Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-05-08

.That the rains will come early | have
| no doubt, lima; but rs TO the rest, il may
| or may not be; indeed, the 'ncedfui sacri-
| icing must be brought about quickly, or
another victim must he found, Tor | shall
not be here to give up my life Tor some one
as yet unknown"
The girl drew long deep breath--it
might have been of relief, or Of pain, or
both.
Sir Philips hand was on her bride
again, on her hand which trembled under
the touch, yet not more than his, which
rested there so lightly, yet lingeringly.
"Ilma," said the sweet low voice, reso-
lutely controlled, "anSwer me. There ia
no testing now. DO you believe in the
curse that is on my housey"
81 cannot but believe it, Sir Philip; and
yet-yet-"
"Yet what?"-as she paused.
The girl flushed and paled in II breath.
"Ah, do not ask mew
Her eyes fell and her bosom heayed.-
How could she say to him that she believ-
ed noble life could not be doomed for ev-
er for sin not his, that noble love given
and received must be a savior and not a
destroyer? She might have said it three
days before-even perhaps yesterday; but
HOW sHC lIOlu lIb very SUDJtcl.
Sir Philip dropped his hand, and turned
away. She believed in the curse, believed
that there were woe and death in loving
him, and yet did not not fear him; then it
was not too late-she did not love him.
Nay, in so short time how could she?-
And yet in the very moment that he re-
joiced that he could save her, his heart
was crying out, beating wildly against its
prison bars, "Oh, lima, lima, my soul,
were n thousand years of life TO be mine,
L would give them all for the bliss of one
brief monochrome moment to hold thee in
these arms, to feel thy heart throb an an
swer to mine, TO kiss thy sweet lips, and
hear them whisper, philip, love theev"
But lie only said
''Pardon me! i will not ask you any
more questions. Thanks. lima
They had reached the opposite bank,
and now pulled up for the others to join
them; and lima found herself once more
by Roland's side.
1t CHANGED that lima had not yet visited
the Weir Mill; and as the riders ap-
preached it, Roland proposed that she
should see il now.
"But Sir Philip might not like t." be-
gan the girl.
Sabine laughed.
"My dear coz, you must not think that
there is an active hatred on Heston's part
against the barrels, though certainly he
bears them no good will; moreover, Dar-
rell himself is far too naughty to regard the
hatred OF interiors.
lima however persisted in appealing to
Sir Philip. He laughed.
"Your wish would be enough" he said
calamity, even, if had any objection; and
have not indeed. There is Job Heston
at the door, and Zeph feeding chickens
outside"
Yes, there stood Job Heston, with fold
ed arms, leaning against the door, and
watching the advancing riders scrutints-
ingly, or rather watching Sir Philip and
lima, for the horses were coming up the
river bank all abreast at an easy trot, IL
ma riding between Darrell and Roland.
job Heston's gypsy descent was plainly
marked on his face, and il was not pleas
ant face; the brows were heavy, the lips
thick, and the eyes sinister. Zeph too
had ceased from her occupation, and also
watched the riders. She knitted her brows
and clenched her hands under her apron
as she looked from the young Squire 10
lima.
"What am | to herr" she muttered.--
"But, if the Dark Darrell fancics her, she
would love him rather than Roland Sabine.
Who would not except for the curse!"
..Zephv' said job suddenly, startling
the girl from her angry thoughts.
"Yes, father"
"They are coming here. | suppose they
want to show the foreign missy the Weir
Mill. I'll lay it she knows the story long
ago! Ha, hap
''Of course, father; yet what If she
should not heed and marries Sir Philip?
ats never Sir Philip will marry /
wot," returned the miller grimly, sunless
he takes his wife home between now and
st. Bartholomew; for the floods viii be
out, and he has but few days more OF
life."
"Fatber," said Zeph, turning pale,
"why should it be this time!"
"Bab, grill See-the foreign missy
rides Zuleika, the choicest mare in the
Court stable. Do you think Sir Philip
will leave Scarth Abbott Not he! IT'S
his fate that keeps him here; and, II he
said to-day, that he would leave, l should
know it could not be. Be sure Sir Philip
will never see gray hairs, and u stranger
will reign at Court before the trees are
bare"
But Zeph was a woman and grieved for
the handsome and winning Lord of the
Manor.
The riders came OH and drew up before
the Mill, and Sir Philip, ever courtly,
raised his hat to Zeph, as she ran forward
curtseying, and asked smilingly If Miss
Costello might look over the Mill.
"Surely, Sir Philip, and welcomed" re-
piled Zeph, stealing glance at Roland
But Roland was lookinga at lima; and Zeph
hated lima.
Then HestOn came out, and, as politely
as he could, offered to show the young lady
over the Mill. Rose and jamie remained
in the saddle, but Sir Philip and Roland
accompanied lima; and Job, who was hab-
itually saturnine, showed the girl all over
the quaint old place.
"NIay as we'll see it while We can,
missy,' he said presently, as they passed
up from the lower toward the upper floors.
"rhe old Mill hasn't long to last, III war
rant"
"Pooh, Heston 7" observed Roland. at
will stand a good deal yet"
ono, it won't, Mr.. Sabine; the founda-
/ tions are less secure than you'd think, l
know. They have been repaired more
| than once in my time. But, IL IL will be,
it will be, and when it will be-" And job
| closed his mouth after that for fully ten
| minutes.
cit looks dismal somehow, and makes
me think OF the story Of Bishop Hatto and
the rats" said lima, In German, to Sir
Philip.
"There is something eerie aud uncanny
in the very air Of Scarth Abbot, Think
replied Darrell. "You must wish you had
never come here, lima. Shall we leave
the Mill?"
"Oh, no, please; / want to see all over
ftt n,,t ST. philtn I dontf like its own