Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-06-05

usally hearty--had deserted him. He
drank eagerly, as II consumed by thirst.
but ate nothing; and his mother and Sis
tiers arrived at the conclusion that he had
seen lima, spoken TO her, and been reject
ed. Rose tried strenuously to Danish Sir
Philips name from the conversation, and
succeeded partially, but not entirely.
Directly after breakfast Roland with
drew to his study and locked the door;
and no one ventured to intrude upon his
solitude. The heavy fall of rain till noon
frustrated his original intention of seek
ing lima In the morning; but, as soon as it
abated, he sailed forth; and, as he crossed
the hall, Rose rushed up to him breath
less.
"Roland, Roland, have you heardp"
"Heard what!" said her brother rough
". al have heard nothing.".
"Why, job Heston Is leaving the Mill |!
1t is said IL 1t rains tonight as ii did last
night the floods will be so great that the
Mil be washed away"
"Ah, by Heaven"
Roland paused suddenly, and look
came into his face that made his sister re-
cola look she remembered afterwards,
and read rightly then; now 1t only filed
her with vague horror.
s.Roland !" she cried, in tone that start
led him into self-recollection.
$780," he said musingly, "the Mill Is
doomed? Well, Rose, 1 am going to see
how things are; and l will step down and
have talk with job"
He passed out, mounted his horse, and
rode away. When lie reached the Grange,
he asked for Miss Costello. She was at
home the servant told him, but Miss Durn-
ford was out.
This was just what Roland desired; and
he entered the drawing-room, and waited
with beating heart for lima. Would she
run away from him second timer No!
He heard light step in the oak passage,
the door opened, and the girl entered. She
looked deathly white; and there was 4
latent dread in her large eyes, but the
curved lips and firm brow showed nothing
but resolve. She drew back us Roland
came forward eagerly, and held out her
hand, as IL by that action to deny him any
other salutation until she knew whether
he returned Ii as lover or As cousin. Ro-
land paused.
"Well," he said with u forced laugh,
which the angry flush in his cheeks and
the fierce CLEAN in his eyes belied," are we
strangers!"
"No, Roland" The girl colored deep
ly, and her eyes fell. 81 am sorry about
yesterday. l don't want to make excuses.
+ did not forget my promise to you."
"You need not apologise," returned her
cousin, declining the profered hand. al
know why you broke your promise; and it
is not worth while TO ask whether your
other promise was made before l said
goodbye to you the other night or after
wards"
"Other promise! What do you mean!"
said the girl haughtily. 81 made no other
promise. l went ont To avoid you; that is
the plain trlrth-nothng more"
Every well, then; | wronged YOU" an
swered Roland, who did not doubt his
young cousins truth. III lima had made
an appointment with Darrell, she might
have refused To answer questions; but she
would never stoop 10 All untruth. 81
thought you had promised Sir Philip Dar-
reli to meet him; for you were with him.
You were seen walking along the road
with him."
"What them" said lima. sis that 40
very new or strange thing to do have
never walked or ridden with SIR Philip
before? What is it toyou orany one in this
place what do or where go:"
alt is everything to me, llma," cried the
Young man, sif Darrell is-as | believe lie
is-your lover! No; you shall hear me !
You know that love you; and that can
give you what he, with all his beauty and
his wealth and his intellect, cannot give
you-happiness! Sheer rs you will, you
cannot shake of all faith in that terrible
curse. You must believe that to love him
is fatal"
"Then how can you save met" inter-
ruptcd lima, with flashing eyes. "lf l
love him, it is too latc-I must share his
fate"
glove? No, no." said Roland almost
wildly; sit is not love--only fancy. You
are captivated by his graces; his very
doom has excited your interests. He is n
bastard to have tried to win you; and he
tried from the beginning. Look back, and
YOU will see that l am not unjust to
him. lie threw himself in your way, he
gave you costly gift, such rs no man
would have given to Il girl he did not
want to lay under an obligation to him.
Did he mean n6thing by those flowers,
nothing by"
stop, stop, Roland. | will not listen
To you! How dare you speak so to me Of
Philip Darrcll:" The slender girl seemed
transformed into a woman, as she stood
erect, with stern brow and commanding
gesture, never more superbly beautiful
than now. ".eaye me, you have said too
much already. should not have loved
YOU il had never seen Sir Philip OAR
relly never liked you, never trusted
you, and you have proved that my instinct
was right
.Neyer liked me. never trusted me -
D.lu a Ina h.,.l-
face was liyid-the look in his eyes made
| the girl tremble inwardly, though she
| showed nothing OF this I'm her fearless mien
and dauntless gaze. Then you love Philip
Darrell, and he loves your"
"Why should | deny ity Even IL his
| fate is sealed BY gipsy-woman's curse,
am not free to choose death with him
rather than live without him."
Roland stood still for moment, gazing
on the beautiful girl before him. He felt
rs If he could strike her; but not so
should his vengeance be worked out
| Suddenly he burst into discordant laugh
eyes, / suppose you have right to
| choose your fate. Yours, Is q fair life Ia
win from him the 'needful sacrifice A
man might well lose all for you. Yours
| will be merry marriage-chimes. Ha, la
| Tell them not to toll the minute-bell when
| they bring the last Darrell home with his
bride! No, am not mad; you need not
| recol with that white face. 1t will bs
| whittier tomorrow by this timer
He laughed again, and, dashing open
the door, rushed from the room and the
house, leaving lima in the full belief that
| his mind was unhinged.
An hour later Roland Sabine stood In
| the little wood near the Coalmere, talking
In low tones to job and Zeph Heston
/ and, as the trio parted, Zeph nodded with
resolute look of evil in her black eyes
and said, "All right; IN do it," and Jol
dropped some money into his pocket and