WHEN THE Flflfllï¬ VARE OUT. CIIA l’TlZR I. It was not, of: anything of import- :noe oceurred a: ‘ J1 Abbott. apicturesquc struggling village among the Cumberland hills, eight miles from the. nearest railway- station and an equal distance from the near- est town. Yeax'nfter year nothing more re- marlmblu than a death 01 a. birth. a party at Larches, or a school~feast M. the Rectory, broke themonétony of existence in the re- mote district, and the sudden arrival from " foreign‘parts,â€of the Lord of the Manonthe master of the court. who owned nearly all the property for miles! arouml,thrmv the whole district into a fever of excitement,'which was increased by the fact that no one expected A He visited the court at rare intervals, and the last time he came was about ï¬ve years back. The people at South said it was a shame for him to go wandering all over the earth, so as to be quite an alien among his own people. But then’ the court was a great lonely, rambling place for a man scarcely more than thirty to inhabit, and with neither mother, sister, nor wife ; for the owner was Itill unmarried, though he was the last in the direct line. Searth Abbot gossips shook their heads when asked why the court had no mistress, and told a dismal story. “ Ilma." her uncle had written-4191' parents had died years before-“ is like neither of her parents, save that she has the dark eyes of the West. Country. her father’s gift, but only in color. You will not, when you see her. ae- ouse me of undue pride in saying she is alto. sether out of the way in her beauty. Ameri- can girls are often handsome ; but I have not seen one to equal Ilme. You shall judge. For the rest, she is a regular tom-boy ; and she has not a notion of lovers and such nonsense. She prefers boating, tobogganing and tree- olimbing ; ‘ehe is as wild as amountnin breeze, but you will ï¬nd no evil in her.†“ Well well, we‘ll see ; but I dare say the Grang a will be bettgr for a revolution 01d maidsâ€"in theoountry especiallyâ€" â€"grow sel ï¬shand narrow- -minded, living alone, and with‘nb‘ one to thiixk of but themselves : if you do upset the prim order of things a little, it will be better for me.†“ Oh, yes, auntie ! We have been out there only ï¬ve years“ I was seven when we went to Vienna. mind we were-there till uncle got this appointment in Canada. Is not this place very cold in wipter ‘2" , ilmn folded Ber White hands demurely and 'md before her aunt. Merton Costello had not overrated his meee’s attractions. Her beauty was not only unusual in degree. but of an unique type, showipg the rare combination of a. fair. though not very fairoomplexion, dark eyes and brows, and hair of a dusky gold ~ren1 golden hairâ€"- eluatering all over her "proud white forehead. There“ was a world of passion and strong feel. ,ing slumberimz in the large, brilliant eyes, which were almost; blackâ€"eyes timt could weep or laugh. look thoughtful or dzmce with wildest fun ; and how expressive were the sweet. tender lips closing lightly but ï¬rmly over the white teeth ! ' ‘Miss Dumford-laughed; it Was not she had anything to laugh at. and the oise wal novel and pleasant. “'Do you know, (1911,†said Miss Duxnford as she led the 1139.; to tho dining- room, “y -u look so fragile and flelicatc that the peanQ here will say you are a, fairy and have no tangible existence , and I don’ t know what you will think of their rosy cheeks and robust ï¬gures.†“ I don’t need her, auntie, thanks. I don't troubie a maid much at home. “ 0h†-â€"as Miss Durnford, alter ascending a short flig ht of stairs, opened an oaken doorâ€"â€" “ what a dailing old- world room I I did miss the old things in Canada. so. auntieâ€"every- thing was new and stating." A “ Very cold indeed. We frequently have the snow as early as October; and sometimes the Coalmercâ€"the river that you see from this Window â€"is frozen, but not often. as the current is so strong." “ Is it? But you can boat on it. I hope ?†“ Oh, yes! Are you ready ? Let me have .a good loolf atAyou, yum.†Miss Dumford half sighefl as she drew the girl to her and kissed her tenderly. There was one in this place, aha tuought. who might ï¬nd la belle ()anadicmw too lovely for his peace of mind. Before the news of theLord of the Manor‘s return was a fortnight old. another shock went through the inhubitnms of Scarth Abbot. It. was asscrted that Miss Durnford, the maiden lady who lived at the Grange, was about to receive a. now inmate in her household, in the person of a niece from “somewhere abroad.†Wonders would never cease, said the gossips. Miss Dumfomi was ï¬rst cousin to the Sabines of the Larches. who were very great people indeed. and had been at Scarth Abbot since the time of James “ Neither the one nor the other." Was the merry response. “ Oh, this dear old house ! I hope I shall not turn you topsy turvy. auntie ! We transatlantica are so free-and- easy that I may do all sorts of dreadful thing's; and I am a perfect; catamount.†" You would never grow selfish, auntie,†said Miss Ovetello, scanning her relative’s face with a. steady but. by’ no means impertinent gaze. “ I dare say I shall tease you ; b'nt I won’t if I can help it}: The villagers however knew nothing about her except her name, and. Miss Durnford either knew no more or would say no more ; for she was no friend to village gossip, and never stooped to feed it. The Doctor‘s wife contrived to discover that the young lady whose arrival was considered so important was coming from Canada, where her uncle held a. Government appointment, and that she was sent over to her aunt because she could not live in the cold climate of the Do- minion ; but here even indefatigable Mrs. Fampton came to it full step, and coulnl[get no further. At the top of the broad low flight of steps leading to the door stood a tall,rsther angular. looking woman of perhaps ï¬fty-ï¬ve or sixty, dressed in a black satin robe of old‘fashioned make, and with a. lace cap on her smooth grey hair. A pair of grave kindly brown eyes looked out from beneath thick and still black eyebrows. and the gazer’s somewhat formal demeanor could in no degree be associated with harshness or primnesa. ‘ “Good of me!†echoed Miss Durnford, putting her arms about the girl. who was taller than herself. ' “How would you have me receive my sister‘s chili?†kissing. the girl fondly as she spoke. “ Come in. my dear ; you must be very tired and very hungry." .~. Miss Dumford smiled indulgently into a face lovely enough to win its owner pardon for far worse escapadps than any a gently- nurtured girl of sixteen was likely to commit, and she said kindly: “ Come 'to yotir room,"she said, †and I will ring for Mary, the parlor-maid, to wait on yguf “Do you remember 'Europe so we.†?" asked Miss Duruford, as the girl threw of? her hpjt and jackeï¬. . V“Dear auntie.†said a. sweet young voice, " how good of you to come to the' door to re- ceive me !" The carriage passed through the high iron gates, swept up the drive, and stopped before the deep arched doorway of an old red brick house with mullioned windows, and with tur- rets and buttresses jutting out where one would least expect to ï¬nd may exorescenue. ' Out of the laudau, before the footman could jump down to open the door. sprang a. girl, graceful as a fawn and attired in a traveling dress of the last Parisian style, who bounded up the steps to meet the old lady outstretched bands. i: hgï¬Ã©Ã©ï¬iiéntly the new comer must be second cousin to the Sabines. All in the village knew, when, one evening in July, Miss Duhï¬ord‘s carriage drove away towards the station, which was at. Moorston, that it had gone to fetch Miss Costello ; and all turned out, when the carriage came back, to try to catch a glimpse of the foreigner. But the landau was closed, and nothing was visible except a. portmanteau on the box. often exer- “ Are they all rosy-checked if†asked Ilma. ,‘ " Are in mans-ins Sabine ‘2" “ We don't «all them very rosy here.†repliexl Miss Durnfonl, smiling ; “ but they mil look l1l((’. DOOHIU‘l hitci‘lo your pale cheek =. you. are Finely mam of .21ahss:w l" “ Am 1 ?†euid 111118., shaking her hemi. But I am really strong, auntie ; only latterly, Canada seemed too cold for me." They sat down to that comfortable country meal. “ high ton," end for some time Ilma was answering her aunt's inquiries about her journey over, from which it appeared that Miss Costello was a thorough citizen of the wozld and knew well how to take eureof her- self. The independenceof this golden-haired damsel of sixteen was a new experience in 0H fashioned country-bred Miss Dumford, who, strangely enough, saw no danger in a young girl’s roving among the country hills and lzmes by herself, but a great deal in traveling from London to York alone. Then Ilma mined questioner, and asked about her [cousins Sabine. “ You shall see them all this evening,†said Miss Durnford. “ I promiseci to take you over. Mrs. Sabine is an invalid. She is very kind and gentle ; you will be sure to like her. Then there is Roland; he is twenty-ï¬ve, a clever young fellow. He is very fond of hunting and ï¬shing and all sports.†' “ Shall I like him ?“ aeketl Ilma. “ He is generally liked. I must leave you to form your own opinion. my door,†said Miss Durniord, suddenly growing reserved. “ Next comes Rose," she continued; “ she is twenty-one or twenty-two; and Jane is eigh teem" They will be nice companions for “ I must' not‘ usurp you," she remarked, smiling ; " young folk iike to be together. Rose, ii is only just getting, dark: perhaps Ilma would like to go with you to the'weir, to meet Roland." “ I should Very m11c1:,‘"an,id llma. . “ and Rose promised to tell me some legend about a family upder a. curse. " “ W6 don‘t think it alegendQ’ observed Janie ; †but I am afraid you will think Cum. beggndï¬p‘eqple vqry â€superptigiougï¬f , The S‘abihe gifls {etched their hats, and the three young people went merrily to the Gipsy’ a Weir †“ Now do tell me, Rose.†said Ilma. as soon as they reached the grounds, “ about, this Dark Darrell and the curse." {050 was ready enough. “ You foreigners are impatient,†elm began, laughing. unable perhaps to resist ï¬le feminine pleasure of tantal Zing. “Foreigner!†“ Why, yes! Aren’t you half Cornish to start, with, and haven‘t you been brought up all your life abroad? Aiid you donâ€: speik like an Emzlish girl, either.†“ Dmli I ‘3" ‘- Indore say you think we don’t. Roland used to be so - salvage with us when he came back from Cambridge. He'll admire your way of talking. I know. How did you escape- the ' radian twang?" “ I hardly know. You see I have been only ï¬ve 3921mm Canada. Now the curse, please†â€"exgp_ut;n_g 9' P3999?" you." “ \Velcome. dear," Raid Mrsl-“Savbine cor- dially‘ embracing and kissing the girl. “ “76 will try to make you as happy as we can. You have seen Rose. This is Janie ;†and a girl somewhat resembling Rose, but younger, paler and slighter, advanced mad greeted her cousin kindly, though less dramonstrntively than Rose had done. Tears ï¬lled Ilma’s large brown eyes. How good the ll were to treat her so lovingly. as if they hï¬known her for a long time ! Her aunt Sabine made hei sit down by her, and holding the little hand in her own, asked her about her uncle and her life in Canada and her journey over. After a. time Mrs. Sabine handed over her niece to her cousins. “ I hope I shall like them,†observed Ilma,’ as they rose from the table. “1 1.1619 so too, dear. Now put on your hat, and “a will go to t e mehes; it is not three mmutes w alk from here. ‘She led the way through the open window 1111) the drawing! room and a. pale sickly- lookingladylose ham 3 fautcuil and cagne forward with outstretched hands to meet the younrz shangm. Ilma hastened away for her hat, remarking as she returned that. it. was “ so nice to be able to go without gloves.†Mien Dumford smiled. “ The people here,†she said, “ will stare you out. of countenance. Your arrival has been quite an event, and your dress they will think ‘ fnreign,‘ but I suppose in is the fash- ion.†. “ Odd my child.Yor1 look chalming. I see you dont know much about countxy phage." ‘ __ .. .. J . sâ€" Aunt and niece sallied forth, and cer- tainly Miss Costello was stared at as if she had been a visitant. from another sphere ; wnile remarks upon her appearance and attire were made with delightful frank- ness in a. dialect however which effectually concealed theirpurpdrgfrom the Canadian. But there was only a. limited opportunity for an inspection of “the foreigner,†for the gates of the Larchea were soon reached. and they shut out village curiosity. Rose Sabine was not handsome, but she might have fairly been called good lookinv. She had 11 clear complexion, with a good am of color round biiizht blue eyes and soft brown hair ; but her ï¬gure was a little too ro- bust for her height. and her arched ~brows gave her a surprised look that Ilma thought “ funnv. †But no one could have mistaken Miss Sabine for anything but a lady, though equally manifest was it. that she was a p10- vincial. “Ah. 'thereby hangs a tale! I'll inform you all about “presently. Aunt Rachel has evidently told you nothing about the Dark Darrells and the curse.†"I left that for you young folk," said Miss Durn ford " Have you a. family here with a curse .7†exclaimed Ilma.‘ “How delightful and old- world ! We have no such things in Canada. I long for a curse, or a banshee, or something of that sort.†H “ You wouldny‘a care about the Darrell curse, Ilma. I’ll tell you all about it pres- en§]y."’ "Yes,“ retumcd Iima, opening her large brown 8) es. “ I always had my dresses from Paris. Do I look (dd. 9" {W‘V‘iNm I have never lived in the country. I think I should like it for a time.†The Larches was a ï¬ne old Elizabethan mansion, surrounded by ample grounds laid out in exctéllent taste, and a broad terrace? occupied a considerable stretch of. the fron- tage. As Miss Durnford and her niece up broached this terrace, a female ï¬gure sud- denly appeared upon it. and after gazing for a moment at the visitors, ran quickly down the Steps and hurried up to them. 1.. “ And I am Elma,†said the Canadian, in- specting hr-r cousin in turn. but with a gaze more keenly observant and not exactly ad- miring, though giving no indication of opin- xon. “Mamma and Janie are in the drawing. room †proceeded Rose. “ Roland will be home adpn; or, if you like to go down to the weir, Ilmaâ€"what 9. pretty name lâ€"we may ï¬nd him there. He went to ï¬sh.†â€Ilmn won’t care for Gipsy’a Weir, after Niagara,†remarked Miss Durnford. smiling. “ I shall, auntie, if it is pretty,†said Ilma. “ Why do you call it Gipsyfe Weir, Rose 1’†“ How good. of you to come and bring ‘cousin so quickly, auntie Rachel !" .cried a fresh hearty voice. with a marked but not V111 gar Noxth- Country accent; and the young lady threw her arms round Miss Dumford and kissed her; -then she turned to Ilma. Manning 1101 from head ta foot with round frank eyes that expressed undisguized admiration. “ I’m so glad to see you. cousin l"â€"olasp- ing Ilma’s white hand in an ample brown palm, “ I am sure we shall ~ get on beauti‘ fully. I am Rose.†Rose laughed meI rily; then she looked very grave - “All rigEt. _ Well,†said Rose, composing CHAPTER II. face and v ion to a. gravily bccoming the mo‘ anemone l 201:; she was about to relate. “ you 1mm know that ï¬x 5‘» of all most. oi 1h. propeliv almv hum LI' - 3 0:: the D-Ir- roithnCmu‘ ..â€"I j thatio-mm- row-gun can 5 5m it. man the minâ€"ï¬nd they are a. very old familyâ€"date back to ‘Henry 111. They were called the Dark Dar- rels because they were so very dark, and, since the curse, their fortunes have been as dark as their flees ; 110‘ as to worldly mat†tars, for they are the wualthient house in the North. but 1 am speakiug‘ 01 their lives, their ‘inner lives’ you 'call it in Germany, don’t won-2r “ Yes,†reylied Ilma; and, looking rather mischievous, she added sentimentully, “How very interesting!†“ You mustn t he flippant, New World," said Rose ; “ for it’s all very serious. Well, among the Darrell. tenants are the people who have the Weir Millâ€"you will see it in 8H few minutes. It stands just beside the ‘weiri that works it. The present occupants are Jab Heston and his daughter Zeph They' yrs} of gipsy blood and thoylook it. The mill was granted to their ancestor in the reign of Elizabeth by the then Lord of the Manor, Sir Ingelhard Darrell. The Darrells were} always awild dare- all sot' , and Sir Ingelhard was like the rest. Hiram Heston, a regular gipsey, had saved Sir Ingelhai'd' 8 life, and, that was how he got ti 6 grant of the mill. Heston had a daughter named Zarah who was said by the people to practise the black 111';t but that is said of the gipsies always. they say the Hestons are ‘ canny ’ now. How- ever," continued Rose, †I think there was more black art in Sir Ingelhard than in Zaruh. He was very handsomeâ€"ell the Darrells areâ€"and he made love to Zarah. Of course you may guess what came of it. He deserted her. Her father discovered her disgrace, but he and her brother did not turn her out ; all their rage was directed against Sir Ingelhard. Zarah, however, could ,not endure her shame. Stxll she lived onâ€" mad, some traditions sayâ€"till Sir Ingelhsrd ,came back from the south, where he had been co â€mending troops gathered to meet the Spanish levesion. Sir Ingelhard was re- turning in triumph at the head of his band of retainers when as they neared the weirâ€" it was :1 moonlight night-Zarah appeared suddenly before him and pronounced a ter- rible curseion him and his descendants for his double sin. No Darrell thenceforth should he fortunate in his love; a Darrell’s love 5 ‘.10uld always biing dire anguish and death, both to its object and to the Darrell. Zarah’s curse was embodied in these lines, which are in modernized language; but I‘ll show ‘them to you cut in the mill wall: “ 'Fouleet stain on knighthood’s face, Deadly blight on noblest moo, Shame on him who brought to shame “131‘ who bore a charmed 11111110, Hhame 011 base 11101at1tude Shame on churl with knight-l" blood! This the curse I call from Heav‘ 11, By the power to Zurah giv ‘:11 liver Dulrell’s love shall prove ' Woe and death to both who love.’ Then, turning to the river-â€" which, you must know, Ihna, rises every year. either in the autumn or winterâ€" Zarah added â€" “ ‘List, )0 1'i\ or, rapid flow 1111:, To this curse my hate bestowing. Let the voice of Gips"’s Weir Screttm'thut curse in Darrell's oar, Till the waters, rising, rising, Bring the hounden sacnflcingâ€" Left for life for traitor's deed : When the floods are 011t,t11.ke heed 1‘ These last two lines were addressedlto Sir Inglehard~that is, of course, to the House of Darrell ; and, having uttered them, Zarah, before any one could prevent her, plunged headlong into the weir and disappeared. †1 “But, †exclaimed Ilma, interrupting a nar i ative which she had followed with keen in- terest, it with some inward amusement. “what can the four lines about Gipsy’s :Weir i mean ‘2†“ W011, perhaps even he thought he had done enough wrong ; or, more likely, his: supersmious {earn prevented him. And no Darrell has Ever dreamed of dispussessingthe Hestous. though to this deny they hate the Lords of the Manor as if they were ; all Sir Ingelhal‘ds. It is like. the Corsican vendetta; gipsies have so much of that kind of thing ; “I am awful curious about him,†'suid Ilma, ' “but,ï¬1:‘t,1 want to a k a few £11195 £10119 about the past. ’ “ I am all attention? said Rose. “ Then how was it Sir Ingalhard, who was not. too guod for nnybhmg, did not5 turn the Hoswns out", of the Mill aft-er .Z'arahYS curs ?" “There’s a lot' in the Cumberland Star," put in J anie, “ about the extraordinary phe- nomenon of the rising of the Coalmere. It; is a number of years ago. I will show it you Ilmu." †But, granted the phenomenon,†said Ilma, “ why should the yearly inï¬erest in the rising of the water concern the working out’of the curse 2" “ 1 suppose they couldn’t help it. I am not a great physiogomist; I dare say you’ are. Look at their portraits, and you will see they all had strong passions. This one has. and no mistake, as you say across the water. I wouldn' t have him hate me for something .I would almost rather he loved me 1†“ Hate you ! That is supposing you View a. man,†observed llma ; “ a. gentleman" could not visit vengeance on a. woman.†" I suppose notâ€"a Dauell would not , and certainly Si: Philip would not. " “ There _is no doubt about this, 111113, that from Sir Ingelhard'e time all the Darrells have been unfortunate in love. Ingolhurd’e‘ wife died quietly; but then he did not, love herâ€"ho hated her. It would take too long to tell you, but, when you go through the pic'- ture gallery 3% the Court, the old housekeeper will give you the history of all the love-minim of the .Darrells since Sir Ingelherd ; and there was always ‘ woeaLud death to both who love.’ I wouldn’t marry a 'Darrell, grand as they are â€"â€"not even the present one, who is the hand- eomest of a handsome race.†- †And a daremll, liké the rest of. them,†added Janie. » v “ I‘m coming to him.†said Rose. nodding to Ilma. †The present Darrell’a father, Sir Bertram, married a Howard, and . they were‘ both drowned in yachting, when their non Sir Philip was a. bady. Sir Bertram s father was shot :11 aduel over a love affair. †‘ “ They were hold to fall in love, if they believed 1n the curse,†said Ilma. “ But how could that be, unlese each suc ceeding year the rainfall or snowfall was heavier than in the year preceding?" “ That is one of the strangest parts of the whole attain" leturned Ro‘se ; “ but threo years ago, for example, we had a very light autumn rainfall and yet the river rose gearly two feet above the rise of the year before, when it rained heavily nearly every day throughout September. A meteorologist who was staying here at the time wrote to the Times about it. The year before last the river was so high that the Heston»; were afraid the mill might be flooded; and last year. when, cortainly,the Snowfcnme down from the hills terriblyâ€"for we had a rapid thaw in Novemberâ€"Aha bese- ment of the mill was flooded, aï¬dthe Hestons had to take refuge in the upper rooms for two or three days.’: “ Oh, you skeptic ! How should I know? But of the curse working in one way there can be no doubt,†said Rose emphatically. “ Stay a moment, Ilma. , you can hear the weir now.’ “ I was thinkiu ( of Niagaxwa, shasaid softly at last, andthen addedqumkly “ Please ï¬nish your story here, 11099.13 we «0 on we shall meet Roland, and I shall not hswe the ï¬nish for an age.†The three girls sat down en a fallen tree- trunk and Bose continued: “That no one has ever been able to make out, They aregenemlly thought. to indicate that the Darrells will become' extinct. It is said that jhe waters of the Coal- mere have "fié'en high every year since that date. I know as a. fact that they have risen higher each year within the last forty years. Mamma, vou know, would not; follow a. mere tradition." They were passing through a littyle‘ wood, and. as all stood still, they heard distinctly the roar of falling wafer. Ilma listened for a moment or two, with parted lips, and eyes into which an earnest; far away look had come. no other prople would think of carrying hatred tumugmvenentxons. Job is as glad as he can be that“ â€it Philip 1»; the inst; of the r; ('9. He was comely. of fair complexion, a. good deal tanned, and he had bright but rather closely set gray eyes. The mouth however was heavy, the jaw massive, and both seemed to indicate sullennessâ€"poasibly, under strong provecntion, ferocity. Not that Ilme, who was seaicely more than a. child, was able to analyse her cousin’s defects ; but she felt them instinctively, and, though nine people ‘hey 11mm alw‘ab s'been good tenmts," ‘ ,“they pay their rent at eadly and hmt 11 1 body. But they have never been favoyites 1he old tenants will hardly speak to them because they are higazinst the Dan ell and partly for than gipey‘ blood. Jab is a ‘ do11r’-Iooking man, I thl-nk †‘ And 'Zeph looks eexie,†added Rose. "W all Elma what next 9†“ Why, the curse saidâ€"- " ‘When the floods are out, take heed 1’ That seems a warning to the Dam-rolls that they may meet with death or disaster at the rising of the rivel How has that been worked out ?†“ It never has been yet,†answered Rose mysteriously. “ I remember hearing grand- mamma say once that Amelia Darrell. grand aunt of Sir Philip, you know, would not cross the river one year when the floods were out, though she had to take an impo;- tant journey South; but nothing happened. The bridge she would have had to cross re- mains‘still. Generally the Darrells have been reoklrss about that warning ; and not one of them has come ,to grief at the time of the floods. Sir Philip, when he was a boy,orossed a foot bridge just above the look when he was told it’was dangerous ; the river rose in Sep- tember that year, and three minutes after he had reached satety the bridge was swept away. The last time he was here one Octo- ber more than ï¬ve years ago. he did a. fear. iullyydaring thing. One of his tenants, 3 poor woman, lived in a cottage near the river ; the water rose so high that she had to take to the roof of the cottage. Sir Philip launched a boatâ€".he s a splendid oars- man; but the current of the Coalmere is always strong, and of course at the flood- time it is like a mill-race ; nevertheless he put out. He was carried downnearly a mile, and now. he managed to escape or to reach the cottage I know not; but he did manage, and saved the woman." “Shall I like Roland 7" had been Ilma’a question. v She looked now with her quiet ecrutini‘sing gazeâ€"she was not; a. bit; afraiel to look a young man in the faceâ€"to see what she ought to think of the tall, broad-ghoul. dered, lair-haired cousin who, dropping his ï¬shingtackle, advanced to greet her. What he thought of her was to be read pretty plainly in his face. Without the aid of his somewhat blunt speech : “Well, cousin Ilma, you me a beauty: it’s a d_ouble pleasure t9 see you’ 1'“ 351mm}, Rolan'd, here is Ilma Costello from Canada !" "‘ How glonous l†cried Ilmu, flushing with excitement .and' clasping. her hands. “ 011, Rose, a man who could do such a. ‘deed of der- ring-do’ must bear a charmed life I No curse {Or a crime not his could touch him.†“Look, limb,†said Miss Sabine. “Do you see that map in a gray coat and knickerl bockers ï¬shing below the Weir? {hat is Rolandfl’ Ilma turned with a half sigh. ‘f Come," said Rose. “ shall we run down to him {7†"- And all 'three sat oï¬ down the slope,.Janie calling out as they approached th‘é angler_: , Rose looked admiringly at her enthusiastic cousin. . “ I don’t know. They say he was no saint at Oxford or anywhere else: but I don’t know. I never heard of his doing anything wicked here.†“ Then he’s not a second Sir Ingelhard ?" “ Oh, no, no! He is a true Darrell, a. high- souled gentleman ; in any matter of honor I would trust him to the uttermast." “ He believes in the curse,†she said. gravely .â€"‘" they all do; and I am afraid it will be fully worked out. with his li‘e. I should feel far easier if he left this place before the river rose. Why. he is thirty one, and still unmar- ried; and such a man as he is never need gn begging for a wife. He ought to marry, for the sake of the old house. whether he falls in love or not. No one of course ventures to ask him any questions; but he is hardly ever at the Court, and when he is it is only for a week or two. - Hes-came back a few days ago from the Continent, and you will not hear anything talked about now but Sir Philipâ€"- but don’t full in lo‘ire with him. I am in ear- nest. Ilma.†“Ilma you must not 1 You will have to meet him, you know ; (or we know him, and so does aunt Rachel. of course. He is a most fascinating manâ€"been all over-the worldâ€" snd s: intellectual.’ I always feel half afraid of him ; there seems a kind of recklessness about him, as if he were trying to fly from himself ; and he does such reckless things. He does not seem to value his life ; yet he Always escapes dangers, as if there were some- thing supernatural about him ; and than the knowledge that he is under a curse gives one an eerie impression in itself.†' “Ho would-udo to} it, †roï¬arked J 31110 â€"~,-“the beautiful Mephistopheles of the Ger man J.egenda †“Dear, me,†'said Ilma.“I wish he would fall in love wiLh you. Janie! Now cross yourself and mutter a charm.†But Janie shook her head. “Wish me anything but that. Ilma. How- ever, I am safe. I am not the kind of girl Darrell would fall in love with, thong hg I am sme he could make any woman love8 him if he tried. ' “What an irresistible cavalier !†“ Ah, you New World skeptic,†said Rose, rising, “you mock; but take care! Every- body must have told you how beautiful you are.†" 0h, th1s 13¢ lovely 1†cried the girl, clap- ping her hands. “ Fancy Tom- boy me win- ning the heart. and ever so many thousands a year of Dark Darrell, who is under a. curse and half supernatural, and rides about on a black horseâ€"it must be black, to be 1): keep ingâ€"and who plays battledoor and shuttlecock with hls 1ile,and yet is miraculously pre- served! Why. Rose, you pique me to the 0011le !†, “ You mustn’t talk so,†cried Rose, cat-ch- ing Ilma’s arm. " I would rather see you in your coflln than lady of the Court; it. can’t be a mere legend that such a man as Darrell believes in so thoroughly. Come on and see the mill and tbe'weir. and meet Roland.†“Poor Rose 1†said Dma. “ After all, I don t know that Sir Philip isn’t wise. It must be a dreadful nuisance to {3.11m love. Is Sir Philip verywickad ?†They had emerged from the wood, and a beautiful panorama-lay before them. At two hundred yards from where they stood flowed the broad rapid stream of the Coalme‘re, and. foaming and raging. the waters of Gipey’e Weir tumbled into the river from a height of at least twelve feet. 0n the opposite bank, with 11 background of wooded hills, rose the venerable and picturesque old Mill, and the great wheel could be seen turning round, worked by the rushing waters. Beyond, the landscape stretched away in “ rolling country" to the foot of_ a. lofty range of hills. Rose was the ï¬rst to speak; for Ilma, im< pressed by the wild‘ beauty of the scene, to which the narrative she had] 1181: heard lent a vivid interest, stood m rapt silenpe. “ So you seem,†«aid Ilma, laughing ; “ but you tempt me to try him. What fun! Do you really think that. hehas made up his mind never to _drag any hapless maiden into woe through giving him her heart ‘7 I declare I’ll ï¬nd out 1†“You are superstitious, you North-Country people,†returned skeptical Ilma. “We are bad enough in Cornwall; but thenI left it so young. I believe you really think that_Sir Philip _is a. kind of Moghistovheles." “ Then he is not Mephistopheles. That is a comfort,†said 111113.; and then she paused sudde‘nly, with is delighted “ Ah, that Is beau- tiful l†CHAPTER III. “ Pray forgive me,â€he Midas the two met, “ for shouting to you ; but you were standing in a. very dangerous place. The earth there frequently yields.†“ Why, I ought to thank yuu very much 1Ԡreplied Ilma earnestly, looking up almost. texufully into a. pair of large stea lily brilliant 0393 of the deep gray that seems black in the shade “ If I had fallen in, I should have been washed ever the weir. But. I came to this place only yesterday; so I dont know where there 15 danger.’ While yet a hundred paces from where Ilma stood. Sir Philip Darrell drew bridle. and, springing lightly to the ground. advanced on foot, with dofled hat. Seeing that be ap- proached her, the girl went forward to meet him, thinking that this last of the Darrells needed only shining armour or velvet and lace to be a. hero of some wild poetic romance of the Rhine. out of ten would have called Roland frank becamn 0? his blunt manner and hearty lamb, Ilma dld not balieve he was. “He has a furtive look.†she said to hergelf “he. hem a had temper. tea. I don‘t think I shall 11kt! you, Roland? ' Rnlaml however made himself very agree- able. He led the way down to the wait. and showed Ilmu. the spot whence Zmah Heston had cast herself, but, when the Canadian went and stood fearlessly 0n the dizzy plat- form, above the roaring flood. the young man would have pulled her‘baek. She paused presently close to the bridge, and, going up to the extreme verge of the bank, looked down at the rapid current. flowing at this spot with terrible velocity to wards the weir. Absorbed in listening to the roar of the weir, which seemed to diown all other sounds, the girl might have remained thus for an hour, had not a. most unexpected sound made her glance quickly towards the bridge, whence had come a ciear, penetrating “Hollos. Ԡm a. man‘ 8 voice. A man mounted on a splendid black horse was crossing the bridge. and. as lime turned her face,‘he waved his hand for her with an imperative gesture, intimating to her to draw back. She obeyed instantly. retiring several feet, with less of any fear 1n her heart of a possible peril against which the rider had warned her than of a feeling of keen amuse- ment and pleasure on beholding one who could be none other than the famous Dark Darrell, the sconrsed. Yes; there was the dark handsome face ; and. as she drew back, the rider raised his hat and bowed, as if to apologise for having called to her, or to thank her for condescending to have her life saved, She stood still, watching the horsemen, and little thinking what an 611-; quisite picture she herself made with her, youthfnl beauty “I shall' nave a talk with him to- morrow," said Ilma, still looking down on the weir; and as she stood there, her slender ï¬gure thrown out against the background of the hills, the soft evening breeze stirring the golden curls, she looked like a fairy. or the presiding mind of the Coalmere. Roland gazed on her admiringly for a few moments befo1e he replied to her last words. “Perhaps Duff wont understand you either. †“I am never giddy,†she said smliing.‘ “I have stood over many stall hundreds of test higher than this. I suppose you called it Gipay’s Weir because Zarah named it so ?†“Yes ; before that it was merely Sc’arth Abbot Weir. The lock was built In 1790 ~ by Jhe g1audfatl1e1 .of S11 Philip Darrell. Old Reuben Dull the lock keeper. 15 a local char- acter. I don’ t think you would understand one word in ten of his.†. f‘Why ? Do you say I talk like a foreigner ? Rose and Janie said so.†“They were right; you do. But come down. Ilma, please ; you make giddy." “Do I? I beg your pardon." She stepped dowh at once ; and, as she did so, a deer in the Mill opened and a. girl came out, and began crossing a lock-bridge. There was nothing particularly striking about the girl who now approached the cousins. She moved with a certain easy grace inherent in her tribe. the characteris- has of which three hundred years of a station- ary life had 110‘ obliterated. Zeph Heston had a. swarthy gipey face and bead black eyes, and 9. fair share of good looks; but she was not handsome, though a. red handker- ch1e on her head, in lien for a hat or bonnet, gave her a picturesque aspect. The mill-wheel had just begun to work. but no one was about ; and Hum stood for fully a quarter of an hour on Zamh’s Leapâ€"so Roland had told her the fatal spot was called â€"~looking down upon the weir ; then, stop- ping back to the bank, she wandered along towards the bridge which Mistress Anneris Darrell had refused to cross. The group (1 rose in this direction and, looking ahead, 'Ilms. could see that the river, which wound very much, flowed between banks fully twenty feet; high, not more than a. quarter of a. mile from where she now was. “Here it; Zep'n Héston," snidï¬ Roland. “NEW, Ilma, let ussge if you pnglergtandygr.†“Good evening,†she said, curtseying to the gentleman and ladies'in turn. and glan- cing very keenly at 111119.. “Been showing the foreign young lady the wier and the mill, and all 1 see." “ Well, but," said Roland, “ the Darrells have braved the floods again and again. See how Sir Philip himself escaped when he saved widow Hunt.†“ His time was not come, Mr. Roland," re- turned Zeph, frowning a little; “But the time must came, and Sir Philip is the last of his house. G001 evening. my ladies; good evening, sir.†The remainder of the evening passed pleas- antly in music and conversation ; and it’ was late when Miss Dumford and Ilma returned to the'Grange. “This young lady is Miss Costello, our cousin Zeph"â€"- another curtaey from Zap hâ€"I “ and ‘she thinks the place very beautiful. We shall ask Job to show her over the mill in a day or two.†“ She’s welcomeâ€"most welcome I" said Zeph, scanning Ilma tux-Lively again. “Did yo see the lord ride past, Mr. Roland ?" “ No. Where and when 7†“ on, just before you came up. He rode bv on a black horseâ€"a rare beauty. It will be best for the lord not to stop here long." “ Why, Zeph ?†asked Rose eagerly. “ Father says there’ll be heaVy rains naxt month; He always knows." “ What then. 9" asked Roland. “ Father says the floods will be out to tho bills this year." said Zeph olacularly . “and you know what it says ?†WitE' another lookâ€"not. over-friendlyâ€"at Ilma, and aoovert, glance at Roland, Zeph went 9n her way: “ What an oddity I†said Ilma, gazing after her. “ I can follow her pretty well. What a. pity we missed seeing Dark:Darrell on his black steed l I knew it would be black, Rose.†Rose and Janie discussed the black horse, which Sir Philip had not had the last time he came to Scarth Abbot, all the way home, while Ilma walked by Roland‘s side and aeked him hosts of quesxions about the place and the people. Ilma’s dreams that night were a. jumble of Ottawa and Scarth Abbot, gipaies, weirs, mills and Spanish-looking cavaliers on black horses; and she awoke early, w1th the sun shining into her room. The girl sprang up. dressed quickly, and opened her bed- room door. Not a soul was stiuing in kha house. Ilma looked at her watch; it was barely six o clock. She did not put on her hat, but ran out barebeaded. effecting her exit by her bed-room window. A creeper grew w1thout, and by means of this the agile young girl rapidly reached the garden ; she then hurried away towards the river. She had the dewy morn- ing all to herself, and mattered the diamond drops like spray as she~ moved through the grass. laughing to see howwet were her shoes and the boltom of her blue-and-white serge morning-dress. _ Ilma made out the drift of this speech. though the words were delivered with a broad Cumbérland acceptt 130133144 replied t}; it. ' “It"was a. South Abbot. “.10in ,1" she modgm. .. I 3th run down to the weir before breakfast.†was apparenfly the Darrell curse in " Oh, Sir Philip.†cried the old lady, “ you have such alo‘ of foreign pnlnwr I I wonder you don’t forget how to speak English. You cannot utter a sentence of good old Cum- berland, Iknow. Ilma, run rounci and tell “ How kind of ycu,†he said, “ to be so glad to see me. Five years have npt changed you. Miss Durnford ; I wish I could believe they had wruugiis as little change in me. Your niece, whnm‘I lmd the pleasure ofmeat- ing on the rivcr~bn11k, incited me to invite myself to breakfast With you this morning ; u but, if I pregiimem , She held out har lmml, lltél‘ face and 2m- tiou amply seconding her cordial words, and he‘ in courtly fashion, learnt, abroad, bent and kissed that hand. “ Sir Philip Darrell.†exclaimed Miss Dum- fox'd, quickly descending the steps of the terrace ai the back of the houseâ€"for Jennie had fled preaipitateiy to inform her of the distinguished visitor who was approaching with truant Miss liumâ€"†this is a. most un- expected, most welc'ime pleasure I" Jenme, who was young. shook her head pottentously, but remarked that; “ they lur- riners. were mostly mad " “ Why Jennie,†she cried to the house- maid, “there’s the lord; and if Miss Ilma isn’t talking to him as if she ha.“ known him all her lifeâ€"and she such a beauty, 209 1 Well away ; aha may be dreeing her wietd. and not know it. 1 Just think if the lord should take a fancy to her, poor dear I" “I should know you were a. strange:- by both your looks and speech,†said Sir Philip, smiling; and 111m 1‘er ï¬mt‘ so sweat a smile muld redesim am‘ curse, even were the face it illumined lesa strikingly handsome than that. of the Lord of Manor. “ There is not; the re- motost touch of Cumberland about you." “ I hope you cannot," returned Ilma. †Yes? 011, how nice that will beâ€"that is, if you would really like to come. 811‘ Philip." “ I should like to come above all things.†llma. was quite satisï¬ed, and moved along by her tall cavalier's side till they came tothe Grange, where Molly, the cook, looking out of the kitchen window, was not a little aston- ished to see no loss a. person than Dark Dar rell himself advancing with his horse along the path between the entrant bushes, with Miss Ilma by his side. “Nor is there about you.†returned 11mm frankly. "I should think you were for- eign though, ifl did not know who You were.†The pleading upward look of the large brown eyes, the aolt " Please do,†were mag- nets more powerful than she dreamed of in her innocence. He would have been less than man who could have resisted them, even though he “ road between the lines ;" for Data rellknew that some one must have told his young companion all about the curse, and doubted not thht she, floutingit, only wanted, m her sweet childlike way, to make him happy- ‘1 â€(fan I say ‘ No ’ to such a. supplicaut ?†he said, passing his arm through his herse‘s bridl_e {ts they moved ferward. “ You have the advantage of 1nc«.’said Sir Philip, bowing, and smiling again. “ The gossips wage quick, 1f you came only last night, to tell you how to know Philip Darrell when you saw him.†“ Please do.†said Ilmn earnestly, thinking of the terrible story Bose had told her bf this man who was so desolate, in spite of his ancient‘name and wealth. 0 What fun!†she exclaimed. “ I liketo be unconventional. It’s ever so much nicer to be introduced to some one by having a warning shout than by a formal introduction. Don’t you think so ‘2" “ Oh, Sir Philip, I must hurry home to breakfast! I am late already.†“ You will let me escort. you ?" " And take you out of your way 7 Not for worlds 1 'There are no bears in these wooda, are there?†“Excépt Cumberland bears." said Darrell. with some bitterness; “ buttliey are harmless enough, poor olodhoppers I But escort I know is a ï¬ction. Will you grant me the pleasure of your company as long as possible ‘2" ‘3 Oh, yesfglaiily! 1t {3110 ï¬wor, you know. Why don’t you come in to breakfast with us 1’ Auntie is a friend ofryourn, you said." “ My cousin Sabine told me about you, Sir Philip,†answered Ilma. “ My name is Ilma Costello. and I have come over from Canada to live with my aunt, Miss Dumford. You know them all ?" “ I have thathonnr and pleasure. and I am delighted to have the further honor of extending the acquaintance," said Darrell, holding out a slight hand as White as Ilma’s own ; and Ilma gave him her little hand with a bright Iaugh. “ But I should not like to see you whirling down to the weir,†said Ilma. “ As it- hap- pens. there is no harm done. Oh, you dear old fellow l†Sliddenly Ilma looked at her watch, and thenflaspgd Ppghangs in dismay. There was a flasï¬ in Diarxell’s eye and a quiver of his delicate lips which told of pride and passion. Then he answered, smiling: " I should if I were 'the warned and you were the warner. Miss Costello ; but it was not with any very enviable feelings that I saw you perched like a. fay upon such treacherous ground." He shuddered slightly. The laï¬t words were not addressed to Sir Philip p, but to his horse, which had walked forward sedutely to join his master. Ilma caressed the noble animal with all a girl’s lavish fondness, laying her soft check against the horse’ 3 smooth neck stroking and pat ting him, and talking to him as if he were a Christian. Sir Philip watched the beautiful group of girl and horse with feelings which he could not probably have analyzed. Ilme’s conduct would have been splendid acting in a ï¬nished ooquetteï¬buu she was no moreacoquette than the mountain breeze. She feiï¬ and acted like a. child, and hath no more idea of winning Darrell’s good opinion {han had the horse himself. " He is a noble creature." sail Sir Philip, presently, “ though his own master praises him. He is half an Aral), and has been my companion in many a, wandering. Faithful Has'aau I“ he added, leying his delicate white hand tenderly on the animal’s fore- ‘head; and the larg, re soft eyes of the Arab flashed back full intelligence into his loved master a face. Darrell laughed. This Transatlamic girl’s frankness was bewitching ; he would not have been at all surprised if she had told him that his coat became him, or that she admired his rings. He bowed, and thanked her for the compliments bestowed. †I’ve seen lots of beautiful horses,†re- marked Ilma. “ but never such a. beauty as youri. How long 139:“: yqu had him ?f’_ U I knew you had not had him when you were last here," said Ilma. laughing , " for last evening Zeph Heston said you had ridden by on a. blnck horse, and my cousins were quite interested. †“ You will 'ï¬nd that you cannot cross a road in this place without every one knowing it, and knowing why, or making a reason. All the village will be discussing you over break- fast this morning. and they talked about you all last evening. My coming here was a tre. mendous event. Bahâ€"country places are stupid, dismully stupid l" “ I know that. No one would ever take you for a provincial, Miss Coste’llo. As for me, I have not passed seven years of my life in this place. I am a. citizen o_f the world.†" I kï¬ow that,†said Ilma, nodding. “ They call me 'foreigner’ here." “ South country is foreign to Cumberland; and you don’t speak like 9. home-bred Ena- libb girl. You have been more used to for- eign languages than your ownâ€"that is the reason." " That is how you speak.†said Ilma. “ I am no judge in my own case ; but you speak your words onsply as Italians do. and the in- flections of your voice are not. English." “ Four years. V I bought him in Alexan~ dria." 3 “ They must he ;†and 111119, looked a little dismayed. “ I have never lived long in the country." “ How good of you to make the suggesï¬on ! I think I will act upgn it.†JHAPTER IV ~Up to the b'eginniug of this month the Rev. Dr. Todd’s church, in the city cf New Haven, professed in its Manual to believe in “ the condemnation of the wicked to e'reriast'. ing punighment." It has now discan'ed this formula, and leaves the future fate of the wicked an 0pm question. contemim itself with professing a. b lief that the Lord will come to judge the world ‘in righteousness. This action on the part of a. church under iha eaves of Yale COHFge will not lelsen the anxiety of orthodox Congregationalista,_Eaet and West, over the pm sent drift of things in the denomination. â€"Trinquet and eight other leading 002i:- zpunists in the lust cargo of the nmnestied reached Paris a few dayé since. M. Clemenc ceau and a party of the‘Extreme Left were prepared to welcome them at one neighbox'ing restmunt. while a, Socialist committee had made arrangements at another. They all p’referred the latter, M. Clemenceau having given unpardonablc offense by ahxlenting himselffrom Blauqui‘s funeral. e;:1)zixtntly to avoid committing himself in ï¬ve? of or agailgvst the red flag. “ If you had permitted me to go on my way in peace I should have been ï¬rst at the trap,†answered the Hare. “ Yes, but please do something for me. ' ' “ I’d be glad to, small and weak as I am, but if anybody should come along Idof team to have them think we are traveling 1n com- pany l_ Ta ta, Mr. Wolf 1 " MORAL: There" 13 never 9. safe time to put on airs. The man you kick to- day, may drive a, ro- cer’ a delivery wagon to marrow. lâ€"1)c¢ .9“ Free Press "Ishall be held here till the hunter comes to knock me on the head I†moanei thg Wolf. The Hare fell back a few feet further, feel- ing that any dispute would result to ’the ad- vantage of the Wolf. They had not proceed- ed {at when the Wolf suddenly uttered uhowl of surprise and pain. and as the Hare «came up he was rollmg over the ground with his fore feet fast' m a trap. - “ Help ‘ help I†shouted the Wolf. “ But I am nothing but a Hare,â€replied.tho other. ‘- How it would look to see a weak and cowardly Hare rushing to the assistance of. a big, qtrong Wolf I" _ “,He’sn jewel in every way, Miss Earn- for'l.†replied Darrell; and Ema. be god to bo allowed tolead Human to the marble herself. “ Suppose it is 7 You are nothing but 8. Bare, while I am 3 Wolf. It is your business to follow on behind Ede. if you want to go my way. How it looks to see a. big. strong Wolf following a weak and cowardly Hare like y‘ou." “ Old Darling 1" she said. an Sir Phili') r3- signed 3118 bridle to her ; and she would have envied Robert the charge of him if the society of the lord of the soil had not been a strong- er attraction . ‘ “ On arrival on deck the young man ap- ‘peared dazed and complained of having bum- ed his thumb, and I at once took him to my lighted cabin to ascertain the amount of in- jury. On examination I found the pupils of his eyes very much dilated and unaffected by light, the thumb of the left hand drawn and very painful and the whole of the arm dis- tinctly numb. The pulse (taken on the Infected side) was 115, temperature 193 degrees, 15 minutes. The patient stated on his arrival at the seat of the electric phenomenon the flame assumed a distinctly bluish color and was apparently attached to the meet in much the same way as the flame to the wick of a candle. On touch- ing‘it with his left hand (his right meanwhile holding on to the'msst(, he received adiatinet electric shock and felt his ï¬nger burnt. Greet cardiac disturbance took place and spasmodic respiration. combined with entire loss of power, with numbnessof hand and arm, also temporary deafness, shown by his not hav- ing heard us call to him from the deckâ€"the night being a good one for transmission of sound. " Very well," answered the Hare. who dared not dlspute for fam- of being still worse used. The Wolf was in no hurry. 1ndeed;he did not care to travel that way at all, except to humiliate his weaker neighbor. As be passed along at a slow gait, he looked back over 'his shoulder and observed : She raffbï¬ck to the breakfï¬stroomï¬nd went up to her aunt with a half-penitent, half-mis- chievous look. ‘- Please forgive me for being late, auntie. I did not know how the time was going; and I shouldn’t have been here at all maybe but for Sir Philip. “ My dearp child, what do you mean," Darrell explained,and Miss Durnford looked as horriï¬ed as if Ilma had actually tumbled nto the river. “ Don’t keep so near.me. If we meet any- body I don’t care to have them think we are travelingin company. It is only am not of condescension that I allow you to travel this pafl} 31.3111." _ ‘ Rï¬bert intake Sir Philip’s horse to the st able. Ya; _h_uye a sppegbghotse, Si): Philip; “The numbness of the arm passed 03 in about an hour, but the thumb continuedpain- ful till next morning, when he seemed all right again. and returned tq his duty. After the experiment Iordered him to his bunk, giving him a exiï¬ glass of ruin and allowing him to smoke. " My yomg operator 1n this mostinteresï¬ng expe1iment1s a clear beaded young man. aged 20 son of a general 111 the British army, and a. capital subject to work out the case. He was at the time of the experiment in perfect health. “About ï¬fty seconds after it was touched the flame disappeared and did not agairi ap- pear.†One day as a Hare was pursuing her way through the forest she was overtaken by 3 Wolf, who had no sooner oam‘e‘ 1n sight than he called out : " “ By what right do you walk in this path ‘2" “ I thought it was a public highway,"hum- bly replied the Hare. 7 The Mystic Flame that Burned and > Shocked aYoung Midshipman. The following account: of an electrical phenomenon which was witnessed on the British ship John 0’ Gaunt appeared in the San Francisco Bulletin on January 13 over the signature of H. Foord Clark, the ship' 3 physician . “ During the evening of November 23,1880, the atmosphere had been disturbed and had presented to our gaze ï¬ve wonderful water- epouts, one of great size and volume. After the excitement consequent on watching the waterspout was over, I retired‘ and had just made myself ready for the night when the chief ofï¬cer came to call me on to thep p.oop On my arrival there I perceived ebright globe of light at the royal mizzen must. of a. clear yellow tint burning steadily. and unaffected either by the motion of the ship or by the wind,- the globe being about the size ofa large tumbler. I recognized it as the magic ï¬re of St. Elmo. I observed it carefully for some time, and was wishing that I could climb the mast and make a nearer view of this magic flame, when one of our midsh1pmen came forward and volunteered to ascend. Here. then, ‘ was my chance of making an experiment through a medium which I believe has never before been al.- temptedend inQnat way aiding the knowledge of my fellowmen. Having distinctly intrust- ed the young man to take diligent notice of everything, however trifling it might ap ppear to him, 'end knowing he could be relied on for date, he began his ascent On his arrival at the point where the flame appeared he was heard to cry out, ‘ Oh I it is hot, and all was silence. After waiting a few seconds he was hailed by the captain and my self, telling him to come down, but no answer could we get. Another midshipmen was sent. In a. short time both were safely on deck and our minds relieved. The Wolf and the Hare [To an CONTINUED.] ST. ELMOS FIRE. A FABLE.