The Springdale news., 1889-09-27

of the sea. and West Cliff and a bird 's-eye view of High Wlckham, but it is the pct- uresque beauty and blessed content of the bright fields and green hedgerows that please me most
 Above the distant downs few feecy clouds hover, then drift laziy out over the sea and fade into the iufnitesimaI. 1 sit down on the porch, oyer which the ivy runs in profusion, with a sigh of satisfaction, and presently cousin Gladys joins me for a chat.
 We talk of many things, over which falls the glamour of Auld Lang Syne, and by the time she excuses herself to see after the late dinner, have had q goodly number of pleasant, and not afew unpleasant, reminis- cences of suburban Hastings.
 Ny friends of the voyage are staying with relatives near Eccles bourne, and are pleased to notify me by post that they are going farther into the country, and desire my company.
 This 1 can not do, as I am "bound for the hall, in the language, but not the spirit, of Tennyson. While thinking of my friends, however, l laugh alittle, but end with sigh, as bright Miss Stanley comes to view. presume she has entirely forgotten her tribulation on board the Lady Clare, and her habit of being "addcted to the bowl" Luckily, l am not victim of sea sickness, and while Miss Stanley lay prone in her state-room, 1 was on deck enjoying the fine weather which we were fortunate enough to have nearly all the way over.
 My cousin keeps her open carriage and drives great deal, and as driving happens to be my penchant aIso a goodly share of our visiting IS done on wheels. We drove ,i,, tod away the hours of the long, dreamy after. moons amid the sea breezes and sunbeams. The ships, "whte winged and free ;n the cliffs, scanned and scared, an6 above them the Downs, never grow old or common place.
 But Heatherleighi The very name makes me forget tue rose-hue for the rue and the shadows, and my superabundance of cour- age, coming as if ey spirdtion on board the Lady Clare, 1 find has diminished con- siderably.
 Nevertheless, l vow to the trellsed vines at my elbow that l am not afraid of any thing in all England, which wild affirma- ton, l am persuaded, sounds more like bragadocio than bravery.
 There are several fine old places between Hastings proper and the country side flank ing Hcathcrlcigh Chace. Some of these stately residences have quite imposing facades, and others, high ivy-wreatkcd ga bles, while number, in their elegance, put you in mind of the days of King Arthur.
 But there are blts of sorrowful tradition and legendary lore connected with an occa- sIonal grand old structure calculated to make ono stand in awe of their environs. Strange fatality marks many an old hall, aud Heatherleigh, as hear, boasts of one Of the most tlagical.
 In the gladsome days when she and l were young, 1 knew the fair bride of the Percival house. She was high-born En- ghsh girl, whose sweet eyes first saw the light in beautiful villa near Birmingham. 1 can imagine her fine face radiant with happy existence as tho welcome of Heather leighs grand old doors 1ioated around her. An yes; l can see her, viyacious, regal and glad.
 After she became Lady Percival our paths diverged, of course, but l often won. der to myself why her refined soul went out to me so unreservedly in those days, when 1 was but q cottager's daughter Affinity of soul," Gladys says. Perhaps