The Forrest City times., 1891-10-30
Dark DarreII's Bride.
CHAPTER I.

tance from the nearest town. Year after year nothing more remarkable than death or birth, party at the Larches, school feast at the Rectory, broke the monotony oi existence in the remote district, and the sudden arrival, from "foreign parts," of the Lord of the Manor, the master of the Court, who owned nearly all the property for miles around, threw the whole district into fever of excitement, which was in. creased by the fact that no one expected hiu.
 He visited the Court at rare intervals, and the last time he came, was about five years back, The people at Scsrth Abbot said It was shame for him to go wandering all over the earth, SO as to be qnite all alien among his own people. But then tho Court was great lonely, rambling place for man scarcely more than thirty to in- habit, and with neither mother, sister, nor wife; for the owner was still unmar- ried, though he was the last in the direct line. Scarth Abbot gossips shook their heads when asked why tine Court had no mistress, and tol6 a dismal story.
 Before the news of the Lord-of-the- Manor's return was fortnight old anoth- CT shock went through the inhabitants of Scarth Abbot.
 It was asserted that Miss Durnford, the maiden lady who lived at the Grange, was about to receive a new inmate ill her house. hold, in the person of a niece from "some- where abroad" Wonders would never cease, said the gossips. Miss Durnford was first cousin to the Sabines of the Larchcs, who were very great people in- deed, and had been at ocarth Abbot since the time of James l. Consequently the newcomer must be second cousin to the Sabines.
 The villagers however knew nothing about her except her name, and Miss DurDford either knew no more or would say no more; for she was no friend to yil- lage gossip, and never stopped to feed 1t. The Doctors wife contriyed to discover that the young lady whose arrival was considered so important was coming from Canada, where her uncle held Govern ment appointment, and that she was sent over to her aunt because she could not live in the cold climate of the Dominion; but here even indefatigable Mrs. Frampton came to full stop, and could get no far ther.
 All in the village knew, when, one eye- ming in July, Miss Durnford's carriage drove away towards the station, which was at Moorstown, that it had gone to fetch Miss Costello, and all turned out when the carriage came back, to try to catch glimpse of the foreigner. But the landau was closed, and nothing was visible except q portmanteau on the box.
 The earrings passed through the high iron gates, swept up the drive, and stopped before the deep arehed doorway of an old red brick house with mulIioncd .t,d ,I x.ftb tnr .,I i.ttft jutting out where one would least expect to find any excrescence.
 At the top of the broad low flight of steps leading to the door stood . tall rath- CT angular looking woman of perhaps fifty five or sixty, dressed in black satin robe of old fashioned make, and with n lace cap on her smooth gray hair. A pair of grave kindly brown eyes looked out from be- meath thick and still black eyebrows, and the gazers somewhat formal demeanor could in no degree be associated with harshDess or primness.
 Out of the landau, before the footman could jump down to open the door, sprang q girl, graceful as fawn and attired in trayeling-dress of the last Parisian style, who bounded up the steps to meet the old lady's outstretched hands.
 sDear auntis," said | sweet young voice, "how good of you to come to the door to receive me.'
 s.Good of me '" echoed Miss Durnford, putting her arms about the girl, who was taller than herself. .sHow else would you have me to receive my sisters child!" kissing the girl fondly as she spoke.- sComc in, my dear; you must be very tired and very hrngry.'
 "Neither the one nor the other," WAS the merry response. ooh, this dear old house hope l shall not turn you topsy- turyy, auntie We Transatlantics are so free-and-easy that I may do all sorts of dreadful things; aud I am perfect cata- mount.o
 Miss Durnford smiled indulgently into face lovely enough to win its owner par don for far worse escapades than any gently-nurtured girl of sixteen was likely to commit, and she said kindly
 "Well, well, we'll see; but I dare say the Grange will be better for revolution. Old maids-in the country especially grow selfish and narrow-minded, living alone, and with no one to think of but themselves; if you do upset the prim order of things little, it will be the better for me-"
 "You would never grow selfish auntie," said Miss Costello, scanning her relatives face with steady but by no means imper- tinent gaze. s.I dare say shall tease you; but I won't if can help it.v
 Miss Durnford laughed; it was not of- ten she had anything to laugh at, and this exercise was novel and pleasant.
 .sCome to your room," she said, s.and will ring for Mary, the parlor-maid, to wait on you"
 s.I don't need her, auntie, thanks. I don't trouble maid much at home. Oh" as Miss Durnford, after ascending . short flight of stairs, opened an oaken door --.swhat a darling old-world room did miss the old things in Canada so, auntie-- everything was new and staring"
 .Do you remember Europe so well?" asked Miss Durnford, as the girl threw off her hat and jacket.
 ooh, yes, auntie, We have been out there only five years. l was seven when we went to Vienna; and we were there till uncle got this appointment in Canada. Is not this place very cold in winter?"
 sVery cold indeed. We frequently have the snow IS early as October; and sometimes the Coalmere-the river that you see from this window--is frozen, but not often, as the current is so strong"
 "Is 1t. but you can boat on it. l hope?"
 ooh, yes! Are you ready? Let me have good look at you, Ima."
 lima folded her white hands demurely and stood before her aunt.
 "Ilma," her uncle had written--her pa- rents had died years before-s.is like neith- CT of her parents, save that she has the dark eyes of the West Country, her fath- er's gift, but only in color. You will not, when you see her, accuse me of undue pride in saying she is altogether out of