East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1865-05-31

and sitting down beside her harpsi-
chord, began a low, soft air; then her
mood changed, and the full notes OF
some martial tune rang out into the
room. Once she paused when Mars
ton entered, bearing the tall, silver
candlesticks, and as the music died
away, she heard the beating of the
rain against the easement, and the
howling Of the wind amongst the
trees. A minute she listened, then
her fingers touched the keys again.
"The storm has come, my lady" 1t
was Marston who spoke. She had
thought him gone, but he was stand
ing close behind her chair. "Sir
Richard can never pass Craven Ford
tonight" he went on.
"What will he do?" and she looked
round with startled eyes.
"He may make for home, but I
fear, my lady; an / had your leave, L
would ride out to meet him with a
lantsrn. The night is black as pitch,
anu one false step by the cliff puth
would be DEATH" He spoke low, but
there was strange eagorness in his
tone and in his face.
$50, pray go!" she exclaimed, her
voice trembling with anxiety; and yet
might you not send Stephen in your
stead" She knew not why she asked
that question, she only knew that
some vague feeling prompted it.
Marston's face darkened. He is
a stranger to the country, while have
lived here from my childhood. He
does not even know the road, while 1
have ridden along it hundreds of
times by night and day. But be it as
you will, my lady"
"Go yourself" she once more re-
peated; lose not a moment. Heaven
send you may be there before Sir
Richard"
The man turned silently to obey her
orders, but as he reached the door he
looked round, and for an instant his
eyes met hers-only for an Instant
but there was something in that glance
so peculiar, so sinister, that she almost
shuddered. Ere she could recover
her first shock, ere she could speak or
think, he was gone. What did it
mean2 She had long known that he
bore her no good will, that he regard
ed her as an intruder in her husbands
house, and that he bitterly resented
the stern rebukes, and threats, with
which his master had visited his occa-
sional disrespect to her. She had
known this long, but never had his
dislike been written SO plainly in his
face as now. Could he be plotting
harm? Should she follow him and
countermand his going? And then
again she smiled at her nameless ter
rors. For thirty years Marston had
served Sir Richard faithfully-surely
he would not now be false to him.
Tho cliff path might indeed DO feared,
but not the old and trusted servant.
So she listened till, in less than half
an hour, she heard his horses hoofs
crashing on the gravel road. She did
not hear something else; she did not
hear his muttered words, as he glanced |
up at the lighted windows of the
drawing "She would have
stopped me had she dared, but she
cannot stop me now. There will be
heavy reckoning this night for the
scorn she has made Sir Richard heap
upon mo-" And his teeth were ground
with something like curse.
Lady Courthope, sitting thought
fully beside the fire, her eyes fixed
upon the leaping flames, her hands
lying idly in her lap, was left undis-
turbed. Nearly two hours later Ste
phen came to tell her supper waited.
She asked him, as she rose, if the
storm still ragged without. at has
passed, my lady, and the sky is clear"
She went to the window and drew
aside the curtain. The dark clouds
were gone, and in their stead tho moon
shone bright on wood and hill. Mars
tons jouriiSSy would be needless; Sir
Richard would DO saio now, She
heaved deep sigh of relief, and with
a light step went her way to the sup
per-room.
The evening wore away; the great
clock over the stables had long since
struck nine, and the hands were near
ing ten, when lady Courthope, throw
ing cover over the embroidery which
had occupied her since supper, retired
to her own chamber for the night
1t was large, lofty room in the west
wing of the building, remote from the
and at the further end of a
long corridor which opened by side
doors into several unused rooms. But
the young bride had chosen it rather
than any other, for she knew that her
husband had lived in it, and loved it,
and that long ago it had been his
mothers room. The high mantle-
piece, with its curious carvings, the
ceiling decorated with strange paint
ings Of nymphs and .cupids, the an
tique furniture, and the tall canopied
bedstead, gave quaint and sombre
aspect to the chamber; but tonight
the fire roared and cracked on the
hearth, and flashed upon the yellow
damask draperies, and tho candles
burning on the dressing table, lit up
every corner. As lady Courthope
her maid came forward from
u door on the opposite side of the
room which led into small dressing
room.
Have you been waiting long,
Hester?" the lady exclaimed, noticing
the girls weary eyes. !" You look
sadly tired"
az have but just come in, my lady.
Annie and / have been in the work.
room all the evening, and tits that
makes my head ache So"
Poor girl" said her mistress pity
inely; "you have been more used to
cows than STOPPING over need
le-work. But cheer up, Hester, and