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VERA, TO HER LOVER IN HEAVEN. My lqvqxj, Why jg it th‘ night of starms "W A 4.. human. ‘A n1, my Avn», vvu" .. u ”A- .05-. __ fl" My thoughts are ever turning tor bhée? You, who are sheltered from 0.11 the blast, Hear the musical roll of “ the golden sea." My lover, do you remember the day When‘ last my hands were in yours entwined, And the air was faint with the summer flowers, And a sauna of thunder came on the Wmd ? My 33%;};th glxays spoke words of love, ,_ _ .._: ..... yuan.“ 'hnt 0m» - JUVEL, wuu mew-Vnayuuu n -V-, The tones of thy voice are distinct, but far ; A bridge is between us I cannot cross, But God’s will stands at both ends of the bar. My lover, did you with your mist cleared eyes See me, when I thought you were fox away ; Did yo:_bring Hope down from your new found s lei While 1.113 heart was breaking eve: your clay ‘2 My lover, how long have the seasons been -4 Since I tried to spell out the em all word " welt ": Andlearnt to know that your love and life Gnl'ozvafver more strong as the years grow a 0 My lover, in dreams of the mght you some. Out of God‘s goodness sent from afar; Ea arches the barriers for the best, And Christ's love stands at each and of the Some day that arch WilI Widen its breadth, There’ll be room for two, you’ll not. come in vain ; And over the darkness of weeping and death. My lover and I will be happy again. " Oh, lady,” faltered the girl. “ I was com‘ ing to tell youâ€"I duren’t tell them at the Latches; and the Squire was fond of you; wasn't he, lady ?”__' n ‘ . ”mu; WHEN THE FLOODS ARE OUT. ".0... . _-, _.._._, " Go on.” aaiii Ilma, grasping Zeph’s wrist and speaking quite sternly in her agony and terror. “ What has h_appene_d ?” ‘ He’ 3 down there. ladyâ€"in uncle a cottage -â€"drownad. Father found himâ€"_â€"â€"-” But Ilma waited for no more ; she ran down the slope as fleetly as a deer. She had reached the bottom, ,and had turned to ‘ask Zepl). who was a little way behind, where the cottage was, when a stalwart formâ€"which even in that second she recognized as that of Job Hestonâ€"sprang out before her, and. before she could utter a. cry or word, a thick shawl was thrown over her head, and she was lifted in a grasp against which her wildest struggles would have been vein. She did not struggle, she did not try to cry outâ€"it would have been uselessif she had. She perceived. even in that bewildering moment of horror never to be forgotten, that she was the victim of a terrible deceptionâ€"that Job Heston and his daughter were but the tools of Roland Sabine. " Don’t hurt her, father." she heard Zeph say. as she was being home rapidly along toward the weir ; but its roar grew louder, so that Job’s muttered reply was lost in the thunder of the angry waters. Were they going to throw her over ? She almost wished they were. But no; she was carried onâ€" still on, over the lock bridge, They were taking her to the millâ€"the mill that would be washed away that night! Where was Zeph now ? Gone? Ah, Heaven, there was some sense of protection while in her pres- ence 1 She was a women, evil though Ilma knew her to be. Ilma did not faint, not once did her keen wits desert her. Every faculty was sharpened. She quickly revolved the feasibility of an appeal to her eaptor, and dismissed it as worse than futile. In the first place, Heston was firmly convinced that Dark Darrell would perish in that night’s floods, and therefore he would only laugh at her if she promised him a reward from her lover if he would save her ; in the second place. she felt certain that though the roar of the welr prevented her from hearing anything else, Roland Sabine was close at hand, and pos- siblyâ€"nay, probablyâ€"armed ; so that treach- ery on Job‘s part would be instantly frus- trated. Her cousin’s object was. she thought. to imprison her in the Mill, and to try to force her into a. promise to fly with him, leaving her. if she refused. to perish in the floods ; and, horrible as this fate was, it. was Elysium compared with that she had first conceived, and which even now was not beyond possibil- ity; __ . .1.u, Not less ghaslly was the face on which he dared not. look, thIe the large brown eyes sought his 111 a very agony of appeal. Even Job gHeston, villain though he was, turned .away, and seemed unwilling to gaze on the beautiful fragile orealure he had brought to a .fireadful death. kwfiglrfihdrfirst broke the terrible silence. He ,advanced a afiep tquards _hjs_ victim. Her hurried reasoning was out short by Job pausing ; then he commenced to ascend steps. He was going into the Mill 1 ‘J hen for the first time she heard steps following. On they went, still up ; they had passed the first floor. Next a somewhat steep ladder was climbed. something was set down by the man who followed Jobâ€"the man was Roland, Ilma. knewâ€"and the next moment she was put down gently. the shawl removed. and she found herself in the disused corn-loft from the narrow window of which she had gazed a few days before, and Roland Sabine stood before her, the dim rays of a. lantern shining upon his ghastly face. . 1-11 1‘ Elma,” he saidâ€"and his voice Bounded .lharsh and changed, as changed as his aspect â€"" you have nothing worse than death to star. There is but one way of escape open to flow” . v -“ I'm off, air,” he said. “ Tain‘t safe to any here long ; and, if you’ll take my advice you won’t stay long. The floods may be up any hour, with the rain falling in the mount- ;aina is it is. Good-bye, missy. You dread your own weird when you let Dark Darrell match your fancy with his handsome face and .glcging league." .1 ‘ 1 . ‘--. Before Roland could speak again, Job strode :towards the large trap door that gave admit- :tonoe to theloft. The girl did not answer him ; but he saw the look of terror pass from her eyes. and a deep long breath of inefiable rehef made her breast heave for a. second. The horror of the situation was too new to be yet fully com- prehended, and the thought ofdesth as some- thing to shrink from had yet to come ; it was as an angel of light that it came just now. Roland sprang to the windowâ€"for Ilma did not stir a step or move her ashen lips- and looked out. Was it the gleam of water that he saw immediately below ? Was the river, in the few minutes that had elapsed, up tothe door of the Mill ‘2 I: hudvalmoat washed their feet as they entered, but nowâ€"He turned, and suddenlygrasped Ilma’s wristmilh He uttered a. harsh laugh, perhaps to hide ~some gleam of better feeling in his hardened nature, as he left the hapless girl to her fate , and the next moment he had disappeared through the trap and descended the ladder. whistling loudly. _ a grifi so strong thit it any other time she must have cried out; now she seemed beyond feeling physipal pgip. _ “ Ilme,” he cried hoarsely, “there are not many moments to lose ; the floods may be on us directly 1 Do you understand? Come with me ~-fly with meâ€"he my wife; refuse, end I leave you here to perish. There is no escape; and there is no relenting in me. I would kill you with my own hand”â€"he said those words through his teeth, his face close to hers, his hot breath on her cheekâ€" “sooner then see you in Philip Derrell’s arms -his bride. Now choose; there is no mercy. I brought you here to night to choose between life witgh mye and death with him." Steadily y, calmly, with the awful roar of the swelling waters in her ears, the young girl looked into the face that seemed scarcely human. Low and firmly she spoke the first words she had uttered in her fatal prison- house. “ I will die. I am not afraid to die. If my time is so short, leave me alone to pray ; for I am not siuless though 1 have done you no wrong.” Roland relaxed his grip and fell back. “ Are you mad ?"ihe said in a hoarse whis- per. “ Did you comprehend me when I said ‘ die with him’? You shall not die aloneâ€"no,’ no -th'at were cruel i" Hummm Amum. He laughed till the rafters mug, and the girl recoiled with a. new and fearful terror in her heart. Roland’s wild words when he parted from her that» morning came backto her. Was he mad? “ No, no,’? he said again more calmly, but with a concentrated ferocity in tone and look almost more terrible than his frantic out- break ; “ you shall see your handsome lover once more. He shall clasp you to his heart again and give you a parting kiss. Do you understand me ?“â€"stopping before her, and folding his arms. “If you choose death, I shall send to Philip Darrell and tell him where you are ; and 1 know him i and his race well enough to know what. he will [60. He will come 1" ‘ "Witâ€"1'1}: 66 Hf Agony the girl flung herself at her captpr’s feet. “ Roland, you cannot-you will not do this 1 Kill me with your own handâ€"drag me out from here and fling me into that torrentâ€"but. oh, spare him 1 Spare your own soul that added guilt, Roland 1" She tried to clasp his hand in the passion of her pleading, as she saw that the very proof of her deep love for his rival hardened still more the heart she strove to soften. “ Think what his grief will be when I am lost to him, and by so awful a. into I Is not that worse punishment than death ? Is it not enough to have my guiltless blood on your head ‘2" ~ n “He must fulfil the curse," answered Ro- land, evading her clasp ; and. with a. Wild gleam in his eyes, he stamped violently on the floor. “ What does it say? “ ‘ Till the waters, rising, rising, Bring the bounden sacrificingâ€" Life for life for traitors deed ; When the floods are out, take heed !’ Spare him, when every word and look of yours show how you love him! ' No prayer for your own life; but for his you go on your knees and pray in agony ! You can save him if you choose. You have one minute to make that choice.” Ilma rose from her knees. As she stood erect before her would-be murderer, facingthe narrow casement, the moon broke out and- denly from behind a bank of clouds and shot abroad shaft of light into the dreary loft, shedding a. pale glory upon the marble fea tures and the gleaming golden hair. "I will die," said the girl, “with him 1" There was silence. The twoâ€"murderer and vietimâ€"seemed scarcely to breathe. Roland’s face was shrouded now in gloom, the girl’s uplifted to the light. which seemed to have come as an omen from Heaven; and she breathed a prayer for the man she loved â€"a prayer for timeâ€"only time â€"tl:et destruc- tion might come to her so swiftly as to shut- ter even the hope of his dying with her, and so save him. Hush 1 Above the roar of the weir and the rushing river What was the other sound, dis~ tent and faint. but recognized by the girl’s quick ear ? She had heard it on the great St. Lawrence when the ice broke uy. Too late ! Philip was saved ! The floods were upon them I Bub Roland heard nothing. He knew not why that great radiance flashed into the lifted face, why the small hands were clasped owr the throbbing heart. He turnedâ€"his cheeks were bloodless and his eyes wild and glassy. “Then die,” he said. his voice “scaréely above a whlsperâ€" “ die with your doubly ac- cursed lover!” He snatched up the lantern and was gone. She heard him reach the floor beneath; she heard him drag the ladder away and run it through the window, thus cutting ofl all chance of her escape. She heard him pass lower, and then a. mighty sound rose above even the fierce rush of the weir ; but it did not drown the piercing shriek of despair that rang’up- wards through the trembling wooden walls. Booming like thunder, tearing up trees like awigs. sweeping all before it, on came the 00d! It spread far over the meadows to left and right, carrying sheep and cattle onwards in its mad career. and vast masses of the banks were swept away. The stout wooden piers of the bridge OVer which Dark Darrell had ridden on that sunny morning when Ilma had stood and dreamed above the glittering tide were broken into splinters, and the whole structure was whirled away in iragments. On, onrushed the torrent, leaping and touring. Lock and lock-bridge were gone, and the wreck plunged madly down the vast waterfall. The water was two feet above the door of the Mill, and the old walls staggered under the shock. But it was not gone yet. The terrified villagers could still see it as they gazed from the hill on which Scarth Abbott was built, which was now surrounded by a great lake‘; and in the bright moonlight they could see trees, cattle and corn, and the wrecks of poor men‘s homes whirling down the seething tide. One of the villagers fancied he could see at 1 the window of the Mill, not ten feet above ‘ the rising waters, some one waving an arm with despairing gestures , but others said that he must be mistaken orthat it was somel supernatural being, as Job and Zeph Hestonl had left the Mill long since, and that even ifl it were a. human being no help could reach him. But presently some one saw the face at the narrow casement higher up, and recog- nized it , and it spread like wildfire that‘ Ilma Costello was in the Mill. Alone in that awful prison death rising to her foot by footâ€"perha} )s to come in one mighty crashâ€"Ilma knelt and tried to pray; but her heart would cling tol him whose face she would see no more, whose‘ voice she would hear no more. Death had lost all terror. She saw herself whirled away drowned on that boiling flood, and she did not shudder at the picture. Roland was for. gotten. In a dull kind of way she wondered if that shriek was his last. But Philip, who would die Ior herâ€"oh, if he should yet hear of her fate and strive to reach her 1 She cried aloud in the anguish of that fear, and beat her hands together in wild appeal to Heaven to save him; and before the echo of that cry had died away she had sprung to her feet, and her heart seemed to stand still within herâ€"for the moon shone down upon a single horseman struggling with the angry waters. Zcph Heston was passionate and vindic- tive; but, like many undisciplined characters, she was better than her impulses. Scarcely had she reached the cottage in which she and her father had sought temporary shelter than the full horror of the deed to which she had been a party rushed upon her. She did not know that Roland intended to inform Sir Philip Darrell of the fate of his betrothed, in order to involve him in the same destruction ; but what wrong had Ilma. done her, Zeph was now compelled to ask herself, tb at she should be the girl’s mtlrdereés? What wrong had Philip Darrell done that. in order to remove some one she hated, she should rob him of the woman he loved? Heston‘s daughter had not actually blamed Ilma because Roland Sa- bine loved her; but she had hated her with the unreasoning vindictiveness of a halfsav- age nature because 111113 was an obstacle, as the poor creature imagined, to her own pos- sible happiness. Remorse, when it came, was bitter and overwhelming. Perhaps too, though this came later, there was another feeling in Zeph’s heartâ€"s. vague fear that Roland might have intended to play her false, and spare Ilma if she would consent to marry him. Zeph did not believe that Ilma would consent to this alternative ; but it lent zest to the determination which took possession of the girl to go to Sir Philip Der- rell and tell him of Ilme’s danger. He might yet be in time to save her ; and for herself Zeph cared little. Nor would she now shrink from lacrificing Rolandâ€"for the idea, having once entered her mind, gained strength with every passing momentâ€"if he intended to break his word to her. Even herlfsther’s part in the deed did not deter the girl now ; nor did she seem to remember at that moment that the hope of saving Ilms. must needs be frustrated if the curse was to be fulfilled. Standing at the door of the cottage, she saw her father on the lock bridge. Not a. seqeud was to be Eost. The girl hastened out of the house and up the slope, and was running swift- {1y towards the open country by the time Job‘ He'sto‘n had around the threshold of 111's rela- CHAPTER XII. tive‘s dwelling and roughly demanded where Zeghfims: -. . ‘ .... Ze‘Eh hnew every r: 0.1 of ground within ‘ ten milea ; and, dark though it new waaâ€"for she moon had not yet appeargd~she made her way unerringly towards the Uouri. The girl had not yet run a. mile. anti was now on an open piece of moorland, whom suddenly the moon broke through the chuds, and by its light she saw a horseman coming straight to- wards her at a. swift gallop. She recognised Sir Philip find his horse Hassan, and, pausing. pulled tho red handkerchief from her head and waved it wildly. The signal had the de- sired efiect? Darrell,reined up within a. yard of the girl 32nd descended from his horse. “ Zep h Heston, what do you want 61 me ‘3 ” He spoke sternffi'; he must have read evil tid- ings 33.11“ fgge. ... .. 1 “ Kill me if you like "â€"and the girl grasped the sleeve of his coat in her intensé eagerness â€"” but believe every word I say. Look here, Sir Philip , I came after 3011,3116. you can hang me for to- -nig_ht’ ayork. ” “Go on," he said almost fiercely, with a horrible fear in his heart; and if you lie, wo- man though you are. you shall suffer.” “ I speak the truth, so help me Heavenl ’ went on Zeph rapidly. “ The Squire came to father and me this afternoon. and said we were to get; Miss Ilma into the mill. The Squire said he’d put her there, and she should be dz-ownedvto night, for the mill would be 1 washed away ; and I ran up to the Grange garden and told Miss Ilmu the Squire was drowned ; and she ran down to the river. and father seized her and took her to the mill. But, oh,” cried the wretched girl, cowering down, “ I’d give everything to save MISB Ilma now! That’s why I came after you.” Not a. word did Philip Darrell speak. With livid brow and bloodless lips, he sprang upon his horse and was cut of sight ef Zeph in a few seconds; and, as he flew onwards, there burst upon his ears the awful sound of rash ing watersâ€"mot of the weir, but of the flood. “ Life for life for traitor’s deed : When the floods are out, take heed 11’ No heed tdok heâ€"no thought had be but for the one dear life. He was riding a. mad race With-death. If too late to save his love, he might yet be in time to die with her. V “ C11, Hassanâ€"on I" said Darrell, his lips deathly White and his eyes fixed on the one building standing amid the 119051 “ Ha. I" In another minute the rivet was in full View in the moonli g.ht The look was gone, and far over the opposite bsmk spread the lake formed by the torrent. The flying steed had dashed into the midst of a crowd of villagers. Darrell drew bridle now, and, absolutely heedless of the confusion around him. fixed his piercing eyes upon the mill, scanning every aperture. Suddenly the blood rushed to his face, and a. flash of hopeâ€"almost raptureâ€"repring into his eyes. ‘2 Tia she! Ilfim, my own, I will save thee, or die with thee l" ,u Sir Philip,” shouted an old farmer, laying no weak hand on Hassan’s bridle, “ you shall not attempt to cross! It is madness ~cer- min death l” “ Who will show me ‘2” haid Darrell.,se©ting his teeth and snatching a. pistol from his breast. » “Hands. off. man, or say your Ins: prayer!” The old. man fell back ; and Sir Philip dashed off along the bank, the water, which was above the horse’s fetlock,flyiug in showers of spray from the brave steed’s feet. “ The curse, the curse!" rose from the terror-stricken crowd. “ He is rushing upon his death ; it has come‘â€"‘ life for life !’” The slope of the ground on this side of the river had rendered the overflow comparatively slight, the flood spending itself over the flat meadows on.the opposite bank. Sir Philip Darrell's object was to reach a point where a. crossing might possibly be efiected. T0 at- tempt to cross immediately below the weir wogld be simply suicide. The crowd followed breathlessly on the top of the bank, watching the daring rider below. Not one man or woman there had the faintest hope that he would reach the center of the stream alive. True the river had spent its greatest fury now that it was released from its narrow bounds , but the current was still swift and strong. and branches of trees and wreckage were being swept along. No man, the villagers thought. unless aided by super- natural power, could live in that stream. Sir Philip had paused now. He bent over his horse and patted his neck, and than 11fted his right hand toward the heavens. The next moment the noble steed plunged into the river, and a. great cry went up from those who saw the gallant deed ; and the women fell upon their knees and prayed aloud fl: the doomed lord of Darrell. It did indeed seem as if Philip Darrell had merely rushed upon death. The strong cur- rent swept; horse and rider downwards for some distance, and it was only with difficulty that the brave animal could hold his own. “ Bear up, my Eassan l” cried Darrell eu- couragingly, caressing the arching neck. The Arab obeyed the guiding hand and turned athwart stream ; they were half-way to the center now, and Hassan was panting, but struggling valiantly. Darrell called to the noble horse to strive yet a little while. When they had reached midmtream, Hassau’fl powers were failing, and his breathing was labored and distressed. “ My brave steed, my hope, my life, do not fail me now !" cried Darrell, in agony. “ A, little longer, Hasmn ! There-another effort! We shall reach the bankâ€"we shall save her, my Hassan xi” ‘ ‘ Clouds had vailed the moon, and the people on the Scarth Abbot shorty could no longer see the two battling with the waters. The dark eyes that saw them from the Mill for a moments after the first plunge lost sight of them when the tide carried them down, and 11:11»; prayed fervently that her lover might be saved from the terrors of the flood. The moon came out again. Where were they? the villagers asked themselves. Had horse and rider been engulfed in the rushing river? Was the curse fulfilled thus, and had thelife of thelaet Darrell paid the exacted tribute 7 ‘No ; they could see thet‘horae and rider had‘reached what 'had been the bank that morning. The horse was swimming still ; but the water was only just above the sanidle-girths. In another moment the horse stopped with drooping head. They could see Dark Darrell bending over him. He seemed to claspghis arms about the horse’s neck, and a cry of Joy and thanksgiving went up. It reached the brave rider’s ears, 'end he sent up an answering shout of triumph. The horse’s feet had touched ground. He had won the mighty battle; and. trembling and ex- hausted, he had stopped to rest and gather fresh strength. But the peril was not yet past The Mill had to be reached. It was still standing. For only a moment did Sir Philip aufier the horse to halt; then turning him back towards the Mill. he rode onwards, the water still wash- ing up to the saddlevgirlhs. It. was impos- sible to exceed a walking pace ; and in every second Darrell lived an hour of agony. At any;moment the Mill imight collapse before his eyes, carrying with it its hapless prisoner. As he drew nearer, Sir Philip perceivedthat it would be necessary to swim again to reach the Mill. The current too grew stronger every minute, augmented here by the wiser. Was he to lose all when it was nearly within his grasp ? Hussan’s great powers of endur- ance had been taxed to their utmost. The brave animal could do little more. He could scarcely keep his feet against the wash of the flood ; but he struggled on, still on. urged by his master’s voice and cheered by his loving touch. “ One moment more, my Hasénuâ€"one mo- ment 1 Oh, Heaven,have mercy yet,and spare her till I come! Hassan. my brave, my faith- ful, you cannot fail me I Strive still, my nobl- est, my best I So, once more 1 Ah, Heaven, give us ald I" v The horse was ofi his feet, swimming once more for dear life. He had no breath fer the answering: Whinny to the voice he heard but faintly. for his powers were fast failing. Horse and rider were close now ; the Mill was above them. Darrell rose in the stirrups, and put- ing up his hand, he found that he could al- most touch the lintel of the first-storey w‘ -‘ a‘b‘w. Ho ahoute’d aloud. Wa‘s that an and i- ing cry from withinâ€"her voice ? The brave steed seemed to know his errand, and made me more effort. Now Darrell grasped the hotel, raised himself, and stood on the Bill. l Xet even in' that anxious moment his noble companion was not forgotten. A bitter sob burst from the man’s heart as the pathetic eyes of the gallant steed looked up at him, ‘und then the flood carried Harman downwards. ‘ He could strive against it no longer ; but still :with the instinct of self-preservation, he struggled to keep afloat ; and Darrell raised his locked hands to Heaven and uttered a passionate prayer for the brave and faith- ful life that had been almost spent for him. Then Sir Philipâ€"it was scarcely a. second that he pausedâ€"sprang down into the Mill, and called Ilma’e name ; and the answer came backâ€" " Philip, Philip, I am here !" He dashed up the narrow stairway to the floor above. What was that that flashed across the broad shaft of moonlight pouring ‘through the unguarded window ? A man’s ‘ figure, crouching, hiding,and ready to spring! " Roland Sabine, take this I” With a spring like a. panther, Darrell was upon the woulsze murderer; and so swift and so sure was the fierce blow of the clubbed pistol that Without a cry or grom the wretched man fell with a crash to the floor and lay motionless. Darrell turned, the pistol fell from his hand, and his foot was on the ladderlike stairs that led up to the next floor when a whit-e gal-mom fluttered through the gloom above. W ” Philip I"-â€"â€"and in another moment IIms. had thrown herself into herlover‘g qpqn arms. ~Voieelesa, tearless, was that. wild close em- brace at the awful gate of eternity, that agony of joy, that agony of woe, lip to lip, heart to heart, once more, for the last time. What years of anguish he had seemed to live while he fought with the floods for her dear sake ! What years of anguish she had seemed to pass while she waited and waited in the dark- ness of dread, and knew not whether he had been swept down the rushing stream to a fearful death ! And now they had met, and her prayer at least was answeredâ€"he might die with her, if he could not save her. Fox: two m'inutes all was forgotten in their wild rapture, and then Damn spoke hur- riedly: x. '. .... w - ... .. "fling, theré is still hope} I will not de- spaiy till Death‘s hand is upon us. Come with There was no hope in Ilma‘s dark eyes, which were raised to her lover’s face; but death had no terrors now, for he was with her. He half led, half carried her to the floor below, and passed stmiight to the only aperture, the window by which he had en- tered. The waters flowed a few feet beneath them. bathed in the‘eilvery moonlight. After one look, Darrell folded his arms closely round the girl's fragile form and set his teeth, hope almost dying in his heart. He bent over the sweet face that tested upon his breast, and his burning tears fell upon the girl's brow. -. v. . .. '- ” Phiilp"â€"oh, the pain in her trembling voice 1â€"“ was it not truth that'I spoke to you in the sunshine yesterday? Shall I say to you again nowâ€"so near the graveâ€"that one hour of happiness is better than years of dull content ? To have won your loveâ€"love that more than risked life only to die with me"â€" and her face lighted up with aglorious bright- nessâ€"“ oh, my heart, is not this more than a. thousand years could give me, never knowing such love ‘2" 07' [)hilma, 111113, I have brought woe and death to you I”? He could not answer her. The quivering lips that pressed here were sxlent; and the waters rushed on, leapmg and bounding. After a few moments, two more victims would be carried away towards the sea. The nurse was fulfilled to the uttermostâ€"“life {or life.” “ Pbillp”-â€"and Ilma’s voice was very low and most pleading-“ you have not, killed hi ?”' The fierce passion that prompted the deadly blow leaped like lightning into Dat- rell‘s: darkieyep. " I struck him with a death-blow. Would you have had me spare such a. villain 2’” The girl trembled and hid her face. “ Let me pray for strength to forgive him, Philip. He oflered me life if I would be his wife. I chose death. Then he saidâ€"” Here she paused, f “ Go on; ’said Darrell hoarsaly , “ lehme know all. ” “ He said that he would send to you and tell you my fate; for he knew you would come to die with me. My prayers to spare you only angered him the more, for he saw how I loved you.” “ You humbled yourself to him who dated give you choice between his base passion and death ? You. my betrothed wife, knel: to him, and for me 7 Oh Heaven,” said Philip Darrell, raising his clenched right hand and his livid face to the moonlit sky, “ thou dost not claim from mortal man pardon for crime so black, for wrong so foul as this hand avenged to-night l’: The girl treEnbled at that awful appeal on the brink of death; yet her own passionate soul had almost echoed it. “ Philip,” she whispered, after a few mo~ ments’ silence, " let there be no stern mem- ory even of him in your heart or mine now. See. the waters are risingand the foundations of the Mill shake beneath us I The time is so short. Philip, beforeâ€"before the last strpggle !:’ Her voice faltered, and the golden head‘ sank. upon his breast. The strong man ground‘ his teeth in the impotence of despair as his dark eyes sought in vain over the surface of the/flood for any chance of escape. If he could see some object near enough to give the faintest hope of reaching it by swimming, he would risk all on that hope ; but, after all. it was not certain that the Mill’s foundations would yield ; and he Knew that to trust him- self and lime. to the swollen tide in the expectation of reaching either shore would be madness. Alone he could not, though a strong and expert swimmer, hope to resist the force of the current ; how then could he with Ilma ?” The drops of agony stood on his brow as be bent over his darling, doomed by his fat-a1 love to an awful death; and the words of the curse seemed to ring back in his ears-â€" " Till the waters, rising, rismg Bring the boun den sncnficingâ€" Life for life for traimr’s dead 1" “The moon was vailed. and darkness fell over the water. In vain did Darrell strive to pierce the gloom. Oh, for a ray oflight ! The cloud was passing, its edges gleamed with silver ; the moon peeped out . and suddenly Darrell uttered a cry. Ilma started. and fol- lowed his gaze. A dark heavy mass lay athwart the stream, rolling and rocking in the angry waters. Dar- rell at once perceived that it was the greater portion of one of the piers of the famous bridge that Annex-is Darrell had refused to cross. Quick as lightning his practised eye measured the distance between the Mill and the mess of timber, and he calculated the chances of reaching it. At the moment some- thing cr‘ashed below, and the old Mill shiver- ed and shook. He dropped into the tide which was only a few feet beneath the window. Not; a cry broke from the brave girl; not for one second did she lose presence of mind as the cruel waters seized their prey; but she held her lover as he had told her, so as to leave him almost free. The pier lay not a hundred yards dis- tant; if Darrell could keep afloat for one min- ute, he and his precious burden must be driven up against the pier, and he could climb iito almost‘centaip’ safety.“ _ u " Ilma," said Sir Philip rapidly. “ there is one hopeâ€"it lies there. If we can reach that pie}: befqu it swings rpundâ€"” ' Ho said no moie, but sprang to the sill, clasping the slight form firmly with his left arm. “ Cling to me. darlingâ€"so. beigurAhelpi’j _ iamge I" he wh'ii CHAPTER XIII. , though even in Now Heaven “hat wild moment he knew the exhortation was needless ; for the steadfast eyes were feat- less. A whirling mass of water. a deafening roar in their ears, something huge and black be- fore their eyes. and Darrell’a right hand was clutching with an iron grip abeam of the pier. His fragile burden aeemed less than feather- weight as he swung her upwards and she grasped the nex‘ beam. In another moment they were on the pier, and Philip Darrell had clasped the girl, trembling and breathless, to 1his breast. Saved, savedâ€"almost, but not quite ! There was danger yet. If the Mill should fall before the pier swung round, its fragments. dashing up against the pier, might turn it over, and death would then be certain and in- :tantznepns. Meanwhile the position of the fugitives was secure; and even in their great peril both gazed in awe and admiration upon 3 the magnificent spectacle before them. The wllagers en the bank |had seen them ; and 9. mighty shout went up, and hats and handkerchiefs were waved. The shout came to them faintly through the roar of the weir, and Darrell waved his hand ; but he never moved his eyes fromthe Mill save once, when he looked down into the starlike eyes fixed, like his, on the white walls. and pressed one ‘kiss on the half-parted lips. Slowly the ark of refuge began to move. The current had caught one and, and the un- wieldy mass swung round. Darrell watched the slow, gradual movement in deathlike si~ lance. Clasped so closely to him, Ilma could feel every heavy throb of his heart, and silent- ly she oflered no a prayer: for both. After three minutes of suspense. the pier swung clean round, and drifted ofi rapidly with the swift current. Then Ilms, with a passionate sob, hid her face on her lover's breast. He could not speakâ€"he could only press his trembling lips to the golden curls. Were they saved ? Straight down midstreem sped the strange bark; and the crowdâ€"run‘ nin‘g. leaping, shouting, wavmg hats and handkerchiels â€"as if such demonstrations could aid the fugitives «kept pace along the bank. In three minutes more the Mill w'ss fa'r distant, " And the landscape sped eiws. behind, Like an ocean flying before t 6 wind." “ Would to Heaven." said Darrell, looking back. “ I could know if my bravo Hassan’s life was saved 1 ” They had passed the last straggling house in Scarth Abbot, and now the stream flowed less rapidly, and the moving panorama glided by more gently. ‘ u “ Beer up still, darling." whispered Darrell; “ Heaven will not desert us at the last. The lile has been given, the life saved. The pro- phecy is fulfilled indeed?“ t “ i kmw we are saved, Philip 1 ”â€"and she raised her face with a trusting smile. She looked back. ” The Mill is still standingâ€" see l" Darrell looked back and saw the Mill stand‘ iug, tall and white. in the moonlight, but as he gazed the walls tattered. and, for the first time that awful night, Ilma shrieked aloud as the mass of woodwork fell over into the river. In awe Philip Darrell and his companion gazed still towards where the Mill had once stood. The thoughts of both turned to the guilty being swept away with the ruin to a. terrible retribution ; and even Darrell's stem wrath was softened, for he held his darling to hrs hreastâ€"savedâ€"while the dead man’s mother would weep in vain for the son who should never greet her again. A roar of many voices from the bank made Sir Philip and lime. turn quickly. Driven by a cross current. their craft hsd altered her course, and was driftin‘g rapidly inland. What a shout rang back from Dark Darrell to the frantic crowd ! It seemed as if all the Villages within ten miles round had sent forth their populations ; for Sesrth Abbot could not bring together such a throng. Darrell could now distinguish several of the Court servants and others whom he knew ; and some one shouted in stentorisn tones that there was a. carriage near; but for the most part the spectators could only shout inertia- ulately and weep and laugh togc‘ther for very joy_. Nearer yeH There were stalwart villagers and farmers up to their knees in water; and one old man was sobbing aloud and crying out brokenlyâ€" “ Yes: ’tis fulfilled. That was itâ€"we’ve read it all wrong! He’s saved the life. and the curse is turned to blessing l” A loud about was raised by the onlookers. The bridge pier was aground. They were saved. saved by the love that gave all for love's sake. The life was yielded. and both lives were redeemed; and thus was Ingel- hard’s fell deed blot‘ed out and the curse turned back from Darrell’s house. How the people leaped, wept. and shouted for joy 1 How they called down blessings on llma's golden bend, and on the valiant lover who had breasted the raging floods for her sake. and borne her in safety through all! Strong arms and gentle would have relieved him of his charge: but he would not loose his clasp. Bew1ldered now, dazed, like one brought suddenly from darkness into brilliant light, Ilma clung convulsively to her preserver. and only whisperedâ€" “Not to the Larches, Philip, not to the Latches." “ No, my darliug~home to the Grange.” Through all he was perfectly collected and strangely calmâ€"~thete was need of calmness amid all this excitement. Once had be spoken hurriedly, and had almost broken down. when he turned to one of his servants and askedâ€"- " Tell meâ€"in Heaven’s name answer truly â€"have youâ€"has any one seen Enema ‘2 Was he.saved ?" “He got to shore!” 3 dozen voices cried aloud. , “ He drifted down the current, and got. to shore and galloped away. It’s true, Sir Philip I" “ Heaven be praised i" That was all he said, but it came in a deep sob from the depths of his soul. It would have been a bitter drop in his cup of happi- ness if the brave horse had perished that night. It was the Grange carriage that stood in the road, and. as Darrell carried Ilma towards it, one of the servants told him that all was in readiness at that place. Miss Durnford had “borne up splendidly” when she heard that Miss Ilma was imprisoned in the Mill and Sir Philip was gone to save her. The man had brought a change of raiment from the Court for his master, and even now a messengerhad ridden forward to tell the joyful news. And away, followed by the shrieking, re~ joicing crowd, sped the carriage to Searth Abbot. Ilma lay motionless. on her lover’s breast. The tension was over; the noble, fearless spirit had borne up while death and life hung in the balance; but now it was pastâ€"all the dread, the anguish, the awful suspenseâ€"and the overwrought system gave way in the deep swoon of sheer exhaustion. The first thing Ilma remembered was a vague sense of rest, then a gentle touch on her brow, and a voice saying very softly, “She is reviving I”â€" and she knewthat voice before she heard the yet softer-spoken “Ilma, my darling!" She opened her eyes and looked into Philip Darrell’s dark face. She was in her own room, and he was kneeling by her, with his arm round her and her head pillowed on his breast. “No more, sweetheart,” he answered. “ This is your own room, and here is aunt Rachel.” “ Dear aunt Rachel l” The girl turned suddenly, stretching out her hand and Darrell rose to make way for Miss Durnford, who now wept freely as she, wfigpfiiflma 15h er arms r aunfi; ” 91116 the 3311‘, um 11 long “ Drive for your life 1" his Darrell’a order to theAcoachmgn} as 139_ entgred _th9 _cp,rriage. “ Philip!” she whispered, looking at him intently. l‘hen, as be bent lower yet, ten- derly kissing her brow, memory rushed back her, and, with a smothered cry, she clung to him. “Is it all passed? You are saved Philip 1" she said, gasping. " There is no more danger ‘2” CHAPTER XIV., AND LAM. silence, “ it has been like an awful dream I cannot bear to think of it yeitr!” “ And I would rather you did not. my chiid. I am content to wait. Now take a Iittle of this wine, and I will go and get yum some tea; and Sir Phiiip will take care of you til I come back." And she went out, leaving them alone together. Then lime told her lover more of the de- tails of all that had passed before he had reached the Mill, and how Roland had re- moved the ladder from the loft wheze she was imprisoned, so as to cut at? her escape; but he had forgotten the shawl in which Job geston had wrgapped her head, and by fasten- gthis to a ring in the floor she was able tog descend. Andy Roland? Had nothing been heard of him? Had not his sisters ‘made inquiry 1’ “ Rose came about ten minutes ago, Iima,” said Darreil, “ to ask about us both. and if anything was known of Roland. Zeph Heston must have spread the news that he was in the Mill, for every one seemed to know it. Nothing had been heard of Roland by the river. I did not see Rose, of course; but I sent my groom, who is here. to make in- quiries.” 11mg. hid her face, sobbing. “ Oh, Philip, aunt Sabine need never know the truth i” , . “ She must infleed, for your mkeJny Hasn‘t. I cannot have it supposed that you met R01- and Sabine in the Mill of your own accord. Another guilty soul beside his. Ilma, has gone to its account for this night’s work." “ Job Heston ‘2” ” Ay. The first rush of the flood washed away the cottage where he and Zept had taken refuge. Heston was swept across the weir end drowned before the eyes of hun- dreds." Ilma ahuddeted violently. “ And Zeph ?” she said uiter a long pause. “ Was it Zeph who told you where I was. Philip ‘2" ‘ "“YYes, d-ear one. I was riding toward Searth Abhotâ€"more in a. vague fear for you than with any definite thoughtâ€"when I met her. She seemed to have repented hm part almost immediately] Some idea. of Zeph’s reason for hating her evidently flashed across Ilma's mind, for her color rose ; but she said nothing, only nest- ling te her lover's breast. Presently she said slowlyâ€" . nu “ Philip, it seems so strange that the fulfilâ€" ment of the prophecy has come about as I always hoped it would ; and yet it was by a blind faith in only one possible meaning at- taching to the words that the true meaning was made manifest.” In silence Darrell bowed his face on thel golden head. Love, peace, happiness ! All ‘ the dark clouds that had shrouded his life were swept away suddenly by the little hand that clung to hisâ€"the hand that should yet caress his children. Yesterday he had been a. doomed man, and he had cursed the fatal love that had brought woe and death to the woman he loved: to-day, snatched by that love from death, saved by the life laid down for hers, that woman rested on his breast; and before them both stretched the golden years, bright with dazzling light that now he ‘could not meet. For the first time during ‘that night of passion and anguish, of wild lhope, of inefiable dread, of terrible and sus- ‘teiued effort, and blessed certainty of hnppi ‘ness, the stong spirit gave way, and Philip l Darrell wept aloud. Up the little village street was borne on a hastily-improvised stretcher a bruised, shat- tered form, still breathing. It was laid down in the common room of the mu. Messengers had already run on to tell Roland’s mother and to fetch a doctor, and the doctor was quickly on the spot. He looked down at the disfigured form 1_n_ pity._ “ i can do nothifigj’ he said ; “ it is useless to disturb him. He has not five minutes to live." The doctor bent down to the. dying man. From a ghastly gash in his forehead blood was slowly trickling. Roland tried to speakâ€" “ Ilmaâ€"Datk Darrell-the curse.” “ They are saved,” said the doctor, his voice trembling with emmion. " Sir Philip saved her. They are at the Grange.” A sharp spasm contracted the dying man‘s livid features. He tried to speak again, and in the effort a rush of blood stopped speech and life at once. At the same moment Mrs. Sabine and her two daughters hastened breath- lesnly through the crowd. ” Keep heur back I” cried the doctor. hastily drawing a mantle over the crushed form. ” This is no sight for his motherl‘f A great fragment of the ruined Mill had been washed ashore nearly a mile down the river, and a man was seen clinging to it. Sir Philip Darrell's groom and another had rid- n into the water and rescued the hapless creature â€"Roland Sabineâ€"and the groom then rode on to the Grange to tell his master what had happened. At one o‘clock in the morning the village was still astir, and hardly a house was closed Anosher servant” from the Court rode into Seerth Abbott and up to the Grange with the joyful news that Haesan had galloped into the courtyard half an hour before. The animal must have gone miles down the river before he could find a bridge, for that below the Mill had been washed away by the flood, and he had made his way unerringly to his home. “ Why, one point wasMound House; there is a good saloon there, and there is plenty of time for any passenger to get off the car, get acigar and hand it to the engineer.” The tourist tumbled, for even Englishmen‘ Ban appreciate afijoke eametimes. He treated Hiififis and aoknowlddiv‘ea we sell. When he is older, Ehilip Darrel‘x’s heir will learn the story of the famous curse, and how his father‘s great'love redeemed it on thatawful night “ WHEN THE FLoons WERE OUT." An hour later Sir Philip himself went out to see what damage had been done, and to ascertain if any lives besides those he already knew of had been lost, and especially to make inquiry about Zeph Heston. The Violets were blooming along the banks of the Coalmere when Ilma Costello became Dark Darrell’s bride ; and now the vacant place beside the portrait of the last Darrell is filled by a picture of a lady with golden hair and soft dark eyes ; and there are gay doings at the Court, and old Marsh's heart rejoices. But people cannot call handsome Sir Philip the last of his race any longer ; for a Winsome lad, not three years old, with the true Darrell beauty, is laughinggleefully in the ,sunshine while riding round the courtyard on Hassan‘s back. The noble enimaleeems proud of his tiny burden. as if he knew he carried the heir of an ancient race and his loved master's son ; and the golden haired mother looks on smiling. She has no fear for the little one j for her husband’s hand is on the child. and Hassnn walks as gently as a lamb. “Aw. guard. they tell me this is u very crooked mad,” said the tourist when he boarded the local for Virginia. “ Well, rather,” was the rep)y. “ There are several places between here and Virginia where a passenger can hand a cigar to the en- gineer.” “Look here," said he to Follet when they ar- rived at Virginia, “ where was the place where a p 15:- enger in the car could hand a. cigar to the (111:ineer?” “ She was one of them thy: stood by when we got the Squire ashore,” sald an old farmer. “ Ididn‘t see her after that. Sir Philip. One or two others thought she had been outside the inn when the unhappy man was laid on his bier within. Al doubt was set at rest three hours later, when Zeph’s body was cast ashore ten miles below Scarth Abbot. The poor girl had evidently flung herself into the river ; and with her perished the last of the tenants of the Wier Mill. He watched. and thong}; snaked around pretty well between the tunnel and scales, failed to swing, such a tremendous circle. "By Jove; that‘s astonishing. I must watch out for those curves, you know." A VERY CROOKED ROAD. in..-,â€".. Hamsâ€"wawmâ€"m T‘TQGQCDE... 'U - shot. - him round again. The Court of Appeals in Paris has been the scene of a most curious and remarkable spectacle. A young man named Didier was lately arrested for an. offense in the Champs Elysees and sentenced to three months’ im- prisonment. In prison ho was examined by Drs. Mottot and Mesnet, two well known specialists in mental diseases who reported that he lived in a state of constant somnam- bulism, the attacks of which can be provoked at will. The case was heard on appeal, and the judges were about to withdraw to consider their verdict when the doctors offered to con- ‘firm the statements made in their report by i practical experiment on the spot. The bench consented. and then occurred the following painful scene described by the Paris corre- spondent oi the London Standard: Dr. Mot- tet, followed by the magistrates and the pris- oner, retired into a side room. Here, by the usual means of rapid passes of the hands before his eyes and a strong, fixed gaze, the unhappy “ subject” was mesmerized. Didier was then left in charge of two of the Muni- cipal Guards on service, the doctors and the judges returned to court and the door of the room was shut. Dr. Mottet now called the prisoner by his name. The next second a fearful noise was heard. It came from the sick young man. A few minutes before a touch of the finger wouldhave almostknocked him over, so feeble and emaciated was he. Now, under the influence of magnetism. he was like a raging lion. Upsetting the guards who held him by the wrists, be rushed to the door, broke it open, and, knocking down every- body in his path ran up to Dr. Mottet. Here he suddenly stopped, and, fixing his eyes on his mesmerizer, trembled from head to foot in a manner terrible to see. Shrieks of horror then ran through the court. The doctor then set to work. “ Undress yourself,” said he to ‘ the prisoner. In a few seconds Didier stripped himself of nearly all his garments. “ Dress yourself again." said the doctor, and again the prisoner obeyed with the same lightning ra- pidity. The experiment proved conclusive. Dr. Mottet then awoke his “ subject” by blow- ing on his face. Didor fell to the ground as if The doctor, however, soon brought “ Why did you undress yourself before these gentlemen ?” asked Dr. Mottet; “ that was very improper.” Didier, gazing with vacant astonishment, replied, “ What I I undressed myself ; impossible." And the young man clung to the doctor for protection like a child. The bench, however, was not convinced and appeared to look upon the whole afiair as a comedy. Dr. Mesnet.in his turn, now operated on the prisoner. Hav- ing mesmerized him he ordered him to write from memory a letter addressed to him while in prison. Didier replied : “ Cannot, because I am in prison." The doctor insisted, where- upon the prisoner sat down to a table and wrote. word for word, the letter in question without a single mistake. While he was writ- ing it Dr. Mottet took a long needle out of his instrument case and plunged it into the young man’s neck, but he felt nothing. By this time, however. the bench had seen enough of these painful experiments, and some of the audience crying out “ Assez I assez !" the sitting came to an end. The court, considering the prisoner was not responsible for his acts, quashed the verdict of the lower court, and the unhappy man was dis- charged. A Listowel Billiard-Room the Scene of Counterfeiting Operations. Lrsrowsn, Feb. 28.â€"The rooms occupied by Thomas Swan, and used ostensibly for a billiard-room, have been known for sometime past to be the resort of a large unmet oi loafers, whose means of support were quite invisible. An inspection of the billiard-room by the police diselosedthe fact that billiard- playing was only a secondary consideration, and that rooms had been fitted up in the rear where gambling was carried on. One of the members of the police force succeeded in in- gratiating himself with the ringleaders of the gang. and soon learned that counterfeiting twenty-five and fifty cent pieces was also being largely engaged in. He was admitted. to the rooms where the coining was carried on, and obtained sufficient evidence to con- vict. The gang was known to have worked all Saturday night at their nefarious calling, and were going at it again on Sunday night. They had a team engaged for Tuesday for a five days’ trip to distribute the proceeds of the night’s work. It was decidod to raid them on Sunday night while at work, but by some misunderstanding one of the ring- leaders, George Everleigh, was arrested yes- terday afternoon. The rest became alarmed, and got the dies out of the way. The billiard- room was immediately searched, and a quan- tity of metal and other material for coining ‘ taken, but the dies could not be found. Several other arrests were made. and about ithirty will be implicated in the manufacture ‘and uttering of spurious coin. Their manner of “ shoving the queer” was by frequent visits to the country hotel keepers. two or three going to a hotel, ordering unlimited liquid comforts, tendering their spurious coin and receiving good money in change. Working 21 country hotel in this manner they would ire. quently find themselves $5 or $10 ahead. It is supposed that a large quantity of the “ queer ” has been circulated in Collingwood and Owen Sound, as James Swan, one of the ringleaders, has made those places his head- quarters. A notorious character named Thos. Davidson deeamped a few days ago, ostensibly for Manitoba. but he is thought to be in the neighborhood of Owen Sound with the coun- terfeiting dies in his possession. The first issue was an inferior article, but latterly the fact of being passed in the banks shows it to be a very dangerous counterfeit. It is sup- posed that about 82.000 of coin has been is- sued in the past three months. There will be an investigation to-night by Mr. Iningtou, Grown attorney. when some startling develop- ments will be made. The detection of the connterfeiters was very cleverly managed, and but for the mistake in making the arrests too soon they would have been caught in full blast. â€"-The Common Council of Baltimore has passed an ordinance, which has been ap- proved by the Mayor,‘providing fur the relief from taxation of all mechanicai tools and im- plementsx whéther worked by hand or steam, or other motive power, and of any maohmery, manufacturing apparatus, or engines owned and actually employed by any individual. firm, or corporation engaged or likely to be â€"The ghost of a Mexican bandit is said to haunt a cell in the jail at San Jose, 09.1., and the prison authorities use it; to enforce dis- cipline by playing upon the fears of offenders. A young man who had been sentenced to the chain gang, and who refused to work on the stream, was placed in this cell, but after pass- ing one night there. he gladly went to work as ordered. There is no part of the human body that needs more attention than the feet. yThey may be neglected or even abused without any bad consequences being immediately felt; they will to a certainty be eventually felt, and felt very sorely too. An excessive flow of blood to the head, extreme liability to cold, disordered digestion and other numerous evils are the re- sults of inuttention to the feet. _The feet should be regularly washed and wiped every day. Stockings should not be put on “bile there is the slightest moisture on the feet. The stockings absorb the moisture, and gradu- ally return it to the feet, thereby causing them to feel cold and uncomfortable, and what is worse, when the feet are cold, the circulation is interfered with, and the whole system, especially the brain, 18 thrown into an abnor- mal state. Keep the feet clean and warm, tho heed cool and the bowels open. If you wish to preserve your whole system in good work- ing order, be sure and preserve your feet. Let all our readers profit by these remarks, and they will soon feel by experience that we are not exaggerating the consequences of proper attention to the feet. MESMERIZED IN COURT. RAID ON A. COINERS’ DEN. CARING FOR THE FEET. in the business ‘of ‘ manuiafitlirin}; in