The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-08-31

! shanty, standing near enough to the sea
to be despatched by spray on stormy
night, gave token of human habitation,
as did long line of brown orange nets
stretched drying on the shingle. One or
two black old hulls of fishing boats lay
high up beyond the sea line.
Harold paused suddenly.
eyes, this is the place from whence
my friend, Norman, took his sketch. a
weird. wild spot indeed" he said.
''You would say that if you knew all
the legends of the place. It was here
that, in the old smuggling days. many a
cargo was run ashore, and many dark
deed done. Tradition says that there are
caves out round the headland which run
miles under the cliff. / have often longed
to explore them, but dare not without a
guide; aud the people about here are SO
rough and wild, one is almost afraid of
them, +" answered Madge
"Well, wen have look at them, one
of these days, eh2 What do you say
Miss Madge? You would not be afraid
to venture with me::"
with your Oh, no"
Madge looked shyly up at Harold. Her
eyes had a strange soft light in them.
Her companion had unconsciously laid a
tender emphasis on his last words, which
had thrilled her to the very soul.
81 do not think | should be afraid to
go anywhere with you. Obi Mr.. Car
rington, if you only knew how different
our life has seemed since you camel How
much we shall miss you when you go
away" she added, sadly.
Strange words for girl, and terribly
unconventional, no doubt But Madge
was innocent as child, and accustomed
to speak all that was in her mind with
out fear or reserve. This was her chief
charm in Harold's eyes.
Shall .x5ua Well, Madge, do not think
hardly of me if am selfish enough to be
glad that you will miss me-just little !"
For the first time her name, without
its formal prefix, slipped from his lips,
and his voice trembled a little. But he
soon recollected himself, and he was not
vain enough to place undue value on
Madge's words
Il am not gone yet, Madge," he said,
cheerily. LET us enjoy the present
without dismal forecasts. See! here looks
a likely place for our object. Let us
beard the Eneal descendants of wreckers
and smugglers in their lair"
They had come to matched cottage,
weather beaten and discolored by the
salt spray of many storms, yellow with
the lichens Of ages; built, it seemed, in
the very face of the cliff. A rough kind
of shed stood by its side.
Madge recoiled, laying her hand on her
companions arm.
mot there anywhere but therer she
cried, her face paling, to his great sur
prise.
why on earth not? Ny dear Miss
Madge, you don t suppose there are really
any desperate characters now among
these simple fisherfolk? The profits are
too small and the dangers too great,
nowadays, assure you"
.'Do not knock, she persisted, looking
quite scared. Mad Dinah Retallack
lives here. She is a dreadful old woman;
every one fears her. She has the evil
eye, and is witch. Oh. Mr.. Darlington,
please come awayi"
oblivious of everything, even the terror
in Madges voice, he burst into peal of
laughter.
Many viii be inclined to laugh with
him; but we would bid such remember
that superstition dies hard in out Of the
way hooks, even in these days of rail
ways and the penny post. The Cornish
are especially tinged with it, as any one
who has lived among the mining and
coast folk knows. Madge Trevylian was
Cornish to the core, and had passed all
her life among the simple people Of IRE
varrock
"a real, live witch in this Nineteenth
century, The very thing have been
longing to see all my days; and turn
back, now have at last got the chance?
Neyerl Come along, Miss Madge; she
shall tell our fortunes, if true witch she
be and no impostor"
He raised his stick and knocked at the
door,