The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-07-05

the sea can only be seen as faint silver streak on the low-Iying shore. A mile further on the ground rises through graceful clump of trees, and by-and-by, On the spreading gorse-covered downs, a splendid panorama of sky and sea breaks on the view.
 The wind dropped as the solitary giri's figure gained the higher ground, and sweet bird-notes from the hedges smote her ear. She had remained hitherto on the high road, where the passing vil- lagers for the mos, part saluted her, but now, skirting a village, she broke into a narrow footpath which ascended steeply rising down.
 The setting sun was gliding the ruddy new-ploughed earth while behind the high struggling hedge on her Jeff came the plaintive bleating of young lambs. In the hushed air there was a warm, balny odor, and in the earth a spring. mess which spoke of widening life. The pungent earth seemed to heave with its ,eeniing growth, while faint cries from bird and insect in the hedgerows gave further witness to the newly quickened life. Pale primroses and stately golden daifodils were lifting their heads by the ways!de, while the delicious warbling of an invisible bird seemed to fill the air with it's trembling pulsaiion. The gently stirring breath offspring waited hundred scents over the warm, moist earth, while he last rays O. the setting sun ba;hed the landscape in an indistinct bu: golden radiance.
 Beyond the crest of hill On the descend ing road into the next village lies lonely farmhouse, protected on the north side by dense oopse and wood. The nearest habitation is mile and q quarter away the church some three-quarters of mile as the crow flies.
 It was in nearing this lonely home stead, known IS the Cal!ows Farm, that the girl heard distant sound. It was followed in few minutes by the rus,ing Of the dead leaves and the crakirg of twigs in the hedgerow, and then a dogs wet nose saluted her hand with all the usual canine manifestations of joy. At the same moment a gaitered leg appeared over style some fifty yards of, and the dogs master-a broad-shouldered young man. dressed in a rough shooting-suit sprang into the road. His face was bronzed and singularly open, with its keen blue eyes and cleanly-cut features: :: but for the moment there was an undenia- bly, listiess and vague air in his gait and mien which sat strangly en a man of his physique. The listless air, however, van dshed as he caught sight of the girls figure on the road.
 time, and the dense wood overhanging . th.s N( eA d. .k l. than it really was. The mos, profound silence reigned. Every bird was hushed |: eNcep. for the melancholy cawing of some rocks overhead in the tall elm trees, not sound broke the stiffness. A sor, ot white mist, too, was creeping up in the hollows, making even near objects blurred and indistinct only high above the road the grim old trees, with their skeleton arms, loomed agains, the dark ling sky. There was something strange and oppressive in the air-something fantastic and weird in the uncanny half- light. Bats fitted from out the darkness of the thicke. with their strange swaying movement. The white road lay lost in the upward-creeping mists.
 Jane Merrywea,her w exclaimed the young man, advancing to mee; her. Why are you by yourself on this lonely road al night :"
 The road won't hurt me I'm accus- toned to being alone," she replied curtly. withou, any form of greeting, and, if any thing, quickening her pace.
 Why do you refuse to see me when call al the cottage? You have changed ever since l went up to town last week" continued the young man as he walked beside her. Jane, do you do any human being any good by being so strange ?''
 '' never gave you leave to call me by my Christian name" the girl broke in.
 We'll, never mind what name call, you by-thas doesn', alter anything. rve been waiting about these three or four days io catch sight of you. You don, think I'm going to let you go now wi,h- ou, word ~
 '' lt won't do any good"
 You were not always so hard on me. Wha, have l done 10 displease you? Who has come between us: By heaven # any maT. has come between us, and taken yoc from me. Ill-'
 The man did not finish this sentence, but his clenched hand and burning eyes might well have frightened any bu, the determined young woman a, his side
 For some minutes there was silence be- tween the two. They emerged out of he cover of the wood into the high road. which again led over the downs |, was quite dark now.
 Here and there fain. stars began to peep through the vaporous sky, but be- low. over the wide landscape, the earth lay white and shadowy in its veil of mist.
 To the right of the road, at distance of perhaps nearly quarter of mile, lay some cottages, whose cheerful lights be- gan now to show through the misty cur. tain. IL was no. until the mans eye caught these lights tha, he again broke the silence.
 4 laney, you didn't always dislike me. Surely you remember last summer in the wood" l" he said, turning to her with kind of ens,eaty in his voice. "Surely you