Thia^ island had been, from time immemorial, In tn^ possession of aT family named Campbell, handed dotrn iiom father ti ^n. Thepcople of the surrounding cmn- try had learned to look upon them as the rightful lords of the^oil, " to the manner born." The means by wl^icb it "had first come into their possession were selc^om thought ol,oit if thought of, only Added to their reputa- tion as a bold and daring race. The legend ran, ^hat long before Calvert came over, a certain Sir Guy Catnp- bell, a celebrated freebooter und scion of the noble Scot- tish clan of that name, who for some reckless prime bad^ been outlawed and banished, ^A^M revenge*had hoisted. ^^ the black flag and become a roferon the high seas, had, in his wanderings, discovered this solitary island, which . he made the pl^ of his rendezvous. Here, with his band of daredevils— all outlaws like himself— he held i9any a jolly carousal that made the olH woods ring. In-one of his adventures he had taken captive a young Spanish girt, whose wondrous beauty at once conquered a heart all! unused to the tender passion. He bore oflE his prize in triumph, and without asking her consiBnt, made her his wife at the first port be touched. Soon, however, tiring of h^ company on slvpboard, he brought her to his island homk and their left her to occupy his castle, while he sailed merrily away. One year afterward, Sir Guy the Fearless, as he was called, w|is conquered by an English ^^ dodp-of-way ; and, true to his daring character, he blew^ itp-^e ves»l, and, together with his crew and captDr^ HBrishod^n ihe explosion. /- r H^ ^11 and succesaor, Gasper, bora on the i«lc,«reW wp tall, bold, ami handsome, with all his father's dario« ^ ^d undaunted courage, and his mbther's beauty, and to* rid pasaionate nature. He, in the course of time, took to hifljself k wifcfof the daughters of (he mainlatfd ; and, after :M Short. Stormy life, passed|»way Jn his turn to render aii ..•eoount of his works, leavinig: to his eldest ipn, Hugh, tb« bold spirit of his forefathers,! the possession 6f Campbell's WY"**^ the family mansion known as Campbell's Lodge. " , And so, from one generation to another, the Campbells rirfed as lords of the isle, and became, in after years, as poted fof^their poverty as their pride: A reckless, improri ident race iftey were, caring only for to-day; abd lettini^ to-morrow care for itself; quifckihd fierce to resent injury or msult, and implacable as ^death or doom in theii' bate. ^ Woe to the man who would dar«^ point in scorn at one of their name ! Like a sieut^^hound they- would dog his steps night aadTday, *tid^ not until their vengeancl Isle were known and dreaded for miles around. PrOm sire to son the fiery blopd o^Sir Gu)^ the F<»rless passed unadultemed, and throbbed in the veins of^ark Camp- bell, the late master of the lodge, in a darkecjiercef stream thaa ,n any that had gone before. A hea^Ibrowed stern-hearted man he was, of whpse dark deeds wil» rumors went whispeAng a^ut, for ho one dared breathe them aloud, lest they should reach his vindictive ears, and^ rouse the slumbering ti^er in his breast. At his death, which t■ * V n TOun^ Guy, tjOtlng-with him his onlr sister, spent hiauow ■-h. '^. ,■ %.* >f' "'id' :»!.•... w.boaftshq|d»4^9a. baptyift buatiiag^ old lltdnrUe »» teww from mbrningr tiH night. \k wild young sisl^ •! liift Tom's had run away with a'butdh fiddler, and^dying a few years after, waasoon IbliowW to the gravej)y her hti^ band, who drank more than ^as good for him one night, aqd was found dead iq.thft miaiSwu^ Master Carl Henley was accordingly adopted by hii liVrngjcWtive aiid, astibak good lady declared, bad been" the diytfh of her " ever sincft. A young girl of sixteen, khowtt only as "Christie,*^ was the onljf QthcK member q1 Mra. TQni:$. Iwbily. Who this girl wai, where she had comMi»niHa*»Awhat"wr8 her fanuly name, Was a mystery , and }/itl Tom, when ques- tiiBW*twtthciSubjeoti oofy ahtiT £|^ir ii|ipa^ s&ooft her b«adtai3^«!ioua% ajHJk i^nUm wBSnnr & nmi^ Although aha «aUcd'|ft*oliU hi%aui>t» iTwaa jmaml]yr||ri!n»red t^ sbitiMisc aamiati^;; IkutrasGhi^^ Waa: at ftnoifiie' witft 4 Uh whcit ittsiicNb thtk itiaofl} bhu nu^stsry ooosmnin^ h^ ** though it ,piquttd> tiiiftcimnsii^of Oweiirioiu^iitiiilieiftaay Ktohf nonfttfealam. A.hia^N«ii«ftiuodliw4 whentt alt« diapos of Mni init8» a^ bonrin^ fa» if^AsA th» inmiX -^— ^■f|_^ and brought bacii g»»<»rwsand!su«fetliri^wa» sbe need^A Beaidea tliatt afa« kept a^rtj^ law«»inft many ]!I$m«c nosr i» ha^'bttn. qpiki •iu&i«^pM^.«Bi|^iig^ «Bt4. Oi* dttMtopoilcie: oft «>4drT -.<=->"».. f. . Is •^ .«J^^^ •»3i*&l' ■hr^p^^^y'-i^y^ ^X^^'; TEB MA&IO MIBBOK af* \\ Startling events that for long afterward were remenibel-ed i^ the country around and electrified fot a time the wbole immunity. CHAPTER U THE MAGIC MIRROR. J ' I turned my eyes, and as I turned surveyed ' ^n awful vision." . m- ^?^1pHE sun was sinking in the far west as the littte p^l schoono^ Evening Star went dancing over th« "*• bright waves towards Campbell's Isle Captaia Guy Campbell stood leaning negligently over the taffrail, solacing himself with a cigar, and conversing at intervals Iflth a slight, somewhat haughty-looking young man, who ''kL -«tood beside him, watching the waves flashing, as they 'Vf sped along. No two could be more opposite, as far as looks went, than those two, yet both were handsome and about the same age. • Like all his race, young Campbell was vpry tall, and dark as a Spaniard. His short, black, curling hair shad- owed.- a forehead high, bold, and commanding. Dark, , been, proud eyes flashecl from beneath jetty eye-brows, and the firm, resolute motith. gave to his dark face a look almost fierqe. His figure was exquisitely proportioned -an d -t hete was a c e r ta in bold f ranknes^'min^f^jyithjL reckless, devil-may care expression in his fine face, tfiit atoned for his swarthy complexion and stern brows.- V Hi« companion was a uU» elegant young omn, with alt^ fl '/■• -tt"' i^^ i air of proud superiority about him, as though he were f^somebody/'and knew it. His complexion was fair as a lady's, and would have been effeminate but for the dark, bold eyesand his dadfiing air generally. There was some- thing particularly winning in h^^andsome,iace, espec- ial^ when he smiled, that lit up^s whole 'countenance with new beauty. Yet, with all, there was a certain faith- less expression about the finely formed mouth that would have led a close observer to hesitate before trusting him too far. This, reader, was Mr. Willard Drummond, A young ha^f-American, half.Parisian, and heir to one of the fine§| estates in the Old Dominion. The last five years he had passed io Paris, and when he was thinking olreturning home he had encountered Campbell and his sister. Fond *»f luxury and ease as. the young patrician was, he gave up all, after that, for the "attraction he dis- covered on board the schooner Evening Star. And Cap- tain Campbell, pleased with his new friend, invited him to cross the ocean with him, and spend a few weeks witk him in his ancestral home, whither he was obliged to stop while some repairs were being made in his vessel, which invitation Willard Drummond, nothing loth, accepted, ^if' "^ell, Campbell, how is that patient of yours tfiis^ eveain^ ?", inquired Drummond, after a pause. "Don't know," replied Captain Campbell, carelessly; "I haven't seen him since morning. Sibyl is with him now/*,;*,.,.;-. -,,../-.;■■ -r-i ..;/./ .*.-,- :-■: ^c'- -f .. ..•■—:■; :>^ - "By the way, where did you pick him' up ? He wap' nol one of your crew, I understand." • " No ; I met him in Liverpool. He^came to 'me o n e day^ and as^od me to take firmBome."~l replied that I had no accommodations, and would much rather 6ot b^ troubl^ with passengers* However, he pleaded so hanl foi^me to 'm AWt^ j»tlkPKHiQ^K)t qU «b4fe i»^(o» llt»t I )iad) QAi^ tlM. beavt tQ: raCufio; 4oof«riAl)r:«yi3)g QaibifemJUid, wd gtrJfealiwftyft knoni' \m^ " i(#i; i9». y^ I may j«dg«;by lU8 Ippka, ofehjMnbl*8tafi©%: •«*\^; RicJwdQMm" V ^ ^ilHint! Weil^itwQuMb9:4^pleA»ix^aQha««!bito4^^^ ^W^Mi^X now b0T,^*V^f<^ \ mm MA^m wnmf. 1*1 yours?" said l?winw.QM»^$»|r XQ^fe «»o5^ ti.i»a#. tjfe& old moiPftji*:' ^?n^mg>*^ai;€»«;ol4^fell7lqrtl»Mi^i94"aaid5h3^ .n . '^X^ ^itfe, ^»uh^ 9 ri»»pi«ii|^, linJy-kifllp^ ap you, wr doubt." ^ » -w. *«l S^fti^ mk ^% 9m W^ m thftworU wof*h the j troHbisQf 1PW|E^'^4 P^t«fflWcyi^;l*»%tlKil|ftB!Cw qC qoi||l^9intf sq/ pef^ess^b^jf^uti?" " 4 ilftwiv s^A^ft, wa^ n. l^eft»ty« mm mi- Suit oewf ' tomd that. When do you, ^^gsofe tfl, ^ i^^y fo^ 5«fc " As sopD ^ i3lps5ilife|«,|i|,% ff n^i»fl!^^ periiaps^fou I ' f^- fear that we'll all Wn get tired of t(a^ lft)M?l>«fif|s, o^tin^"^ ''^^^f^^mm9^t9, \mypim:'l% liness by this time." "Is it possible ? I thouglit, you Gw^pbelljC were W * as that" • ^^#«^i1|*»Wtt^Pitn^^ll^|^ ti meiit for a wild, exciting lif( posjUiwij^ \ (iMjaiJAi w ms MAGIO xmsojs. wiW, impulsive sister, she would now as 90oa^ think of > 'entering a convent as passing her liftf there.' ' " ^ ? ' . "Yet you sajid it was partly by her request you were going there now ?" ^ ♦'Yes, she expressed a wish togil^ow you the place." ' 'a slight flush of pleasure colored the clear face of Drum- mond. "I don't know what's got i^to Sibyllately," conr tinned her brother. "I never saW a girl so changed. - She used to be the craziest leap-6ver-the-moon madcap that, ever existed ; now she is growing as tame as — as little Christie." v ; ^,. ' . Drummond's fine eyes were fixfcd keenly on |jke frank, open face of Captain Campbell ; byt nothing was to be r«id there more than, his words contained. With a peculiar smilelhe turned away, and said, cjarelessly : And who is this little Christid to whom you refer ?" " She's the protege of tjie old lady on '^he island — fair as thedream of aq, opium-eater, enchantin^as a hotiri, and wit®he voice of an sm angel." | " Whew ! the bold Campbell, the daring descendant of old Guy the Fearless, has lost bis heart at last !" laughed Willard Drummond. " Not'I," answered Gny, carelessly. " I never yet saw * the woman who could touch my heart, jind, please Heaven, • never will.** "*Well, here's a wonder-^ young man of three-and- twenty, and never in love ! Do you expect me to believe •uch a fable, my good frien<| ?" "Believe or not, as you Will, it is nevertheless true.** ^ What- -do you mea.n to say you have never felt a i^hol the grande passi(m-4-ihe sVightcst symtom of that Infectious disorder?" ' ' / ■'■■•-■- ' . -/ ■ , ■ - ■■-- V>^0p^^^-'' ** Pooh I bdyish fancies g;o for nothing. I bftve inow n iiij^ffi&is. T^'' TT'^-^JS /«f pssr xAOia iobsoiil ■cm vndthen felt a queer sensation ajbout the r<^ioii of my heart at the sight of sundry faces at different times, but as for being fatally and incorrigibly in love, never, on my honor!" .' " Well, before you reach the age of thirty, you'll have I aidiflferent story to tell, or I'm mistaken." ^* No ; there i^ no danger, I fancy, unless indeed," hC' added, fixing his eyes quizzically dn Drummond's hand-' I some face, "I should happen to meet this little enchant- |ress you spoke of awhile aigo." ".'-X / A cloud pissed over the brow of his companion ; but lit cleared aiyay in a moment as a quick, light fpotstep was? Ihcard approaching, and the next instant Sibyl Campbel^,- Ithe haughty daughter of a haughty race, stocji bright, dais- ■zling, and smiling before them. ' (/ 7 ^ No one ever looked once in the face of Sibyl Ca«^p- Ibell without turning to gaze agwn. Peerlessly beautiful las she was, it was not her beauty that would startle /you,. Ibut the look of wild power, of intense daring, of ierce |pas§ioas, of unyielding energy, of a will pov^erful for love' )r hafe, of a nature loving, passionate, fiery, impulsive, ^ and daring, yet gentle and winning. | / \ She might have been seventeen "yeaifs of age— cer- ainly not more. In stature she was tall, and with a Sform regally beautiful, splendidly developed, with »i [haughty grace peculiarly her ,own. Her face ^as per- fectly oval : her complexion, naturally olive, l^d been- [tanned by sun and wind to a rich, clear, gipsyish dark- [ness. Her hair, that hung in a profusion of lopg. curls, , [was of jetty blackness, sjBffe^^^^ t he su n f ell . o n jit, b ring- ' mg out red rings of fire. Her large Syrian ey(^, full of [passion and power, were of the most intense blackness « . h4ve now v'^Biew flashing with sparks of light,- and anon swiiomibg ia A '-if ^ : ' '>s ^^ f.. h i;.- Ml JMOMT liiaMft f 1 %|9i HAT Ikiyl^ Mdi lam wUgH kpr** iME^Qi^e, % «»>wft---«ifflaii9)3P it 1^ lt« jwiclettnct . ture in her fade, was small, witji full, ripe, red lips» vivaJi-^ iif0\n Moani |]|« 4e«!p «< imsiSHii ^ Inter cMtrl^ elwelia Her dress was hk» bcfaeUh^oild, acul pkttHcat^^a^ ecu* > >fcltiil|r «lmilifi!rt9}ciftfir bladr Mik, » bodies of erlmson, Yf]iT«i, wiih 9^lt biUtQAs^ SIm hftid l« oont iutad a Maek ' if^b^ ImrM With » L««gi. MNreeptagr pknwi^ swtngti^^ i|, fiJE^y^y by the strings as she aui» itOipaM thoia. | ' 3li»iiwftn tHapge, wi!t^4ooJKtoy €>f e a i t» i i r «v altogttti»i^r; i9fe#t vouMb ftrsk afeiilfe^wi «iigis«rv«Hr ivaft Imht quMoljr ' 9l pside^ feMf li«lt]r ll^itteii^ her alinosi uamnAur^hlm :-$jmi^m9i. Wwt kf» niilMwIiiig pfkloi^ «» well a» h»t «ww uprising beaaty, the haughtjr little ktii}]rh«d cubtaimd^ ev«« In (!)KtldhoiQ4 t^e ttitle. ol " CftteeA ef the isle^'' And qimsf^ sh«s k¥»lKed, witli he» Qjobiie bri^ir, her isshiagr^ ^kM»oi»i^ eje«6» %!«« daiiQty;, cudrring lips^ her giaceful, stat^ FjiEMMqiiiie fona^ln, ^f^kfjf ssmos ot tim womA "'a quMsi «t 4.9/1:1 W^lai^d) I>«u,»i»iQ!9i4 pftflsioaatr admitef^eC fcMutyi^ as he was, what thoughl he^ol i!hi»das«liQg eveatmro?- lltii| l«»«ed 9f^tigelil^ly^ still a^«i«stth»tafii!all, w^h his: eyes %e!i n» ' TlnftvWJfWQrbif^t^^otJjerlinw^" ^ ► ahft «d!v»fte9(^ Wiilayrd X]Ur(i«ioftc»!d started up^ au^ ^ Weleorn^' bM»k^ li^ $ibyl I iWugiii tk» wal^lii pnybureye^" , / i, iHow^ yowi pi«i9iM!» Si^xjrl I? ai^d Captain. CwipBell^ Bowii compliments very tiresome soraetioMSk '^1^^W]^ wors«^ I ^ng^ 9,toad»^' ihii SLasmt^di in « pecu- ^F^nMifiiGal voica <*I do. aiot ^hvBkk he will Uye lo, sq» le narrow's sua. IBSi ra^^jog^ «re Itightfql to litear— Eift{^f»U»teQ]?«Bda9em9>» \m weighing kvok wa a» ^ Aft«»^ iJba JuioguA sokI i& an awful posa^Kioa foi guilty man," sa^ C^pliaia Caiftpbell, tl>ou»hilwa.]^ • Thi^<»n, be soapethedt g life, but w^fupft one '^n^esjt'O.dieBRr.'^ ^^5lMg^ feel wlnafr iretcibuAive jiHtice. V9^ | sisf^Me^" ^aij( >ruia«>aad, in, IMa castomauy careless t<^e ; « aaa apropos |f tha^, somebody wilt sufie^ «effi;ibl.9 HQmQrs^^M^ tf^ Hie|sps*«,ligblty^ii6iftb%bal« iwlfl^: bwlfc SIM'%li0b Ued i^wliM^^ai% as 9bie e3M>l»»itii#(i,:; " Ai|i old astrologer, or enchanter, or w^aaicl ^t 4(INM> Improbil^ble, so utterly absurd, in short, that I wmnx Ukmt Saljbi«k»ekk> ^^ '-■Ik 1 a5 1 1 1 w \Sr i'Wp" ttiB MAQIQ MiBBOk i^ " You are not fool enough to believie such' nonseni|i^ I hope," said Captain C^pbell. . / )> V"; , M "I dQn't know. as it is nonsense. *Thefe are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in philos-^ ophy,' you knpw." '*Y^ — I was sure you would quote that ; everyone does that when he advances some absurd doctrine ; but |c& all th^ gireatest stuff, nevertheless." | ' /.. , : "But'did he tell you teho you were to be— ** SilO'^l sti?pped shorts {even in jest sh^ could not jpfo^l nounce the wordtw^^ ^' ; j " Murdered t>y?" iw^d Willard, qui^ftly ^finishing t^e sentence for her. ** No, he told me nothitig. aI saw it alll^' *'Sawit! How? I do not understand-" "Oh, the story R hardly vjrorth relating, and ouglit not to be told in the pr^^qce of such a skeptic as Captain Guy Campbell," s»id ^runaraond» running lM|finger*, I lightly through his dark', glossy locks./ ^s "^^ : ' "Heaven forbid I should wait to pe inflicted by it!'|i said Captain Campbell, starting up. "I will relieve yoij of my presence, and allow you to ecitertain my supersti-l tious sister here with your awful destiny, of which sU:;.;■■./ " Do you believe in omsBiV**si«i saidigbKugbliigly. ,'-M t;?,Sl^^^|*^|^ jP^ipS^ypTSy^''^" s* fi saw it all^-' THB MAGKf MimOB. ■m P' See how blij^hdjiand bdutifully fonder moon is Hsing t- '*|6^y, il^itreaiihes the arch pf hcavea tinclduded) I shall Blievc.ybur prediction." .-'• Even as she spoke, a^" dense cloud passed athwart the ky, and the inoon was obscured in darkness. ^" Tlie dark/i|jright face of Sibyl paled at the dread omen, ^nvoluntarily her eyes sought Dru^mmond's who also hafl en ga:;ing aiiithe sky. "Hei^ci^#ejft the omen !'\she cried, with a shudder. 'Oh, Willaiind^^e unclouded ^moon grew dark even whiie spoke." . ' "And now the cloud is past, and it sails on brighte^r in ever," he said, with a smile. " See, fairest Sibyl, al Is calm and peaceful once more. My prediction will Verified, after ^lll" She drew k deep breath, knd looked so intensely rel b^ved that, he laughed. Sibyl blushed vividly, as sh( ■%id:' ■/'':'■:' I ■ *fl know yon must think me wa^k and childish ; but ll superstitibuif by nature. Dreams, inspirations, and' presentiment^, that no one else thinks of, are All vivid ililies to me. But you promised to tell me the German herd's prediction concerning your future^ sOj pray, gp "Well, let me see," said Willard Drummond, leaning is head on Jbls haidd. " It is now three years ago that a ilebrated jBgypiian fortune-teller visited^ the town in ermany where I resided. His fame soon spread far and ide, and crowds of the incredulous came from every part ' visit hin). Hejcould not speak a word of any tan jj fjKhrsdwnn&Mlhehadan^^ Iking n^cessaryi which was vei^Hlei, ■ ^ ** I WM then fti a i^ebrated university ; and, iri^tiK» ^1" .ii».'.»ai;ii4'j^v It /' 1 I*™ not, ''ke yoa, bright Sibyl, BWurallTiltMWtA »k.t«, gritetag skuih that we^ «aS •te^fiL^'? •«» with Xa^^l^ «**'' *^ «• »<*w* "' '^"■r -hut f urn .iT T^^*^" **.>^'*11^ «^*^^I8SS5^ i:i»* it gij»VTT r^ .^' i^. ^ «« ttakn^ii #r* ^•'^ w«t«»rti4K some **Jlr7" *°'*'^ »'ooffti„«!ri_frr*'"' people, Plo-,«Jf'""*^<>» i^^STXv^!! ^'^^'y* then it feZlJ" ^onds A ^C;v*£ ^i- ma MAQJO-MlIUtOJl 1 tfie faces of m wedded palr'tumed for an instant toWard me, and in the bridegroom, Sibyl, I b»^tr'Py 'W4f as il^to retain h^r, but in thai Instant iOl ^ ^"ard Drammond paused ; this titiie '^ ^''^^IM^^^nd h|j8 eyes were "w^ild and excite^' ^^ ^Hfr l P ^"' **l&lf i** black, mystic eyes dilate<| ^^^"7 pW^lp^or fadll^Wom her face, leaving even h# lips\as^j)file«>.'death. ■:•.,,.:■ V- hc'tfairdrtime^ tr~wenf 'througfi" 1. ^•M^,>V,?. ^ i«i^ ^rprnqny ^before,:; contiiwe(!H«»| *^ wd, •• Ul ^^B^ WHy J ^v ■■V -». 3 &. *J«iAu»ci«es, a ne,v,sceic appWred before me. NoU Sr^^' ^ '""*"' «"™ °' lightning, and thunder «idja».,„as rag,„g,a„d the trees creaked and tent il' the fie^e ,v,nd On the^fpund lay thi dead ba^ df " ^ap weltering in blood. A darit, crin„on streaVflowed frotn a great. frlgl„ful gasfe tn his head, fron, Zl^Z We ««n,«l ,„« to have gon^. A, the ^hiee fa^e of tto m„rdered.,an was upturned to tl.e light-cut. bl"dy and /IS Heaven hears me, I saiv it as plainly as I see vonrf•.r^ *• J P4le, /a.r moon ■,<>*.-, A white, ghost l/ form, ThedT^'f ^ woman <,r spirit I kno\„o,, seemed ho.erinfr nlr Irt '^ tag, af It were, in and ou\mid the trees. E,^*n T!'^ .UR^.Wj,;and:shad6wLn.U.U wasgot Z- .*^ "For the fourth and last ti^e.jhe E^ypiiaf rhr,- . st«„ge incense on the Bre. and ' spoke, I^JCsof X*r- and a new vision me. my horrMed gaze. I secmedTte- hold im immense concourse of -people a vasi^^ i..g to and Uo in the wildest ei^l™,. A 1^^^ •!h!m 7^T*r ""'' ''^'' '""" ™''=d '<>«» object above hem I looked up, too, and beheld a^gh» tliMsiZIS fr«z,ngthe very blood in my veins. It%vis a ,iT^ ■ rhU^w'^T '"■:'"' '"" ■s'o.niniou. hXr ro:5ti- • "hite bcauirful neck, wiis rtc who had Mood beside m^ -' the altar, whom I M seen chained ■il^rmW^i? d,»med. to die by .the ha„d^..... %■ J )r ^■ -v U' i^H? "^fw*- f -V 'S^N- i jpiTisr jf^oict MiHBbn. kX .. saw the interpreter beckoniog'tne from the door. How I' reeled from the r90tfCV|th thrpbbing broiv and feverish pulse, I know n^t. Everything seemed swimming around me ; andj in a state of the wildest excitement, I was hur- tled home by my companions. ** The next day the Egyptian left the city, and where he went after, I never heard. ** Such was the glimpse of tJie future I beheld. It was many mont lis after before I completely refeovercd from the shock I received. How to account f<^r it I do not know. Certain I am that I beheld it, truly, as I have told it in every particular, for the impression it made upon ^e at the time was so powerful tliat everything con- nects with it is indelibly engraven on my mctnory? It may seem strange, absurd, impossible; but that I have nothing to do with ; I only know I saw it, incredible as it seems. But, good heaven ! Sibyl, dearest, are you ill — fointing!" . \._,---^ i I Pale, trembling, and ejjcited, the once fearless Sibyl Cainpbell clung to hi^arm, white with vague, sickening horror. Superstitious to an unusual degree, au awful prosentimenl had clutched her heart ; and, for a moment •be seemed dying in his arms, " "Sibyl ! Sibyl 1 my dearest love !" he said, in alarm. .•♦whaiis.it?" ^ :;■,-■•.;'■;'" -■;■;-■' >. \ '-■^\ •♦ Nothing— nothing, *' she answered, in a tremulous voice ; "but, oh, Willard I do you believe the prediction ?" " Strange, wild girl that yty are ! hag this idle talk frightened you so?" ho said, smiling at her wild, dilated eyes.' '; '■'■'■■'' '- ": r ^ --~^li it should prove inieT^she said, coveH^glier tniBt wfth a shudder. " Willard, tell me^r^ you believe it Y* ^Hy dark^eyed darling, how cao^ 1 tiAi whether to .^'A^ .x..:a:.^ [Vi irt-l i",t' -,. .-1. 1 ■- ';■ "l^^ XAOW MIBROR ^^' Bu^ wm„d, aid any pf hi, other predietionj- proy, uuc«ii procession, and himself " robeH f^r ^k- lying in the coffin. Five weeks «ftlrK ? ^'^^ shot." '^ '^®^^'^s after, he was apcidentalljr to war?nff ?^ ^'' """^ ^° * ^"^ ^>W «>« of way, as if ' TAu ""^^i^™^ approaching danger. ^* ^ x^vw«i|«^ 2^0yl ! 4 Campbell of the JqI- fr««»Ki- thus ^ imaginarv dan^r »--thrii! , 1? "^®™**^^"«^ '- r r ' '™" " -- « ■'^o':^- -f,^ "^ ihe color came proudly back to her cheek at hi.u.^ tenng wort,. a„h, »ud. mo« co.dly anfr,!?! ''"»"• tor my«l,. , could lewr tremWe ; buTfori-- ' bhepau^Hl and her beautiful lip quiverol I had ne.rly?o»l,rn „,rh^r^"""^- W^X. S%1. ■* ^J^ ^. ' ; ' 4-fc ' • '^^t' " i i 'f. » * y ' ^* 1 "V? V n •-T- , ■■;•" ^v) B8 ri® MAOW MIRROR, \\t Promise me, now, you will never think of it more — much less Bpeak of it." ' - "" " Tell me one thing more, Willard, and I promise— only one," said Sibyl, laying her hand on his shoulder, and , looking up in his face earnestly, while her voice trembled in spite of all her eflforts. «• Well," he said, anxiously. " Did you recognize the face of the person whom you saw beside you at (the altar, and who afterward died on the scaffold ?" He was silent, and looked with a troubled eyd out over the shining waters. ^' ' " Willard, dearest Willard ! tell me, have you ever yet seen her?" ' " Why will you question me thus, dearest Sibyl '" ' "Answer me truly, Willard, on your honor." "Weil, then, dearest, I have." Sibyl drew Iicr breath quick and short, and held his j^; arm with a convulsive grasp. - ' ' '• Who is she i" she asked. Willard turned, and looking steadily into her wild, L searching eyes, replied, in a thrilling whisper: \ •' «* You, S\hy\— your ** ( ' Ti/i? J/AAJACa CURSE. ^■^ 4/ CHAPTER III. THE maniac's curse. ■■ ^ 1^ ,c-i *• Her wretched brain gave way, ' j And she became a wreck at rand(»n driven. Without one glimpse of reason or of heaven.^ ^ LallA RqbKB. THE schooner Evening Stair lay at anchpr in a little (ock-bound inlet, on the northern svidC of the island previously referred to. A boat had just put off from her, containing Captain Guy Campbell, Mr. ivillard Drum- mond, Sibyl Campbell, arid the sick pass^enger, Richard -,,i'i Grove. He lay on a sort of mattress, half supported by Cap- tain Campbell ; and in ihe pale, cold moonlight, looked yvait' and emaciated to a fearful degree. The features, sharply defined, were like those of a skeleton, and, in their ghasily rigidity, si^nied like those of a corpse. But life, intensely burning life, shone in the \Yild, truubleid eyes. Willard Drummond ^nd Sibyl sat talking together, in low tones, at tiie 6ther end of the boat, fearful of disturbing the dying man. ' ,- A . As the boat touched tlie shore, Drutpmond leaped out, and extended his hand to Sibyl ; but the wild sea-nymph, declining the needless aid, sprang lightly out, and stood b'iside him. I The figure of jt woman, who had/ been_standing on a, rock, watching their approach, now came forward, ex- claiming delightedly : . t / , ; \^^- *' Laws'a-massy, MissSi%|l Who cVcr s'posed iye^d ^n^^iv- \ y lo TBB MANIACS 0VB8E. see >ou here a(gain? Where hev you been to this Ion? time?" *^ , . "My dear Mrs. Tom !" said Sibyl, smilingly, holding but her hand/; " I am delighted to see you. Where I have b^nftB a trc^ublesome question to answer, seeing I have been almost/ eyerywhere you could mention."' *'Law^;iow! hev you? 'Spect you had nice times sai'lin' rouhd, though it does seem odd how you could stand all ^ s^sickness you must have come through. 'Tain' eWy young critter would do it. But then you alius was different from most young folks. Jemimi ! how you^re grow ing, wide-awake, gossiping little woman, of four feet high, with a tongue thatiould, and did, say sharp things sometimes ; bi^t with a hekrtso warm and large that it i» a wonder boW' it ever found room in so* small a body.' However, I haye been told, as a general thing, little peo- ple are, by far, cleverer and warmer-hearted than their tall neighbors— as if nature were anxious to atone for their shortened stature by giving the^ a double allowance of heart and brains. Nursing Was Mrs. Tom's peculiar element. Nothing delighted her more than to get possession of a patient, whom she couid doctor back to health. But unfortu- nately this desire of her heart was seldom gratified ; for both Carl and Christie were iso distressingly healthy that '•yarb tea" and "chicken broth " were oply thrown away> upon them. Her frequent visits to the mainland, how- ever, afforded her an opportunity of physicking indis- criminately certain unfortunate little wretches, who were always having influenza, and measles,* and hooping-coughv and other little complaints too numerous to mention, and which tied before Mi*s. Tom's approach and the power ot her " yarb tea." Of late there had been a " p lenQtul «CTr- ^ citv even of these escape-valves, so her eyes twinkled °ow wifh their deligiit at the prospect ol this godsend. m^ 'm£im' f!' I' 'IS! ■ n.^ ^j- ^J TSBMANIACB CORSE. -■■"\.: ' « Se^d him uji ? Sartinly you viU, Master Gay. I'll t^e care of h|m. This here's the best road^up to the side , Ot the rocks ; tain't so rough as it is here." ^ u**H'^*'""P'"^'* Captain Campbell to the sailors bo had rowed them ashore. '• Gently, boys," he said, as jhe sick- man groaned. "Don't hurt him. Follow Mrs romtohercottage-^ttiafsthe way. I'll be down early to-morrow to see him, Mrs. Tom. This way, Drummond ; fallow me 1 11 ,bid you good-hight, Mrs. Tom. Remem- ber mfc to Christie." " • :•;•-. j And Captain Campbell sprang up the rodk^ folIoWed ^ bibyl and Drummond, in th^^irefction of Campbell> %■^:)^rs. Tom, with a rapidity which the two sturdy sei- mea found it difficult to follow, burdened as they were. , walked toward her cottage. ■ ■ ■\ - The home cf Mrs. Tom was a low, one-stoiy house, coiisi$ting of one large room and bed-room, with a loft above, where all sorts <5f lumber and garden implements were thrown, and where Master Carl sought his repose. A garden in front, and a we|l-graveled path, led ^ to the front door, and |nto the apartment which served as kitchen, parlor, dininglroom, and sleeping.room for Christie and Mrs. Tcjm. The furniture was of the plainest description, and scanty at that, for Mrs. Tom was poo- JO spue of all her industry; hut, as might be expected from so thnft^ a housewife, everything was like wax- worK. Thesmall, diamond-shaped panes in ihe windows Hashed like jewels in the moonlight ; and thclloorsand chairs were scrubbed as wlihe as human hands cou4d make uomimVy cuItivated^T>y Carl.^ut really by Mr^ XW ^ *i i ^JSCy MAjUlACa CVBSB. j who preferred doing the wdrk iierself to watching het lazy nephew. / ^ . As the men entered Vith their burden, Mrs. Tom threw^ open the bed-room dooi-, and the sick man was deposited on the bed. Lights w^re brought by Carl, a round-faced, yellow-haired, sleepy-lijoking youth, of fifteen, Wh dull unmeaning blue cye^, apd a slow, indolent , gait ; the very opposijf 4» everV way of his brisk, bustling little aunt. " Be-otf ^th yoWto bed !" said Mrs. Tom. " It's the best place, for any bne so lazy as you are. Clear out, now, for I'm going io sit up with this here sick man. and want quiet." / »* ^^*'^ ^''•^®°- y»"i"&"ess Carl shuffled off, leaving Mrs. Tom alone with her patient. The little won/an approached the bed, and looked at his pinched, sallow features with an experienced eye. It was evident to he/r he could not survive the night. "I wonder :i/ he knows his end's so near at hand?" ''^It ^-J"^ T ^^'■'^'*- "^^ «"«'»' to know, anyhow, 111 tell him when he awakes, 'cause it's no use for ibe tryijig to do*ankhiiig with him." * . .:.; J Jfe man wsis hot asleep. As she spoke he opened his large, wild-lojiking black eyes, and gazed around vacantly "Mister," began Mrs. Tom.." I don't know your name. ' but raint no^dds. Dp you know how long you bavft.^Q. "How-Ung?" said the man, looking at her with ^ gaze so wil<^ that, had Mrs. Tom been the least bit nerv- ous, would/have terriUed her beyond measure. " Not three hours," said Mrs. Tom gravely, uiaif '^ A "'^^ ^^^'' Q^^f^P^g^ the f^ cft nf th>. ^y;nc ♦So i^ r eh, Heaveo, so soon I" he murmured, <* and p*' 5 > riii MAmAcrs vusim. ' withBll unconfcssed still. /PcaiTnot die with tills erhne on my soul. I must reve4 'h® miserable secret that has eaten away my very life."/ Mrs." Tom listened to diis unexpected outburst in won- der and amasement. / , "Liisten," said the ii^an, turning to Mrs Torn, and 8p^kii>g Tapidiy in his/excitement. " One night, about. thirteen yeaips agfo, as/l was returning hottpb '^om mf day's la'bor, I was overtaken by a violent stor&. I was a considerable distnrice from home, and tfitere was no house i««Mr «riidre I could remain ffer the night. It was intensely dark, and I 8iaggered4)lindry along in the drenol^ii^ rata jiptil, by aisuddeh fljish oflightning, I chanced to espylh^ ruins of an old housfc, that had long been <|eserted. Thanfci. ful even for this refuge from the storm, 1 entered it, and, retreating into a cbrheir, I sat on an empty box wajtthg for tbe tem'plBSt toatftite. 7 *• Suddenly I heard the sound of voices in Wadjoining room, talking iiy low whispers. There were, art the tiihe» certain • suspicious characters prowling about, iiiid th^ ''unexpected so^nd startled me. Still, I felt fhfey might be onfy weather-bound wayfarers, like myself ; but, before joining them,/l:thought it might be prudent to discovei^ Who thisy Were, and I cautiously drew near the wall to "The partition dividing us was thin, ^d fn the lull Of the storm I could catch here and th^e a fev words of their, conversation. / . -' " ' I tell you hfc kilted himseli^said otie. *I saw h{^ He,stabfeed him to the heart ^th his knife^^ '^y ; - . ; *• ♦ What does he intend doin^ wfth^ ?' Here a suddeit '•^ 4 o/ wjgd ftodjiL^ Hie from be a ring vfimt t 'i-% 4 I J». ,~k\ W' is^'v'r '*'y'^?^j TBB MANiAoa ousas. ^ ,V-4 .^ " * And serves the jade right, too,' were the next words ^ heaid. ■ ' She might have known what it was to rouse the anger of that devil incarnate.' " 'VVIiereare we to find this fellow he wants?' said the second voice. '^ ^^■ " * At Minton, on the coast, half a mile from here. HijS -J name's Dick Grove. I know him.' ^^ . ' " I started in alarm, as well I might, for the name waa mine. . " ' How do you know he'll agree ?' - m. •"If he doesn't, said the first, with an okth;that madQ my blood run chili, J'a little cold steel will settle the busi- ness. But the terras are easier than that ; he's to be weljl paid for holding his tongue, and "as he's a poor devil, he'll 40 anything for money. Oh, he'll agree ; there's notj-ou* bie about that.' ♦ " The increasing noise of the storm now drowned thcix; voices altogether. I stood for a moment rooted to did gronud with terror. That some terrible crime had been, or was to be perpetrated, in which, by sajtne moans, I >Ta3 to be implicated, I plainly saw ; and my only idea oov was to escape. I started forward, but^as my unlucky 4ate would have it, I stumbled in the darkness and le:U4)eavily to the ground with a violence that shook the old house. " I heard, as I-lay half stunned, an ejaculation of alarm from the inner room and quick-^otstepffapproaclung where I lay. AH was now up with me, so I scrambled to my feet just as two men, wearing black crape masks over their^faces, entered. Each carried pistols, and one held a dark-lantern, the light of which flashed in my face, " 'Wbo are you, sir?' fiercely exclaimed one; aad I saw him draw a sword that gaadje my blood curdle^ :..^J#feF'- ^^f^w^i'Wi fc^A jC^ TfliP MANIACS mrRSB. *' I essayed to answer, but my teeth chattered so With •terror that I cou|d nojr utter a word. / *' • Ha V exclaimed the bther, who all this time ha^ becB hpJd^^g the lantern close to my face. • This is the ve©| were in search of. Your name is fellow we Grove?' I* 'Yes,' I managed to say, quaking with mortal fear:' • "•You are a mason by trade, and live in Mintonr said, or rather affirmed, ray fierce questionor. «t replied in the affirmative, for I saw there was no use in attempting a lie.. ' ^" *• 'AH right, Tom. You go for the carkfee ; I will take care of our friend here until you returtf.' ." * « The one with the knife left the h6use, and the other, drawing a pistol, the disagreeable click of which made me jump, sat ^own Before me, keeping his eyes immovably rivited on my face. I did not dare to move. I scarcely dared to breathe, a? 1 stood with my eyes fixed, as if fasci- nated, on the deadly weapon. Nearly ten minutes passed -|ha» in profound silence, when the sound of caryia're- wheels was heard ; and the instant after,/the man calfed TomVntcred, bis mask^ oflf, but his hat 'pilled so far down over hi^ eyes,' and his coat-collar turneSso far up, that I^ coum see ^thing but a pair of dark, sinister eyes. I "' The carriage is here,' he said. 1 .^ " 'Tlien go on ; and y^iu, my man, follow him—I will walk behind.' "I did not venture to utter a woitl, and was aboul going out, when he called ftie back, cxckiming: *MI came near forgetting a very ndcSsary precaution. Here, my good fellow, let me l;ie this bandage over youn " eyes.' : - - ■ ...,.■ f ^ li"^ 'S. , ,< TBtt MANiAva ounaa. 8T he very coolly proceeded to tie/^a handkerchief tightly ovcr^ mye^M. - / » .^ .^ .'■ " * That you had better not know. And hark ye, friend, ask nc^questions. Least said soonest mended. Move on, Tom/ ^^. , --- "Holding my hand to prevent me from falling, my guide 4e4 roe out. I felt myself assisted into a carriage and placed in~Tseat. One of the men got in after me^ and closed the door ; the' other mounted the boXf and off we drove. " "\ am quite sure they took a Ippg, roundabout way and went here and there, in various directions, and came back to the same place ag^in, to make me believe tl» dis*^ tanc^ was much. longer than it really. was. For nearly^ an hour we drove thus, and then the coach stopped, and X was helped out. I knew I was on the shore, for I could hear the waves dashing inward, and foaming and break* « ing over the rocks. Then they assisted me into a, boat, ' which was pushed off and rowed rapidly away. The boat was large and strong, but it tossed and pitched drea^fully in, the heaving sea, and 1 was forced to hold on watttihe- grasp ordesperation to'the side. ; f " I am sure we were fully two hours, tossing thus on the surf, wher^ the hSat struck Ithe shore so suddenly, that I was thrown forwa^'d on my fkcfe in the bottom.* With a loud laugh of dprisij6i\, the men helped me up and assisted me to land, and tl^en conducted me up a long, slipperyr' beach until we reajbhed a hard road. We walk.ed rapidly on for nearly a quarter, of an hour, and then I heard a key turn in a rusty lock, and I was led into a house. Taking first the tirecauiion of locking the door after him, -joay guiclfcled me thrrtughia long hall, up-a. -longer wiftd*- mg staircase, as^ through another hall, and up two other ,,_ •- 3 ause, t-fgr ■^ben I next recojlect anything, I was supported by my ,f»asked conductor, wh< i rfoim y o ur riuty faitbfut lj>y-t hfa- " Closer Bnd closer came those appalling screams, and " a man entered, maskld. likewise, dragging ^ter hin^the convulsed form of a ypung girl. -^ ^ ^ " To this dfty I have never seen a more beautiful crea- ture, fj|<^twitfifitandiBg her face was distorted with fear and horror. As she entered, her eyes fell on the form of the dead man on the floor. With supernatural strength she broke from the man who held her, and bent for an insunt > over Che lifeless body. It sufficed to tell her he was quite dead; and then, throwing up her whUe arras, she fled round the roonf,, shrieking as I never heard any living being shriek befowj; Great Heaven! those awful cries are ringing in my ears yet. .— « The man wBo had led her in sprang forward and caught- « her by both wrists. She struggled like one mad, but even " the unnatural strength of frenzy failed to free her from" his iron grasp. I could see her delicate wrists gfovv black in the cruel grasp in which he held her. . ' " The man beside me said something to liim in a foreign tongue— French, I think-to which the other nodded' I!!^^!!! l^J"^--^^-^^"' "^^ ^!'^° wen^an d unlocked ^J Vo t -\J V ■'' ■^,;^'l ■ 'r' ■• '1 „ ' ■ •-Ic.-.^- '. ly .w I .. ^ ^ 5-^iftj^jr^vv ■h' ■Si"; ■< W 4» fws MANiAcra ounaE. he drew forth a great heap of bricks and mortar, and all the itnplemj^nts necessary for building a wall. " A light began to dawn upon me. rhe body of t^a murdered man was to be walled up here. ° j i^ " My suspicion was correct. Making a sign for mi to assist him, the man raised the head, and not daring' to refuse, I took the body by the feet, and we carried it iLto the inner room, which proved to be a small dark cl<|>set without,a window, and with immensely thick walls. EVen in ray terror for ipy own safety, I could not repress a feeling of pity for this murdered youth— for he was dnly tt^boy— and the handsomest I ever sawi ** AH this time the womap's wild shrieks were resound- ing through the room, growing louder and Ipuder dach moment, as ^he still struggled to free herst^lf from; his hold. All in vain. He forced her into the inner roi>m, but before he could close ^the door she had burst dut, and, clasping his knees, screamed for mercy. "He spurned her from him with i kick of his heivy hopt, and then she sprang up and spat at him like 3ne possessed of an evil spirit. Flying toUhe farthest , cor. ner of the room, she raised her right hand to Heaven, crying, in a voice that might have made the stoiitest heart quail : ?^ f* -^ . ^ " ♦ I eurse you ! 1 curse you ! Living, may Heavfen's wrath follow my curse— dead, may it hurl you into eternal perdition! On your children and on youi' children's Children, may- — * ,, . . , . _ > "With a fierce oath, he sprang Upon her ere she could finish the awful words that pealed through the room Jlk e Jhe l ast tri i n^ p ^^ a ^ her bythe throat, huricd her headlong into the dark inner room where the murdered miMft'lay* Then, closing the m^88ivt oaken door, and /. ■'•t- V TEB MAiriAcra cimsB. 4t* locking it, he turned to me, and speaking for the first #ime, commanded me, in a voice fairly convulsed with passion, to wall up the door. , " I would have prayed for mercy, l^ut my tongue clove to the roof of my mouth. The man beside me saw my indecision, aijd, catching me by the aL-m, said, in ar stern whisper: > *•>. " Fool ! do you want to share theiJ fate ? Do as you are told ! ' ' - " I shrank from the crime, but life Was dear to me, and I obeyed. As men work only for thdir lives, I worked with those two mysterious masks looking on. All was ' still as the grave within that closet-dooii now. Once only I heard a sound as of some one trying Jo rise, and then iJ^ heavy fall— and I worked on with redoubled eliergy. "Not a word was spoken by anyV us in the deep silence of the solemn midnight, in whict the awful crime was perpetrated. - " It was completed at, last ; where ijhe door had been - was a wall of solid masonry, which :«^!death-cries could never penetrate. j -^ " • It ip well !' said he who appeared io me the superior. ' Give him the reward I told you of.' •' The otiier silently handed me the i^urse. 5 And now swear never to reveal w^hat you have this night seen till your dying day r jx - ' ''• I swear r said I, for I dared not /efuse. • '"That will do. Take him away> said the speakef. leavmg the room. j :uide bHnd foldftd « My gu jnfcji&.JLfaad be e n befof^ »p#- led me out, locking the door on the awful secret. ■ v t "As I had been brought up, I w^ led to the beach. Tho boat was in waiting^ and I was taken away, landed. *'^^ l.\ /•- ras MAsuvs' ouasg. »:.•. ?onv<^ .„,o me circuitous route. Thea /!»/'* sisled out and left standing alone I tore th!. h ^ IrtlfraJnT,:; -eardordiscovered aught utorf^fThe' morose and dreaded man. t1„ , t«;^;J" r'n^^T.^ Jand, but noth,n,f ever could banish from my «rs thlt woman s dytag shrielts and despairing eyes. ^ ^ tocotald n' ''T "'• ' ''" ' *"" ""«' "d "anted Wcomeand be buried in my natiVe land. Captain Camo- Wl brought me i.,re. And noivtha, I havetXa^I I^n up^Xe.:^d^-tot:i^?2^:^ With a scream almost as wild as his oirn UtTtL sfarted up and looked. ^ ^ ' '^*' ^f"* ^^ A pale, wild, woeful face, shrou<|H i» wild tilacfc hair was glued for a moment to the glas^and tl«,p was goae'" ^^^aralyzed w.th terror, Mrs. Tom turned to the sick ' from their sockets, and he was d^d. F,"truamg "t . "U • ■'>>. , ^_£r"> ' '^^•h ^-i? ■ Sf^SJf HAUNTSD BOOHf 5 "^ ■ - ,. CHAPTER IV. tHE HAUNTEp ROOM. -^ . "'What form t« thai !f ^e ftony cleiicbing of thai bared teefh— •Hie gory socket that the balls have burst frwn— I seff them all, ' It moves— it p^}T9s— it rises— it comes on me." / Bertram. UNDER the guidance of young Guy Campbell, Wi^-s la?yl Drummond aod ^ibyl ascended the stee^ rocky path leading to Campbell Lodge. Cap- tain Guy bounded over the rocks with the agility of a deer, while his two companions more leisurely followed. " Yonder is my island-home, old Campbell Castle," said Sibyl, as an abru^ tfirn in the rough road brought tliem full in vlfew of thqf mansion-house, ^' \\ is nearly three years now since I b^ve.seen it.'** j Both paused as if invo^iintarily to pon^einplaie it. Years and neglect had p^rf^rmed their usual Woi^ of destruc- tion on the lodge. The windows were brbilten »« many * plaees, and the great g^te before the house, h|j|ng useless and fallen off it rusty hinges. The coarse, red sandstone of which It had been oHginally built, was now black i^ith age and the many st|G»rms that had beat against it. No lights were to be s^n, no smoke issued from, the tall chimneys, all looked black, gloomy and deserted. Tlie swallows had built /their nests in the eaves and mined gRBIes;~an^evcnTH¥ tall* dailc7 8^^ an avenue to t;he dijlapidated gate-way, had a forlordN and dismal Iodic. In ijhe pale, briglit moonlight, the rdi ^2**' 2SB HAUIfTED ROOIL '' ■ : " ■ ''. ''■■[' homestead of ihe Campbell^Jookect cold, Weak, and uninviting. Even the long, gloomy shadows from the Trees, as they lay on the ground, seemed to the supersti- tious mind: of Sibyl, like unearthly-hands waving them ,a\vay. She shuddered with a chill feeling of dread, and clung closec to tlie arm of Drum mond. - i •■Quite a remarkable looking old place, thiis,'^said the young man, gayly. "Really charming in its gloomy grandeui-, and highly suggestive of ghosts apd rats, and other vermin of a like nature," while he inwardly mut- tered : "iVismal old hole; ev^ Sibyl's bright eyes can 'hardly recompense me for burying myself in such a rick- ety dungeon." ^ \ •* It has not-a very hospitable lo6k, I must say^" said it? ^ouogr mistress, with a smile ; " but in spite of its for- . bidding aspect, I hope %e will be able>\by some means, to /make your stay here endurable." \ • • y - ** A desert would seem a paradise to me with you naur I by," said Drummond, in his low, lover-like tdnes. "My only regret is, that our stay hete is destined to be so shbrt." • • ^ , The dark, bright face of the young island-girl $ashe Haunt^'* By Jove, that's capital I I have been 'wbhingal^imy life to see a e^cnuine ghost» and io ! th€ time has c(]li)ie at Inst. But what manner of ghost is ■ saith the legend— fair or foul, old or young, handsome hideous ?'f .',■'■ ** On tfiat point I am distressingly sfaortof informati< Lem's description is- rather vague. He describes it as be- ing * higher than anything at all, with fire coming out/of , its eyes, long hair reaching to the ground, and dressed in white.' " ' ' **Oli of course I" said Drunamond^^ "Who ever hbard of a-ghftst that wasn't dressed in white ? 'Pon my hZn^r, Iv4m quite enchanted at the opportunity of making the acquaptance of its ghosiship." , Dijrin r this conversation Sibyl had left the rop^ " pn h68piia|jle thoughts intent," aod now returned to announce that $upp«r ^as already progressing rapidly—mtost \ife\-. come ticxys to our hungry genti«mcn. ' / Sibyl had taken off her hat, and now _ her raVen curls fcU/Ui heavy tresses to her waist. In the shadtiiV, those glittering ringlets looked intensely black ; but Vhere the firelight fell upon tJiem, a sort of^red light shoiie through. As she moved ihrbugh the hi.t'b, .|hadowy rZotns, with the graqofwl, airy motion that loot a charm to the com- monest action, Willard Dnimmottd, ^ollowii^ bet with his eyes, felt a. secret ficnfse of e^tatipn, ^Mie thought tlib !n.vjnificcnt crcattirc Was hi^a^ hi«/alode. this brilfjliti impassioned sc4-nynn>lv? ^hi^ b<:ai/tifiil, radiant duu^hicr ofanoblc;race; this royal^ tW^^doweriess islan d queen, loved him above aill created bein g s . Had 1^ Tiiji tcrttrims m he ^ii^red^ in fierT^ ear his p^s$ionatc words of love, that he was dearer to her "th»n all fhe world besides ? Some dajr [be WQ|Ud m^ke her |li« tBE BAUNTBD ROOM. «r wife, ft^d take iher with him to his princely home in Vir- ginia, ; and he thought, with new exuitati6n, 6f the sensa- tion tTtes-glprious planet would make among the lesser star^ of his ipative State. Sd thoji^t and argued Willargl Drummond ijuhe first flush aa^ delirium of love. He did not stop to think that he had loved with even more intensity once before ; that he had raVed eVen in a like manner tof another far less bright than this queenly Sibyl. He did not stop to think that even so he might love again. No. Everything was forgotten but the intoxicating girl before him, with her sparkling face, her glorious eyes of jet, and her flashing, sun-bright hair. From the rhapsody of passion — from the seventh heaven of his day-dreams, he was at last recalled by the voice 6i Sibyl herself summoning him to supper. He -looked up with a start, half inclined to be provoked at this sudden summons from his ideal world to the vol-- gar reality of a supper of hot-cakes, tea, and preserved - But there sat Sibyl at the head of the table, bright and smiling— ■beatuifyinl even the dull routine of the tea-table with the charniL of her presenccf' And then, tpo — now thai this airy yision was gone^Mr. Wiilard DrummAid began to recollect that he. was very hungry, and that "dreams and visions" were, after alC vfery unsubstantial thingsi compared with the breaH and butter of eypry-day ^ life, degrading as the confession was. ' '' Guy had already taken hi^ plAce, so Wiilard took th6 r^lSe^t^olhled dWtoTiitiifnnd^ Business of the tea-table commeticed.;,v . ; - -v.* «i. When the meal was ove^i Au^twoir c^red Ac table, 1 and the Uiree gathered i^ad Hift firs^^iv (hbf^-tbe "•■"Mh.:-. f1" r • ;^''7^r''*-'='.1r^^%-- ,«^- vi < -')' « TUB ff Any TED BOOM. 1 ' weather was waroii the grieat unaired room was chill] enough to render the fire pleasant. . By degrees, perhaps it was owing to the strange, drearjl ' loni^Iiness of the pl^tce^/the conversation turned uponl deserted houses, bold robberies, murders, and by a naturaj] consequence, upon ghosts. Witlard and Captain ^anipbeli^ seemed striving to out- vie each other in telling the, rnost frightful tales, the lat- ter taxing hi|( imagination to invent them, when the orig- inal failed to 'produce the necessary degree of horrtflr. Every one knows what a strange fascination such ghost! j| legends have, the hours passed almost unnoticed, and it] was only when the fire burned low on the hearth, and thel solitary candle guttered in the socket before going out,! that "our party became aware of the lateness of tbel hour. " Well, we have been profitably spending the evening,! I must say," remarked Captain Campbell, rising, with a j laugti. "You should have been in bed ^n hour ago, Sibyl./ Here* Aunt Moll," he crjed, going tb the doorl ',* bring us lights, and show Mr. Drammond to his room"! He waited for a response, but none came, otlly the echo] of his own voice sounded dolefully thr6ugh the hall. " Hallo ! Aunt Moll, I say — Lem, bring candles/' ohcel mord called Captain Campbell. Again be waite4 for m answer, and again none came. "Confound it !** bit inut«| tered, turning away, "the sleepy-headed pair have doubt- less been in bed for the last three hours, and are JEissoundl as the Seven Sleepers by this time." » "Never mind, Guy," said Sibyl, laughing at his ruefiil| ,with their extraordinary e:!:enions this evening, and would be.a pitjr to wake tli«m*'* . 'fV< -*» -^ fEB HAXTNWD BOOM. rffV \ ^eqWed the room as she^spoke, in the airection of the kitchen, in search of lights. And pre^sntly she reappeared, ^tid announcing that lunt Moll tvas stretched out on her pallet, before the kitchen^fire, asleep, sire took herlight, and bidding th^ta * smJttnggood-iiigbt, le^ them tp seek her own root^ ' AndlC^ptairfC^fepbell, taking a candle, preceded iis juest^,j(ic direc^n df the " haunted chamber." Wilfard Drupibionjfl entered, and looked round, ft Iwas a high, iv% spacious chamber, as Were all in the ■house, with floors, doors,- and easements of dark, polished loafc, black now with time and Use. In the wide fire-place lat one end, a fire k^d been burning all the evening, but ■«nly the red, sraoyldering embers remaitted now. At the 5tb€f»end of thejroora, opposite the fire, was his bed, and' letween them, facing the door, was a deep dormer window. IThe room looked cheerful and pleasant, and '^throwinir Ihraself into a* - ^*T'Tn! ■^^wTT-"'^?'! It * \ • 1 .^^^1 .1.1 * ^2a» HAVNTED ROOM. ■fxK^'^ , fc*. © the floor while she dropped on her knees beside him, and, with ipv' tog anxiety beaming from her brilliant y6yes, glanced into Then the scene abruptly changed, and lie seemed wan- dcnng on the ver^e of a precipice, treading a path so nar- row and precarioiis that a single false step would hurl hita to certain destruction down the unfathomable gulf below. Where that path was to end he knew not, but a white *nd lips, went before him and Ittred him on. An inward f«i^,^ecmcd-wlii8pcri|)g him to b«ware» that tbe^xNUixiit '♦T,^ { ^^BAUirTED ROOM. m t^a. trading must end in death ; but the smiling eyes of he goldcn-haired tempter were beaming upon hfm ani the voice whispered in vain. Above eVetv Tr^L ' he passed, the wild black eyes orsYbvl s^emeH^ ."^^' ^' with deadly hatred and fierce malign'^ I^HTT^ those dark, warning eyes could nofte^Xbatrfrom the road be was treading. Suddenly the siren vanUed h(? sprang after her, dbd fell rfnn,n\i '^» vanistied ; awful gulf beloxv. ^ ^own^ down, down into the " A wild laugh rang out on the air, and Sibyl was bend ing above him. holding a glittering dagger to h^h^t w Inle her great blaek eyes burn.d^ike'^TJo Lm^s H^ held out his hands for mt-rhv k.^ u , "*""®s. He with her deridTcr M T^' ^ ^^^ ^""^^ °»<^*^ed hid witn ner deridng black eyes, and raised the knife tn plunge It into his heart. ^^^^ me Kniie tp With^ cry of terror he awoke to find it not all a dream ' ' An icy cold- hand lay on his face. ^' He sprang up in bed With a thrill of horror to b«hoM - a white, wild face, with vacant unearthlv J^ J^ ** streaminghairb^^^^'^<^i^^^^^^^ Paralyzed py the suddeti aooarition h* »«. V. - move or speak, and ere rclw f^ ^L^^ '^^ the ghostly visitant was gpne^ ' °''^ h.s senses He sprang out of bed and *eized th^ A , locked as ho had left i,. arid, wUh Lu tlood c:^dlL7: stood rooted to the ground. • . "'""*''°S.-''S., ^ but U^r^S'^tin^"-" »™-n".ood w« brivif^ f,i "^erohpriwa, lathing the placid rivrt i» J(, «,, t^ _ ■'^ n ^ ' • ' 7 rs- If ^» mori^»8r star shone brighl and serene fn the cloudless Wue •kjr ? W gwitt^^^^ e«I» beauty without, the .gK>»ma^!i^„W ceased % feverish throbbin^s, and he vft«gm> stnying^to account % this ghostjy visit bv natural IBMUIS. \ Bu* ho atroW in vain. ^The door was firmJy locked »»4 %h0rteugh those strong ^«i» waiU T^o hearc^, 4nd careluUy searclied ^ery crevice m the rooU that could^by any possil^lity be made ^. *tweit her nerves were none olOie weakest. T;tt« mysterious revelation of the dying/man ; his^le of night, and storm, and cmhe ; the will, ghostly face/at |l# window ; »|td, lastly, his sudden death, were quite ekoagti^' to thrill for an instant with terror evln a stronger bean than that x>f the sotitary old^idow. { For some moments Mrs. Tom sa t still, gazing iltor' nately at the window and on the ghas ly face of tlie dead man before her, with a chill of horror creeping ©ver litr. The sudden striking of the clock, as it chimed the b&m ^ of eleven, aroused her at last from her trance Of terror. I It was a sound of life, and it reassure4 her. Risingy^ she gathered coar^^ to:i{>proach the wiAt cautiously, and looked out. Nothing was to be svea _ the bright moonlight, bathtttg rock and river in its ^Ivg; light, beyond, she ^ur black pil«~Jr Campbell's Castle, cftsting its long, gloomy shadow ov^ the gnmmL LIfliits irsre still ttrluyiag i« «hsi^tt4DW»4« ^,t*-*^ ^'\ \ ♦ l 'k '-it' 'H 4i $^ mBMkBT est. wink, though I dos-pose ,ta?S IL f u'"^'' * Then Mrs. Xmi shook him lustilv T .. i . ' BOthin' else won "do iT/^K ''"" «°' *•"'•""'• ^' AM MrTl~?h«°" r ""■''''''" '■■ •« «l.i»g i« .he worid Mttfa- 4 ioM i^.hT" ■^°"'- waked you up." • ' ~ "p mwone with a corpse^ so I «o get „p *i. ti«e of „igh, „ I ^J, ^°:„i:^Vrt7* •*o ;-r- ^- T3B mAmOHT OBT. f »..s '^k'-' ^:m And Carl lay dovvn,''and qomposed himself for another '|| nap. But Mrs. Tern was resolved not to be disobeyed ; so, dro'ppinpjthe pacific tone she had first iadopted, slie very summarily snatched away sheets and quilts, pulled the mattress from under liim^ and overset poor Carl oxiAhe floor, from which she soon made him spring up with & sound box on the ear. . ^ ' "Now then," said the indignant old lady; "tell OMr ag'in you won't, will ye? Now, look here, ef you »ii^'t dressed and down stairs in five mi^nutes, I'll come ban of Mrs. Tom's rocking-chair, vvhile" the old lady bustled about, laying out the corpse as best she could under the circumstances, Carl was once mor^ soon sound asleep. Then, when all she could do. was done, Mrs, Tom lay down on the hard wooden sofa, or " settee," as she called it, and, in spite of the presence of death^followcd her worthy nephew to the land of dreams. ^ Morning was far advanced before either awoke. Mrs, ICoiii's first care wi^ io send Carl up to the lodge to iik^ ¥■, ■j*l ' , -r^, si „ rk form i^ Spates of thte death of her gqest, and desire Captain Campbell's ^mediate presencCiV^. Immediately after ^reakfast the young captain hastened * to the cottage, while Sibyl and Drummond went out for a sbroll round the island^ Mrs. Tom had been anxiously revolving in her mind the singular story told her the night before, and resolved to reveal it to Captain Campbell and learn his opinion about it. Accordingly, wheri he entered, Mrs. Tom— having first taken the precaution of turning Carl out of doors^related the story in substance as it had been told to her. Captain Campbell listened in asionishmeni and in jcmedulity. "Now, Master Guy, what do you think of that ?" ex claimed Mrs. Tom, when she had finished. ' "My dfear madam," replied the young man, gravely, "the man, excited, half crazed, delirious as he was, must have >roagined all this. No such horrible thing could have ever occurred m a Christian land." " But he wasn't crazy," asserted Ikfrs. Tom, almost angry kt having the truth of the story doubted. He was just as sensible, all through, as you or I. He wasn't foltr UfUssL mite." "Now, Mrs. Tom, it's not possible that, with ad r%- zr good sense, yoi^n credit such an incredible tale.? ^ "But, Master Guy, the man told it on his death-bed link o' that." \ "And doubtless believed it, too'i but that docs not make it any more probable. I have heard of such cases ' D ftfOffe it i s Q^t^ ^p^ '""^ tQ ihft imnt ri« * '**i -- wv%,m .1 ■ , » ** t i ^^** ^* * '**^r^'^ ^'*''* ** — "* ^^yT'»*aaa %^y T»*»w'''ytajKtif itttttTiyfTi "^ y Fl ff rmf I HQ V He had fancied this story, and thought about it j|6 2oo£: ^,|tat b9 at iMt Mieved it hinnBelf." yn '. . tBX MlMflQHT CRT. "Well, { doii't know oothiii' 'bout ih^ 'ka^B^kiatioa, thank fny heavenly Master," ^id Mr& Tom> i(n a tort of sullen unbelief ; *' but I do knoWj ef you waii to ta^k till this tifne to-morrow, you couldn't make me believe differ^ ently, T shouldn't wonder How ef you tried to make me think the face I seecyituck at the winder was. all '^tiagin- ation, too." " I was juflHpt to say 59," said Guy, repressing ft sraile. " It couTa be nothing else, you know. The hour of night> the thrilling tale, and the man's dying cry that he saw her there^ would have made you imagine anything ; therefore^——'" But Mrs. Tom s wrath was rising. She had been in- wardly priding herself on the sensation her story would c^eai^B, and this fall to her hopes was more than she could patiently endure. . . "' ' 'm "It'snosich thing,", she cried, in a vx>tCe louder and sharper than she was in the hiibit of using to any one but the unfortunate Carl. " I seen it all with my two bleissed eyes <^i^d nobody's goin' to make me believe it was my 'magination. 'Magination, indeed I" continued the old lady, in a tone of profound contempt. " Thank my divine Master, I never was troubled with 'magination since the day I was born, and 'tain't likely I'd begin now in tny old age o' life. I allers hid a great respect for you, Mas- ter Guy ; but I'm a poor, lone 'ooman, and can't stand td be onsulted by nobody. I hain't no doubt you mean wellt but i lik^to hev people b'lieve me when I do teU the :ruth. Scat, you hussy ! afore I twist your neck for you*" The latter part of this o IS tenldl"!!! "«i?»-^P»^Wfor this bum, of cli>quen<«, lis- In^v Mr T '"'-''"i f '^ *** first ojipo;Snii^,;hea ^ "I h^inZ^""' '^Kf'^ld the young captain. humbl3r; W.^ "« the remotest int,srition of oflfendin,? you, and brhfSf^?^''"''^''"^^"^^*^^ ' h^-« ^-»e" into a storv^n ^ Jf '"' ^ • ^°"^^°« everything ; and really this rn?H f^"""^ '^ in^probable, that I think I may be par- doned for not yielding it full credit on the ^po^ Come now my dear mad&m/' he continued, seeing thex?oud s Mg..^ on Mri Tom's honest face, "let V be friend^ titi 1 .and J promise for the future to believe everythiuir you choose to tell me. no matter what it is." '^'- '"f tonfn? M^"* '^;;'*^'^«* »»^ proof against the insinuating toneof ^Master Guy, who had always been her favorite^ «6 the cloud disappeared, and heroL cheery sm^o^^^^^ more beamed fottl^ - W' 1 «»»""c once Havihg arranged that Lcm should come down and ore- pare a g,av. during the morning. Captain Campbell ^eft the cotiftge, and went^ in search of L. Drummond «nd bis sister to tell them what he had heard * hiJh^vTv^'^ '*°'^" °" '^^ ^^«''«- Sibyl stood on a high cUS, h^r dress fluttering in the morning breeze her hrnd'hlr it '" t"^' '^""*^"'^^' ^'''y tresses'^wavfug t: h^nd her hke a banner. The wincj that came sweeping ch^s and Upland, ew a living Hght into her glorious ;Willardgrummond stood^neath> gg^jng jaher^^ ^ ^nIf?J '';^'*' **^*"^ realization of his most beautifui dreams. Chptain Campbell shrugged his shonfc iier«cxpr^^v«lyaai,es,w his LpassionS^c; :^^ ^ ' - -^ "-V V'\ ' ''\< '■' A. -l^'Kl^i ''4^ TBB MWm&ST ORY. thought inw^fdljr of the corifession he had once made to ' him of there being but' oiie vromaa in the world worth lovinjg^. " Well, Sibyl, one would think )'ou were attitudinizioj for the stage," said Captain Campbell, drylj, as ^ ap-^' pro^ched. Sibyl laughed gayly, as she sprang down oa'the wbitf^ level sands between hex" brother and lover. "I was only looking out lor a sail, which I failed tclyl discover," she replied "Well, Campbell," said Drummond, "had your o|d"J lady down t^elo'w any important revelsttions to make, tbtf( ^ she sent for you in such haste this moroling ?" " Not very'iib'portant in mly ^yes, though' they ar^ i^ hers," replied the young captain.' She wished ^to "-reveal' the dying deposition of our passerfgdr, Richard Grove." > ** And what had , he to tell ? Was. t right in saying ren^orse folr some crime preyed oh him more than mere illness?*' - ' ■ I ' ' ■ ' ' .■'■'■''■ ** Faith, Sibyl, tujcbrding to worthy Mfs. Tool^ I believe you were* He succjeeded in frightening that good, but slightly creduloi$ old lady.Oiit of her witSw" " ' ,v ^ Weir r said Sibyl, inquiringly. Captain Campbell, condensing the story, gaVe Xh the outline and principal facts in a few words. ^^iioth.4ls> ' '^ tened with deep interest ; but when l^e spoke of the i^le^ haggard face, with its dark, waving hairj glkring at, theni through the window, Millard Drummond started violently, and turned pale. Sibyl's eagle eyes were fixed on his face^ -and shcjiloncabscrvcd4t7 "And what does Mrs. Tom take tHishocturnal visitor . to be?" inquired Sibyl. "A mortal like hertelf^ or.ftw^i •plrit disembodied r . > . ^ WJm0ST OBT. / nunt, perhaps q| Ums womgn walled up ia perish in flm ^ roo« with ihe i^rdered man: Ugh! SeSc^^^S f^^^ «»<>*fe^ «iy* one the nighimareZ aS^ f^tycmhave^^edalVI beDeverUgoand/send Lem down to inter the body." ^ ^ / ^ P'H>t4«l CfcpWJ s»itntei»d a*«^ alone. . ■ »- v ., 7 inqni^:Mr^^^ ■ ^ think of lWssta|y.WiIl^^^ H !w "^"r^ ^ Yesterday I wouldl ^ joined/your brother in/laygbing lit it; but. taday-.*^' / ' ■.Hepaiiswi ■ '■- -^-H "■■' 'I''- ""'^ ut^.^^^'^'^^^'^^y ^' *>««"Wessly inqoifed4byh -^* nWhrJ. • / "*** ^^^ «c«dlessiral»rrn y^, but last n^ht 4s If to punish my presumption. I e/perlenced sometitiAg iftry like a supernatural Vi«iL" / r "GoodHeavens^WilJArdl Then the stoi4 told by the n^rbes is true ?" { Tit certainly seems like it H«] aiiy oni^ ehie told me wy I|^perienqed,I should think they were humbug. gi^m* ; bu| I cannot discredit what I sawi with my omi *^«- .; ••,. -■■••■ ■'■-:., ' 'r .. -i- . *' "Ejkactly like the description Mrs. Toi^ gives of the facptl^at upl^eared at her window-white ks that of the dead, with 4^, streaming h^ir, and wild, vacant, dark * cjyes. 'I "0^^ WUMI fein it bi» that^ irt. no ; hi, »np< ^$miffc:^ Atwi ^ thQurdid^hiaapparitb »uuwr " B^wceu onf a»i| two, 4§ neariitj cw^iiiitei,'* ■ '■ ■ ■ ' ■.. ~ ■."' • - > _■(( »?r*T'"*rsJR': «< H, " Strauge ! Strange ! I, too, heard somettiing dreatdfal "Listen ! Abdut midnight I was awakened by some^ thing that sounded like a heavy fall right oat«ide n^ door, followed by a groan so deep, so horrible, that the; J very bloodi seemed freezing in my Veins. Trembling with j terror, I half rose to listen ; "but all for a time was stilk^ ' Trying to persi|ade myself I was only, dreaming, I was'' about to lie down again, when a shridk the most appal-/ ling broke upon the air, and died away in an agonized moan. I dared not move ; I could not sleep ; and I laj cowering in superstitious horror until morning. Wifh; the bright sunshine came renewed courage, and I feai-ed J to mention what I had heard to my brother or you, lest'! I ^ould be laughed at— even as you feared the s^tiie. Millard, there must be some horrible mystery^ -hjere t Some foul c^ime, I fear, has at some time been perj^tra- ted within those walls. What- if-i—^" She paused. "*Well, Sibyl ?" he saj4, inquiringly. v . > r "Oh, Willard ! what if this house has been the scei of that mystery the dying man spoke of! 1 thought p^l it from the first." ; . % / *^^ "Nonsense, Sibyl! What an idea!" And jret *'" looked disturbed himself, as he spoke. v " How otherwise are we to account for thojJMJ.ghoa visiting*, those midnight apparitions, mid^ |ii shrieks?" ■ - -^r '-^-.iV, / ■V,::^,,;s^>, | / " And yet nothing could induce yJotir brother to "youTbeiref. He wblld mttgh at oor credultty^ to tell him what we have seen and heard." " Yes ; iH»d, ijwrh^ia I hiwl bjBttor nol teU Win, Wil ■ . . ■ . " ■- .. .-.>,■ ■^.,i ia ''^^f^m 3m^ 0^ 'hi' I will- hove yioiJr room chaneed anJ ««.. «. ... . Even if tfiey are les«. r-o^f 1 u?^ .^^ °^''° likewise. fuming, the, waiked togeth.;^^e^o^ ^1/. And J 1 (I CHAPTER Vt • So soon forsa&Pfi 3 V °*® *'^°«*rt ■ feinland on aVisit North,^.K i i' "*' away to the |l«membcred Christie 's 5 '* '''"^ Willard; but iE time. doub.Ie« 72a ovI^XaL^i^'-'T'" "' d apgerous-society. , . f J' """^ <>'">« world into Towar .T> '"t.S.'' ^ajm tor wite the jnaw," 'A 4 m advancitig toward them. ; Sibyl raised her telescope to survey the new-comers. ' n « , "Rev., Mr. Mark Brant well and wife," she exclaimed, in tones of surprise and pleasure. "Guy has doubtless caOed upon them, and told them I was here." ,.>^ "Friends of yours ?" asljed" Willard. * * *• Yes, the Episcopal^jei^rgy man of N , whom I havt known since my^^arfliest childhood. But here they are." The boat at^^s moment touched the shore, and Sibyl, disengaging her arm, ran down to meet them. Willard ipo^e leisurely followed, .just in time to see his lady-love folded in the arms of a gentleman who sprang from, the boat. ^ > The stranger was of middle age, married, and a clergy- man ; yet, in spite of all, Mr. D/ummond felt a sudden twinge of jealousy and anger at beholding the embrace. But the next moment jealousy, angfer, every feeling Was swallowed up in intense astonishment, not unmingled with superstitious horror. For as the clergynfan turned round, and Willard obtained a fuU view of his face, he recognized: the countenance /of him he had seen years before in that mystic vision at the Egyptian's. • " , For a moment he stood regfarding him, pale with wdn- der ; and he only awoke from his trance of surprise, when he heard the clear, ringing voice of Captain Campbell, as he approached him, saying, with a hearty slap oil the shoulder 'fi?; '1^''^:': -—--j: ^;^ / ■ ■ v - _.^ - ■ • , ' ;•:'- -; -I, h ' , ■ • ■ " Why, Drummond, roan alive> what ails yoii ? You are as pale as a ghost !" w ' - -j.'^i '^ Are you . -, — —Jiyir anxiously, W §ho^ apprcjlnched, leaning on the arm of Mrs. Brantwell. : "^ slight headache>«^othing more," said Willard^ re<;o^eFing himself by an effort ; " aothio|; worth bein^ ' ''\«"-.4^r.'' *\^ wgta mm em wm alai-Hied .bonV' *« .dded, seeing Sibyl'. atiU *„,iou, ' ^^* ,; ■.'.:*■--:-■,.- "\ ' ■ ' .".■\\. -:■:■:■ ;m■■v.^^, "Why, Sfeyl, have you grown nwvo*^^ exclmmed Mr. Bmntwell-" you, who used to be «. l^ld apd danng a. g^mouauin eaglet. But perhaps," he a Mrs. Braqjtwetl " began Sibyl. But, my dear ^iss Campbell, you ;«./ comedo you hear that ? W:brother can certainly do without you f 6r ^ "JCfis, ao^ glad to be rid of her, too," said the gallant Captain Car^pbell. , > r »*"*"•= Sibyl st^le a glance toward Drummond from under h^j^Jong e:|^elashes. He was sitting, looking out of the W^'mTV" ^^^^^^^^''^b- dissatisfied f^^vn on his tT' .^£ ^r^"'^'^*^ Pe'^eived the glance, and biWke QUt^ain ivith her usual bluntness : ' . J J^djifor that other jg ei ^ youar ^ lookii^>L )iirl lata sure h« will h«»««^ •-_•., . 9^ "•» ^M»^«^ wrehe wm begen«rou8 woiigh to^l^ol \^ i' ~ „ « .jrfl JUSD W winf ms urswr few days, as he will, ia all probability, have enough ^bi| before long:" Agaii) Sibyl crimsoned and glanced reproachfully at iier plain-spoken friend, and again Mr. Drummond was forced to sinil^ in spite of his ill^buniory at the good lady'sibrusqu^ bluntness. - "^ " Ypu will ha^e to cpme, you see, Miss Sibyl," «iid Itr* Brantwell, laughing. "Of course, she willT^ added hisffank spouse ; *^ancl upon in/' word I think! am doing her a favor in taking her from this louesomer island, and letting her see a little of civilized life at pur hands ; though, from Sibyl's looks, I should say she doesn't feel at all grateful for it." v«* Indeed, Mrs. Brantwell, I do, but— " 4^ ^ There, there ! I won't listen to another word." And Mrs. Brantwell, a tall, good-humored looking lady, dap* ped her hands over her ears. " Guy, make this ungrateful/ sister of yours hold her tongue, and do as she is told." */ Come, Sibyl, there is no help for it, you sec," Said* Guy. "|Pruromond and I will get along swimmingly 4uring your absence. He can keep his hand in, in mak- iiig love t6 Aunt Moll, while I try my powers of persua- sion over Mrs. Tom." Sibyl laughed, and paused for a moment in thought. "| She would infinitely have preferred remaining on the ^ island with Willard, but it^would never do to allow thero to tU-'nk that was'^her reason ; and after all; a week would soon pass. Had Christie been home, no persuasions could have induced her to go ; but in her absence thire was nothing to fear. Then, too, Willard, so long accustomed' ' ^ ^ v k pr c a cnce^ would" miss bernsor much WfietT^cwgr gone ttmt doubtless his love would be inenmsed itudier thi& diminished. 'V, ^ ^# 1^ tttf alfl"ie>i^ ^ Involuntarily, while thinlcing of him, her eyes K«n. Br^w!l7 r ^^''!^*'• Again t|,e,.harp.sightcd Mrs Brar^ll observed it, and again she brolse out Impa. ^ - Lord Wess «e ! Mr. Dnimmond. jiist trirn i^d, W ^°?:**^**'"Sibyr she may go. Nothing earthly wU Induce her to come till you give permission. I'm 3ure i> ypu were her father she cbulda't be more afraid of dis- pleasing your lordship.'" • - X^' Miss Campbell ne^^s no permission of mine: I am on> too hap^y to thin^ she will have an opportunity of ^"'^^^n^T^^ '^ ^ellV'said WiUard, with a grave liw. Now, perhaps, you will come, Sibyl," said the plain- ^ken old lady, "and as for you, sir, I shall expect to ^^y^u"^.. .* P*'"^°°^8:« «very day with Masief Guy," >» _ I shalll^ most happy,"^d Willard. his face bright- ^ a l.«le, while Sibyl>^^§es sparkled with antic^: M^^"^^^^ «"-*-«^^ H^n*«I-.r'^''^*PP*^'^' Pressed f^r her jourrti^r^ASd" then,^a^ the afternoon was-far advanced, the whole^party descendedjo .he beach. The adieus ;.ere spoke^^ ^at pushed off, leaving the two young men^alone on the ^^ M must go ovei- to Westbrook dock^yard'this aftei^ ndon said Guy. " ^vhere the Evening Star is now lying; Whatdoyou^y to coming with me?" ' ^^« f prefer remaininghere." said WiUard, Who had not yet recovered h.s good humoxy after ^hat he was nie^j t^^]€«byi?aTicserttoiir ..■ -f" I#£) our WITB TEB NBWp .'•^•' r-v. V m ';'P' "Da not he still, and you altogtfCheir " Wsll» theoj I'll remain with you," said Guy, whd w)^ the soOl of frankness and good teov] *" M By no means !" said Drum stay on my .account. I have a will retire to my room." " But it seems hardly courteous alone." •* Nonsense, my dear fellow. ll insist upon it. I hopd you do not thinjc of standing on cpremony with me?" "So be it, then," said Captain ICgrnpbcll, gayly, as he sprang into his bqat, pushed off, ^nd shot like anarroW out into the water. Drawing a cigar from his poctket, Willard Drummond lit it and prucee'ded to stroll up: and down the beach, itt no very amiable frame of mind. / He felt angry, in spite of all, at Sibyl's leaving him ; ai/d with this feeling would, now and then mingle another4-profound amazement at the exact resemblance this Mr. Brantwell bore to the face he had seen in that singular virion. Wkis the fell tion about to be verified ? Lost in such thoughts as these, he was suddenly star* tled~by"a:iiibice singing a wild, sweet song oif the sea, \tt tlie clearest and^Bost delightful tones he had ever heard. Surprised at the une:tpectcd sound, he sprang up the rocks in the direction whence it came,, and beheld a sight that transfixed him with amazement ' - -ilk young girl, beautiful as an ang«4^ stood on an over- hanging crag, with one round, white arm resting lightlyi ^ on tjie rocks, singing to herself as She gazed on the sparkling waters. Her hai^, of the palest golden hue, rose and fell in the breeze/and flash ed in thft stinljght- that ^sted likeagl^ry an her bright young head. Her mplexion was diizzlingly fair, with ros^^tinted c'leoklk^ '"^« ■'^i^^a&t.Z^^ ^- 'I / •*«>y Fiwr iw» 0i;i> iopar. and full, red lips— like wet cqUl— and eyes large and bright, and blue a^ the summer sky above her. Her fig^ ^ wre was slight, but round aad vojuptuous ; aad there was passion, and fervor, and wild enfhusiasm in her look, as ^ she stood like a stray seraph, dropped from some stray cloud, on that lonely island. Willarfi Drummond stood immovable, drinking in, to kitoxicati^n^ the bewildering draught of her beauty. She was in e^ry respect so very different from Sibyl, that «be seemed to him the mbre charming from forte of con- trast. Transfixed he stood— everything forgotten but this lovely creature before him— when suddenly, like an inspi- latton, came th6 remembrance of his singular dream, and ©f the fatal siifen with the golden hair. Strange that it should have come back to him so vividly and Daiafullv • tfeen!- j . ' *^ . f The youBg^ girl's song ceased, and turning, she leaped* ligbtly as a j^oung deer from her fairy perch, without perceiving him who stood so intently r^arding hen Leaping from rock to rock with % fleetness that awoke the surprise of Willard) slie reached the road Uad disappeared within sh^ cQtt&ge of Mrs. Tdm* . / Everything was forg;otten now b^t the'xra^s intense desire of knowing wh^ this radwrit sea-nymph was^ Turning, thercforej into the path she had ju^t f&ken, he* approached the cottage and encountered Caf^l at the door. ^* Well, Master Henley, how are you ?'V said Wfllard, iE»refcssly. / . "Sticking together," was Master Herily's concise and, de sgriptiye answer ' ._ ^ J,,. ^ ISWj A i "Glad tolear it," said Willard^ rf^ressing a strong , :|K;IiQati " What !" exclaimed Willard, surprised. " I thoo^fat t^ saw a young lady enter'a rooroeut ago I" ^ I Hirl'ly *"' '^^"'''^'''^ ' Bobody," J'aid t'l>e gallant Mr. ;. «€hristie-^Mrs. Tom's niec^I thought she wa» away «J exclaimed Willard. ,. he fefrhtLT-^"' ^k"^*""^"' '*"'■ '^''' "^""""'^S ; couldn't he bothered ^domg her work and my own both any lojfjger/' said Carl. ■' , > "i'^PP^f ' "ay SO in ?" said Willard, feeling a sud- den thrUl of pleas.ure at the knowledge that this radiant girl was an inhabitant of the island. „..-•: * , " Yes, I suppose you may, if you like,'* said Carl, ia a tone of the utmost unconcern. Thus kiftdly permitted, Willard advanced and rapped at the door. It was opened by Mrs. Tom, whose surprise was only equaled by her delight at being honored by thia unexpected visit. -, Near the window that overlooked the lodge, stood the goldfen-haired vision of the beach. She turned rcmnd with a quick, shy glance, and blushed mo«r enchantinirlT beneath the deep, dark eyes of the stranger ^ " My.niece, Christie, Mr. Drummond," S4id Mrs. Tom, directing his attention to her with a wave of her hand :.::me got faack this. mornin4^-^-tt« i*,%i °^ asd on with tbb nrw:* 0: Jew's-harp, arid playrag a favorite tuDe of his own ccto- 'I position. Not once during the ««vening did he think of Sibyl ; her dark, resplendant f ice, and wild fierce, black eyes, were forgotten for the ipfolden locks and sweet, fait face of blue-eyed Christie— this dainty island Peri. - :,; The lioiir f<^ leaving came all tpo soon. As he^luc- tahtly rose to go, he pressed. «^t»e Iiand Christie eiitended, to bis lips, with such passionate ardor that the blood flushed to her very temples, but not with pleasure;^ Ere he left, Mrs. Tom cordially invftfed him to visit her house while he remained on the island— aSl'invitation he Was not loth in accepting. - - , j.^\ Christie stood at the window, watching his tall, ele- gant form as he walked toward the castle in the bright clear moonlight. ,, * VI like him. Cousin Christie ; don't you ?" said Carl when he had gone. " * But Cousin Christie turned away witfiout reply, long- j ing to lay her burning cheek on the piUowteand muse Sj ovei the neW and delidous joy that was tf rilling her ^? whole heart, and in her slumber to li» dreaming " Love's young dream." ■• ' '^ , And VVillard Drummond, forgetting ftis vows, forget- ting Sibyl, forgetting honor, forgetting all but this lovely islmd-maidcn, sought his couch with but one name on his heart and lips-— ' "Christie, Christie I" • « "'' ' •• . \ *• y: 4 • " / ' ^^^1 • 'Wrr^^H % >(<-' '' ^BH . ,— .,||,,,.,I_ . i..-—y- 1 , _ J, f ^m^ •« 1 ■ - « * ■ r>- J i< ■ /■; • ■• _ * "^ ' ^ '•i. *^ - ;-g^'^-^r^,^,,,: ,'.--. • ,•-.■ . --• - - . : T ' i ! ■ ■' '"^Si r '^l^^l v-iiii^a&i i.*iito^,. *", } «■ 4- • r -. • '^''^H^ ' * ■''5;i-* ' "•' ' -*'^^ art^PWW*;'' %--^ TBS aSARfS BTitmOLA V. !■; CHAPtEie VII THE HEARTS STRUGGLE. W • ■ ' ** She loves, but knows not whom she Iovel» "~ • Nor what his race, nor whence ho came : '^ dbike one who nteets tn Indian groves ^ Some beauteous bird without a name, ' Brought by |he last ambrosial breeze '* To show Dis plumage for \i day - ^ To w ciple, Justice, even honor, were' sw<(pt 'away, liife a wail ol toioke, before tbe fierc« iropetuosit|^ of ipMioa. ^ ^ '^ , ./XHLn^iie* i-M'&il'. !. .. .! '^W^'^ ■-^t *. With a head-throbbing, and pulse quick and feverish wfth the inward tonflict, Wiliard descended to breakfasts' f Captain Campbell stood in the, sitting-room, awaiting his coming. With a courteous "good morning," he advanced to meet him ; but started back in surprise at beholding bis extreme, pallor, - " My dear fellow," he exclaimed, in a tone bf^splici-- tude; " you arp ill— very ill, I am afraid. Wh^t in the world is the matter ?" ' # * _ - '\1 "Nothing. 1 had bad drehms, and did not sleep well/* said Druramorid, with a forced smile. "A cup of Auut Moll's excellent coffee will set me all j-ight again." ••I don't know about that," said Captain Campbell, with his eyes fixed anxiously on his face. " You are looking terribly feverish, and you were complaining of a head- ache yesterday. 1 hop0 you sfre not going to be ill/* ..^ . "I assure you it is nothing,"- said Wiliard, in a tone of slight impatieqce. " You are needlessly alairming your self. A tad night's rest is the cause of alL" " Well, if it is not^ I will ^e to call up Mrs. Tom to' nurse you till Sibyf corties. M^nd, by the way, I rcgrc^ exceedingly that I shall be obliged Jo leave you solit^fy and alone for some days, Importaiit^siness, that csia- not be postponed, demands my imme^^e atiention.*lj. ' Willardls heart suddenly bounded— hje would sc^jjl^ have acknowledged to Wtp self the reasonrr^ the woras. " It seem? h(*rdly courteous oj-irospitabieT^ tea,ye you thijs," cpntihued the young captain ;"but I know you will excuse me, my deai; fellow, when I tell you it cannot possibly bcJ ielped." Ui *6h, certainly, certainly!" ii^terruptej^ Drummoad,; ^firdially, *• Go/ By all means.' xW^Il get ftlong well fBougb in yottir absence. When do sum l^v« r r break fa8(* K is in, t, 1 will not have tim pu wiijt, probably be f ^f haps yoti wiH G#^# Millard, with- affected carel ,«, (course of the day," . t?|. JutiWF?^*i^^i tale%e boat.*' . " Ph/W||JT Carl^JIeniy. He has one, I belfeve." | f\ % " WeU^iiit yo^tseWi'' And now I'm off. Take'^rc |h^w yourse^ myboy ; and au revoir !" ■^ ' '^^ood-ly^" said Willard, accompanying hin^i to (^ llJb'r.' *' Auni Moll and I will keep bachelor's hall till ' |,co|;ne back." . " ' r. ipUin Guy laughed»; arid harried down to the >Seaii;h>i And when he- was ^on#, Willard arranged his sligllCly disordered dre$s and' disheveled lock ^ and saun- ^?l 'Wg-av.t *.,<», ^^^^^^ ■U . '-I 4 &.-. ;v ^■J ".'? '^;' ^^ If. Tm^HBABra smvoGLB. ;■ 1 1 % ] e'"^f. im«t°'!;f"r^'?•*'^^?'''^ ^^^ **'' «°°*^ resolution, th»- h^l)ehcld ^ first, in the bright flush of the fadingsun^ J hg^^rospSefoi^ him, and once again pas.ir4i He approachjfed and entered the cottage ^ /^ f^l K W'^^?l« «y«^ wandered around in s4r^ f guileless girl hoo(ji. Wiliard Di^gpiond's breath came and went, quick and short, asi^M^azed, and hisdark eyes -filled with a , *|iibdued fire.v^ > teifdvariccd toward her. - His shadow, fatiing^onrEhe ^ grass at her faet, was the first token slie had of his com- iti^. ,Viril:ha«ick, startled cry, she sprang to her feet "» t - ■ f §t% n i?fi\ !6aiABrs /srsmoug. y; / I*.. In terror ; but when she saw Vho ifiggMiltood bef/ra hen sh. stj^pped short, while theiSrS'g^S to her rouij^ed cheeks. Her first impression W: He . '^f.W^ ^"^^'^ »« my face, and knows I wai Uimk- '- "^W . ' "I wasn't dreaming," said Christie, innocently. "I # was wide awake all the time." ^ smilr^^^^i ^^"' ' ^^^'■"«»™ond, with a , ,'Do you i«t)w, fairest Christie, I have been at your coitage all the momniir, waiting to see you V' n^see me ?" said Qhristie^^ another quick, ^lad '^^ I hav#coroe in& search of blusfi, " And not finding you," he continued, '^r' "And found me, V she said, laughing ''.*^ :# "u J m ^^ Iftnown vou were comA^[^ould,hav^taid^t b^e." P#hapa It is b^^F^ it is;:brig^nty ^or^ ha^ found you alone. It |Sj very pleasant togl^e ■ founc^ 1o rair., companion on this lonely i;jW' ,^SJfF^ *^- 7 "/' «, '\%; ;\^ ^l°°«ly pi^cw^" Jy^istii^si^iyf "and yet % li|e it better th^n ^&j|k, or iiny ^he^ placet^j^yer bfeen i^. ^nly^3 Hk. al^^s^ hap^fnend withinetotalk to;W that, you Khow; j' ca|Sot ^aye her^ ! Aum Tom is always too busVto ea ou^>^ndvCarl don't care about tl^e trouble of {alkinlr gJ gM^^ walking;, soj ai waysJtave to go aloo< ■ > "And if he would go, I fancjr H^ter' Carlji hudlf IW SBASTB BTSU00J» tbe kind of companion Miss Christie would' Select," said Willard.' ^-'■'' '' -' y - ■'^■- / ■; ,.■'■' ' :: ^'■'■-■- . "Not if I could firid aiiy better," said Cliristie, Wiih laiigh ; " but I have grown so aj^ustomed to being alone now that I do not mind i^at alj, as I used to." "And so you are perfectly hdlppy here^ fairest Christie, reijjming queen of this fairy isle ?"^ ' " i^'-'^ ■ ^h, no I bcautifurMiss Sibyl is queen of tfic^lslc J am only her most loyal subject," said phristie, gayly; "you ought to Itnow that, having piud her your allegi« pe.» < li'Whatif I should say that the subject is more Iqv^ly . the queen?" said Willatd, in a low voice, and in a^J tone^lbat brought the hotblOod flushing^ to ChristicTfr , face Jfl^ "TTsfeou^Lsay i^ou were laughing at me, as of course you would ■■ CertainlxJBO ^iO^e would ever think of me while Miss^sSytiTas near. Oh ! how^wish she would always stay liere, and then I would have a companion." " Ah, brigfht one \ if I were in her place, what wOuld I * not surrender for such a privilege !" "Would you ?" said Christie, looking at him in iti feigned sifiprise ;> " then why not stay ? I am suro^ should be glad to have you here alVays." Hcr innocent words, her enticing beauty, her Child- like candoi^^were a strong temptation. For one moment he was about )^o fall before her, to clasp her in his arms, to hold her there forever, w,hile he breathed forth his mad, passionate love, and told her nothing on ^arth should ever part ithem now. But ag^in rose before him the dark| warning face of' Sibyl to allay the fever in his blood, li "wenied to hlBiF BBlOTittt^ee^ h«arbiacirrfarce-cyc5 gteR r*-3 ^ff-VVM iSifd I ■y.^ Ittg on thcin through the trees -he could almost hear her vclce shouting «* Traitor !" " ,^ ,All unconscious of the struggle raging in his breast, ^Cfeirlstiei^od leaning against a tree, her curved crimson , lips half parte4-^her blue eyes fixed oh a cloud dri^iig * jfdowly oVer the sky, little dreaming of the far darker clouds gathering rapidly, iow, over the horizon of her .life. . ; ' ; • • - N •-• And still in Willard's heart went on thei struggle. He 'dared not look at her as she Stobd befortt him — bright, radiant, bewildering— llest thjs last lingering remains of fidelity and honor should be swept away by the fierce impetuosity of passion in his unstable heart. But his good angel was in the ascendant still, for at . that moment the voice of Carl was beard calling loudly ; "Christie! Christie!" : ' " Here, Carl ! Jlere I am,*' she answered j and In aii- other instant honest Carl stood before them. ' " Aunt Tom sent me looking for you," said the younr|| gentleman, rather sulkily; "and I've been tramping through the woods this half-hour, while you Were taking it easy here," §aid Carl, wiping the perspiration from his brow. ♦' It was all my fault, my good Carl," said Willard, M . Christie hastily snatched up -her hat and basket and :ged, having a just terror of Mrs. Tom's shf rp tongue. " McUse my cxctioes to your good aunt, and here is something foi yourself." * " ,.,- / ■ ■ _. ■.-'■/.- ; 'C.iH's dull fnce brightened wdnderfully as Willard drew a gold piece from his pocket $nd pressed it into his hand, and then turned his steps slowly in the direction ' ^ Christie's dri- jfhat day. She heatA nbt a ^6)iA bf (Iris, long lecture delivcfed with more thati tlie gpobd irVdovr's usual eloquence, for ishc was th'mkitfg bt Another voice, #bosc lowest tone had power already to thrill to the hiuer- most recesses of her heart. She loVed without knowings it, ivilhout wishing to define the hew, delidoiid fueling' filling her breist, ottly conscious she had hevidr \^en Sb h^ppy before ih her life, and longing fblr the tt^e %lien she should see hinr again. Ah, well Nid it been for ber hiftd tKey never met tbore. , ^ ,,,, - "4' ■■.^^ *13 4. CHAPtER VIII. ^ ' And hear the voice of reason. This alone Sweeps the soul in tempests."' WELL," $aid Aunt Moll, to her sbii ftftd ^r, Lem, as he entered the long, high kitchen of ■ • "" CatnpbeH's Lod^e, "IvvoCild lilce ter know what dat fer Master Drutnmin's tip ter ? I doesiit Uhdcr- stan' deseycr, new-fangled ^Gjing men 'tall. Fiist hl^ comes a courtin* of our M^a^Ml, iahd Jes' as soon as her baclc's turned ^-^ --^-^ -i^/i ^rt* -«» i«i,«e «« •^aa a^* a- MtsiS Chrissy.' iJ'«'Ttiint no business yoiir'n, olie Vp-oinaBl/* saH JUeitt, gruffly. I 'spec's as how Marse Drummini' kttows what hfe'siboiif H . baclc's turned he goes ri&.^'^an' lakes up wid dat ftr •ni «»<>• "Yes^ jlit|t.'J)Cftrs to ac^ S5^-q 8a ' TBB wmUMPB OP PAsaioir, " " V 1- ■\ Sibyl 'bout it. Ef he is her beau, he oughtn't to be takia\ up wid dat ar Miss Chrissy." v^ "Better let Miss Sibyl look arter her own beaii," ''' replied her dutiful son. " How does ye know he's a i- courtin' Miss Chrissy ?" . rr - , ^ ".'Gause I seed dem, chile—yes I did— las' night, down on de shore. De moon was shinin' jes* as bri^ht.ast new .pin, an' I took dat ar litter o' kittens down to de shore to drown 'em, when I seed Marse Drummin** walkin' along wid Miss Chrissy, and he.had'his head stooped do^yn jes'* so,"— and Aunt Moll du^iked her woolly head to illustrate . k— "an' was whisperin' soft stuff, jes' as folks do when dey're in love." " Well, what den ?" asked Lem, growing interested. *^ Well d^noome up an' seed me, in course, an'. Lor*. Lor' ! i^^jes' wish you seed de look Marse Drummin' give me. *Peared as ef- he'd a liked to knocked my ole head off. But I warn't afeared, 'deed I warn't, chile ; so I jes' stood still an'drapped a courtesy, ^n' Miss Chrissy, she got red rite up to de roots ob her hair. ' G^od-evenin', • marse and young miss, sez I ; 'don't Jje^g^eertd; I onlV wants to droi^^ese little kittens,' sez I. for I thought a? I might be pertite jest as well as not. ^ -^^ ; ' " '^h, how does yer do, Anji^Moll ?' sez Miss Chrissy, a laughin' an'.blushin' ; 'hbw^^em and yer rheumatiz' tlese times ?' - - ^ • * " * T'ank you, honey,' sez I, 'dey's pretty ^eU, bbf '^oli i dera;' • ^ ' |;nVAii' den l^arse. Drummin' he, pulled her arm Hghf iroo his'n, anjl marched her oif wid him ; an' den I pitched de kittens right in de water an' come h6me." '^ .'... "Well, dat ar warn't much," said the Skeptical te<|, ' "D|^ might be walkin' on de bejfcbj but that ain| ^ 'the ^nchanftfess^ he lingered still by her side. ThetO' were shame, dishonor, sin, rn remaining, Jbut oh! ther^ were death, misery, and desolation in g^ing^ All world- ly considerations, her unicnuwn birth^^l^r obscure con- ■ nectious, her lowly rank, .were swept away Uka ^ails of cobwfib Defdre xhe fierce t<(rreat Q£|Cassi3n that*«ver?' ^ ? .-.f -y t>iij.'V'*?«i»v>'' '*' ■^Mt 11 "*' i 1 ' CS2^ Uli r:*^ t^^Mps of PAssiok whelmed^ conquered every other feeling in its impetuous tid« ■ Aod she loved him, this angel of beauty, this fjiiry princess of the isle ; he could see it in the quick flush of 'joy at his approach, the quick, burning glances shot from. her beax^tiful eyes, more quickly averted when they . met his— her low, impassioped tones, her bright, beautiful blushes. There was joy, tliere was rapture iqthe thought ; and yet,, unless he forgot honor; vows, ail that should Iiavfe been sjacred, what did this love avail ? And so, like a tempesft-tossed bark on a tempest-tossed sea, he strove with passion and honor, love and remorse, right and wrong. ^ Once only, fearing lest her suspicions might be aroused ,by his absence, he had visited Sibyl, whose rapturous greeting and'confiding love made him feel far more of a villain than ever.* He looked forward with dread to the period of her return, fearjrjg for the discovery of liis falsity ; but, more than all, fearing for the effects of her fierce wrath oir Cliristie, knowing well what must be the Strength of Sibyl's passion when unchained. And so, when Mrs. Brantwell proposed that Sibyl fhoukl remain Avith her another week, instead of return- ing to t^e dreary isle, instead of feeling irritated now, he backed the proposal, saying that perhaps it would be bet- *tcr {at her to do so, more especially during her brother's absence. / • , And Sibyl, in her deep love and woman's trust, silsv ^piecting nothing, fearing nothing, consented, to the inward Joy and sincere relief of hek false lover. ^ Resolving to visit her frequently, and so allaj ^ny suspicions that his absence might give ri^^ to, Wi^iard DruBimond returned to the island and to — Christie, ^ield* t.«-'^£fe' *» ..TjK. ■Sf^^Sftfe' jm TRiirMm oi' PABBiok '*t^ mg himself witbout further e^ort to the witching spell olf her love. ' * j Jt. Urs Tom suspected nothing of the contraband court- ' inff carried on unde/ber very eyes. It was the most nat- ural thing in the v/orld, she thought, that, in the absence of Sibyl and her brother, the young man should spend whole days with them, for it was not pleasant having up • 0;he to talk to but a couple of negroes, as she veigr well knew Then, it was not to be wondered at, that he pre- ferred talkihg and walking with Christie to any of the /rest for slie was " book-rarned" like himself, which / neither she nor Carl was. She did wonder a little some- times, and said as much ta Christie, why he should. Stay on the island at all, in the absence of the other. | "« Bxii I suppose," was always her conclusion, It t becaus Jit's Miss Sibyl's home, and, for h^^^ke, he stays^ there utitil she comes." J / *!. ., / adt Christie, though she only blushed an* was silent, was of a different opinion— one that she woiiid scarcely own /to her oxvn heart. As to his being in^love With Chr4ie .Mrs. Tom would have scouted 6h« ideft with sco/n and unbelief, had she heard it. Every ciccum|^ance wa^ against such a conclusion. He,was rich, highly con- nected, and proud as a prince 6f the blood ; she wis poor, . uiiknown, and, comf)ared with him, uneducat^. Besides, iii the good widow's opinion, she was a child in feeling, as she certainly was in years, scarcely knowing the -»-*«- ing pf the word love. Ah ' she had been till he came ; and his fervid, impas- sioned words, his burning glances, his thrilling touch, > had swept away the glamour of childhood and pmphcity, and revealed to her the passionate woman's heirt wtthm ' her. His words, hia looks, his tones, were ftU nfcw rcV> , t . < s\'% •"*•; I THE TRIUJSPB OP pABBiOK ;rfl^ . ;:: dQ^btipg, wishing, yet undecided still. For, when auty , and principle would appear for a moment victorious, the waving golden hair, the beautiful bltie eyes, the gentle, loving fiice of Christie would arise before him, scattering all his good, resolutions to^ie winds. And, mingled with this, there was a sort of superstitious foreboding of evil to corpe. He thoupjht of his dream, and of the yellow- haired siren luring him on to destruction ; and of Sibyli , fiery daughter of a fiery, race, fierce^ vindictive and'^pi- plgcable in her wrongs. . , . - "Oh, that I had never met this dark, passionate girl !" he murmured, distractedly, " who now stands between me And the heaven of ^y dreams ; or would that I had seen this beautiful, enchanting Christie first! Oh, ffot that apgel as my wife ! And but for those fatal vows once 'made to Sibyl, she might be iT^ine. I was mad, cra;;ed, to mistake my fancy for that d'^^rk, wild-eyed girl for love ! And now, for that one mislake. am I to be wretched for life? Shall I give up this beautiful, radiant crlature, who loves me, for one I care for nXr lor^er?- No; ,the struggle is past. Chlistie shall be my bride, and I will, brave the worst that may follow !" ■> ^ .' , • He set his teeth hard ; and, as if fea,ring second reflec- tion might majce him change his mi%d, he left the ihousd. and hurried out to meet Christie. > *■* . il Down on the shore„undertl^e shade of an Averhang- ing willow, he knew Chrisiie had a tavorite seat, where, on pleasant days, slie used totake Kcr work. llere he was sure of findipg her, and in tfiis (^ircction he bent bis ^teps^ ',."■ / ^ ■/"■■^-':'' She sat, sewiiig, under the shade of the drodping wil- low, bilging softly to herself, and looking Uke ^omd vA- V ■"•« v. J 'i} .3- ', * K 1 ^ "-v*-^ \ s» f^mifiipjs b» hisstt^. >, -^is^^**1 ^^® 6lFa%lvan scene,; dl^ sortie befiuiiful sea- nfthpih, just risen from her grotto of coral and chrystal, fj\ Radiant and bewildering was the smile and blush with whiqh she welcomed ^im—a smile and bliish tl|at mfght ^havejbeen found too strong even for more potent princi- ples than his. ." He seated himself beside her, with a look of moSy ^ abst^rtion, all unusual with him, watching iber covertly gi- ^ from under his eyelashes, as she bent smiliri^ and happy ^^ ; over her worjcv ^ %. : For a time, GhristieT chatted gay^ on various common- , place matters ; but, at last, catching her tone from his, , She, too, grew silent and thoughtful. She bent Jower dver her work, Wondering if she had offended him, and itivoluntanly sighed. ^, He heard it, and said : . ^'And wherefore that sigh, Christie! Are you \iti ^i-hjappyr^'. '' No not unhappy ; but troubled." " And why should you be troubled, bright one ? What can there be to grieve one so fair ?" ■ ;* I— I— feared I had offended you," she aiisWered, timidly., "You appear out of spirits." " You offend me, gentle one— you who never offended ' uny one in your life ? No, no ; it is not that." / "Then you ace unhappy," she said, shyly. / ' •• Yes, I am miserable— wretched !" he cri4d, y^ei «ntly. ♦' I wish to Heaven I had ijever b^en bjbrn/' ** Oh, Mr. Drummond ! what has happenecjf !"ihe crie^, ; laying her hand on his,- and looking up wilfully in Lis " ^^^- - •■ .*••-■' ■ I ■■' / ■ He^ touch, hfer tone, her*loo!i sv^^ptl away fe4ry »^inaining tiace o< fidelity. He forgot evcrytliini he * 1. / laZff ^JUUMPS OF PASBJtm. .r- irr- r /. .IliQuId havte retnembered — his vows, his honor, his truth=- /aawdt saw nothing but the bright, radiant;: bewildering vision before him. In an instant he was on his.icpees at her feet, exclaiming, with impassi9ned vehemedce : .*f Christie! Christie! my life,. my drea'm, my hop«x;I ' love ypu. / See, I am at your feet, where my heart, my name, my fortune," long have been. With n»y whole heart, and soul, and life, I love you with a love sMTbrigfer than death or the grave. All the devotion and hopes at my life I ofEer you, if you can only say you love me." .'- He was pale and panting; his eyes were fierce^ an& burning ; his tones low, thrilling, ajid passionate. \ ^ Tremblrag, shrinking, blushing, yet, with^ a deep, intense, fervent joy thrilling through her heart and being^. Christie listened. The bloodswept in torrents to her face, neck, and bosom, which^yose^aud fell with her rapid > breathing. She dare not look up to meet his ardent I burning, gaze. ' "C|hristie, Christie ! my love, my life !' Jook up'; speak—answer me — tell me that you love me ! '>> -* Still no -reply, only those downcast eyes, deepest blushes, and quick, hurried breathing. - '|*^ "Speak ! speak! py beautiful love! only one word from those sweet lips ; but one touch of your dear hand V to tell me I may liv/e," he cried, growing more wild and -^y^^ impassioned. ^ •*# Wiih/a low, gl4d cry of /intense joy, she buried hiefi*" blusjiin^ face on his sliouldc^r. \ " Thanks ! m^ heart's thanks for ihis sweetest, loyeli-: est Christie !" he cried, with exultant joy, pressing her yielding form to his bounding heart. " My life, with all its hopes, energies, and ambitions, shall be devoted to but one purpose liow — that of rewarding you for your {»ico> 'less love" '/ ,jri«tfei ^fl^p;. :4 *7X Wfi ^ ■3. ■ i ^ ' "tt^l fiO rfl2?* miujifpii OF pAsaiosr. f » miZT. A ^'^"°^™ond now, sweetest Christie. I am »^»//ar// to y6u, now and forever Let'm^o- \. that name in musi^c from your 1 ins LT ?l' ^'^' higher boon in store for me.7 P'' ^"^ ""^"^ ^^^ "^ nnJf" °- • ''f" ^°" ^°^^ "^« thus-me,a noor little nameless, uncultured girl, while vo,. ^« R^or, little, guished, an.d highly Jnn^ct^S d^. Wi Ld .Wm"'"' not, some" dav renpnf thi^ u • "'•"arcl, will you ^ver perjure the words I have ^r.ni,«« ^ , ^ ' ^ be my soul, when it is falst lo Tee " hTrrL^^' T'''' sionate vehemence. ^ ' ''"^^' "^^'^ P^^- Hey^'T^^H^'"^'^^"''^'' I do not dc^bt you- f^rrr: !::'''• ^ ^^^-^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^--^^^ you c^^ bea:^^!-:,;!^!!:-^:::-;^^^ to make me the happiest of men "'^ ^^ '' ''^""^'"^' ^ inquf^/'r ''' '""""' ''" ""' ^ ^r^ o^ --est j "Ghrikvone little word from you^,,«fi7I ere the sua I .e on a new day, my joy will be comVcre-my cup o^ '- .^nhly hnpp.ness will he filled tdthe brim - ^ ^ Still the same earnest, anxiou] ga2^ '* Dearest love, you will not refuse? It will be hut « .small -matter to you. and win r«.i; * /blessed." >ou, and^will make me supremely "And that?" she inquiredfwonderiogl/ - • v- 1 vj t*fy^, *;; ■t* 5 ■fjj fM' .^' THE TBIVMI^ OF PAI^ON. a , " Brightest Christie, l^ my bride — my wife !" he cried, folding her closer in his arms, and speaking in a thrilling tlrhisper. Again the eloquent blood swept over her stainless neck and bosom,*'bi/t she did not reply. '* You will not refuse me, my own Christie, this last, greatest favor? Comply now — to-day v for if the present opportunity passes, it may never occuf again." '^ "But how— ^ "Christie, yonder lies a boat ; lit is three hours to sunr set ; long be.fore that time we jcan reach Westport ; there we can find a clergyman, and there you can become my own for life !" / * , ; ,^«^ut it\is so soon — so sudden," she faltered ; "an'S AunrTom—sVie will never consent." -^b-^ "She would not consent any way, fairest <|Shristie. She would s^y you were, too young — too fsfr in social " pbsition beneath rae. Sbe would not believe my intentions . honorable. In short, dearest, she would raise a thousand ' objections, and the end would be, tliat we would be partedv forever " ' , ' " Oh, Willard ! it would not be,s6 bad as thit ; if yoii ex^plained it all to her, I think she would consls'nt. Aunt ToiH is good and kind, and loves me, and,would dot' any* thing\o make me happy." / \M, ' ,''* " Imx. may be, brightest Christie ; but that very Jove she has foXyou, and her wish to make you happy, wou^ld crftJ^c her lo^csiiaie. For she would repeat the old. sense- less saying, 'Marry in haste and repent at leisure,', and , • think the best way to n^akc n Imiii hiyj./ilii mould be td ■ po^pone our marriage for years." ".<*1 •t ?f*vl ,atf'y| /—-I y iV*CL 4t»^. SSTS n I ".* n , ' k stmtrkja'M or i^ABi^ON. A, " But thfs secret raarriige, it seems wrong— sinful. Oh, Willardy my soul revolts from It J If I could onlv tell Aunt Tom ptrie'd Christie, imploringly. " when'tfie proper time comes, deisirest love, she shall know, and the -world shall belfold, my beautiful bride. But until then, you must have confidence in me, and wait;"., - ) ^ " But, oh i I have such a presentiment bf wiiat mty follow, Wtllard^irsuch a cloud seems to enshroud this secret iparriage, that my very soul shrinks from it in fear." '•, "^^"s'^®''!^P said, drawing back, and speaking ink deeply offen^M^e, "you do not love me !" ' ^^^ ^^dB^ ^'S^t, beautiful eyes, so full of love :and ^^^^'^^^HP^^l not soeak. No ^words could have told siich a W^f perfect, intense love,' as did that quick, ,' eloquent glance! *' You do not love me," he went on, in the same deepli hurt tone; *'you have nq confidence in me, no tru*l^^ ^faith. I have given you my reasons, good and valid to - an,y.xiiig e|sej^^but of no avail with yoti. If you caredsior me, you would be content to wait, with perfect trust in iny love ; but I see you- will nqt trust me. Be it so ; there remains nothing for me but, to leave you forever." _ "Oh, Willard !" was all she could say, as her voice was choked in tears. \ " I thouglit I had found an artless, loving, trusting girl," he went oh, with increased bitterness ; "but I have found one who* will not yield in the slightest iota, lest she should compromise herself in the eyes of the world, who fears what it will say of her more than she loves me ! Farevyell, Christie ! we nsive met for the last time, ^ince you care for your aunt more than for me, I leave you to her^** ^ '•"I^' fR|JKiM^ ^ MAmow. He ajfose, coldly and haughtily, to go. "Oh, Willard ! do not ledve me!" was her ' '^t. iyH>aate t^roly do ..^. cry. " I will do anything^ be anything you aslfPlnly do not leave me in anger !** "Will you be my Wife?" : -"Yes." / ■ • ■ ■ ■■. ' - *'To.hight?"K - • . ^> , ^ *' Oh, yes ! to-night and forever 1"' " My own gentle love !" he whispered, prctssing hey fotdly in his arms, " will you go and get ready, and retuf a / -f. to me heri^in a^quartcr of an hour ?" / / '] x^ " But|what shall I say to Aunt Tona--ihow account for / royabstJnce?" " ■ " ■ ' *' : :/ . _ ». / "/Leave that to me, dearest. In a |bw minutes J will/ . foll6w you to the cottage, and asfe her to let you take a,' Tij sailrwith mc on the river„ by moonlight ; she iv;iU ^0|t i^ tuse me." ->. ' , ' " As you will," s^id Christie, turning toward her honjie. ,7^ While Willard, triujmphant^ exulting, and ' dijEzy with jby^ ; \-- ' ■^t desc^^ided to the beach to prepare the boat / •* /• A _*/ '^i^^ lO* ^ fj^ ". ii. * ' ■ ■'.. * . ■'■.■-' ,■■■'. . * J*' --^"' ' ■ ■ k / • • - ■ > r '■ , r ■ ^ . , »" •^ * . , . . ■ - . . *1 % » t • b •• • • , - ■. i ff * •■■ * ' ., ., ... , . .. . ," ^I [ . ' ► --. t w » \ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT.3) h /. :/. A Z - ■« V J LO I.I ^ *^ ■2.2. 2: m "^ i« Hill 2.0 lU IL25 i 1.4 m 1.6 6" ^/ ^ V Id ^$ciences Corporation \,-. /. % 23 WEST MAIN STMET WIBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716)a73-4S09 "d^ ^ -fU' ^ F ' ' .1 * - 1 * •■■ "'-. * 1 .I, -v.; / 1 > - ' 1 1 i " * ■' -^ ■1 ' <:« 1' ii „ "*.f'' t ■ * !! ^ • ■"'•- V ^H • » '*^W - - \ - • ^^1 \ <> v^ 1 1 % N \, >., B * • j:2^^^1 TSS naiON OF TEB 18LB j«i>. -'^.. '^ CHAPTER IX. ' / THE VISION OF THE ISLE. ' . riP^rn f ^- • u**'°l'' ' '°' ^J^^e «t comes airain f I II cross It though it blast me. Stay, iuSi Ifthou hast any sound, or use a^o£;°' Speak to me I" . r ) ' Hamlet. FICKLE fortune, that often favor^ the wrong and erring, certainly smiled on the lovers that dav F«^ «l>en I uin't go. a c.p „• tea for my bTe"k tt • , J^""' no use .ryin' tp make ,ha. there good'^r lot ,in" C ^ ' ~o .... »X-:s":.^rL;r;ot\r;^T'a^ JVirs. lom crave the pn» n.b-.-^i, u- ■ •'^ ' ■'*"Ci "' « Mr" Drum J"'/""^ ' """ ''^'' ^°" S°-' '<> l» ?" mr. Urummond is e-oin&- nvr^r »^ m * evening, and he wanted me Tfo with h m '^'^^ • '"^^ turning away to hide a risLg blusl J' r^^^'^.f '^"^^^^ there." • ^^ . *• * **" ®*sily get it ^i'- fi i-f i7-'m TBB VISION OF IBB 18LS. 98 « So you can," said Mrs. Tom, considering ; " but will Mr. Drummond return early?" "Yes,".saidt;hristie; "he has some slight busituss to ^ transact, and then te is coming immediately home. The sail will be pleasant by moonlight, antj. I'd like to go." ^ "Well, go, then ; and don't be gon^any longer than you can help. Get two poun's of hyson at Mr. Ginger's." "Yes ma'am," said Christie; taking the money, and putting on he^ hat and shawl, in a trembling, agisted way, that at any other time Mrs. Tom must have noticed. She hurried out, and on her way met Willard coming up to the house. ^ ■>«. "Well, has Mrs. Tom given you permission?" he asked, in pleased surprise. Christie related her errand. - "The gods favor us !" he cried, gayly. "See, Christie ! the sun is approaching the west, and before it dies out',pf the sky, you will be what Heaven has destined you for— my wife !" " And to be that for one hour, is bliss enough td^f^pay for a whole life of misery," she said, with j^Hfelt earnestness, " With my own Christie ! Will I ever be able to repay you for this grace, this greatest earthly blessing that Heaven could bestow upon me ?" he said, fervently. " The knowledge of your love more than repays m^ ^* for I have' made no sacrifice," she said, in a low tone. They had now reached the boat. He handed her ta^ pushed oflf the .boat, took the oars, and rowed away. ,,>^ But other ey«s they dreamed not of Were upon them. From one of the windows of the high chambero^f Camp, bell's Lodge, Aunt Mq^I and her son, Lem w«« takinr observationa. ' ' • y'i ■.^'M tiiJtlaMiSmuiWa ^. 5* "^V r*« few ^' ' 4 — ^4 5 "Dar dey go!— oflf a sailioV Wh^t will Miss Sibyl say to dat ?" observed the indignant Aunt Moll. " Goin* out sailin' doesn't signify nothin'. De young |^9ib1um wants somebody to talk to as he rows." f*'Tai6't right," said Aunt Moll, with an oracular shake of the head; "dar's sumfin wrong, somewhere. Pon't b'lieve Miss Sibyl would 'prove of it, nohow ; dese JfC'' young inen ain't to be trusted nowadays." r " It's nat'ral Marse Drummin would get tired o' one |j:al— mos' young men do— and take up wid anoder, for a • change. I'd do it myself," concluded Lem, in a pompous frtone. , ,;■ " You woj^ild ?" said his mother, in high dudgeon .; " as- if any gal 'd look- at you, you brack fool, Marse Drum- min will get hisself inter a hornet's nest, if he trifles wid 4e 'fections ?ob Miss Sibyl. I's come^^e disclusion to conform Miss Sibyl ob his goings^gl^Kn as ebber she arrives. Dar !" "i^^ And having thus settled the ma^r to her own entire satisfaction, Aunt Moll descended to the kitchen, and ^ooft forg^all sublunary tjjiihgs in^ the celestial b|iss of smoking' sffhort, dirty pipe, as black and stuijrpy^s her- M^lt"»f the erring young, pair were swiftly skim- rtiing "over tfie bright paters in the dir^tion of VVestport. •'^^^ l^^*^ °^^*^^''?K Pf«J^¥^^ ^h^ ppssibiUty of conver- ^'^^'^f *"4 Wh wer^ sil^ent and thouglitfui; Urg€?d on J?/ h^f intense desire <>f coraipletingj what lie had so suc- cessful ly begun— urged on, perhaps, by Fate— the boat aeeiQed fairly tq fly over the sparkling, sun-bright waves. Ere the last ray of sunlight had faded from the sky ^ftlWl ^WMi '^« opp^sHc s^orp ; «m,nder and alarm. ' ' , But, pk-essing her hafids oter her heart, she sank diz- zily on the church steps, ^le, gashing, trembling, hOrror- stticken still. '* Ciiristie ! Christie ! dearest loil« ! What is it ?" hesaill} anjtiously, encircling her with his arm. " Oh ! the doom — the doom !" she said, shudderinglf • hiding her face in his arm. " What doom ? Of what are you shaking, sweet \frife T* hd in(|{tired, in increasing anxiety. She rose now, and passed her hand over het brow, a4 if to cllt^r away a qiist. Then, seeii^ his pale) tltimtbled faci^, ^le ttieoverisd Hirsielf and fprewtd % veaxit. > , "D<^e8l Christie, what was itfU macmAf -■ "-V --.Sr&^ K. -.vl' -"«? / rc^, \ W -^ *a»' TlSiOJUr OF THE ISLB, .\ ^ " Oh, Willard ! ydd will laugh at me, but I felt it all, I ta,V9 it all so plainly," she said, in a weeping voice. "Saw wfifit— felt wliat ? I do not understand," he saW, puzzled by her look and words. " Those eyes ! those eyes ! ivnd that fierce grasp on my throat, and the keen knife ! Al^, Heaven ! I feel it yet." . And she shuddered convulsively.X "4'*® y^^ raving, Christie ! ik Heaven's name, what eyes, what knife, are you speaking of?" he said, beginning to think she had lost her reason, \ . , " Oh, Willard ! Willard ! just as you folded me in your arms, and called me your wife, Sibyl Campbell's fierce, wild, black eyes rose before me, glaring on me like burn- ing coals, and then I felt two strong hands clutch my throat, and a knife plunged into my breast! Oh, saints \in lic^ven ! it rises before me yet." * "Christie, you aremad !" he said». vehemently ; but the asben paleness that overspread his face told the sudden the name of Sibyl had given him. In all the* terror, horror, and momentary frenzy of that ibstant, che fair of his displeasure conquered every other,, feelingXin her breast. Shaking off, with an effort, the dreepingyread that was palsy iqg every nerVe, she clung to his arn^with renewed confidence, and said, with a deep breath of relief : "I believe I was,vfor the moment, Willard ; but that has pasr^ed now. You are not angry with me, dearest Willard ?' she said, anxiously, observing the cloud that ;' «lil I overspread his fine f;ice. "Angry ? not at all V* he said, gravely. " Only sorry ond surprised tp tlxink you should giv^sw|si«fc A TB^ VISION OF THE ISUH. tt plainly as I see you now. Oh, those dreadful, dreadful eyes ! they will haunt me to my dying day !" "Do not think of it again, my own Jove, and do not looK so wild," he said, soothingly. "Come, let us be going; the moon will soon rise, and it will be late before we reach the isle.'V * " And Aunt Tom will beanxious," said Christie.^ ^ And that reminds me of her commission, which I had nearly forgotten. When we reach the store, you can wait out- side. I will join you in a moment." The moon was just rising wlien they set sail for the isle, Vhich Christie had left a child, and was returning a wife. Ah! where was their better angel in that dark moment of madness and tempt.ition ?. The soft, bright moonlight was lighting up the isle 'with its calm, pale rays when they reached it. The qry of the whip-poor-will and katy-did, from the neighboring forest,, mingled with the soft, dreamy murmur of thcj . waves on the shore, was the sweetest music ever heard; \ Tempted by, the beauty of the night, our lovers pro- longed iheir stroll over the beach. At length, as it be^iAi to grow late, Christie, fearing ^rs. Tom or Carl might come out to watch for her coming, persuaded Willard to lee her return. , ^ They walked up the rocky, romantic path, whispering those low and often foolish ihings'so sweet to lovers' eara when coming from the lips of the loved one. A light .still [winkled itkihc widow's cottage, casting a long, thin line of yellow, light far over the lonely road. But no other sign of life waS visible. Christie's blue eyes were bent on. the ground, and Will.Trd's statdly head was bent above her, when, suddenly looking up, he beheld a siglit which froze the blood ki his veins. * ! 'II K', *. t.. >> Fwtti die ^ark, mystic pine woods, « ^hice-mbed fimre ^me floating tow«iti them. Ooe gUnoe sufficed to teli r~ **.T" ?*»* ^''^"Sfe Tisioii |hat Had bent t>wjr fclm a iBW lu^ts before. There wens the same holioiv, rayTeM «9r«s» tSie same wild, streaming bhick hair, tbc same ghastly corpse-like face, with its fixed look of imottcrabte woe It WW earning rteadiJj toward the»|, tbis awful phau- iwn. WiUard stood fixed, rooted to the gromid, garfng «» If feiscinated o» the appailiog specter. His next thought was for Chj-istie. He glanced toward ber to see h«r face Wancbed to the hue of defctb. her ejres dilatine '*":^**"^ **'' f «wn, a«aWe to speak a ^onf, one hand i^. *n(|.6rie^k«iag finger panting to the dre^ .being approjphit%t iJ^ ^ "**^ "**"■ "P***^ ^"» t^ phantom Seated on untihit stood before them, face to f^e. For jn tns»,t it paused, with its hollow eyes glaring upon them ; then wuh an awf al cry of « mardered f murdered l'* that peeled through the dim old woods, it (Hbw up both ^arms, and with a shrill, piercing, agonizing shriek, tfcd away and was hid among the beetling rocks ; the hand that grasped Willard's arm was gm wins weaker and weaker, there was a low moan, and he turned in lime to catch the senseless form of his child- wife in lua arms. Ai-^*'.''"^* unearthly scream had startled Mr$..Tom A#a^ed and wondering, she cautiously opened the door a^ vi^t out And there she saw Willard Drummond Urith (be senseless form of Christie in his arms. * m 3 1 ''4;*.-*^¥«^', '8 SMlEaOk rc< Fortune is merry. And in this mood will give us anytliing." JULIVS C>MAS. \ CAPTAIN GUY CaUpbELL sa^ in tho parlor n.** r4 " Now, what in the name court can tiiis mca«?" Qji Campbell. rf Neptune and all hi$ scaljr^ lulated the amaeed ^^. 3-3?*^-'.--- k":^ H ? OiTff OFJFOBtAb'B 8M1 ^^^"^^^ »»«PPy to inform you," said a voice behind hi^, «o,ly I don't hLppen to know whatLu're talking ^i^^^I^^ '"™*^^ round, and U a fashion- ^d.^d young man. who had just enfered, standing h«nH^*??*^**''*' ^"""^ """^ y°"^' ^« «aid.Lxtending his hand; " happy to see you. What in the torld brought you here ?-the v^ry la« pc«on I ever expLed to see in this quarter of the gtibe." f • f • ^'MTell/' said StaflFord, leisurely-seatinfe Wm,elf "I ^me down here, nomfealjy. to tinsact Le buies 's7arhad^'"L°''' 5"! ''^^ '^^' ^^' ' ^^^^^e Evening Star had arrived, and I wanted to pay mvf ' S?^^^?' '^^^ ^"^^° °^ t^e Isle. How i ^ "Very Wll, and at present on a visit tdthe Rev Mr Brantweiri But look at this advertisemJt herf Tn fhe Westport hraU What the deuce do youtke offt ^ thef^er ^°°^ '^^ P'^P^'- -°4 carelessly glanced over ^th. r don't kngw. Somebody's left you a legacy, " Pooh 1 What a notion! Who under thj; sftn is there L^i:i:^:ru!s;^'°"^"^^^^^"'p^'^-HHasp::: nJ'J^f ' i n^*"^'' -''°"'' ""^'^^""'^ relationLthe Eyres, worih mo!: H T T^'^ ^^^'^ •^•'*"'^"' '•!- millionaire l^^'r'^:''^' ^"^'- ?'- ^ -Id under: deyoirs to her pretty Ladv take to count. 'He might have died anc money." ' ^ "And leave his oven family without ? A ^••Id Captain Campbell. ^ left you his likely s^iy;" a. iippi??^! i?^"^!^?:^ •f>x^ '^T-^^^ ^ ;^1^*"- .1-1 ONE OF FORTUNE'S^ BM1LE8. ' i" IQt S ' ' f* My dear fcllaw, he had no family, except a wife, and ,sh6 has bfccii dead for many^ycafs. You may bo certain b« has left. you iiis heir." » "By Jove ! if it sliouhl prove to be true, thit wiuid b r..;^ streak of good luck. But it cannot be. Dame Fortune Would never besiow on a Campbell any such JricticJiy smile. They always were an impoverished race, and always will be, I believe.*^-!; " Don't be loo cunfident.. Strange things liappen some- times. For instance, I saw something strange a night or two ago." -, '•Yes? What is it ?" ' . ' "Well, you see, about dark I was wandering about the shore, enjoying a cigar and the beauty of the evening, and rumina'ting whether it wouldn't be advisable to take a boat uiid ga over to see her adorable majesty, Queen Sibyl. Most likely my cogitation would have ended in my going, only, unfortunately, there vyas no boat to be seen. I was about to turn away in despair, when I sud- denly espied a boat c^ppitling two persgns land at some- distance below where 1 Itocid. One was a young fellow, .tall and good lookin'g, with a certain air of aristocratic hauteur about him that told me he was not to be inter-' fered with. But his companion — olyi ye gods and littie fishes ! what a perfect little sylph she/ was ! Such a mirac- ulous combination of blue eyes, yellow guxlsr^nowy com- plexioii) pink cheeks, and red, kissable lips, it neve^ was my good fort|^ne tk% IjmX'S V Tie VLi '^visM muLrn m: ' •♦Ghjri.tie I oh, ppoh 'f it douldn't hare been «he/' «ii(l dptoin Campbell, Willi an Uneasy start. •• Of course, it coiildn'i, fij^Ve been shc,^ with so dainty^a knight a» that, but it wlas mo n confouiidedly like her, or whfi she was whea i sjiw her Rt^t— four^^years ago; though I dare say she has grtatly changed since then." *• Well, what was there so .t* :*•.,, strange about a handsome fellow and a piwity girllanding on the beach, to' interest the nonchfilant WiJl ^tafford r asked Captain Campbell. "Ligten~I hfaven*t got to the strange part of my story 3ret. They walked up the beabh to the road,. and I could see the girl was terrified and excited, while he tried to t^the and quiet her. My cliriosity was aroused ; for, •ppn my sopl, Campbell, I kever saw a lovlier little' creature; and with a sort of idea they were up to somd > mischief, 1 followed them. It ^as ijcarly^ dark, and they l|Qr«ied on so fast they did not Uoiice rae, and I tracked them into ope of the most obsjcure streets of tttfe town, aiid saw th^ni^enter a little, seclidod, Methodist meeting. /^ •*Wclir«aid his auditor. "^ "JWjU, sir, the fellofcr left herl there ^nd went off. I crept'fioftly in, an^ in the obscArity hid%behind a posf, ^terlnined to see the end. Dark as it was, I- could see shetrem^ed with ia\Ya|d emotiiii, and croucl^d down in her seat» with h^r faf:^ hidden in her hands, as if terror, ,i«morsQ, sorrow, or $oini^ ptb^r feelipg, was weighing ^wn her Heart/' ' \ *♦ Wonder the gay Will Sta^ord did not approach find offer h|r«^SQl;I^iQn,"5aifi the young captain, dryly.^ \j.. "By Jove f I fpU like doing it," said Mr^ Stafford, in r*il sincerity >»hutj wanted to s<}e wha^ was^p^for I Icnew now air ftpuld' not be quite right Breaedtly, tlw mr o^ Mokrfrsms BMiLjuk Alt WAS foiing n>ft« cim» biack. and *ith -hiitt a miniBter. clear as karSr atbpooaday, now^-this was a luoaWay md«ch»j^^lande«,i^'Wmage — aomctlwag which ia alwaya interesting to fast^upg toen Uico tnyself. The iMff^ pair stood up belure the clergyman, apd tU« twain were soon ntade ono'-flesh. . ^ -^^ '**My ears would have ran themsi^l|res into point*. in order to hear, the better, but I listened flfc^yadn. The mm*> istcr mumbled over the ccreinpny so cdftl^uadedly low that I cottld not hear a single v/ord— not evi^a the nap»«*: of the parlies, which I waisi particularly anxtbus to, fines' out. 1 suppose U waa all right, however, foi\ I saw the clergyman pocket the fee, and the young ms^, tucking little blue-eyea und^r his ar^i walked off; a»^ faitb, I'd given a trifle td hav« s^ood ip his place. I foH^wed, not being ambitious to be locked^ up all ijight, ev«i^i» |* Ifoly a place aj a chiirch. Just as I went out, I hearc^, a» aw(ul shfi^k, and there the bride stood like one suddenly turned to stone^ whil© the bridegroom was trying 4o gq% sole her. What scared, her I .don't know, but certainly I uever saw a moretenri^ed look on any face than was o^.; ^ers. Not wishing to b| seen, I drew badt, and.in a^few minutes thij^y started olc I foliowed they w ** Well, really, I cannot asqr, such things dd not interest iMMW deefi^jf M UiejF dP'^'""**' "''' ^^^ ^"- Ring your permission, will bid you good-morning." ^ *" Ty -' ■ ' j' An4 tfic little attprncy bftwed them pplitely o^t^ " yell, this is a streak of good lack .'"exclaimed Staf- fonj. "Up^ my, wqrd, Campbell, you must have betia born with a silver spool! ip your mouth. 1 suppose vciu WilUt^ipstantlyforNevYoFk?" ^' *^r -I instantly, my dear Stafford. I muaj go and in^ fornli Si^yl of our §oq<* fp|t«ne. Dear, noble girl, for\ l^^ls^M I am truly thankfql foV this." * Of course you ought to be ; not many men are blessed W 9|th S5M:h a sister a^ th^i r^^i^nt, glorious Sibyl. Hav<$^ you any objectioqs to my accompanying you ?" ^^ . "Delighted to l^ve you, my dear fellow. Suppose ^ ^Pl at^rt H9W ; we wi|l be at Brantw^ll's before dark." « JMSt a& you please, my dear sir. 1 suj^pose it will be fht for sair een * to see her dazzling majesty, the Queen t^« me, agaip." A carri^^ wj^sopii ii^ readiness, and our two friends farted to impart this sudden glimpse of fortune's sua- M^e to Sibyl, 1 ! It was dark when they leached the parsonage—a hand- Some and rather iroposinjg-lQol^ing mansioi^— and were ^sher«d into th;^ drawipg-fpom by a neat looking little ^"l^s- Si^yl*l> y} 0^ QF FOBTUmtA SUtl08. she heard of the unexpected good fortune of Sibyl ai|tf, her brother, her rapturous delight knew no bounds "Just to think of it !" she exclaimed, "my handsome Sibyl an heiress. Oh, won't she create an excitensenl now ? Young, rich, and beautiful ! Sibyl ! Sibyl ! what an enviable fate is yours I" --^ Sibyl's cheek flushed, and her eyes brightened, as sli»i^ thdught of Willard. For his sake she rejoiced over her_ new-found fortune. Of ten and , bitterly had she secretly regretted, an^ her pride revolted at the idea of beconting the bride of one so far superior in wealth and fortune But now she was his equal ! there Was triumph^ joy, exultation in the thought. His aristocratic friends coul4 not look down on her^now — could not despise her for U?r poverty. Look down on her— a Campbell of the Isle I IH other days, who would have dared to do so and live?,, But times had changed since those days ; and peopW'^^ looked more now to dollars and dimes than to blood f0t-^ noble ancestry. Now she had both ; she was his equal Iw wealth, as she was infinitely his superior in every nobla quality, and the triumphant thought sent the blood rush* ing to her crimson cheeks, her red, glowing lips, and thf^ dark. Southern eyes of jet, lit up magnificently wi||| pride, love» and exultation. This fortune of her? she would cast at his feet, with her passionate devotioo^ «•> she had a4rea>dy cast heart, and life, and being, and SQuk, "What are you thinking of Sibyl?" said Captai% Campbell, after watching her a few moments,^ with % smile. " Your cheeks and eyes are hlazipg, yo«Mr nfbolo facfriHumiiMrtedi tt» it wey»> wt t b^Br ww«y4 Ugb tr and triumph. Surely you do not care aSriati^ a#- this k^r wealth?" ^K " ^QSk^ iiwnlPat it's all about/' bn^ it^Mm^ o^*fca*»A ai^iJ^ ;-♦/. 110 OSB Op FOBTUITB-S BMllBB. •^rhe'r^"' , '." ""f '""""""^ mae.er-of.fac. manier. Shesthmking .ha. good-looking Mr. Druramond will ^::.^^;:^. "-'" "^ ''='-^'-'' '-• '-•■ •"- -! ■ fi^^^""^', ""'f^ '""" ■""■ '^'"'"«' ^"d blushed deeply at fi«d™g her thoughts .bus in.erpre.ed. S.-afl,rd .urned ^-tle as he ,va.d,oU her glowing face ; and the conviaion can e home .o l„u,. for .he nrst time, that Sibyl Camp? in?'! "^""'^ ""^ apprecialcd by o.her eyes Ihan his. «.m Campb'er' '" "-^™«>"'°"<' "e-r asked Cnp. ^- " Daj- before yesterday-wasn't it Sibyl ? i He doesn't ^flashing eyes of yours, my lady. I m not a youn.r pentTe! t«a.L thank goodness! and am proof against ev^n'^thos" bnght, angry glances. To be sure the young ml rn^v have tome plausible excuse ; bu, it seems to m'eTn were -in h,s place I'd stick to you like a chesnut-burr, for tor yo^nght snp through my fingers. Poor, d«r Mr and I never had any beauty worth mentioning," saW Mrl Brantwell, with her usual jolly laugh K. sa-a Mrs. .r.viv """ir^""' *''°"' "'"■"•'' "<=" l»: /; r^J^H ' ONE OV FORTUima SMILES. in And here comes Mr. Brantwell himself, who wouldii't; appiove of it, by any means." / At this moment the good clergyman entered, and warmly greeted his gy^ests. ' In a few words his wife told him of this astonishing good fortune; Mr. Brantwell always took matters very coolly, a circumstance which sometimes provoked his more excitable lady, as on the present occasion— he merely elevated his eyebrows slightly in token olf sur- prise,and said : ; " Indeed !" / ' *"Yes,'indeed !" responded his wife, irreverently mim- icking his tone, ''and one would think fortunes were in the habit of pouring into people's hands as they walked, by the way you take it." " Well, vvhcr^ is the use of flying off at a tangent at everything," retorted her spouse, " as you do. I suppose, , captain, you will start for New York immediately ?" " Yes, to-mprrovv morning." : , " And as Sibyl may be wanted, you had better take her, too," said Mr. Brantwell. " Very trvje ; I never thought of it before. Can you be ready, Sibyl ?" Sibyl thought of Drummond, and asked, rather hesita«^ tingly, " HoW long' will you be gone ?" " About a week — or two or three, at the farthest." *' Now, Sibyl," broke in Mrs. Brantwell, who seemed to possess, the faculty pf reading people's thougbxs» ".^ " never mind Mr. Drummond j I'll break the news of your-abs^nce to him—tn—the getttleaMnantiCf-posstb] Your fortune is of more importance just now than bi»« lordship,/ who, no doubt, will follow you to Nevr Yorlr when he/ heurs you are there." > * >^v A C ' ■ \ '-m '$■/<' jt ^-WW'?^>f i^^^-^^'^qf ^ 'U$ «»• ^»t«l6-.m» IWMSZSt ui J?*? "^^J? ? "«^«^^>'»8 angnr with theg«iod.hiiinor«d Wd lady, so Sibyl smiled, and mmU^ i^rmdy betimes And early the following day th^ brother and sister »fit \ \, |!T^,W« tat, » r u I CHAPTER XI. ' i THE STORM— THE WRECK. •"n»«r«8 of ItoiHls is in the battling^ clouds, ' The glare of hell is, in these sulphurous ligfatniags t Tm '* na eafthly Horn . " Bbktiuil "rwaMFQ days after the departure of Sibyl ere Wil- lard Drummond visited the parsonage again. , And then he h«^rd of her departure with real sur- pnsc and aflfeeted concern ; hut he did n^ follow her to Iew-^the mv^ty his dwn indisputable property, had uot yet atoned, a, it wou d do some day, as it must do ; for such quick, fierce. , completely, as it hj} conw» so must it di* ; for he wm not me^ those whx,, iu ipvi^ oice l«ve for,a life^i^e. ^^^ ^/^^J^'''^^^'^'^ in <>afih ttott l o^ -r;v-''5Wli^leC^;^lQuirpOTwnCS^ ^i.^ • u-M?"!*^ ***''^ '^*'*''*^ ^'^'^ *»*»^s» drooped. l;« ' apEQT sTOB^fT-fas wimei^ ■V m m majestic with the strength of her wrongs, and hurl to ° destritict^n all those who had acted a part in her down* fall. Soipething of all this would at times flit through Willard Drummond's mind ; and once came the ungenerr ous thought that perhaps after^l it would have been bet^ ter had he never seen Campbell's Isle. But on^ smile from Christie, one fond caress from her gentle arms, and all this was forgotten, and all the world ^as agaii|. bounded for him by its wave-dashed shore. So the days of Sibyl's absence were wearing away, and Willard still lingered a willing captive. Even Mrs. Tom's eyes were beginning to be opened to the fact that there must be sdmething more than met the eye in these long solitary rambles— those moonlight; walks and sails the young couple were so fond of. 4*^t Moll had long been throwing out sundry mysterious hints which Mrs. Tom--* - who' disliked gossiping— paid no attention to ; but now she began to think thatf, after all, it might be more pru- dent to keep this g^y young man of pleasure a little oftener from Christie. So Qne day she surprised Christie by a sound scolding on hei'."goin' prowlin' through the woods at all hours, whei^ she ought to be at home doing her work," and positively forbidding her going out again for a week. Christie listened in dutiful silence, but promis/sdF' nothing; an* in spite of all Mrs Tom's watching, met- Willard a^. often as ever. For that young gentlmaafi would visit the cottage each day ; and the little widow -- was altogether too hospitable to hint that he came oftener ?as exactly desirable. Ji^d so th^e waa notbiot do but tol^ope tlmt Miss Sibyl would soon return to the isle, a«d Ipok i|fi ^"' '^ ^« Lord ain't took "A storm, you blockhead!' exclaimed n, •'There i« n«» /^i j- , "* exclaimed Drummond, xnere is not a cloud in the sky."- ^ "Jes'lookober dar, massa, and see dat black dlond •bout de size o' your hand " ' "Well?" said Willard." / _JAP^ett^sooa dat 4wil^aa.t>berthe skyyant deiOvcTT^ liaS a taring squall. De trees tell de wind's risin'al^IV a^Tou needn't be s'prised ef toWorrrai^yo^^ M^ d^ r^m. o' dat wessel spread all over the shc^a" - -«>' THB 6T0BM—TBB WRECK. ta And Letn, with » dolef ut shake of his head, descended from his perch and sought the house. Ere the hour had passed, Lem's prognostications Droved true. The heavens rapidly darkened, as dens^ |Pblackj threatening clouds rolled over it ; the sea.|)ecame of an inky hue, crested with white, ghastly-looking foam, - as it heaved and groaned like a "strong heart in strong' agony," The wind rose and crashed with terrific foroe' through the woods, bending strong trees like leedf before its might. \ ' " Lor* sakea, horn #' blows !" said Mrs. Tom, as sbe ' blustered in and out. " I'clare to man, it 'most took me' right off my feet. I ain't heerd sich a wind these five year come Chrismas, and them two ships were wrecked right * out from the shore, .and every soul perished. Dear, dear I what a sight it was next day, when all the drownedT^ corpses was washed ashore. It was the most awfulest sight I ever seed. Carl, don't sit layin* there in the cor- ner all night, toastin' your shins like a singed cat. Get up and pick the pen-feathers out of that fowl.'* " I h^ajrd Lem saying there was a ship in view about aa hour ag(i," said DruHimond, rising. * r- "Lord a' massy upon them, then !" said Mrs. Tom;^' " for, if they touch the shore, they'H every one go to the bottom." " Oh, dreadful !" said Christie, turning pale with pity and horror. - , . '^" "It's goin'to bean awful night-1 Just listen to the \ wind roarin' through the trees, and that rain ! I never * heafdlTie waves boomin' oh the Jbeach as tficy^reldoTn' ~ now, that a wreck didn't fuller, li'd a blessin* Captain "^ Guy and Mi$s Sibyl ain't oijttbe s«a this di^xiful night. ' eRo think of tflbi i •>»*•) ^*'- * *' >.;'' Whea they were ^way, I useoTto think m every JH "l^.-'^aVJ^' mx MTom^jsm wmm. «>♦ storm. X"«"-. respeetable." . But here, Mrs.Xon.-s words we„ abruptly cut .ho«i /^ ■■^mm''^-^'''^'^^''- • ,. . . ■■-'>; IW «l^ll^f!B» irjiMQK; i!¥ and •hiieking: of the «torn», p«aled a mhiote-^ti of a ^\p in distress, Jike an agonized cry for help. •"" / " H«av«n bft merdf uI I Usten to tliat T exetabned Mrs. Tom, tuhaing pale. Another fierce, tempestnous burst of wiftd andralu another biinrding g*are of sulphtrrous lifs^htntng ; ^notftct appalling peal of d«a^«jM«^ thundejl' rent tlmi air. And then agaiji boomed the tt)intite<^n over the sea. " Something must be done ; something shall be dottef cried Willard^ excited beyond' endurance, at the thought of so many perishing almost within a daxen rods of, wher* he istuod. V Carl, my boy, come with me j and, with tIrtL assistance o) Lem, we may be able to sav« some of tho^ perishing, w^retehes." ^ H " It's too T«f/ 1" said a terrified voice, frotti^he cortttf/ as its owner crouched into a still smaller ball. But Mrs. Tom— who never forgot the practical xm matter what her alarm might be — went over, and^king tlie unfortunate youth by both earss, lifted him, 5»ith K jerk, to his feet. > \ With a how:Vof pain,. Carl extricated^iimself f rbm hw hands/ aod clapped both his own palms Over the injured members. ^ ' - <^'; " Now, go this minute, and get your hat and ovcrcoat,\^*ir and g6\6vt with Mr. Drummond, and do Whatever yott can. An T.om> don n ed his coat and hat witj ■*n al.ncnty'<->h^vtn^ tied the former under his cbFa^ wHh a red harifdkerchie'f, to keep it on— stood reftdy to depaV^ tha MtJif, ^F" few ,::*S^ 4 Iff' »''*" ' ■'«'■•''''? "Iff j m - f TBB BTOBM—TBB WSBOK. Wiping the tears from his eyes, first with the cuff of ode sleeve, and tljiien With the other. ^vU^^» ^Willard cast one look nt Christie, who haa sunkon the floor, her face hidden in horXap ; and then turned to deLi followed by the unwilling Garf. The blinding gust or wind and rain that met them in thefac6 nearly drove ihem l»ck ; but, bending to the storm, they resolut^ly.plunged Qn.,; and it required all the strength of Mi-s. Toto to close Jwe door after them. ^ .. The~ storm scemad inordasing in fury. The wind howled, xaged and shrieked ; the waves thundered with terrific force over the rocks ; the thunder roared, peal upon peal, shaking the ve™||^r.ind to its center; the lightning alone lit np f6r an f^tant, witii its blue, livid glare, the pitchy darkness ; and tlien the cra^h of the strong trees in the neighboring forest, as they vvierc violently torn up by , the roots, all mingled together in awful discord. But, above all, the minute-gun-rdcame wailing once more over the sea.' . The two, plunging so blindly through the storm, has- tened on as if winged at the saddest of sounds. And after tumbling, slipping, falling, rising, a^ J^urrying on again, they readied th^ld lodge at l-ist5»^^^^ ■ . ' A light was burnilf in the kitchcii|^3|^H|hed in''^ there-wet, dripping, .ind half-bliadlF^T^ storm Aunt Mol^ was on her knees in tlie middle of the floor rOckThgba^k and forward, and praying alqud in an a-ony ^r«'" «"^ apprehension ; and Lcm was ^valking up '*— groaning and praying, at intervals, with his '^^goodij l^^^ I-s b^^e n a d refful siuneiy -r j..; htft if ' II do |Poiily spare me jes' aUi^le while longer, I tends to letter. Oh, do spare me 1 I ain't rea4y.to go 'deed i^^ '^^■'A -'-' ^ife ^ ' ,£■ •" oath^ i^' >ust oC^ ' ; ihem unged ) close wind 1 with upon umng c, the ecs in up by :^,^ V SBil BTORMr-TBB WBBOKi mW^' r *flp 4<' )L 'Slfl*I ain't. Please do, good Lor', an' I'll nebber do W notinn' sinful again. Oh, what a streak o' lightnin' dat i^ 'ar was ! O, Lemuel, kneel down, or yer ole ihammy'lt " be took away i'n a flash o\ lignrnin' like 'Lijah was " ^ And in an agony oFT&r Lem tramped up and down / " the long kitchen, quaking at every fresh clap of tl^oder. " Come, cease that caterwauling !" said Drummonn agony of terror. ""No. beat could live two tninutes Lndcm waveiL" — ^ — — .___>-_„i_,j_„_. •* You couldn't launch the boat in these brea4erq^'^Mp:.>'tj Carl^'^BiiiGlilessimU, ifjouwcreintoher." , %^ a X%j ^; ''Attd they must ^rish before our very eyes ! tsL fteayens, Ais is awful I" ' ^ ^^ AgAtn he listened for thd gun, but it c^me no more Its voice was silenced in stor'fe and deatli. " They have gone down ^^said Carl ; " th6 signal gun WHlfire no more." ^ - •Heaven have mercy on their souls J" said VVillard «aemnly, lifting his hat. \ ' " Amen !" said Lem, whose f^rs seemed swallowed tip m awe. ) ^ \ *' We may soon Idbk out for\the bodies," said Car' slraining his eyps over the black, teething waves. ' Even as he spoke, by the blinding light of a g1|fg of lightning they beheld two bodies, lathed to a spar, ttiW» *L, violently 6n the sands near them. \ All s%rigjfferw4^, H and drew them up beyond the reach W the Waves. ♦( ^,' A^ "Unfasten this rope," said Carl, ^ and we 4tfp^rini. them up to the house. Perhaps they iiay notffe'drowheT^ y*'-" / ■ ' \ - ''1 , ' I ■ ^^^ "One's a woman," said Lem, as hte ^the lashing. " Lean carry her, I reckon, while you two tote the man long.** "^ " Go on, th^in," said Willard, " up i6^rs. tom's. Be quiek f" Bearing, with the utntosf difficulty, theiV wet andappar- ently lifeleiss burdens in their arms, they ^ached the cot- tage of the widow, and deposited the Wsel^s f.;rms iMfore the fire. Then, leaving them to her clxi^ge and that of Christie, they descended once more to thci beach to rcs- ^„»M other Urtfprtut ^te^ mM i ai ght-pr»feM e ntiaUy b o washed ashore. toWaM ittldiilght the Stordi Abfttid, 6ttd the king of ^^*»p«»t wu«aif iMg&ii t; r.JJ^^^ -,*-v^:t'V?^ ^^^,^5 ^^^^ y ^i. * * » msrZ'S RBTUBN TO XS9 'liSliA m ^ H^ck clouds slowly rolled back, the lightning ceased to flash, and the thunder only growled in the distance. The wind abated^ and the t»in fell more slowly ; but, though tjiey waited until morning dawned, no moj^e bodies were wafted to tl^eir feet. > The next day's light showed a scene of ruin andjckath. The beach was strewn in every direction with fragments c of the broken ship, and some half-do^n dead bodies lay scatteredpn the sands. All were cold and dead; and sad aod^disappointed, our tired and drenched watchers tu^rned away. \ Befor^ going to the lodge Willard visited the cottage, s^ and leariiled that th^^scued ones were both alive, and I Dhight recover. And, grateful to have been th? mea;i^ o| saving even two of the unfortunates, h^ sdught; his own fi^ unable to rise. I suppose you are puzzling your braius^ow to know what . ^ brought us to this quarter of i ih* globd ? 'f * " I confess I Imve some curiosity a« thatpoittt." - "Well, you see," said' little Mrs. Courtney, adjusting herself more eottifortably in her ^haii^, "we wefltfine weather^ntil the journey Wb;s at its end, and then the storm arose in which we nearly perisbNi. ^But, Willard, what under the sun can ImVe driven you here ?" > ^' Willard colored as he met het-kee)i,^bright^lanee. " Well, I came with a friend of mine, a certain Captain Campbell, Who owns aresidence here, and ?! am ifor the ■ present his gu^t, though un^ipected business, lorttititne^ called him away. Anything for a change, you ktiow,"e iiddccr,TlBBgfiiig,^*^ha iMslil aeitiMd oT attraction." **% «o iiti^aiM," itaid -Urs. Cmmatsy, ;|^a&«ta(g %9- i.'m/ ist » BlSTL'a RETUSir TO TBE I8LB: I niurely at Christie. " I certainly admire your good taste in saying^so. Once here, with such a divinity as tbis, I cab easily account for the attraction that bijids you, most fickle 6f men, here," she added,'in a lower tone. "Pshaw, Laura 1" he said, striving to hide by a laugh the guilty iush that lingered still on his face, " you surely do not think I have forgotten j»' yet, jxfter last night.". d\}e rose and went into the room with a weary, tired air. 'v- i V ' ' i ' ^ iv' " So, you know her?" said Mrs. Tom. " Who'd ever thought it?'So that tall, dark-looking (ellow, with all thg whiskers and mustaches, is her husband? I declare if it ain't scandalous the way gals wt'U get married afore they're ou^ o' short frocks. I jist wish I had a darter— no, I mean if I /uxda. darter— I'd like to see her tryin' to get married at such an unchristian age !" Christie turned scarlet, and bent lower over her work. Willard stood leaning with one arm ton the mantel- piece^ gazing t h oughtfully into tlie Jfire. '•What did you say her name was^?"" inquired TSfirs. Tom, sitting down, arid beginning to reel off yarn. ' " Mrs. Ec^ar Courtney, now ; she was Laura Brltf^n #) K *TSIV> i>iv* l^rrs BETURN TO TEE JBLR when I last met lier," he said, as if half speaking to him- self. , / - ♦• S'pose you've kno*n her a long time ?" coiitinued Mrs. Tom. " Yes, we were children together," he, replied, in the same dreamy tone. ^"And lier husband — known hira long?" pursue^^Mr^ Tom. ••Yes, I know him for a cruel, jealous, passionate tyrant!" said-.JVVillard, starting up so suddenly and fiercely that Mrs. To™ dropped the bail she was winding, and sprang back. •' Well, you needn't make such a fuss about it !" she exclaimed, recovering lierself, and indignantly resuming her work. " Scaring a body out o* iheir wits for nothiQ'. , I s'pose she knowed all that afore she took him." "Pray, pardon my vehemence, Mrs. Tom," said Wil- lard, recovering himself by-an effort, as he saw Christie's troubled gaze fixed on his face; "I forgot myself for % moment. But this patient of yours, this Mr. Courtq^y,. may need a doctor. I am going over to VVestport to- "^ night, and if you wish, I will bring one to-morrow." ' - , " It would be better," said Mrs. Tom, thoughtfully. " He's got a temenjouscut right in his head. I did what I could for him ; but, of course, a body would feel more satified if they had a reu'lar doctor." " If I were ill, Mrs. Tom, I should trust to you ii. prist- ereiice to any doctor ever warranted to kill or cure," said Willard, as he took his hat to go. ,v Mrs. Tom smiled benignly at the compliment, q^i^$ ^i?^ elijrhtedatrtlits tacit iieknv^whjdfrmeiJt of her sUiW^i' '^,V»' t3 And an hour aftgr, Willard and Lem were, on their way to WfotRQit. it. ir'-" *. 'V^i ■^4^ '' '' ^Whrit WeVe Willatd Prammond's thoughts, as, sitting •Uently in the stern of the boat, he watched the dancing waves flash and sparMe in the stinlight ? Very different -froitf those he had indufged not long since, when, on one eventful night, he and Christie had crossed it together. This Laura Courtney, with her pretty, piquant face, and pert, sau<^ manners, had first woi> his >oy ish heart. He bad raved, and vowed, and implored at hpr feet, but she only laughed at him and his passion, and now she had no *ttl6i« power over his heart than if s^e never existed. Might it not be the same with those he ihad loved since ? Was not hi* passion for Christie beginning to grow cold already? Would it not grow bolder every day. And in the bt«; ardor of his love he had made this little obscure, iin^nbated, shy child, his wife. Why, oh, why, had he not waited? Arid now ihiit;ibe deed was inseparable, where was 5his to end ? They reaehed Westport before dark ; and Lem, having landea him, set off for the island again, prqmising to ^Mstiirt^ior him in the morning. The moon ^vas just rising ibove the pine trees when he reached home; and, on entering the house, the first object he beheld was his young mistress, in close conversation with his mother. "Lor* sakes, Miss Sibyl ! ydu here !" was Lem's first ejaculation. ♦• Yes, Lem ; and glad tobehpme again," she answered, gayly. "Aunt Moll tells me y^u have just been tliking Mr. Druttimond over to We/tport." . "So 1 hev ; but I'm to^go- for him early to-morrow- ^orttin.' /Spect, ef^he^ know you was a comin,' bed « Htimt^h !" sitttd Auttt Moll, dubioiKly. ■,.'>! f -'(f*. HDid'lie seenw lowely during mjfw^uring wrrmbteaco I" VP- V "Lonesome ? 'Deed he didn't, honey y fee was tn • fo«t rate spirits all the time." r „; " Ah !" said Sibyl, a shadow falling oyer her laceV****»^^^ spent his tin*e to fisliing awd ihootlng,' I «uppos^; and » soarittg birds?" " Snarin birds? Yes ; an' caught'one, too,"^id A*wit M6U, iwa tone that sjDolcc volumes.. i "6i^g!it ottet 'What do you mean, 'Au»t Moll \?^ 4, don't wsderwaad,^' said ^ibyl, anxiously. \ ' "Miss Sibyl; do»*t listen to her. She?s allers^c some nonscosei to tell,"^ Interrupted' Lena, oastiogam angry axA warning glance toward his mother. .' ':* ;' ^ But now that the oj^portunity she had so long iwaittd for had come, the old woman's tongue was not to be stoppred. ♦< It^sall fur yer^od, child, ^Mced ifcis ;i*n' I -sidcfsit iny<*«ty tfo warn you, toon$y, (dat MassaiDran*0(i«iBd',aiBJ|, tobe 'pended -on. Dar !'* "Aunt Moil, nrhat do y«m* mean? Speak, -and tell iwe what you are hinting at. What : has Mr. > Dntmmoiii^^ done?'* askeid Sibyl, growing very palfe. "Well, chile, 'stead o'stayin,' here, aadtMakittgdb you, as he'd orter, "he's been prowlin', all hotirs >o' j^e night, round de island, wid dat 'ar Miss Chrissy-^mafcing lub to her, I'll be bound." \'^^ " IVAai t" cried ^yl, 4n a tode that mode the old .voman leap to4ifcr feet, ay she sprang forward, and caught her by the arm. '^ Dare you insinuate such a thing? 1 *eL you *te-coui'd not, and hei^ouklaiot—- hedareMot ptwwa ie.'l^iire'n' " -- ,— - - -^ -_..... ^j.,„.=i^ ** Mis&45ibyl,iioi»sy li^r de^JLotcifs take, doitftlMky^ ^i-* tA,* viJUi'SW'-j ■■ ' ,~-^ --."^ '. . iff* ■ ^' H90 BIBTVB RETUm TO TBB 18LB, ^ \ t. me wid such wild eyes. I ^spec's she's .witched him. I can't 'count for it no other way," said Aunt Moll, trem- bling be|(^re the awful wrath of those blazing eyes. " T H)n'y says what I knows. He's all the time talkin' 'bout , her t6 hisself, when he's 'lone.'' ^ „ * "It cannot be true ; be dare not deceive me^| almost shrieked Sibyl. " What proof have you of thi|l^>«3peak ! speak !' .«' "Miss Sibyl, honey ! you may 'sassinate me efyou's a mind to ; but I's tellin' de trufe. Sence eber you. left, dey ain't a minute apfart. Dey've sailed in de riber after night, an' gone ir^mpin' in.de woods in de day time ; an' I's heered him callin' her his 'de^atfjChrissy,' when he's 'lonfc. I knows, chile, 'taint pleasa^'flor likewise 'gree- able for you to hear dis : but I talks fof your good, honey /-iMeed I does." But now the first fierce gust of passion was over, and pale and tottering, Sibyl leaned against the chimney- piece — her arm on the mantel, her head bowed upon it, shuddering, sinking, collapsed. All liis neglect, that had puzzled her &o long, was accounted for now. She was lorgotten^— deserted, for this island girl ! So long Ihe remained in that fixed, rigid attitude, that Audt Moll began to grow alarmed ; and she was o^ the point of commencing a consoling speech, beginning with : " Miss Sibyl, honey," when the young girl lifted her head, and, asked in a hollow voice : j > ^^j. \ " Is this -this girl on the island sftill ?" " Yes, chile, ob course she is — down to MissrTom,s." For a moment longer Sibyl stood, gazing steadily before her, with those wild, fierce, burning eyes •, her face ^ptitbUly ^I6rifess7save ihartwordarfeipurple spots blazed in juad out upon it like burning co^ls ; her teeth sJi^V^r ^iSl^^^W','*'^-'-*'''*^ -^f-J ''•7'; 7!B27 MEBTlSa. , >(o hands clenched. All the humiliation, the shame, the agony of being deserted, rushed, like a burning torrent, through her mind. And with it came a fierce, demoniacal, hatred 6f: her idol, and a deadly wish to b^ revenged.^ Starting suddenly up, she fled up tne stairs, thi^ough the long, unlighted hall, out of the front door, and took .-Jthe path leading to Mrs. Tom's. The bright moonlight lit all around wit5 ajpis^6, ra4i-> ant glory. And, standing near a rock, commanding an^Xfehsive view of the sea, Christie stood, ep joying the beauty of the night, when suddenly a fierc^ grasp was laid" on her shoulder, and ^le looked up. ' Her visiop waA realized. Sibyl Campt>ell stood glaring ape n her, witfat her fierce, wild, blacic eyes, her long hair stirea ming.dowQ her back, like an aroused tigress preparing to spring.^' :" - ^1 CHAPTER XIII. THE MEETING. "Thou mayest hold a serpent by the toagu s, A chafed lion by the mortal paw, A fasting tiger safer by the tooth. Than cross this love of mine." | 1 TREMBLING, paralyzed, shrinking with\ terror and superstitious awe, as she recollected ner vision, ^ Christie stood quailing before that dark; passion-^ ate glance. And, glaring upon her with a hatred and jealousy that her with a momehtarjt'llNi^i^) Sibyl ^ood, transfixii^hef >-.^^l -K ^' H4y vti». »V' ■->, > p:<^--. with thbsc wilili fictcc ey^s. With bne gtsktoie sfcpBtddk !n all her rivarswctracirdinary beauty/ far surpassing even wlllit she f ettr«d ; and the sight, to her passionate beart, ^wifji' like oil poured upon 'flafitte. ''^' , i *J So," she hissed, at jeogth, through her closed ttm»t ^i,« pretty Miss Christie has found a lover during ray *" absence. Girl, take care ! You have begun a dangerous gani«; but the end has/not come !" Her words broke the spell of terror that held Christie dumb. And now, noticing her disordered attire, and wild, ^^ibcvcled hair, she^ said, in surprise and entreaty : ;||f> " iiiss Sibyl, wbat ha^ happened ? What have I done ? 1 did not know you were bn the island." - 'No ; |. am awate of that," sa^d Sibyl, with a hard, bit- ter hiuj^. "Oh, it isR wondroufepity I should' hdivd come 80 s6on to ,spoil the sport ! Y6u and your dainty lover thought yourselves secure — thou;jht Sibyl Campbell far away. But again I say to you, beware ! for 'twere better lorypu to tamper with a lioness robbed ot her young ,than with the passions of this beating, throbbing heslrt !" V She locked like some priestess of doom denouncing f41 mankind, as she, stood there, with her long, black, ^ti«a|ning hair, her wild, burning, passionate eyes, her |ace white, rigid, asnd ghastly, sstve wher^e«the two purple spots still blazed in &nd odt on either caieek. "Oh, Miss Sibyl— dear Miss Sibyl ! what have I done ? <^\l{\ never, '««w- tneant to offend you, or stand in yoiir p^h ; as Hcaren hears tat, I did not ! Tell tne, only tell\ |he in what I hat^e pff^ded, atad I will never do it ajgain," ^id Christie, clamping her hands in increasingj^rror and c hildiike -sitatpiiciity. / ^, "Sirt" n.-: ?-> *- -.v,-(^~ ' ^^'s^'lS^it^'^'^^^^h^\: \^ ?*■:>■: :----i^\ TBB 'SaiETIl!r&. Its -1 " Miss Sibyl, I do n6t know^indeed, indeed, I do not know !" exclaimed Christie, earnestiy. In all the storm of anger and jealousy; that' raged in Mr soul, a look of superb) fcorn curled the lips of SiByl. ^ " You do not know KOh, wondrous innocence ! angelic simplicity ! Must I despise as *weU as hdte you ? 'Listen, then, since I m ust speak xnf- sham^, and answer me tniljr, as you hope for salvation. Promise.' .-^^ "I proraise!" "Swear to answer me truly, by all you hold dear Mi earth I by your hopes of ^eaven !" , "I swe^r! Oh, Sibyl, speak !" cried^Christie, wr6Ught up to ftnr agony of terror ^and excitement by her wild words. " Then, and may Heaven's heaviest curse fall upon ht«i if I conjecture truly — has Wilhird DrummSnd dared -^llc^' speak of love to you ?" ^ Pale, trembling, te^ror-st^icken,^Christie,'s tongue clove to the roof of her mouth ; had her life depended on iu nt> sound could have escaped her quivering lips. "Speak, and tell me! Speak, for I must know — I have a right i^ know ?" cried Sibyl, grasping her arm, andl getting her teeth hard to keep down the teiApest of paV sion that was svyeeping through her soul. " Oh, spar^vme — spare mc !" waileid Christie, liftitt^. up her pleading hands. t- "Death, girl ! Must I tear the truth from yonr lil^ heart ! Tell me, truly, has he dared to speak . of Ibve, and have you dared to listen to him ? Heavens I ^IH you speak before I am tempted to murdei-youl" " Oh, do not ask me-r-do not tisk me !" cHed Chrhfde; iaa-dpag voic e , a»tf eaabilpg»l8tatt^, she wdk ftt ^Hte feet of her terrible foe. K* %s H. -^iiS '■^U'l K^ , ^.. O*' 184 THE MBETINQ, With her hands clenched until the nails sank into the quiyerirtg flesh, her teeth set hard, her deep, labored br-e^*hing, her passion-tonvulsed face, she looked more like an enraged pythoness than a frail girl learning for the first time her lovpr's infidelity. '. ' She required no further proof now. He whom she w«uld have trusted with her soul's salvation was false. And, oh ! what Is there more terrible in this world than to learn that one whom we love and trust has^ proven untrue ? ^ Sibyl had loved as she had done everything else— madly ; had trusted blindly ; had worshipped idolatrously,' adoring man instead of God ; and now this awakening was doubly terrible. Had Christie been in her place, she would have wept and sobbed in the utter ab^indon of sor- row ; l?ut her grief would have been nothing compared- with the dry, burning despair in those wild black eyes. Now that Sibyl had learned the worst, her fiery, tem- - pestuous fierceness passed away, and there fell a great calm— a calm all the more terrific after her late storm of passion. I -'^ And so I am forsaken," she said, in a deep, hollow voice, •* and for her— this pretty, blue-eyed baby. I, whom he promised to love through life and beyond death. Saints in heaven 1 shall he do this and live ?" " You ?" s^id Christie, lifting her pale, terrified face " And did he promise to love you, too ?"• " Yes, learn it, and let it whelm your soul in shame. Before he saw you, before he knew you, he loved me; and I was to be his wife. Yes, weep, and wail, and sob ; tears shall not »hOB dry. You have caused him ta forget his vows, his honor, his plighted faith, his piom- i««4 lote to me, and you must pay the penalty/^ j-^ if. '^^^^*^^^ * TEB MBETINQ. "Oh, I never knew it— I never knew it I" waile Christie, wringing her hands. " And; as he has been false to me, so', likewise^ will h be false you. Ypu are the cause of his treachery, of hi^ broken vows, his perjured soul ; you are the cause of all and, think you such Ipve can be blessed ?" "Forgive me I Oh, Sibyl, forifive me !" still waile Christie. T ^' "^ay Heaven never forgive mkii I do !" cried Sibyl,' with impassioned vehemence. "[Think you, girl; I am one to be won by tears and protestations? Faugh ! ydu should have thought of all this Jwhen you listened to his unlawful love." "Oh, I did not know ! As Heaven hears me, 1 did n$t know. I would have died sooner than haae listened to him, had I known !" . Kl "' *' Prove it," said Sibyl, with a sudden gleam in he? dark eyes. <, "How— how? Only say how I shall redeem fl»«?^| error! Let me know how I may atone !" . '" " Atone !— you .>" said Sibyl, with a withering sneer. "1 tell you, girl, if your 'life could be prolonged for a thousand years, and every second of that time spent in torture, ybu could not atone for the wrong you have don©> me. But make such expiationvias you can — prove at least tliat there is some truth in your words." "Oh, Sibyl, I would willingly die if I could redeem my fault." ,*_ "Your death would not redeem it. What is your*^ paltry life to me ? Neither do I require it— the sacrifice iir "Oh! unything but that ! Sibyl, that Is worse than r4eath !" said the sfricken child-bride, io a faiatiog voicff JkaJImM.fej-LLlJ-' ' tM ^* ' -^ ,- "^ 1 . * .' . '- - , '• »-■ **•■- • - KB'"; - give him ..p-it is my right, «»d I <1«««'^^": ..^'^!',; ^ "Ol., I cattnot MI cannot !" m«»«l ChnsUe, Annie inir down, as thoo#i»he would never rise agam. 5.. Ala this tsTO"r repentanc^-ttais, toW<«o«emen. for what you havedoneT said S«)tl. Weppteg te^."^ XTrding her with saperb scorn. "This,.th«., .s tke end rflll your fine promises. Girl, I tell you, you dafe not ; U Is it your ^ril you * him aiore. ^y ^'1^ loteyJrs. I waim, I insist, I demand y»u tof « h,m llOsmy tight, and you shall do it. Wl.»|,|««=yo«, HL«ptile, Itot you should^ ^t«d It. the p*th of Sibyl -'''-f^m lis^ifel" arose to the lips »f Ch^stie. |l>at little sentence she well-k,.«w w«ild l^« «'fcf«ff ^l;^'! claim forever, but she remembered herproJJse » t.me, trad was silftnt. , „ . , cjhvl " Rise, girL don't cower there at my feet, saidS»b)l, '^cppingLack in- bUtfer contempt. - It Is your place, it t true f but his love ha. ainoM«dyy^^^ifieeit4.as raised ^tothe-..nk .f myriv.1. Am I to Understated you .promise ;your Intitnaty with him is at an^nd ? .« Miss Sibyl, I caunot. I love him !" A«d pale and . tad, Ghristie rose and stood 1>ef6re hftr. iheblarc, the dark, 8C0tdung,^filulrig 'glance from those eyes of fire might haVe killed her. :: « And you dare utter this to rte T sHe «M«d,^0r rither Miissed, through her tightly clenched teeth. " A^^J^" girl, do ymi toot fear that I will .ttnlre ymi dw«d ^here .terHfii^^f^inti-g. she cWn^ to a ,^k 101^ ^4 *■ ^'■^^1^ J»» MBETIim. ■m' her lion-heart aroused, the fierce, dark girl bfeforc her looked desperate enough for anything. " Promise !" she said, in a hollow voice, coming nearer, and raising her arm threateningly, / "I cannot! Oh, Miss Sibyl, I canubt !" faltered tbe almost faititing Ciiristie. ^-^ "Promise !" again cried Sibyl, glaring upon bir'witlt. her wild, dark eyes. "I cannot !" still wailed Christie, pressing her ha^ over lier heart. ' "Promise, or die !" exclaimed the mad girl, gni^pin^ her by the arm in a vise-like grip. "I cannot— I wocrid sooner die!" said Christie, as, unable to stand, she again sank at the feet of her viftdic- tive foe. S For a mbmeut it seemed as though the threat would be accomplished, as Sibyl stood over her like one turned to stone. B«t the next instant releasing her hold, sh«^ hurl90 her from her; and, as if fleeing from tempttttlon, fled doWn the rocks, over the rough path toward tb« lodge, aud sank fainting and exhausted on the sitlinc- room floor. , - ' An hour later Aunt Moll entered, and behold iag Sibyl with her srreaming hair, lying prone on the floor, grew alarmed, and coming over, she shook lier genily, sayiug • •' Miss Sibyl, is yer sick ? Come, gii up now. like te ifood chile, 'fore you catch your def o' cold, a lyin^on d« bare floor^ 'Deed, honey, 'taint right for young peck)re to heave derselves into de draft, dis way." Bttt^^twtM^>lt^etrt -through alt-tfae-yh agtfs ' :e slept beneath this roof.".^ f ' •« Now, chilfc, don't say so," said Aunt Moll, touched by her hopeless tone. " Folks ain't tuk so sudden as all ^at, ypu khow. I ain't got no poppy nor man dragooi^ ; but catnip tea is jes' as good, cordin' lo my way o' ihiofk- in*. An' when you take a good night's res', you'll beiill well in dc mornin' — please dc Lor'." ( . / . "Rest ! Rest 1 When shall I rest again ? Aunt »|oll, leave me. I want to be alone." f ~^- "T)6eJ, Miss Sibyi,-^da^se n l do it~^w,w^-4o to le?ib you here in dc draf, all alontff Let me help y . ' ' .- ' ' ir I y ;* ^1^ '%^^tidM THE tfEBTlirG. m '^ Oh, this heart— this heart !" "Yes chile, I knows; I 'spects it's de cramps you'se got an I v,ses of you to get up. Come, honey, come." And Aunt Moll put her arm coaxingly round her youn/? lady s neck, and attempted to lift her up. " , ' ,,r/'^^''"^""' Moll! if you ouly knew my affl«<^ion » What matters it whether I die oi- not, since I have noth^ ing more to live for ? I might as well die now as live- for the living death of a loveless life." ' " You^nustn't talk so, . Miss Sibyl; 'taint right, nor hkeu ,se ^pectful to de Lord, who sends us cramps, as well as h^alf, someticbes. 'Tis r'ally 'stonishin', de way you takes on 'bout it" ' . " AiiJt Moll, I am not boc^ily ill-only wronged, suf- fering, despairing, deceived, broken-hearted almost "said Sibyl, locking stntight beforejher, with a fixed anguished look. I I ■ ' . i I is'-^T ^^""'^ ^ '^''° ' ^*^^ "^ '° ''^''"' ''• ''' '^^^ ^""^^ "^'^ And good Aunt Moll passed her hand gently and caressin/gly. over the glossy, dark locks of the younir girl. ^ ^ " Oh ! there is nothing but falsehood and treachery it» thii world! I, who loved and trusted sq much, to be now deceived I I would have staked my life, toy soul my hdjjes of heaven on his fidelity! And n<^ this awakenini? from my blissful, delusive dream is 4orse than death. Qli, Aunt Moll !. my dear old friend, is there any one who really loves me in this world but you ?" -—-.Ajuii whoUy^^v«*tiom^ Sibyt^s stroDg^espai? givewly" to a pi^ssionatq burst of tears. ; Since Sibyl bad been achild, Aunt MoU never .emem- ftcred.to have teen her woep before; and now, io her ^ ;il m ttmi 'us^f^.^ ouaint: tender manner, she strove to «oothe ^^ . It^' ^lUHe y.«r»g girl wept .nd sobbed With w,ld ..he- meooe, until nature was relieved ; and she looked up, caltner dnd far less despairing than before. _ S " Aunt Moll," she said, suddenly. •• what tiraedoes Lem "'^ over td Westport to-morrow r K; *• Before noon, honey." w.f„r/. ^^ - then tell him to be ready to take me to N-— b<^re he goes fbr Ami , And now, Aunt Moll, I will follow ■frotfr advtifee, and retire." , ?^-Bi,twb6tt you teethe catnip tea. chile ?" persisted the bid womaft, who had 'some vague idea of the all- powerful virtues of the herb. . „ " No. no, thank you, I do not need it. , :. But it'H^you^ood, chile ; you'U feel more comfort- ^^domflrt I cSmfort ! Can anything ever restore com- mtU^r And she^truckter breast with her l»and. fl*a^ •«!> the long ^»irc«., -nd ai»pp««d » «1« gloom beyond. ^[y- '" "' ■.■■■.. t "i ' '.1 s*e V -v?* mi£amm OHAPTER XIV. ^^i/-** .«K ■ ' '-^J^t4 .*• 7-:*' Trifles, light a»alr. Are to th9 jealous confirmation stronir As proofs of holy writ." Othello THE^next mormng, Sibyl made her app^aoc* ia^ the sittiag-room, pale, wao, and- haggard, a^ though she had spent a sleepless night. But sh« appeared ealm. Whatever course she had determined to pursue, seemed. fttUy settled, a,nd now she was calm ;. but It was like the cftlmiHJSs of a steeping volcano, from whic^' fire and ftame, hurf^llng^ destructioir on all. might at aftv momeftt burst forth. o ^ Aaswering g?ravely all Aunt Moll's anxious inquirfesi after hey health, she seated herself at the breakfast-table, but touched nothing, save a cup of hot coffee, Aad, after this slight refFcshment, she put on her hat and raantlft ^ descended to the beach, where Lem, with the boat, was already awaiting^ hei^ comings «eatingi hefsetf, she^ wrapped her mantle closely abound her^ and fixing her eyes steadily om thedaacm*^ waves, the journey was performed in stem silence. Two hourji brought them to. N-.^, aud* leaving her there, Lem 861 out for Weslport to me^t Drummond. Arrived there, he found that yoimggfcotleman,ac6ompaoted by Captaw Campb^l and a