Daily globe., 1879-01-26


heart for the banished love, who would
never find me in those solitudes, and
longing for wings to traverse land and
sea until found my home on his faith
full bosom?
Lost IN distractions, all danger was
forgotten, and 7 had paid the penalty
but for guardian angel little dreamed
Of
My first peril was from the mountain
mist, which came down and around me
with bewi.dering suddenness, blouting
out the landscape far and near.
Still, thoughtI knew my way, and
was stepping onwards, though with eau
ton, when my dress was clutched from
behind, as I fancied by some bush. Turn
ing to disengage it. I was confronted
with what seemed .an awful apparition
looming through the misty veil, and with
a suppressed cry, stood still in alright,
| saw woman's form bent with age,
a face intersected with lines and wrinkles
like map, from which nose and chin
stood out like mountain peaks, and the
sunken eyes CLEANED like the fiery
depths of two volcanic craters.
Stop. my leddy!" she cried, "the gates
OF death are open before ye! TAX my
hand and let me leadyou; and thank God,
my BARN, that Elspa was near you in
your peril"
l had heard Of Eispa as woman who
dealt in herbs and simples, but l had
heard of her as one with al uncanny
reputation. She was spoken of as s'the
wise woman" but the words were uttered
as if they meant switch"
I confess was half afraid to accept
her guidance, but she stamped her foot,
and by gesture strong as words gave me
to understand that had been walking
towards a precipice, and three steps
further would have borne me to destruc-
tion.
What landmark she had know not,
out I think she seemed to feel her way
with her feet. AT all events, after about
an hours cautious stepping, VIC stood
below the mist, the blue lake cleaning
like a mirior still further down, and my
uncle's house within sight. Conscious OF
the service she had rendered, I did not
confne my thanks to words, but was LID.
eral with my coin.
AS she took "the siller," she scanned
my face curiously, then seized my hand
and peered into it closely, while sort
Of creepy sensation excusable in girl of
nineteen stole ever me.
"Once, twice, thrice! Three perils, nv
bonnie Teddy. One is past. The ithers
lie before. Perils of your ain seeking
The gates of death stand in the path Of
your true love. Open them not with
rash or needless hands before the year be
out, Or love may mourn for love that
couldna bide. The air Of mountain and
Of lake is na guide. for ye, BARN. Keep
mair at hame and dinna be misdoubtin'
There's guide God above a! Remem-
Der! One danger is overpast. TAX heed
ye seek not the ithers; and dinna scoh
at old EIspa:s warning words"
l had scarcely decided whether tC
laugh at her maunderings or to yield to
the superstitious feeling she had awak-
ened, when | opened the house-door to
find all within in a state Of excitment.
1t was long past our dinner hour and
my absence had alarmed them. OF
course, explained the cause of nv de-
lay, and it was only by Aunt Ritson's
agitation thar fully comprehended the
danger [ had escaped. I think her
motherly concern made me more commu-
NEGATIVE than usual.
We We're still speaking Of Elspa when
my uncle came in.
"Ah!" said be, as Winnie helped him
off with his overcoat, "Ah!" nv dear you
might thank your stars EIspa Was on the
mountain-side. I dare say she had fol-
lowed you. The old Scotch-woman is
shrewed and far-seeing; she has turned
her eighty years experience to account,
has a good practical knowledge Of com
mon ailments and curative simples.
should lose my own credit or I might do
worse than take her as assistant" and he
laughed. "Then she can read character
with any physiognomist in the world.
and the silly folk think her prophetic,
when she is only clear eyed"
I think uncle was using an invisible
probe. I know colored, and he laughed
again, but said nothing-nor did I.
The excitement had not all been on
my account. Bella had received an in
vitation to spend some months with a
newly-marred friend in London, and
good-natured Winnie was in high glee.
Even aunt acknowledged it was "a
CHANGED not to be missed, if possible;' -
and I saw her glance furtively in Uncle
Ritson's face, which fancied was graver
than usual. STILL possibilities were not
discussed IN my presence. It was not
until I had retired to my own pretty
room for The night, that overheard the
sisters discussing the problem, unmind-
tul Of the thin partition between the head
of my bed and theirs.
found that nloney-or its scarcity-
stood in the way, and heard the chances
of the matrimonial market calculated
with balance greatly in favor of
London.
Money! How I hated the word! I
would have given every shilling I possess
sed to be assured that Edgar Neville was
true to me, and would seek me out when
the period of probation prescribed by nv
father was gone by. But where could he
seek for me2 Correspondence had been
He knew not my address,
and my father had withheld Edgar's
from me. All, how he repented before
he died! How glad he would have been
to have left me in those strong, protect
i've arms!
I soon bridged the monetary difficulty
over in spite of my uncle's opposition,
and I think showed something of my
old self in the spirit with which / entered
into the needfuL preparations of Miss
Ritson's launch on the sea of London
society, little thinking what might be
its import to myself.
It was May when she went. I suggest
ed that she should tighten her mourning,
being about to visit a b1ide-a hint she
seemed glad to take, for her pretty ]aven-