Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-09-11
Dark DaneII's Bride.
CHAPTER vi. -coNIINUED.

lima passed on ana stood before the p0r.
trait Of the last Of the barrels. How
long she could have gazed on that remark
able coun tenance, If il had been possible TO
do sol She noted the vacant space beside
! 1t, and wondered ID il would ever be occu-
| pied by the picture Of Philip DarrelPs wife,
or that OF q stranger. Rose had told her
that the next heir claimed through the fe-
male line, which branched off in the reigR
OF Henry VIII, and thus escaped the
curse, which Tell only on the descendants
Of Sir Ingehard. Could Sir Philip OAR
rell endure the thought of q stranger
reigning at the Court, of alien faces OH the
panels which should reflect the dark beau-
| " Of the Darrell's? lima who knew so
| little, could not bear to think of It. She
could not keep back the tears, nor speak
Tor the choking sensation in her throat; she
was obliged to turn abruptly from her
companion and walk away.
Sir Philip stood still, folding his arms
tightly OF his breast, and looked after her,
but he did not stir step to follow her
His face was deathly white, his heart was
beating heavily; his eyes glowed with
look almost Of defiance, as though he dared
some invisible power, either from without
or the voice of conscience. But, vixen IL
ma came back TO him, lie had regained self
command, and smiled and asked where she
would like TO 10 now, as though she had
! done nothing that could have been no
ticed.
"Suppose," he added awe do something
brighter, and do some more pictures after
luncheon, IL you wish 1t; these family his
tories have driven all the brightness from
your face. Will you come to the stables
/ and choose your horse!"
"Yes, thanks. l should like that"
"This way then. There is postern
close by, which will lead us by q short cut
TO the stables"
They descended few flights Of stairs,
and passed through some mysterious pas
sages; then Sir Philip Darrell opened
postern, and the sunlight blazed full upon
them. After going through some shrub
berries, the stables were reached.
"Why," said lima, looking round the
immense range Of buildings, "you might
stable a regiment here, Sir Philipv
Gay, and more than regiment has been
stabbed in old times; and in my fathers
time, and always till mine, all those stalls"
pointing to long range of stables evil
IDENTIFY disused-"were full of hunters, and
there"-indicating another building-"my
grandfather kept his racing-stud. II was
the finest stud in the North in those days:
but my father sold 1t; he did not pat
rOnize the turf. The hunters were dis
persed during my minority, and L never
| filled their places. Poor old Marsh, the
head groom, raves ut me and calls me
names because l don't hunt. Bah! l
would as lief shoot u fox as run him TO
earth; but when said that to Marsh once
he almost had bit OF apoplexy. But here
is Marsh"
Up came the old groom. He saluted his
lord, and paid his respects to lima in the
broad dialect of Cumberland. The stables
were not what they used TO be, he told her
Marsh was very old servant, and said
pretty well what he pleased-but there
were some beautiful horses in them yet
AS they went towards the stable where
the animals were from among which lima
was to choose, the old man glanced several
times from beneath his shaggy brows at IL
ma and wondered who she was, and wheth-
er his lord had taken u fancy to her
Marsh hoped he had; for Sir Philip ought
to marry and keep up the line, he consid-
cred, whether he loved his wife or not.
Snow lima" said Sir Philip, as they en-
tered the stable, the doors Of which Marsh
respectfully threw open, 81 should recom-
mend Zuleika. She needs u skilled hand,
tie AS a lamb; and her pedigree is unim-
peachable. Her dam was u thoroughbred
Arab"
"Yes," put in old Marsh, s'she's the
beauty, Sir Philip, If the young lady's a
frst-rate rider; and l take it sue is, or you
wouldn't put her on Zuleika."
"But," said lima, AS Marsh entered the
mares box to lead her out, al would rath-
er have one that is less OF fayorite, Sir
Philip. If by any chance Zuleika came to
mischief"
sShe could not in your hands, lima and
she is as sure-footed as mule, like all her
race"
Zulcika was brought out, and lima
clasped her hands with almost q cry of adj
miration, for the mare was like picture !;
she was a deep bay in color, with u bril-
liantly glossy coat, and having the superb
lines and soft dark eyes Of q true Arab
She tossed her head and paved the ground
with coquettish q ace; but Ilma's tender
louch and caresses made her instantly u
willing slave; and she stood almost still,
only responding to the fondling she receiv-
ed, AS Hassan had done, and following IL
ma when she moved a few steps, aud lay
ing her nose on the girls shoulder.
s'She acts" cried old Marsh, "as If she
knew you was u beautiful creature ike
herself, missy, and you were sure to love
her."
lima colored and laughed, and turned
to Sir Philip.
"Oh, Sir Philip" she said, "there can
not be another horse such beauty, except
Hassan! 1t is too good Of you to let me
mount her."
"She goes like the wind" interposed
Marsh, "and she's as knowing as Hassan
himself, or a Christian. You ask her II
she'd like an apple"
lima obeyed, and the mare laid back
her delicate ears. wbinnied, and pushed
her nose coaxingly into the girls white
hand, old Marsh enjoying the exhibition
immensely.
"Hold hard, Missy" he said, "and I'll
fetch some apples for ye;" aud of went
the old man.
alt is case Of love ut first sight on both
sides, / think" remarked Sir Philip, smil-
ing. "Zuleika seems to have made her
ehoice. What say you, 'child of gentle
ness'?"-laying his hand on her flowing
name. "Will you change your quarters?
Yes? Then will you, lima, ratify the
choice?"
The girl looked at him wonderingly,
colorinQ deeply, Could he mean what his