Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-06-21

was there alone, the adJuncts all iorgot>
ten.
AT first Bella or Winnie had borne me
company, but think they saw my long
ing to be alone ; and had my way, not
without many cautions from my aunt.
What were perils to me, chafng against
my fathers will, crying from the depths
of my inmost heart for the banished lov>
er, VIII" would never ind ne in those sol,
ituIes, and longing for wings to traverse
land and sea until found my home on
his faithful bosom
Lost in distractions, all danger was
forgotten, and 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 bewldering suddenness, blotted out
the landscape far and near.
Still, 1 thorght l knew my way. and
was stepping onwards, though with cau~
ton, when my dress was cutched from
behind, MS tancied by some bush.
Turning to disentangle it, l was con
fronted with what seemed nm awful APP
partition looming through the misty veil.
and with suppressed cry, / stood still
in alright.
| saw woman's form. bent with age,
face intersected with lines and wrinkles
like map, from which nose and chin
stood out like mountain peaks, and the
sunken eyes cleaned like two fiery depths
Of two volcanic craters.
"Stop, my Teddy !" shc cried, "the
gates OF death are open before We Take
my hand ard let me lead you and thank
God. BARN, that Elspa was near you in
your peril"
had heard of Elspa ms a woman who
dealt in herbs and simpes, but had not
heard of her as one with nm uncnnny rep>
utation. She was spoken Of MS the wise
woman" hut her words were uttered us
il they meant witch"
confess | was half afraid to accept
her guidance, but she stamped her foot.
and by gesture MS strong us words gave
me to understand that had been walk
ing towards precipice, and three steps
| further would have borne mo to destruc
ton.
What landmark she had l know not,
but | think she seemed to feel her way
with her feet. Atnll events, after an
hours cautious stepping, we stood Glow
the mist, the blue lake cleaning like n
mirror still further down, and my uncle's
house within sight. Conscious of the
service she hnd rendered, did not con
fine my thanks to words. but she was lib
ernl with my coin.
AS she took the siler." she scanned
my face curiously, then seized my hnnd
and peered into it closely, while sort of
creepy sensation (excusabe in girl of
nineteen) stole over me.
Once, twice, thrice! Three perils,
my bonnie ledd-. Ono is past. The
ithers lie before. Perils ,ofyour ain seek
ing. The gates of death stand in the
path OF your true love. Open 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 l"ke is m guide for We, BARN. Keep
mair at hame ard dnna be misdoubtin'. i.
There's guide God above A. ! Remem-
ber One danger is owe past. TAX
heed We seek not the ithers and dnna
scoff old Espa's warning"
The old woman trotted of with her
basket on her arm, rusty black bonnel
on her head, garments poor but cef n,
and only n small check wooden handker-
chief to protect her from the chilly noun
thin lists.
had scarcely decided whether to laugh
Mt her maunderings or to yield To the
supersttlous feeling she had awakened.
when | opened the house door to find all
within in state of excitement.
1t was long past our dinner hour and
my absence had alarmed. them. Ofcourse
explained the cause of my delay, and it
was only by Aunt Ritson's agitation that
! fully comprehendrd the danger had
escaped. l think her motherly concern
made me more communicative than usu
nj.
We were still speaking of Elspa when
my uncle came in.
All - said he as Winnie helped him
of with his overcoat "Ah my dear,
you might thank your stars Tint Elspa
was on the mountain side. dare say
she had followed you. The old Scotch.
woman is shrewd and far seeing she
has turned her eighty years experience 20
account, has good practical knowledge
of all common ailments and curative
simpes. should lose my own credit
or might do worse than take her rs
an assistant. !" and he laughed. "Then
she can read character with any physiog-
nomist in the world. and the silly folk
think her prophetic, when she is only
clear eyed"
think uncle was using an invisible
probe. | know | colored, and he laugh
ed again. but said nothng-nor did I.
The excitement had not been all on my
account. Bella had received an invita-.
ton to spend some months with newly
married friend in London, and good
tured Winnie was in high glee. Even
aunt said it was "a chance not to be
missed, if possible !" and 1 saw her
glance furtiveiy at Uncle Ritson's face,
which l fancied WAS graver than usual
Still, possibilities we're not discussed in
my presence. 1t was not until had re-
tired 10 my own room for the night, that
heard the sisters discu. sing the prob
lem, unmindful of the thin partition be-