The Forrest City times., 1891-11-06
can b. Una, Sir Philip i. the last of his

steadily, ana hurt DoDodA. put tney nave never been favorites. The other tenants will hardly speak to them because they are against the Darrells, and partly for their gipsy blood. Job is a 'dour-looking man, 1 think.e
 "And Zeph looks eerie," added Rose.~- "Well, lima, what nextp
 DWhy the curse said
 "'when the floods are out. take heedr That seems a warning to the Darrells that they may meet with death or disaster at rising of the river. How has that been worked out?"
 sIt never has been yet" answered Rose mysteriously; "I remember hearing grand mamma say once that Anneris Darrell, q grand-aunt of Sir Philip, you know, would not cross the river one year when the floods were out, though she had to take an important journey South; but nothing happened. The bridge she would have had to cross remains still. Generally the Darrells have been reckless about that warning; and not one of them has come to grief at the time of the floods. Sir Philip when he was boy, crossed foot bridge just above the lock when he was told it was dangerous; the river rose in September that year, and three minutes after he had reached safety the bridge was swept away. The last time he was here, was one October more than five years ago, he did a fearfully daring thing. One of his tenants, poor woman, lived In cottage near the river; the water rose so high that she had to take to the roof of the cottage. Sir Philip launched . boat he's splendid oarsman; put the current of the Coalmere is always strong, and of ba tS lfl. mill race; nevertheless he put out. He was carried down nearly mile. and how he managed to escape or to reach the cottage know not but he did manage, and saved the woman"
 "How glorious" cried lima, flushing with excitement and clasping her hands. ooh, Rose, . man who could do such a sdeed of deering-do' must bear charmed life! No curse for crime not his could touch him."
 Rose looked admiringly at her enthusi- astic cousin.
 "He believes in the cursc," she said gravely-"they all do; and am afraid it will be fully worked out with his life. should feel far easier if he left before the river rose. Why, he Is thirty-one, and still unmarried; and such a man as he is need never go begging for wife. He ought to marry for the sake of the old house, whether he would fall in love or not. No one of course ventures to ask him any questions; but he is hardly ever at the Court, and when he is it is only for week or two. He came back few days ago from the Continent, and you will not hear anything talked of now but Sir Philip but don't fall in love with him. am in earnest Ilma."
 ssSo you seem," said lima, laughing; "but you tempt me to try him. What fun! Do you think he has made up his mind never to drag any hapless maiden in- to woe through giving him her heart. l declare Pll find out"
 ..Ilma, you must notw said Rose.-- .You'll have to meet him, you know; for we know him, and so does aunt Rachel, of course. He is a most fascinat- ing man-been all over tho world--and so intellectual. I always feel half afraid Of him; there seems a kind of recklessness about him, as if he was trying to ny from himself; and he does such reckless things. He does not seem to value his life; yet he always escapes danger, as if there was something supernatural about him; and then the knowledge that he is under a curse, gives one an eerie impression in it- self.'
 ..You are superstitious, you North Country people," returned skeptical H. ma. "We are bad enough in Cornwall; {; but then left it so young. l believe you really think Sir Philp is Il kind of Mephis- topheles."
 ..He would do for it," remarked Jamie -..the beautiful Mephistopheles of the German legends"
 .Dear me-" said lima, 'I wish he would fall in love with you, Jamie! Now cross yourself and mu ter charm"
 But Jamie shook her head.
 "Wish me anything but that, Ilma.- However, am safe. 1 am not the kind of girl Darrell would fall in love with, though am sure he could make any wo- man love him if he tried"
 "What an irresistible cavalierp
 "Ah, you New-World skeptic," said Rose, rising, ''you mock, but take care Every body must have told you how beau- tiful you are"
 ooh, this is lovelyv' cried the girl, clapping her hands. clancy tom-boy me winning the heart and ever so many thou- sands q year of Dark Darrell, who is un- der . curse and half supernatural, and rides about on black horse--it must be black, to be in keeping-and who plays battledoor and shuttlecock with his life, and yet is miraculously preserved! Why, Rose, you pique me to the combatw "You mustn't talk so," cried Rose, catching Ilma's arm. "I would rather see you in your coffin than lady of the Court it can't be mere legend that such man as Darrell believes in so thoroughly. Come on and see the Mill and the weir, and meet Roland"
 .Poor Rose," said lima, "afer all, don't know that Sir Philip isn't wise. II must be a dreadful nuisance to fall In love Is Sir Philip very wickedy" s.l don't know. They say he was nc saint at Oxford or anywhere else; but don't know. 1 never heard of his doing anything wicked here"
 .sThen he is not a second Sir Irgel hard:"
 "Oh, no. no. He is a true Darrell, { high-souled gentleman; in any mattel of honor, would trust him to the utter most"
 "Then he is not Mephistopheles. That is comfort" said lima; and then shs paused suddenly, with delighted "Ab that is beautifulp'
 They had emerged from the wood, and { beautiful panorama laid before them. Al two hundred yards from where they stood flowed the broad rapid stream of the Coal mere, and, foaming and roaring, the wa ters of Gipsy's Weir tumbled into the riv CT from height of Ut least twelve feet On the opposite bank, with a background of wooded hills, rose the venerable and picturesque old Mill, and the great wheel could be seen turning round, worked by the rushing waters. Beyond. the landscape stretched away in "roilins country" to the foot of e lofty range of hills.