The Forrest City times., 1891-12-04
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 "very well," he said calmly, sfter mo- nent's silence. "f am sorry 1 wounded you, when meant to do the very opposite. Maybe your aunt would not liko to have the horse from me-though . Dsrrelps gift carries no curse. would rather you had zuleika than any one know; but, if you prefer not to have her, or cannot, then pardon me-"
 aYou do not understand me-" replied the girl, cut to the quick. "why should aunt Rachael mind my having Zuleikai 1T she were afraid of your gift, am not and 1 am bound only by my own feelings. How could take such . present as if 1t were flower, or something as trivials- You are % ready to give that. An, you know what would say, but cannot hud the wordsp she added with child's innocent pleading, for Sir Philip had turned to her and olasped her hand in his.
 "Yes, know it, know it," he replied hurriedly. "Forgive me, lima, but did net mean to seem unjust to you"
 He bowed his head, but she had uncon- sciously given him strength. Yes, 1t was better %, he thought--it was better that she should regard it as only . gift to charming chiid-only a"readiness to give" The very question "why should aunt Rachel mind iti" showed that shs did not read between the lines, even if her man. ner had not shown that before; and that innocence of hers was his safeguard. He would leave Scarth Abbot, he said inward ly, e he kissed the little hands before he released them--leave it while she was yet happy, and he could bear the curse alone.
 "Thsn you will do me this great grace, 1lma--you will take Zuleiksf'
 "As you wish 1t SO much, what can sayi If could only thank you enough! 1 shall seem % ungrateful."
 "Are the mere words then, lima, worth more than the emotion that checks their utterance! I think notw
 Ilma's golden head dropped; she hid her face against ZuIeika's glossy neck. Oh, if she could but keep back the tears! Why did he give her Zuleika as dying men be- stow gifts' al would rather you had hes than any one know" Why must any one have heri True, he might only mean that he was going away for au indefinite period, but lima could not comfort her. self with the ides that this was his mean- ing.
 Just then old Marsh returned, and ai. most immediately afterward Roland and Rose came up, and both went into raptures over Zuleika.
 But, later, when they had all returned to the house. and were getting ready for luncheon, Rose heard knock At the dress fng-room door, and, responding "Come in," Roland entered, almost banging the door after him, and causing Rose te turn round with start.
 "Ny dear Roland-but what is the mat. ter"-for the young Squire's face looked as she had never seen it look before.
 "A good deal is the matterw replied Roland almost ssvagely. "What do you think aunt Rachel has just told me I-- That Darrell has actually given Zuleika to lima"
 "Has het" exclaimed Rose, dropping the brush with which she had been smoothing her hair; and then, in chang. ed tone--"I am awfully sorry to hear itw
 "Shs doesn't understand, of course," continued Roland, in the same manner; but he will soon teach her. Aunt Rachel is mad to allow 1t. What are all his wealth and noble blood and his accursed beauty worth if he is only to bring misery and death? cannot bear to think of 1t. de- clare Pve half mind"
 "Do not say word to him or to her, Rolandw cried Rose springing to her brothers side, with white face of terror. "Remember, 1t is no concern of yours whatever. We haven't even chafEed lima about Sir Philip lately, for fear of putting ideas into her head. She would never have accepted the horse if she had thought he had meant anything by 1t; and l don't believe he does. At any rate" added Rose, with dne stroke of feminine strat- egy, elf you say . word to Sir Philip, he'll simply think you're in love with lima yourself. An, you may start, and say sPshaw ? but he will think SO; and you ought to know how he would take such meddling."
 "How you run on, Rose-,just like . wo. man P said her brother, sngrily shaking ofY her hand from his arm. "I never thought of speaking to Darrell; and to suppose Pm in love with harum-scarum girl of six teen because don't want Sir Philip Dar. reIl to mako love to her is equally sb. surd."
 "I don't see why it is more sbsurd," re- torted Rose, "to imagine that you might bs in love with her than that Sir Philip is. You have both known her only few days, and you are not . man for slove at first sight certainly, while he is; and, be- sides, sec what . loveless life he has led But, on the other hand, lima, child though she is, is quite out of the common way. I should fall in love with her the first time saw her if were man; and the most deliberate of men couldn't be indifferent te her."
 Roland had turned very red while his sister spoke; but he tried by abusing his enemy to turn the points of weapons which he felt were giving home -thrusts.
 "Pooh, poohw he said with an angry sheer. "Loveiess life forsooth! You women are always ready to sentimental ixe over . handsome man. happen to know something about my lord, and be has tried to amuse hinself while he has let so- licitors and land-stewards do his work here. believe him to be simply ruthless; he thinks that in him the curse will be worked out; and, if he drags down an. other life with his own, what will it mat ter % that at least he may snatch some hsppinessr He will dare fate If he re- mains here after the rains begin; and in ten days at the furthcst they will come."
 He paused for want of breath. Rose shuddered and repeated
 "'Iifs for life for traitors deed;
 When Inc hoods arc out, take heedi' But, Roland, he has brayed the noods.- Remember how he saved widow Hunt"
 "Ay: but have you forgotten what is said-what He-.on himself says--thst, if the flood rises this year three feet above last year, the Mill will be washed awayl --znd, while the Mill lasts, the curse must last. And then the rains are this year un-