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CHAPTER II THE COTTAGE. Seaton’s cottage was Situated upon a. hillside not far from the w. ,0d ; may it might almost be said to be skirting it. It possessed a garden at bo'h back and front, and both we're Wull stored With flowers. At the back there were some out- houses, where Seeton, in bud seasons, pluc -d the pheasants and partridq -s eggs, whi 11 he obtained from the preserves, and put :hem he- pesth hens. to hatch and rear. turning the bards mtuflthe woods as soon as they were able to take care of themse yes and thus he .ping up a g -0d stock of game. The only “$1161 resident of the cottage was Amy. An elderly woman from a farm at no great distance, came daily to the cot tugsâ€"f r Seatnn, for some reason which he never hinted, w uld not permit Army to do any menial ‘ work whatever ; and under hv some influence, he had laced her for some years at an excel-ant establis ment for young ladies at Buxton, where she had received on education much above her at tion. '1'. “as this.indeed, Which gave her so muc l elegance and refinement of manner, and caused the humble dwelling and its fitting apr poiutments to serve 11.5 a foil tn her. It was this which added to the remarkable lovable 1111 s of her fret res and beautifully modelled frame, so powerfully impressed and 'nfluence ‘ Arnold. ,, L; _ “gnu.” “nu nl‘v. Bv the Author of “Lost in the Winning,” “A Leaftrom a Life,” etc. W p... Hm, _ v, , A though born in so high a sphere, and sur- rounded thh all the elegu-ncies and luxuries of his station, he had been thx ~Wu among rough companions, and in a. daily routine which made cont not winh one so gentle and Br) really ladv like, because so unaffected, originate a. a use that he was in the preeence of one superior tohlm elf. Eu could not com rehei-d the conteum it his father displayed for er. When speaking of- her, he could un ersmnd it as relative toher position, but not to her. He felt what she would grace any position ; and as for line Ladies Blanche an A eci e, his sisters, why the fa t was, he could not help feeling quite sure that she was moi-t like theiugq of a lady of title“ of Phe th e : ..L:1.. 1‘: 111001 u. on Am: ur “nu, -. ...v ____-V w All this he rehearsed in his mind,whila his father was recovering from his swoon occasioned by the mention of the name of the Count as a mystery, by the way. which greatly puz Zled Arnold, who could only presume, with a shudder of horror, that some dreadful tale of shame lay beneath it. It, howâ€" ever, determined him in not resigning Amy: he felt that he was not equalto the see riflce, and if his ifather, his sisters, and Eustace, refused to receive her, they should not have the chance of receiving him. He re- main d Within all that way, but he found hi ;.- self on the marrow unable to ‘remain away trokm nun uu uuv mum" u“ WW -x, -V_,._ ,, “ Amy; and so without a. word to anv one, he slipped 01f to the cows. e, purposiug to see her relate all that had transpired beg. her to consent to an immediate marriage, and 3.3 at non as posai- ble fter it he would join another sh 1:. He would. rem in away untu he had atbmued hi4 majority and then he would return, claim he in the fame of the world and a. fig for what anybody said. That was his acheme ; he we» delighted with it. â€"1t was 50 simplr and so easily cur ied out. He overlooked one thing essential to its success and that was the complicmy of Amy; but such an idea. as her dissent“: it never crossed him, so he hurried down to the cottage to see her and erâ€" raggq he demils wi‘th her A,,..A.1 “Va. annlma hail “also an uwvmuu nu... nu- On his irrival he had warned that Sea.‘ on had gone up to the hall. having been suddenly sent for by the earl. He had been puzzling his brain for a, plan to get rid of him. and lo 1 the thing was done. Amy seemed so glad to see him; and as he kieaed her small ruby lips, he askedherif she had missed him. She ~Whuthought. f him in she early morn. flue daylighu, evantid ,wheu shllay down to re- pose. who breathed his in me in her prayersâ€" saw him inher dreamsâ€"she miss him ? He was acun inunl presence to herâ€"u secret treasure, which, miserâ€"like. she would. remire to a. nook, and unseen. gloat. overâ€"11.11 idol for mental udor ablou. She muss him? The verv supposition brought, tears into her eyes ~Arn ‘ld kissed them amend With his natural impetuosiay, cold her, and unfortunmely. in too plain Words, all than had trmspired betw en him and his father. Then he sketched out has plan W431) rapid enun- cimion, enlarging upon it with en husiuam, and submitting it; to her With a. Hill convicmun than it would command her unqualified app obntion. He did not notice, as he went. on with his narra- tion of the terrible interview which had t'keu place between the earl and him. thutthe smile i tend devotion with which she had at ‘ ud she grew A :1. mnn nnlu n uuuw. 0v--rwhelmed with agony and alarm at. the discovery, he staggered and nearly fell, bun rec-Ivering himself by a strong exe tion, he bore her gener to a, bench Wihhuut the coutage door, and laid. her tuere. He obtain- ed some cold water, bathed her temples, a- d ‘graduadly she exhibited signs of rmuming consciousness. Ar, length she was suflicient- 1y restored to be: condqcbed into fihe co‘ttag ‘ and Amy had overlookeu it,“D{LV, it had never pro- se ted itself to her~~omehuw she h d not felt herself, while in Arnold's society, to be of inferior cunditinn to hi uâ€"education md done that f -r her ; but it burst upon her with vull force. She saw a. fenrfully vivid light thrown upun the Wide space which separated themâ€"he, 8. lord and the heir-apparent to a. coronet she, a. gamekeeper‘s dnuuhter. It did not 84' unit of argument, of reflection, of augut but sundering the canneX‘ ion existing between them, though her heart- str-ngs snapped in the act. Through her blindâ€" ing tears she told hi-n so; while he in a puruxysln 01' excitement, repudiated such a. proceu-ding as impossible impracticable He urged, zntredted, implored her to be privately married to him, but she steadfastly refuse-n. He taunted her with not loving her. Oh 1 how that ts.th wrung her heart. Not love him 1 Why. then her tesrs.her agony, her dreadful mental distress ‘2 Such a charge was cruel. and he knew it, and withdrew it almost as soon as'uttered. for her hysterical emotion, when he made it. too powerfully proved the contrary. Yet she remained firm against all the arguments the appeals and exhortations he employed to induce her to adopv the plan he hind marked out ; and after he had worked upon her strong love With all the influence it was yossible for him to possess over her will, the int rview was brought t a close by an arrangement that they should stand, as now, in the some relntion to each other, until his return from sea, to which he determined immediately to repair, and he had attained his majority Then, master of his own actions, if he remained in soul and spirit as now,â€"if, still loving her, he claimed her hand, she would yin 1d to him, one give up all the world to go with him where he would, and be to him. in all times a 6. under all circumstances, faithful and devoted. He pressed her to his heart. :‘ And will you, when I am far away over the Wldb sea, Amy, remember me and be true to me ‘2" he said with passionate earnestness “ Let no other arm encn'cle this dear weis’, no other pres“ those lips after mine, for so long and dreary a time, have taken their last kiss from em. mm. mamuw mm m w...“ 7, , V pale. m d silent, and mo unless ; and it was only Juan are he had finished his plan for the future, that t 6 heavy full of her head upon his show- de drew his attend“): to the fact; that she had swooned. A _ ... , 1 ,‘A n- AL WV. \ U..- . V Augy Seat .n had awnked from a, dream of heaven. The progress 01 her llking into love for Arnold ha - been imperceptible; it ha. ‘ orlginated in his kind and corteous manual to her; it had beenrfu§t ‘rnd by uis beaming pvea. his handaome ,, J. u... LL -w“ w... .m. -J _________ a , m nly face, and strengthened a« much by thu nubih y of his character as by he moveused fro- quenc uf his visits and his direct assaults upon her afiectiuns The prOCBSH uf ripening affection had bee i must. blighffll; the dvsparity 0 position had 1.1- it once reared its haneful head to disturb her jo in his bUC ety: but now it surrounded botu 1ke a. sudden temnest-cloud, and denoted its nresg of) by .5 thundgrbolt. awn ensued a. segue betweenrtheSe twovyoung creatures. of pain and agony, such as is rarely witnewsedâ€"wel than it is sol-in a. life-pilgri rue game kéaper stmrted, a. shiver ran through his frame his hands clenched convul ively, and £119 none of his grating teeth might be disbinctl 61rd, 7“”65! you are beginning to awake now, are y0}1_ E" {maker} the 9gr.,_ ‘ My lord," 7 Eu the gamekeoper hoarsely. "your son cannot have been 50 treacherousâ€"sum) a. scoundrel as 120â€"” W The earl" iiibéi‘rupted him with a. wave of the hand. “ V .y w 11 l' Seumon you have a. daughterâ€"a young and pretty girl.” “ Wed, my lord i” " Well? My God, man! are your eyes not opened yet? Lord Arnold comes to your out a, 1: does he come to see y- ’u wr your vtaug ter ? He bro ls with her a. one in the woods ; isiit his Iondnessfor the Rpo t, of bringing down pheas- alts with his gun that makes him do this ‘2" Hue slid through his arms and falling on her knees, raised her hands upwaxd, -exclaiming, “As I prove false or true to you. Arnold, so heav- an aid or ideserb me I", He k elm by her side, passed one arm round her Wei 4:, extended the onher heavanwurd and said earnestly, “ May I perish in the mument of anticipated enjoyme t if I be not true and faith ((111120 011, Amy. or if I forget or evade hereafter What have now so solemnly promised 1" One passionate embrace and they parted»â€" Barted, as they believed, for two yea» s, for she ad steadfastly refu~ved to see him again until he retur led to England entitled to claim uer and L8 remain «d true to 7111‘s faith. In the meanwhiIe Hoaton mnde his appear- ance at the hull and was ushered in‘to the em‘l’s study, wh‘re the proud noble, pale from his recent vis tation, was seated in his library chair to receive him. After the co mon prellminarieu of such a. meeting had passed, tue earlsuid, " Seaton, I have sent for you respe ting the sudden passion Lord Arnold has conceived for shpgting. Qan ypu egpmig it‘?” “ But there is a. secret cause I" exclaimed the earl, with em, hasis, an! fixi ‘g his eyas stead- fastly upon Seaton’s face The gmmekeeper betrayed no emotion under the luspection; a slight smile on1y_p ssed over his feature 1A.": Amunlrlu .. :..,.__1. A“: 5,. ‘VLord Arnold is very frank, and 11 in his way," he mid ; ” and I have >een no secret- reason for his fondness for the sport, and I don’t believe than isone." " T this ignorance real or affected, Sermon ?” “ I don’t understand you. my lord. Will you be so g_vod an tg‘rggplfldn ?” 7 713797 fuahed in Wild 6.x itement from the cottage: she rented to her Ghumb r to knee] and pray and wgep the long, lung hgprs‘nway. jifiroYExy lord?” retlirneli "the gamokeaper~a tun], elnlprly man. of rather grim aspect. “ Are you sure, Seaton ‘2” “ u1te.mylord.” “ a.» it. never occurred to you that there might be a hidden motivenvhich does not appear on the surface ? '7 '7“ No, my lord,” returned Semen. “ Lord Arnold does seem fond of the sport, and he is a. 30.9% mt" HAPPY AT LAST. “ Those are harsh epithets, as applied to my son. the Lord Arnold,” ha said, haughtily; and then added, “ No; his lordship ha not so far commmted himself as to bring ruin on the girl and shame on you, that I know, but you are quite conscious that marriage ,between them is out. A of the sphere pf I‘mssibil; ty, and therefore, as any continuance of their intimacy is likely to »nd 0: ly in that we Would both Wish to avoid, you W111 ~ see the necessity of sending her away at unce,am1 of keeping from Lord Arnold all possibility of knowing Where she has been conveyed. As you obey me in this so will you win my favor, and, mark me, Season, regarve your daughter’s hon- or: Goool morning: ’ q. n. n , ,,,,,,,, i -n:.. w. v vvvvvv _D. Seaten bowed stiifiy and left the presenrse. His bra lst v as like a roging cauldron He harmed through the pin k towards his cottage. He re membered so much nowâ€"too much. It recurred to him that Amy had changed m munner, had gr wn 1511 ughtfu», and, if not; absolutely dul, strangely absent in manner. He recolleu’fird, too, huw much more she indulged in louelyvus he then thoughtâ€"rumbles in the wood. God! What migm havooAacu- red in th use mmblmga in thu wood? Whan chance would a. simple. inno- cvnt gm} 3 and ago‘inanthe wiles of one who hui , ‘1 ,,,J_»_ hum; tn". Wm a“ ., MM WW ...... V, so: u so much of thu world, and was 8. lord, too! He twist-ud his hands in his hair. and ran f rwmd to uis home, uttering a. nowl, forced trom him by the tortur i of his mum. He pressed 0 ward through a portion of the plantation leading to his cottage, and In a. wild and lonely copse he en- countered Lord Arnold.’ The gl’urgwhlcfi Eliot‘s-in Seutnn’a eyes told him that 11.1] was known Sermon saw that Arnold was 11uW awaqu 91' 131153 digcqvegy. . "u! an“.-- u “LordArholdJ; ShJfiEéawsdeVaton, "are you :1 tan iufmm ms vill L n, to destroy the sanctity of my home, ruin my child, and break my hen. t.” mt, . “ I suy‘mis mLe !” *‘ How darn I ? What, with treacherous dec -it you worm yourself into my confidence, and use 1:. to égush me ‘2 ’ roared Beaten, foaming at the men . nvul y. “ How dare you charge me with such infamy, 01d man ‘3" crled Arnold, Ins eyes sparkling with ‘ Benton. you are mad 1” criad Arnold, pmsyon- ately. ‘ If you repeat such languag , I will not answer for the co sequences. My blood is up, mnnl I am mmmt as mad asycu areâ€"do not move me furnherâ€"” .. ,u um nu uuvL r “ ‘~ 01; move you Iâ€"not move youâ€"the wolf that has stol 11 into the fold, and devoured the faxresn 10.1111) ‘2” “ Sethun,vI-Wi11 not listen to these frantic rav- ings!"cned Arnold, his lip quivering, and his whole frame convulsed with passion. “ Let me passâ€"staud aside 1” “ Nog‘you have foully, basely wronged me !” “I swear I have not." “ Liam 1” Withayell of mad passion, Arnold uplifted a stick he bore in his hand, and it descend.- ed with a tremendous force upon the head of Senton, who fell to the ground as if shot, in- sensible' Without casting a. glance upon the prostrate body, Arnold bounded past. an- tered the castle, zuidretiring to his room, gave way to a. terrible thullition of bitter grief. Then he picked a. few things inno a. small valise, hastily ; gave instructions to his groom to SJ“)! do his blood mare and accompany him .and shortly afterwards lo t no la More Hall, and made for the railway station : here he dismissed his groom with the horses, and he_went 0n alone to London. mu... uuv “VLVVH __ V When he fled tom the copse, alter strikmg Semen to thr earth, he was not; yet out of sight when the branches of some young tnees were for-ed aside and a man with repulsive features, but, by his attire, one If the lower 013.5% of m nâ€" aals in the serviue of the earl, made his uppeur unce. Ho xx utche-l the retreating form of Ar- nold,m1d when it was lost to elght, he 10 k d urn-d at the gumekeeper who lay senseless x n the green swm‘d, tue b1 od slowly trickling frdm an abrmi n of the skin uJJyl} the fnl'ehe‘ad.’ CHAPTER III. THE EARL. ‘Varren Earl De 11L More; after the departure of his game keeper, sat alone in his chamber.pon- dering. The position of affairs in which him eldest em. and the daught r of thugamekeeper were the , principal uctors, occasioned him great discom- fort. He leuked beck Into the solemn pest, and the retrospect was anything but reassuring. Two well he remembered the overwhelming influence ‘ remade bee ty had over him in his early days; With bitterness he looked b “Jk to the time when the counse-s of friends, the commsn s or parents even the prospects of unhappiness, failed to emancipute him from the fascination of a, Inve- lin 83 which then appeared to him to be scarcely mortal. Whetexten of obediencewas he, there- fore, to expect from his ~01), Arnold, whom he knew to be selfwil ed. impetuous and the creeâ€" turn of impulse. He had with in h s noble nu. ture,the greatest possrble confidence in his h nor and i' was xhu very estimate f the brighter nor tion of his character which raised up Within the earl a painful foreb (ling that Arnold would, upon discuvering th t the gir- had really mania herself the mistress of his affections, ofier his hand to her, The car] had too elevated a. notion of the splendor of his position ; too akeen a. sense of his milk and great wealth, to beli~ Ve that any girl in so humbl a sphere as Amy Seutou. would re use the Opportunity of being made elady at once, with the full prospects of becoming a. countess ; whilet 1e see. |i e ofArnold would un- fit him to be properly a judge of the vast dispm‘ ity of their relative positions, to induce him to hesitate taking the unly honomble step by which he could obtain pos es ion of the prize cove‘ ed. The earl, therefore, formed the immediate determination of severing the connection {it once effectually and for ever. He was n t quite sure th vt Seuton himself would not be nuzzled by the glittering pros ects almost winhiu his daughter’s grasp ; he theretore sketch- ed out a. plan upon wh ch he do ided instantly to act. the pri. cipul features of which were to send Amy abroad, completely out of the way of Arnold, and to be 31‘ him. 0 London, introduce him to the splendid circles to which his rank en- titled him to dmission ; throw him among the young and lovely females of his own sphere; even to lead him, oy other hands, through a. round or dissipeiion, so *hut the fascination of Amy might be forgotten ; or if remembered a seme of his own uiimithfulness might aid in im- pelling him to separate himselffrum her, no matter how keen might be his conscience of the unworthy course he 118,01 pursued toward one whom thus he made to feclthut she had not “ lovedfliim wisely, ut too well." up,“ ' He is Only stunned," he muttered , “ although it was a. ti v whack I wish it had be« 11 harder I do! I’d I beat his hr .111 out, I would! You got me two euvrs, uid you. forpoachin ? ‘ I iu’t for uot hat! I um’t furgon that! I have sworn to have my revenge nd I think it’s come nowâ€" 1at‘yer l 780 hgre gqes I ”‘ ‘ ~ . , .- ,,,,_:;_Lu, side‘ .wuuu. . “v “V... The ruflian dreQUfHHIn his pocket a formidable 015332; knife. and knelt downuby the gamekecper’s mum. “ Don’t tell anyone, will yer ‘?" he said, as he mism his arm, and then 1) unged (Le blade of the kni eup tofithe hart into the prostrate ma. ’5 breast; he drew it out, and the blood spurted out like a fountain over th<~ assasai ’5 face and hands. He uttered an exclamation otsickeuing horror: but when he was ubo t to repeat the blow, the low, hoarse bark of a. ange 110 nd broke on his car. He turned round wiLh an afi‘tighted 100k und then leaping to his £9 1: he hurled the knife rom him, and mur x uring, with an oath, “ One of matnn’sd {gsz know his tongue,” he turned into the woods, and fled. Burberous us the whole scheme was. in so for as Amy was concerned, the earl sternly deter- mined to carry into execution, and permit no tents or human weakness to step bet ween him and his object. The general plan one" .vevised, he resolved to leave the details for circums onees, as thv-y should arise ; but he felt the necessity of losing n 1 time in the matter, and preceeded directly 1; i enter upon the first portion of the pla. l by paying a. visit to the gumekeopew ’s coutuge, and in an inter View with Amy see how far he could work upon her feelings to induce her to ;,ive up all notions- of an mliunce With Arnold. He had no very great isithin the success of his errand, for he knew as well as any human being breathing that lovo is not to be taken on. or pu off. at will ; and though her sense of respect lul‘ his power, alm‘ :st as Sovereign nord over the actions of his tenants might induce her tacitly, or on wurdly, to bend to his command, yet the paramount influence of the tender pass 0 I would exhibit itself as 800.: as his heel: - was turned, and the danger be as gH-‘IL us ever. But at leust the girl would hear Irom his own lips his insurmountable opposi- thll to such a preposterous as he 0 nsidered it â€"o.l]iu.nce; will she would he made fully to un. derstund, not only that. any edding must be clondesrine, b-«t illegal. and every effort would be employed 0 se it‘ aside. He would leave it to her to e« vnside whether she would persist in en- tailing misery upon herself and her Ia. herâ€"for he Wuuld at once be dismissed With iguominy from the service he had held for so mu. y years and b ing eifliction u on a lumin Which had been benefactors to her and those ounected with her from infancy till ow. A course of argument such as'tnis he hoped would have some effevt end he quitted the castle hoping to find Amy alone, or prubab-y in the presence of her mtlier,which, of the two was an event he would perhaps rather wish to happen. as he thought he could count upon Secton’s advocacy in his views; unless he had suddenly grown ambitious to seize upon what he might imagine would be u. splendid opening for his daughter. Even then the earl fancied he knew how to manage him. “ Who has done this murd>r?" Emil, wherafore he knew not, a. dread settled on his brainâ€"his Up 11 Lhe grass, stretched out in the grim aspect of death, my the body 0' his gumekeeper, Stanton, blood upon his forehead. blood welteriug from his side slowly, ibis true but still weepi; g fr: m the wound nude 1) the em‘l’s rulfiau emissary. At his head recline = a favorite lurcner, who uttered th mouimful howl. and wh seem- ed 0 cast his large eye in eagerness upon the earl. as though to ask for aid, Shnm‘ed and almost terrified the earl knelt down by the body and seized one of Sea/con’s hands; it W21. clenched, but; co‘d us marbleâ€"life indeed appeured to be quits extinct. At first the thoughts that eaten had commi'ted selt de‘ structiun crowded into his mind; but a glance at the nositiun of his body, and th murks of feet trampling down the grass where the b: dy lay, f rbade him for a moment entertaining any such supposition. The man had evidently bevn mur derexl; but by whnm? He clasped. his hands wildly tegeoher, add rushed at once to the game- keeper‘s cottage to raise an alarm and obtain assistant-0. All is ie wliiae he fled the question run g lilge some drqddful kqellkthrough lgis ears: Hm way Key through the p 1k,u.n<1 them-0 acruss a. meadow into the plantation, through W-Hch there wusu beaten track lewxing to the cottage of hue gamekeeper. He had to gas the come whore Arnold had unhappin enc thered Semen, and on mac ving it was 81m 1710 y the prolonged walling howl of a. houndia. long, dreary, terrible cry it was, and made him shud- - er. He quickeued hxs step, but he draw 0« 1y nearer to the sound, and a. sudden Wind of the ptmth brought to his View a sight which made him qugil and‘grow faint. heart; he dated nnt try to think or attempt to discover by whose hand this dreadful crime had been committed. Out of the copse, through the tangled plants.- ti« v11 to the hill ‘ide, where stood the cottage of which he was in quest, on he flew; on reaching it pale,brewth1esa, he staggered up to it, and push- mg open the door, entered. The apartment was untenanted: he called but no reply was made; he passed through into the he. k rooms. he searched the out. buildings. No one was there. He returned to the front room, and was about to ascend to the chamber above, in the hope yet to meet some one who would aid hi in raising an alarmnvhen he observed a shadow fall upon the window. He turned his eyes thither, and through th a din.- mond panes he ohserved Lho sallow mm. repulsive face o~ the man he had employed to tran t e footsteps of his son Arnoid, and raped: toihim fuithmiiyflhis e; my action}. , n , ,,, ,4- W m.“ J ___v wJ ,7 , It was a. relief, notwithstanding the man’s hangvdog Visage, to see him. The ezu‘l beck- med him hwtily : and the man giving an uneasy look to right and left obeyed the ‘summ‘nns. __.1 uL.. \ ou, . 33k?"- e35 hunt; 1) some of my people tynurutmost speed. A foul crlme has been commitwq." come hern through the copae ?" ” I did.” ” And you sawâ€"" “ A human body lying there-a. man who has been murdered. You know of this, Stark ?" " I run sorry to my I do. run lord.” “ Speak out, man I What have you to my ? Do you kn‘ :W Wh : it is_who lies there mur dered?’ “ I do, my lord ‘2" “ And \ on dxd an summon help ‘3" H No [n ‘ " Whevefora, fellow ‘? Away with your misery, and tell me £311 you know.” The 1mm, Stark. L ed his white face and sickly ayes round the 1-0 11] ; hm puered out of the wmdow, he even strode to the flour, and looked in 9.11 directions then 11: returned to the earl and saidâ€" 1‘1‘ OHBS your lordship nerve enough to know a in “ “(but are you driving at, Stark,” cried the earl, a, dz'ennful apprehemion taking possession of him. “ Speak out at once, 11.». I command you, mudeummon ggsistxmqe.” I twnot blame me, then, if the disc urge does not prove agre able,” said _S§n.rk, looking up between his beaming brows at Lu- " Go on," exclaimed the earl, drawing a (1913 breath. and turning dead y cold at: sugges'ions, which in spite of him e1f,wouud present them- selves {5‘ him. 8.5110 tried to think, without a shuoc‘w of fans inmion._ “Yuur lordship employed me to keep acou- stanc eye upon the movements of Lord A‘nuld," said Snark; “to ascertain Whi her he went. to w hem he spoke, with whom be associated, and to give you a strict account of his actions taking place out of ,v ur sight. Th m1 believe is nearly your lordship’s own words ‘VUAHD W V “ Trueâ€"true! Go onâ€"you mck me with your prolixity ” exclaimed the earl impatiently. " I bplievo 1 have (101m my task wen for your lordyhip 1129:; known all about the meeting? of ,_ LL". ‘VAM”M1y “w nu -- w W. Va U Lrvrd Arnold and Amy S atom, us they have taken place since 1 was pub on the » cent. Your loruship has knuwn all but this last affair, and film. I don’n think you‘ll like to hear ; but: when you have heard it your 1. rrdship will understand that it will be worth a pre ty heuvv bum to keep it from slipping between my teethâ€"â€"â€"” ‘ ‘Wretch! Y1 u t! rture me beyond endur- ance ? Repeat 8.11 yuu are in possession of With respept to this ureadful matter, or leave me at once." ” Well,here goes, than!" said Stark again ulancing uneasily around him. “If so be as y u will have it, the fault ain’t mine Your Lordship knows I tollowed Lord Arnold on his 1 st viaib there. Ifollowed him on his re- turn to the castle. In the copbe he met Heu- toud gaming from an in erview with you, my lot ’ .i My Godyy . “As suon as they faced each other. hot and angry words ensued; the gnmekeeper challenged L rd Arnold with endeavorini: to ruin the pane of his family and his lordship denied it One word b1':-ught on another. when Season called his lordship aliur. 'i‘lmn Lord Arnold struck him inh astick then they closed, my lord, and grappled, and twisted : and than your son drew from his showing jacket :1 clnsp k: v-ifp " H a u.‘ AMA yww ... stark. though excited. and (wen trembling in every limb, was more self pods eyed than the ear], and obtaining some water, he bathed tine emrl’s temples ; and than when he found he was recovering, he raised mny from the finer and bore her to the couch which was in the room, upon which he laid her, still motionless and, to 11.1: appeapancos, (193.6. m, A, L, A...L_m‘ LL- “ You shall be paid well never feltâ€"even be- yond your most sanguine expectations I” cried the earl. “The 11 nor 01 my family must be preserved. And now, bego a; for hush repnm» tjon as; can be made to this your child Shull be done Away u “ Almlgfity God, sustain me l" gasped the earl. “ He did not use it ‘2” A horrified shriek pierced the “are of the our} and hismyr1nidon,ns the last sentence left the HHS of the lutter. Thnv turned their eyes with a startled en: otion to the spot 1mm whence the cry proceeded, and saw. stunding in the doorway lending to the upper apartment. my S 121101), with her hands clasped white as death 1tself, sway ing Y0 and froâ€"her who 9 aspect one‘ of the direst- agony. Am thor instant, and she foJ to thg ground. utterly i‘ngensiblg “you, W n.“ .J -..W_ A- The v ar) pressed his two hands to his brain, and felt like one bereft of his semes ; he groan- ed. and shivered, and sunk into a chair, quite powerless... .. w“, ________ , m le earl n 84.8 desperate efforts to control the fem‘ful emoxion under which 11 I labored, and hucceeded sufliciently tn my t ‘ Mark. “Leave the poor girl to my charge ; hurry and athcr some of the househr Vld, 2mg]. brjng hither thqâ€"thfsâ€"Qe n The eufi'fiaâ€"u‘a , as i’f Virtflvrxiould chuko him to utter words which had reference to the f arful event in which his son was so ueepj-y imgzli- cated. “ A111 the price of this secrecv?” exclmv: ed Start: in an undertone, WM] 1» furt-iye glance at him. He waved his hand, and Stark quittcd the Cub- tage ; not, however. to pass t1.rough the copse again; he had not courage for t. at â€"Even as it was he took a. Wide circuit to the Hall, quite by another route, for he had a. wholesome fear of mggpingfiegtop’s lurcher, Snur When he had gone, the earl bathed his tem- ples and chufed the hen us of Amy : but he only succeeded in restoring her to life, for her to fall into a. rapid successi n of hysterical fits avcom- p nied by delirous raving, in which the names of Arnold and her father were coupled but onlv in:the Wildest and most 11 tumyreheuswe manner. The earl tried by exclmna. ions, by exhortutlons, b) appeals, te bring her to a calmer state of mind, but in vai11,uud it was not until she was utterly exhausted that she fell into a state of lethmgy, which it was (lifllcult fur him to under- stand whether it was another phase of syncope, or th: precursor of death, arising from a sudden and l'remenduus’ehock to the system. The latter Seemed to him to be the most probable, and her lovely race, 5:) pale and Winn, her cl )9 (1 eyes and fuintl heaving breast, all seemed to betnken that she was sinkhg fast into that sleep hr in which she could u» more awaken. Th» tears at length 'fo-AnLl a way through his eyelies, and coursed each other down his cheeks. " Hue it came t this ‘2” he exclaimed. “ Both “ He grippefiuéfi; handle tight in his him '1. and stuck the blade in' 0 the old man’s heart and he fell downilyge _n fitgne! deaq 01} the guns.” ":1, . “.4 :‘bvndy of Segmn Timelyâ€"quick I ’1 hen hasten to the village, and send hither the medical man who attvnus the Hall;_ b_11u 1101;}11 “:0le of. ” . came t this ‘2” he exclaimed. “ Both to fall a, sacrifice! It hud been better far had he mmried her, 111 smte of the world‘s scorn, than thls had come to pass. 011. heaven! should the mml truth become known. Where, then willbe the pnde or mummyâ€"the ustentamioq 91’}an _the ppmp of wealth ‘2" He pacea up and down the small room in a Whirl of contending emotions What immunity did his earldum now give km from misery from shame and disgrace ‘} Whau had won th and mnk (1 me forhim,if it euuhl n t prevent him tram huv mg for a son a murderrrâ€"ii' it could not rescue hlm from the hzvrror of having his need-(M7 and deeres relative have hanged ? Could he now walk erect into you pr uu hall ‘2 Could he now swe p along in his carriage attended by hie outriders, with the same proud beurm , as be fore ‘? N , nnl The title, and its a‘ttwndam weelvh had not saved him from unhappiness in earlier daysâ€"it dd not promise -o suvl‘, him a you deeper ag my and grief now. er far better had he assented to the unmn between his son and the humble girl aboveâ€"for uught he knew. dyxng from hm; son’s actâ€"than the dreadful .7 fli-Iiéibfiried his face in hméhufixis and 1611 groan ing‘, upon his knees: at; the side 9}" Ar‘ny.‘ He :vas aroused from ths position by the sound of horse‘s feet, which approached the cottage, and paused b- fore the door. He burned out It was the doctov. .,Stu1‘k had been forkunn‘te enough to encounter him at nu very great dirk tunce from the 00- tags, returning from upa. iont. “ L am very glad to so A you, Gwodnoud," crieu the earl. “ Yourbest services are requxed here 11 game of 19qu emergency}: “ Aye, mv lurd,” returned the doctor, bustling: into the cottage. “ mm. the fe-luw who had ~myed me,hus given me an inkling of what's amiss. Ah, I see, our patient is here. Hysteria I This girl is very illfidange ously ill, my lord. She must be removed at. 0 ca to bed. Is there no woman here ‘2" “ I hme seen no other than vhis poor girl since I came here to break to her the unhappy event which has thrown her intu this distressing state,” sand the earl, his face becoming the hue m scarlet and his ears tingling as he uttered th s fu}sg§tatemen§ of 1:111? Rummy pf his yisit. _ He darned out . f the bucx entrance, and m two or three minu‘ es, returned with an elderly dame, who did the hard work of the cottage. As soun as she saw Amy, she uttered a. c: y of distress, and commenced wringing her hands, 1mm giving: way to the most ext: avagam gestures, but u. few- words from the doctor, shouted i1. her ear made her comprehend the necessity of doing her best t< assist, instead of wasting her strength in weeping and lamentML Ins. The d ctor with her help, conveyed Amy to her bedroom, where the old woman contrived to get her into bed, while the doctor descende ‘ and applied to his 0 vse for 3‘ mm resmruti es, nut holding out at the same time‘ 15:: the lay] any very sanguine hopes of restoring Amy 0 her reason. even if be rescued her from death. Still he yromi ed to do all that was possible. and once more ascended to the benr om, leaving the our] below, expecting each momeut to hear the dull tramp of many feet, and to see the ghastly bud} of old Seuton bro Aght into the upul'm-enn, Stalk and r aid! a. terrible retributive evidence of the vuin pride which had produ ed consequences 5: terrible “ Oh, _\es, where is',” Cxcmimed the doctor “ 01d Goody G «lin. s somewuere about. She‘s as'goaf as a_ post bygl’ll find her.” The earl waited. for her *0 sfienk, but as she di not do so, he inquired whether she was afrieud of Amy’s who, path 1135 having heard or her sud- ! (16111)} w, had come to offer her aid ‘2 ‘ I am a, friend, my 10rd, to Amy Seutonâ€"a. | near and dear one ” she replied ; till jumping event which had occurred should have come to pass. - Witr out anoth'r word, she hurried up the l emits. to Amy’s Sleeping chinber. 1111105t at, ‘the same moment, the pound of the hurried trend of men’s f. et was caught by the quick ex- I peotmt our of the earl. His heart throbbed ! fiercely and vi- lently : his facu grew ghastly pale: ‘ he staggered and clungto a chair to keep h-mself ‘ from telling. the cottage door was rudely flung ‘ opt-mend a. party or servants, headed by the a newbie entered. I And the body, where was that? I The 0 men h d it not with them. The earl ex zpected en 11 inst it to see four men march in I with 1: upon their shoulders, but they came not; and then he began to grow conscious that they lwe 6 tell 11;; him that they had sear had the copse fur the hodx, but it was not theae ; that they had hunted in etery d rection for it, but though traces of a strugâ€" gle were palpable enough in the broken twigs, tue mark of feet and blood upon the grass, the hoax of Senton, the gumekeeper, was no- where to be seen. Incredible as this apnezn‘ed to the 08.51, it was yet truth, and he accompanied the men imcl: to make a yet further search, but with no bet er success. The body '0: uid not be found ; but while they were searching the se- ond time, (in ndful cries 101' help were heard, accompanied by the buying: growls of u hound. All rushed to the spot whvnee the sounds issued ~fortunn.tely. as it moved for Stark for the lui'cher belonging to Seaton hudfustened upon his neck, and would have tom him to pieces, it" he 1121(1 not been beaten 01I_and see While these thoughts were burning through his brain, a. fontstep approached the cottage; a shadow darkened «he doorway, and the figure of a. woman closely muffled m traveling att re en- tered. The earlturnod towarCL 11 r, and as she caught sight of his face she ntarted and retreated two or three Steps, uttering a. faint exclamation offlaurprike. ‘ ‘ 1 1,,3! ‘fio; mEanfiEEiyVéEnce'lfiéd‘"736 is £25m; pEm 1' learn from you that 8.18 is ill, but be assured she V3111 have my closest attentxon and fondest cure.” Lulu lev uouA uu Although the 0g who had watched by the body was thus forthcoming, no further trace of Seutou was found, notwithstanding the Search was kept; up for several days. Not less singular was the fact; that when the earl, intended by Mr. Go Ahead, paid an early V' it to the cottage the following morning to as- certain the state of Amy, they found the outrage closmi up ; and on effecting ml entrance thruugh the window, it was discovered that the strange ‘emnle, Goody Gosling and Amy 11nd departed. Not a. living thing was li-i‘t in the cottage, and it was plain by the confusion in which many arti- cles of nearing impure were tossed about. that: the departure had been as sudden as secret. CHAPTER IV. THE CHANGE â€" THE LETTER -â€" A CLUE â€" THE RUFFIAN. The whole hundred of Doddescomleieh, in which stood De In. More Hall, was kept in estate of intense excitement the following week by the strange events which had taken place with re- gard to Seaton and his daughter. The 5‘ atements of the earl, lid of Stark. with respect to the dis- covery made by them of the mur ‘ered b dy of the gumeke per, were relented 111 every possible i iriu of exuggornti 11 end amplificelion. The subsequent disappeemnce of ,Amy ~-eu.ton and Good» Goslingwiu itself mysterious enoughâ€"â€" was 3 et made the vehicle for the most ex rava- gniit reports. Superstition steppediu to hid the lmbblors in their marvellous 01311111111ij ions, and a fiction was at length shaped out, purportâ€" ing to be u. true net-radon of he events, but which reallv contained not a. particle of truth beyond. themention oi the discovery of the game he pa ’8 bmlv, as it appeared, wounded 0 death, and the flight of Amy. Bints were thrown out, irnpliccting’the earl in a grin e manner will the afimir. and it was openly cited, 5 c damaging fact, that Seetcn hud an interview with the earl on the morning of the presumed mur- der ; that the earl had fol owed him immediately he left the castle, and was the first to give 111- formutio ofa crime whivh. n» it Eeemed. he was actunlly near enough. it not mixed up With it, to have p eventerl. That He tom’s 1) fly sh uld have Vanished Without the complicity of the earl. was to my it had be u supernaturalle Spirited away by a certain person, Whose name it is coll»~ side-red. proper to keep dark; who did not think fit to wait the usual proucss 0f decomposit on, but claimed his own upon the very first oppor- tunitv that efiforded. The inference drawn. therefore, was that if the Evil One had not by his infemm agency swept Sentonv his daughter, and Goodv Goeliug off into the bargain, the earl had, upon some very strong motive, himself slain : his gemekeeyer, and also put Amy and Goody ‘ out of the way immediately after the doctor had 1 qditted the cottege, u _ "um +‘I‘n4- o kluuauuu. “Au vuwwbv, ()ne reasun for this, perh‘sps, was, that 11 belxef generally obtained in the vilmge that the earl, in years gone puSt-, Ind put away his wife in some foreign land. and thum Stantonâ€"- who went away wiah him, returned with him, and had abeen, as it: W s cousi- bred, a, confidential (lapendnnt for many yearsâ€"wax privy to tpis cpircumsgapce, Wh ther crime or not. ,,~A1,.. “A: mm: a”, UV “.4... V. I mu V 7 r , , It was therefore said, with many a. nod and Wink, that the. murdered man had known 00 much ; that in a. lute quarrel ho had threatened to reveal all he was acquainted with, and the earl hafl purchased his silence at the fearful 1 rice of murdsr. u...“ um. . It is, unfortunately, a failing Uflmman nature, especially the u educated pm‘tiun of it, to invest [L xnyat: ry, or any event the circumstances of which 1: (3y neither know not cure to explain, with criminal details. It was so in the present; instance. Before two days were past, the proud Earl De In More was declared to be the hero of a. dark career-a. man of In any crimesa‘an indi- vidual Whose neck ought to be submitted to the maniphlatiun of the puhlfc executioner ; and this, too, bv the very peo le who were reci ients of his bountvâ€"Who, indeed, had to thank him 1‘0 thn roof which sheltered them, and the dinner that sustained 71 db. ' Stark had only to Show his nose into the vilinge to be (seized upon by the idle gossips, Who p t a. vni'ioty of quustions to him, and Offered him unâ€" limired glasse of famrgenny if he would only tell them all he knew. With many an oath and mus a he thrust them aside; yat nevertheless, he assisted in Keeping their tongues waggingâ€" i'ur he, too before a week had passed away, sud- denly disappeared I J » 1:): r -â€" A shrewd detect've ofiicer was emvloyed by the Earl to trace the flight; of Amy, but. he left afteru day or two, Buying he hudbut a t'mrixt clue \vmch he would endeavor to “ work up.’ A letter came to the earl from Amold. He acknowledged striking the keeverâ€"pleaded the provocation givenâ€"begged his father to aid Amy for his sake, and concluded by saying that he had obtained leave of absence for two years, und‘ should depart from England for that 1199052- . ANA r “‘2”. rlhe Earl left his noble mansion fcr London, leaving only the housekee, er and a few Perv-ants 1'11 it At London hr- was called up by the detect tive who told him that he had ascertained that Amy Senton, Goody Gosling, and a tall. dark woman had left Semtun’s cuttage in company. Dhey had arrived in London, ohmined pamports for Florence and die-pm“ ed. The dqu woman guye the 1331110 of 9.00119 Aud10) . 1 Han“: ude. The man greatly urprise‘i. withdrew, he havâ€" ing expected to be nrdered to take a. cab to Nine street for a.‘ detmchmmg of perleece.” instead of conduct 112 the“ pe.;iaon" to an audience to a. pry/{me ghmpben A Whenhe dis ppnared, the earl, turning to his children. perceivedfihewimder expressed in their features, said, " It IS an erratic fellow, employed As sooh es the eerlwes left alone, he paced the room to and fro. “ The mystery thickens,” he said. “ Th- smne mimeâ€"the wry place â€"Wha.t can it mean? What has she to do with Season‘s d nighter? His W fe was drowned, or that might afford some clue to the object. Eternal Heaven ! c in she, by any strange phSi rility. have leerned auuht I‘esuecting the fit :11 atbnyehni nt hetwemv Arnold and the WI etched girl nmv: mugglvd away. and would strike a. blow at my Qieuyee through her? It cannot be! I must use 11mm thisâ€"I must ascertwn whether such surmiSza can have anyfouudntion in truth I xvii: vollow thevu to Florenceâ€"I Will nerve. myse ‘0 my taskâ€"I Will unravel the plot, i plot there be, or Will prove it to be a. mere suspicion of a too susceptibl- brain, " With impatience, Earl De la: More waited. lhe esuhs oitxio efforts miirle to obtain tidings 01 Arnold ; but findiv g all futile, he made hie preâ€" parations to depart, for Italyâ€"The evening pr â€" ceedinu his departure he passed with lflustiee a.“ (1 his two daughters, for he knew not how long In ght he his absence, or wha. p~rsonal dangers his viS t to Il nly might involve; therefore he had much to my to them, and whnt he did say Wins imbued with a tenderness to which they were un- accustomed, and which Eustace thouth th ugh he Quill nothing, rather mugâ€" nificent fudgeflTo find the cold, mea- sured earl lose himself in the fervid purennmms not What he had been rought up to: therefore, he regarded the pathos 0: tin noble before him, even though he was his either, as u some vhiit clever pie e of acting ; While the girls, keener judges of human nature, from their very womanly symputhies, read the truth as it stood, and were more grati- fied even their surprised. It was at a moment when the earl Wits more than ever di posed to discard his armor of pomp and pride, that a. be powdered, be velveted footinnn entered the apartment, and made his way towards the earl. The um. .’s head WM elevated by the united aid of his starched White erevxiu and his sense of his ow” importance, although so alive to the earl his master’s greatness, that ho shut his eyes Whene»er he came or found himself in his lord~ ship’s presenco._ “ My lard, we haée exhausted every effort to get rid of this pear on, bub he won’t go. erd we no}; bettel: send tor a datachmipg‘ of‘ perleepe ‘2” By an almost supe huma emit. th‘e earl re covered mu (Lppe Imuue uf outward calmness, and said to the servantâ€" ‘ Let the man be conducted to my private closet. I will attend him there." “ Goodheavens! n r >1 ml the Earl. “ That name! has hhe taken this met-bod of revengingâ€"-” Ho suddenly pumedâ€"mld rewarded the detec- tive, who Withdraw. be njim @117er hisusnfiulders forward, enden. Vnred to co vert himself into the arc of a. circle and then retired. “ M3; 70rd,” said he, in EL voice as ifhe was being choked with an egg, “ the-re is a pm: son who bags your _1a;'dshi;g to gran!) ’imAâ€"J’ 7 “ But this oarson, mylard, suysâ€"” . “Begone SQOUDdYGIXZAqult the room 1” cned the earl. risng up ‘a'ngnly _ ~ V Th5 earl tu nell upuon him fiercely, “ I gave orders}: he said, “ that I would be disturbed by In ten minutes he reappeared, an‘ thy ggl} the gauge perfogmanpeps before re-appenrqa, h and went, by me to make» some inquiries. I forgot tolaswe word to admit him when he came. Nothing mgefnogrhgng moral: He hurued to tha chnmher, and, en entering hepemeivedseatedin an arm chair, with his muddy boots and legs tossed over one of the arms. engaged, In making sarcastic observations, inhalarued with oaths, to the servantâ€" Stark! CHAPTER V. THE ARRIVAL IN LONDONâ€"THE FEVER. Lord Ari.old De Is More continued, from the moment that he struck down Seeteu in the copsp, up to the signing ome letter he address ed to his fatherâ€"i ven up toposting in, in a. whirl of excitement of that feverish and irritable kind which prevented his mind from dwelling eteedily upon one subject. So long as his brain would stand the Jamm upon it. he acted upon the promptiugs of im’oulse. B13 juurney to Lon- (1011,1119 visit to the Admiralty. and subsequently to the banker's‘ where he kept hiq private acâ€" count, with the purpose of providing himself with {L large sum, in n. :tes 01 small amount. 11 en'ire chim e of attire, am the hiring of a. iurnished lo‘igi g in (L11 obncure but respectable suburb, where all the reault of impulsewef unsettled purpose, taking shape of any suggestion that In passion he struck down Seaton. His self- 1 repn eoh for that actâ€"exclusively on Amy’s ‘ accountvâ€"wus unbearable, and he rushed to London, to fly from himself, as it were. When there, the sudden quarrel, the burning insult, and its prompt punishmen', haun. ed him Ike a. spectral Vision ; but With it also was the phantom of Amy, with wan fea. tures, gazing upon him sadly and reproachtully. He could not bear it. How could he face her again '2 Would she not hate him? Would she not despise his miserable, ungovernahle passiun, which could not spare even her father? She w 111d she must! Aye! he would away to ‘the Spanish Main, and among the rovers them he would, perhaps, find the means of for.«.etfulness. He knew well enough that action, with all its graphic power, came not near the wild wonders which he had seen enacted there. Ay he would go there. Not to forget Amyâ€"No! Oh no ?â€" chven rain its choicest blessings on her headâ€" but to remove from her syhere the influence of one so wild and wayward us he felt himself to be. He wished, in bitter anguish, that she had aner turned her soft gaze upon him, that she had never beheld his glance of adoration, knowing ‘ for whom they were intended. or had ever listen- ed to his passionate pleadings. 0 how he wished he had not won her gentle love; so that while pursuing his future wild, adventurous path, nur- 1 ing his 1| rug and perhaps eternal separation from her. there might ot be I ne pang visit her tender heart. one sorrow oppress her sweet frame, or a. single grief sit heavy on her fair brow. But he knew she loved him; in the innocence of her truthful, g‘iilolvss nature, she had told him soâ€"admittiug that he was the one sole ob- ject of her heart’s aspiration on the earth. It would not be possible that While he was far, far away from her, she would be free from pain or grief on his accuunt. And he could see her once, even, before he left, he felt it would be only to sec on that beautiful face, where he had alone seen the s nshiue of love, the cold and gloomy shadow of reproach. No. he would leaveEngâ€" land, and trust to time. to vhan e and chan es. which he did not attempt to give a form to, to sweep sway the guilt and sorrow of the past, and bring them once more t« vgether in blissful peace, as thwy had be 11 when first they met. On this Impulse, he obtained his leave of ab- sence, ha. ged Ins mm 3 and 51: 1e of address, and removed to Poplar. to hear 0 a. Ship bound to some South American port, Whe~ 0 he 0 uld obtain a. pusgagg to thpfl i‘slundgwlpler‘e he purpos- ,, -u,-. e trausv ' ,. himself to and if chance willed it: to fling uwav hi5 lifei Barely was he installed in hls lodgings. then he changed his purp se. His project became in his eyes, mad, Wicked, even crmunal. Then he marked. out his first oecnded 01311. which was : preserve his incognito, and tn re main in EngLn to watch over Amy, unseen by her, as a. guardian angel, until he had attained his mujmity. Beyuni that he wnuld not speculate. Then he penned the epistle to is father him upon Whom he looked as the cause of the sacrifice of two beings on the almr pfflhiqprigle . ~.. .1, 11 -p So mu 1: for his impulse, and for the result of 000 at arrangement, but 11» had not the opportuâ€" nity of carrying into executi‘ .n a. scheme upon which he quicle began to doat. He had changed his outward apprumnce skil- hmw rmm mmnf th nor] with hia Man}: win, He had changed his outward apprurence skil- fully. The son of the earl, with his black wig, artificial mnus’mehios and whiskers, looked very much like [L distinguishud foreigner who, owing to ix quiries of tun paternal a character by hi; Government, had thnught it advisable to seek the Ialimate of England, under a conviction that he would be more careful of his own health than even the Government beneath whose extremely tender auspices he was born and bred. He was Jinnster of Italian, Spanish, German and French, and thererore found no oifliculcy in assuming a. dialect compounded uf broken English and Italian‘bm use of which ably assisted him in concealing himself from the kind inquiries of th se who were in active search for him. I But white devising a. scheme for returning to the unighburhood of 110 la. Mare Hall, Without running the ri-ik of detection, he changed his apartments to th» northwest of London. On the day he did so, he encoun- ters-L1 one of his father’s tenants.» K110 .ing hi-u to be onu of those Sim vie-minded individ- uals who never accept or make mom for two ideas at the same tame, he had nn hesitation in aucosting him quite sure :hat Farmer Spuonbili would not have recogn zed his own son in such a. diggmsqas he then himd donufled. , "A :11 _1_A AAA“ U “ But Where am I ‘2" again asked Arnold, press- ing his hand to 1118 forehead, striving to recullect hq_w_ or Why 119 cguld b9 there at_ all. Accordiqgh, he addressed Spoonbill, who star- ed at him with a. bewildered aspect. shouting in reply to the first quertiou, whether he knew Where “the Chemin de fer North-Vestorn was Bitumen” “I knows nowt about ’11:]. Don’t speak outlandishâ€" I doan’t. You be ap‘leece- man. Spun to’un." * 1 ., ,,,‘ ,1,-,,, Amold, however, contrived to make him un- derstand that, he wanted to proceed to the neigh- bo hood of De la. Mure Hull: and Spounbill answered, still lmllooiug at the top of his voice, an though that were the only way to make a foreigner understand English,“ Doan't wan: to go to the Hall,de‘ee ‘2" h‘Arnold nodded his head, and Spoonbill shook ls. " Bean’t. no use now,” the latter said. " Family be away here in Lunnon.” “ Vat. -11 f?“ “ Ees, all,” shouted Spoonhill. “ Couldn’t stand murder 01 t' gamekeeper " " Murder of wuo ‘2” Cliell Arnold, in his turn. ” Why, of Seaton t’ gamekeeper, to be sure. Soomhodyhéat his skull in, in lone copse, not Im- from his own cob." ‘ Oh, nu,” the girl replied gazing upon him ulmoht tenderly. “ Do you know me now ‘2” she asked, a faint smile illuming her pretty feutu: 9;. He shook his head. “ Ah,than,” she said m‘chly, “you are better, for you wouldâ€"ah I not so long back lâ€"insist upâ€" on it I was an angelâ€"your angel! 0 you naughty boy! you laid claim to me, and W0 10. declare that I should be the bride of no one but you. I see you are impatient at such nonsense now Well, be good and quiet, and don’n disuurb yourâ€" self. I will not keep you long, for, after all the tory is short, although vou have frighnened us’ all sadly, end inadeâ€"uâ€"a persan I know almost go beside himself "_ M Etyldgasiaedifrdr breath,nnd staggered back Then he seized i116 country man by the arm, and said, betwevn his teeth, " {31451 the mqrdeyey ‘g‘.’ ‘ uh! that be it ! I can’t know who did. itâ€" but beaton be killed, sure enough! ' By by a blowâ€"0n the temple?" “ Ecs, surely.” “ Eternal heaven !" “ Ay, be strungs enough, I can tell’ee! Why, daughter fled mvan same night : some do say for one cause, and some do say 1'01"]:10ther , but I do my 10 drown herself, poor lass ! for 11’ old man was all she had to quk up}? " ‘ I' S‘ emed to Arnold as if his brain would burst ~there was the clanging of a. thousand cymbals in his ears. He stood like one changed from morfiqi life_ into a. statue." _The rpar pf the passing xehicles, the presence of hurrying foot; travelers, the din of busy traffic, he was not conscious of; he saw only the grim, gloomy, leafy copse; the bleeding body of Se ‘ton lying there. the white flame of Amy, flying into the black and frowning waters ~f some deep pool. He did not are that; even Spoonpip. was. struck .witgh tine pudngen VPreEeuély he said, in a feeble voice, “ Pmy tell me where I am ?” irdnesa of his aspect; or that a lowâ€"looking fellow gazed at him With eager ey: s, as though beneath the disguise he recognized the true petsuu. Nuught but this terrible spectral vision filled leis Sveing; and suddenly he uttere; 'a. cry, Lurned, andflod like & startled deerâ€"was out of sight before Spoonbill could make [Ln exclama- tion, or the glaring eyes of the grimy rufliun would note Whleh path he took. Fledl ay, fled as if from an avenging spirit fled. as if a. bruop of officers ofjustice were afterhim, led on by the Hp rit of retributionâ€"whither he knew not. All he knew was that he was pursued by the howlixn; cry of Seaton's blond for vengeance.-: and he fled onâ€"on, as though his flight was never to an end, and the troop of ghostly myrmidous of vengeance would never quit fine pursuit. He gazed around the apartment, but he re- membered it not; the decorations, the furni- ture, all were strange to him; and his eyes cume'bwk again to the young girl, still plying lex'needle in silence save the irritating tick every instant of the thread being drawn through the material, which, however, Arnold did 11‘ t notice. He perused the Iineameuts of the young girl’s lace but knew them not ; they were pretty and regulars, her dress was plain, but good {Lud wellâ€"fitting, a: (1 her air that of one in arespecm- b e Sphere the h npt aqelemted one He yet lay still und mutionlasa, wondering. He found 113 uifliuult to call up the past, though 11: trim: ; there was a hazy wandering sensation averse he thought altogether. Still he could tell that he was in a strange place, and among trangors._ _ - l‘he ywung girl sturted and threw down her work, and came towards him. She knelz. down by him and said, " Are you better ‘2" ' "' I do not know. I remember nut, to have been ill Where am I ‘2” he said in a 10W tune “ Among friends,” rhe replied in a. soft voice, and added, “Do not speak; you are too weak yet. I will go and fetch my mother." He stretchtd furlh his hand to stay her. “ any,” said he, “let me hear all from your hps, if I dopufi tux your k1h<1ness."_ It was long ere he again became conscious of when; was passing about him Weeks hltd passe {L .my, when One evening in the dim twilight, he became aware that he was in some strange bed chamber. and that at the foot of his couch 1L yuung girl sat employed in needle workâ€"seaml- ingly also engages? in thought, for she occasionly put down her work andluoked out of the Window dl'Gflnnlly, and then took up her werk again, and went on with it: as Ihough, notwiths auding her mum t uncensng plying of the needle, it did not occupy much of her intention. "Do you'not r'emember cbminéone day and taking these apartments ‘2" she said, looking at him with some surprise. ‘ H No." “ Nor telling me when I informed you that my mother was out on business, it did not matterâ€" that you had decided on taking the apartments for six months, paying the rent for the hole timein advance, saying. that if my mother was 1 like me you was sure you should hot q'uarrel ‘ with either ? Do you not remember ‘2” ‘ “ Not a circumstance,” “ I do.” said the girl thoughtfully ; and then said quickly, “ That same night you came back, out of breath with running violently , and, when you got in this room you fell down in u. swoon My mother had just returned, we got medical assist nee, and you Were recovered only to be- come wildly delirious, raving about all kinds of strange things the“ you were seized With a vio- lent fever, and we 0 given over Ah 1 sir," said the girl, the tears running down her cheeks, “ I was placed here to watch for the crisis. my poor mother sadly feared that there was no hope for you ; but too doctor said there WEI-21 11. chance, and I prayed for youâ€"indeed I did, air, and. it seems as though kind heaven has heard my prayere. But then. sir, you must not say a Word, as it will only make you bad again," she exclaimed, as Arnold was about to speak. She dried her eyes and said, “Pray be quite still, and I will run an L tell ear mother, 011 1 she will be so lad, for she likes you, sir. very, very much." Li 'ting up her finger in caution to him, she stole, on tip 0:}, out of‘tho room. A be mimues afterwards she returned with a pleasing, comfortable looking dame, and a. grey haired elderlv l aking man, dressed in black, whowxm unmistakably the doctor for he made his way to the bedside, and placed his hand upon Arnold’ pulse, and counted the beats in silence. Prgsqntlype said,â€" . .. .. ,,,1, “ Aha. ! that Will dowwa are better now, though there is still much to do. Patience, quiet, no talking, nourishment, and no on, with some little st-rengtheuig matters which I will send and we shall soon be out again as st: ong and as well as everâ€"as Well as ever we were. Mrs Fairchild, you mvst be doctor now: he wants good nursâ€" ing. Your little woman there, although she has been a very good childâ€"a very good. kind ha- tient enduring little nurseâ€"must not just yet awhile, let her little industriuus tongue wag She may watch, and nurse, and pray if she Will but for a. few days at least it must be in silence ” For ufew days it was so ; but he grew so rapidly better, that the ban was taken off the lips of Milly Fairehild,to her intense smismc- tion, and much to the enlightenment of A neld. He learned that he had mved of his father, the earlâ€"0f his iwn lordly title of Semen, the gamekeeper, and enacted the scene of a. fierce struggle with himâ€"and he incessantly called. to ‘You called me Amy,” said Milly looking up to him with a. winning smile. “and said I was your love; and begged me to lay my head upon your breast, and you would protect me from all the world. I wanted to humor you ; but mother said, ‘ No. ’ And then you grew angry, and called her names, and told her you would beat me awayâ€"I cu‘u’t rocol- where ;and to pacify you, I was obliged to make pretend an ' come very 01058 to you. Really, sir, you must be very fond of the young lady pooled Amy, zor you did embrace me so afiec- tie}y- Ahmjd did not smileâ€"nay,his lip quivered wifl} pain- u 1 $1131 did not offend you, Milly,” he said, 111311953017 m_ournf13}1y. ‘.‘ Ofiend me ‘2" repeated Milly, all but as- tounded at such {L supposition. “ No. indeed ! Mother sand it; certainly wasn t altogether pro per, but she was with us; and besides. 1a. ! if we were only to do those things than were quite 1)! oper, What would become of us all ‘P We should never have ab t; of fun. There was a. bit of a. stir Wis true ; but dear me, that was of no con- sequepgeâ€"nthaywos soon se‘tltl‘ed.” ‘ “ A bit. ofu. stir !”repemed Arnold with some surprise. “ Who occasioned it ‘2" “ Why you, silaoccmioned it," she said,looking merrily in hie face. “The truth is," she con- tinued, laying her s it hand upon hi, “ l am somebody else’s Amy, and he is in a. perpetual twitter for fear I shamd be any- body el-«e’s Amy: and he thinks I am not particular enough upon that point. Be an mosh fainted when I told him that such a. nice young gentlem. n, with dark hair and dark mustnchios hud taken ourâ€"By the 1 ye, where are your muxamchios and Whiskers? Your hair, too, is another color.” " The illness and the barber together have managed it, I suppose." she said: “although I don‘t remember his coming. No matter. To finish what I was say 11;; : The unreasonable person of whom T. was speakingâ€"When he learned of your tenderness tr wards me. when you imag ined I was the beautiful Amy, of Whom you so often ap Ike almost went into as bad a. raving fit .3 you yourself did when first you were taken illâ€"until I cooled hiu tragedy erformunee by requesting him never to make is appearance here any more.” “Did he obey you ‘2" “ We-l, he nounced off then, vowing, by Jove, he never would; but, eh! he was here next night, at, eight when he had. left busi- ness. I knowhe would be, though mother ewd he’d come no more, and I should sup so: row by expo:~ nfuls thro ugh my wilfulness. Come ‘1 of courre he came, and beg. ed my pardon ; and th.«n I served him out. for I was cold to him, and made him feel as if he had been roasted at a slow fire ” “ Do you love him, Milly ?’ “ Well, I don't know. I like him very well." “Only tell me the truth, as if you were speak- ing to Him there." Arnold pointed upward as he apoko. ' The girl looked at him with surprise. “ Why ‘2 she asked, very neriously. “ Do you like me better ?" “You. sir ‘2” " Aye,me! I am going for. for hence. If you prefer me to him, I’ll take you with me. Will you go ‘3” “ No, noâ€"oh, no I" “ Then you love him ‘2” " Oh, sir 1” she said, looking a. t him earnestly, “ w'gy do you wish to wring this confession from me‘ ’ Arnold immediately remembered the disguise he had assumed. Whiske-s, wig, nlustnchios all had disappeared. Wherethey had gone he knew not. involuntarily, when she put this queseion plumply to him, he placed his hand to his face. He felt the color rise there and, fo- the mom-nt,ho knew not what to reply. She gbkiljved his surprise and laughingly answered or 1111. 'man shook his head, and said, “Where are you going, mnv I ask ?â€"profe sion. filly‘ you knowâ€"tor you are not well yet, remem~ er." [TO BE couannnJ “ Well 1 Suppose he were to embrace ayouns lady mot you â€"o.nd act; with her the part, uf a lover, and you were field of iiiâ€"should you laugh at it and treat itmirthfully ” " Sir-I ” “Would you expect him 10 treat you coldly and disdainfully if you offered some objections to it ? wanld you expect to be called upon to beg his pardon?” Milly burst into tears. . “ Do you; too, upbmid me sir ‘1" she exclaimed sobbing.“ Ynu I when it was on your account only all this has happened I You looked so ill so wan and so beseeching, I could not refuse you, surâ€" inqggu could n99: “ Nay,1wou1d not wring it from you. You have told me he loves you. Answer mo, and truly ; is his love returned, or I shall repent my offer igterms you may find it; hard to refuse “ I would not leave him for worlds," said she emp animlly. ° “ Then vou love him ?” " I (la 1 I do 1” she said with a. sudden- burst of energy. “ I do love him Wlth my Whole heart I" “ I thought; so,” rammed Arnold. ” Continue tofigso~ if he is worthy.” _ "U'bliflié Qifidééagif, the most upright and honorable ” This was, however, decided for him by the doc- tor who attended himh Arnold paid the bill, and, th~ nking him for the skill he had exhibited in saving his life, mentioned to him his immeâ€" digje depayiurp. This asylum would not remain such, it was plain, any longer. He knew Stark â€"nobias the spy who DEL-l been setupon him to watch his movements, b ut as one con nected with the estate, and he had no doubt the fellow had some clue to connect him with the death of Seaton, and was in search of him He did not for a moment be- lieve that the blow he had inflicted on the game keeper ha: abeolutely killed him, but he cOuld not purmiae how fur it had been accessory to it. He felt inexpressibly miserable and without much powL-r to act, he, however, determined to leave without having a notion where to go. The death of Seat. in had once more altered his derigu, and henceforth he must avatually become a wanderer and an outcast, with the stain of blood upon his hands. and the weight of murder upon his soul. “ The world was all before him where to choose ;” but what spot to select, to hide him and his sorrows, he knew not. - ,“Na-y, pretty Milly,” said he soothineg : “I know the act, complained of by others. was done out of the kindness of your gentle woman’sheart It was not of that Ispeak, Iappreciate and thank you Warmly for it. I only think that you hould have frankly ex- plained all to ‘ him,’ and, instead of compelling him to beg your pardon, have rather asked his I havemade a. false step. Wheret- e consequence» Wlll end I cannot foresee. I would guard you from a similar errur. Ah! it is so easy totake the step, so difficult tqrepnir it._” Ax this momentfurther speech was interrupted by the entrance of Mrs. Fairchfld, who address- ing herself l0 Arnold, said, " If you lease sir, there are two persons down stairs, who state they wish bqhaweflufew‘ words with you. _ “ Mr Arnold, of De 121 More Hall. I told them that was 1105 your name, but they said they were sure you were the pexson. uhd if 1 would say that they come from De 111 More Hall. 011 very import 1111371131 1ne§s,tha.t you would see th_en1.”_ > Mrs Fnil‘child obeyed his instructions. He heard some alterations below, but a. prompt ref- erence to a. policeman settled the queationfind from the window Arnold saw cross the road the man Stark, and a. fellow whom he recognized as a poacher, who had been pomted out; to him as a. dzgggeroug gcuundr _l. He saw him eye the house closely, and Stark made memorandums, evidently'respecting it, but at the approach of the policeman towards them, they mode rapidly 06â€" still, however, glancing at the house. ‘" Be good one ugh to tell them, I know nothing about them, or the place of which they speak, and if they hesitate to retirv, I perceivea p0ch 1mm stan‘ ing an the corneracnll him to your aid in rem‘rJvihg them.” “Wham kind of persons are they,Mrs Fair. 014.11}??? . he illquhfqu “ Well,rexlly‘, sir'!" she returned, ” one, if I may speak plain is a. perfect ruflian, and the other does not look much better.” “ With .7 e ? What iname (id they ask for ?’ 11g ggkey in _5}11'Qri_£se,_ â€"The most brilliant. qualities become us;- less when they are not sustained by force of character. v â€"The difference between a pocket measure and a vegetarian in, one is a foot rule and the other a root fool. -â€"Ii an empty purse could speak, What love lxko speech would it. make?â€"“You‘ll find no change in me." -â€"“ Hold the forte {or I am coming 1” said the muscular man, as his pals staggered on the smuwuy under the weight at the piano. -â€"Mr.Glndstoue owns a. piece of land at Niagara Falls, and zjeiuses to sell at, any price. He probably has a toll-gate on it.â€" Boston Star. â€"M. Depcm at the Munich Electra] exhi- bition worked a. 'plough’by means of electri- city. the current: being fiansmitted about forty miles. â€"A correspondent want-s to know where the expression “Let up ” comes from. We believe it comes from the fellow who isn’t on top in the fight. - â€"An English doctor wants everybody to be buried in 9. wicker casket instead of a. plain aoflin. He is supposed to be interested in a Willow plantation. â€"The reason that aesthetics so admire the stark is that he can stand for hours on one leg and look as though he didn’t know any- hing and didn’t want to. â€"Ingersoll says no such man as Noah ever existed. He probably basal; his belief on the assumption that no man would invite a pair of mosquitoes into the ark. -New Zealand has had a wonderful hop crop this year. Soil and climate both favor the production, and there are plenty of colon- ists who understand the culiure. â€"-Long haired men are generally weak and fanauca], and men with Beam hair are the philosophers and soldiers and stagesmen of the Wendi-London Lancet. â€"Mrv Inaao, of Kentucky, gave his arm to Mrs. Coopar for a promenade at a country fair, and Mr. Cooper gave Mr. £21560 a. bullet to walk off with. The bullet took the pre- mium. â€"“ Do you think my daughter is a flirta~ fiomst?” asked a lady of a gentleman at a. watering place. " I am sure I do not know, madame,” was his answer. “ I am not an ubaervntionist." _-A seven year old boy entertained a crowd of spectators in front of the Grand Opera. House Saturday night by turning single- ‘nanded hand-springs and executing other diifioult feats for fun. â€"-Convicta at Dartmaor prison, in Englani, make skeleton keys out of the bones pf their meat. Nothing could be more appropriate. Chair escape by this means reminds us of one of those skeleaon leaves. ' â€"II is only during the first four weeks of [us connection with a daily paper theta. college graduate makes use of the word “yolept.” Amer the: be either leaves or is killed and hurled in the cellar. â€"'1‘hnae editors who want vests abolished as useless are very shun-sighmd. Where would literary men and others of sedentary woupations get patches for their trousers if there were no vests? â€"-When Cloeephist died his diaconaoh‘flé widow moaned through her tears,,“ Well, there is one thing, John never gave me a. cross word.” “Nor anything else that he wasn’t obliged to,” murmured Fogg. â€"â€"A fashion journal notes a dress of lemon- colored tulle, with moire bodice. We don‘t [mow anything as to lemon-colored tulle, but feel satisfied thsttmore bodice would fill a. long felt; want in full-dress costumes. â€"A young lady in painting a plaque For which she had quite a. naque, Drew a man and a. bird, With the man quite a. third Smallest, which was not quite the Whaque. â€"“I’m in love with your figure," the young man sighed. “ You eipuer me, then,” the young lady replied : “ Let‘s 4161 both. our fortunes and then divide.” And then they were marrieg and multiplied. â€"â€"Mt. Gladstone beeumes senior commoner in the Privy Council by the death of Sir George Grey, having “kissed bends " at the time of his appointment forty one years ago, «luring the fourth year of Queen Victoria’s reign. The boys said they guessed he must have been. and then began to laugh. But Fender- aon couldn’t 569 what in time they found to laugh at. “ I had a funny experience to day,” 32- marked Fenderaon. “I had taken my Seat in the car and opened the Windo w, when all of a eudden a fellow back of me leaned for- ward and said : ‘ I beg your pardon, sir ; bufi didyou ask me if the dust annoyed me?’ I didn‘t know what to make cf him, but I shook my head and took up my paper. Five minutes later. blamed If that chap didn’t touch me on the back again and say: ‘ D'iii you ask me if the wind was too much for me ?” And I hadn’t said a blessed word to him. Guess the fellow was drunk or crazy.” â€"“ Oh! my poor heart! My heart is breaking," wailed a. Chicago girl, and yet the doctor who was called in prescnbed lime» watcr and told her she‘d better leave ofi easv ing fried pork for a few days. -â€"The advance agent of a bad show has the best time. He can get out of town be- fore his company pexforms. I: is the Loans.- ger who must stay and pay salaries and heat the oompliments.â€"Augusta News. â€"-’I‘he comet! He is on the way, And singing as he flies; The whizzing planem shrink before The specter of the skies. Ah! well may regal orbs burn blue, And satellites tum pale, Ten million cubic miles of headll Ten billion leagues of tail. â€"â€"If the sky is clear, and you get out of bed at 4 a. m., and climb up on the roof, maybe you can see ‘he comoa. You may do. pend on catching a. frightful cold and getting back into bed wish your teeth chattering. anyway. -â€"’Twas good King Boree Bunglee Boo Said to his cock: “ Where‘s my menu? I’m cavernously faint- ; I'll dine. Produce the bill and bring the wine." Cook answers: “ site, the fat menu Have ordered cooked are in the stew.” â€"â€"A number in a suburban school was gi‘m mg her class an object lesson a few days ago, and drew a. cat upon the blackboard for its Inspection. She then askvd what there was m the cat, and the unanimous reply waa‘ “ Hair.” “ What else ‘2” she queried. There was a long pause of consademtion, but finally the hand of a bright-eyed lime five year old shot up antidalmost simultawenusly eame het- triumphant answer, “ Fleas! ” â€"There lives an old gentleman who is 151110113 for the soiled condition oi- hls linen. An old friend, who had been looking fixedly atthe bosom of the chi gentleman’s shirt, spoke out thus : “ I any, major, I’ve known you for the last twenty years, and there is some‘hing about you that has puzzled me very much. I would like to ask you about it if you have no objection. I hope you won't get: mad ?” “Well, no; I reckon not.” ” Well,then. major, do tell mo who wears your shirts before they get dirty 7” ’ â€"A name to continue With : The will at Cornelius Koopmanschap of San Francisco has been filed for probate. Tho estate is be- queathed to ihe widow, Desire Victoria. Touch- ard Koopmanschap, who is also nominatedas executrix. â€"A little theft, a. smell deceit, Too Often leans to inure . ’Tis hard at first. but tempts the feet, As through an open door. Just as the broadest rivers run From sm .ll and distout springs, The greatest crimes xhuu men have done Have grown from little things. â€"A colored blacksmith was shoeing a. mule not long ago, when the animal disengaged ii- self and drove. one of its hind feet against aha negro’s head with the force of a battering ram. A few days afterward someone asked o'ue owner if the blacksmith sustained severe injuries. “ I can’t say he did,” respondeti she man, dejectedly, " bus the mule goes on three legs.” THE MAN WHO OPENS THE CAR WINDOW. COMIC BUDGET.