The Forrest City times., 1891-11-13
ralkeo iaarrard sedately to ioln his mas.

l walked tUI sAIo scu3teiy 10 loin hfs mas ter. lima caresscd the noble anims. with all of girls lavish fondness, laying her soft check against the horses smooth neck, stroking and batting him, and talking to him as If he were Christian.
 Sir Philip watched the beautiful group of girl and horse with feelings which he could not have analysed. Ilma's conduct would have been splendid acting in in- ished coquctte; but sue was no more \ CO., \ qucttc than the mountain-brceze. She felt and acted like q child, and had no more idea of winning Darrelfs good opinion than had the horse himself.
 .He is a noble creature" said Sir Philip presently, .sthough his own master praises him. He is half an Arab, and has been my companion in many q wandering.- Faithful Hzssan!" he added, laying his delicate white hand tenderly on the ani- msl's forehead; and the large soft eyes of the Arab flashed back full intelligence in. to his loved masters face.
 al have seen lots of beautiful horses" remarked lima, "but never such beauty as yours. How long have you had himy"
 ssFour years. 1 bought him in Alexan- dria."
 ..I knew that you had not had him when you were last here," said Ilma, laughing; "for last evening Zeph Heston said you had ridden by on q black morse, and my cousins were very much interest ed.'
 "You will find that you cannot cross . road in this place without every one know. ing 1t, and knowing why, or making a rea- son. All the village will be discussing you over breakfast this morning, and they talked about you ali last evening. My conl- ing here was tremendous event. Bah country places are stupid, dismally stu pidv
 "They must be-" and lima looked lit tie dismayed. sI have never lived long in the country"
 I know that. No one would ever take you for . provincial, Miss Costello. As for me, have not passed seven years Of my life in this place." I am q citizen of the world"
 "I know that" said lima nodding.- "They call me foreigner here"
 "South country is foreign to Cumbcr- land; and you don't speak like home- bred English girl. You have been more used to foreign language than your own that is the reason."
 "That is how you speak," said lima. "I am no judge in my own case; but you speak your words crisply as Italians do, and the infections of your voice are not English"
 Darrell laughed, this Transatlantic girls frankness was bewitchlng; he would not have been at all surprised If she had told him that his coat became him, or that she admired his rings. He bowed and thanked her for the compliments bestow. ed.
 Suddenly lima looked at her watch, and then clasped her hands in dismay.
 "Oh, Sir Philip, must hurry home to breakfast! am late already"
 "You will let me escort you."
 "And take you out of your way? Not for worlds! There are no bears in these woods, are there"
 "Except Cumberland bcars," said Oar. rell, with some bitterness; "but they are harmless enough, poor clodhoppers! But escort know is fiction. Will you grant me the pleasure of your company as long AS possible!"
 s.Oh, yes, gladly! It is no favor, yoI know! Why don't you come in to break fast with us? Auntie is friend of yours, you said."
 There was flash in Darrelps eyes, and quiver of his delicate lips which told of pride and passion. Then he answered, smiling
 "How good of you to make the sugges- tion! think will act upon it."
 "Please do," said lima earnestly, think ing of the terrible story Rose had told her of this man who was so desoiate, in spite of his ancient name and wealth.
 The pleading upward look of the large brown eyes, the soft, "Please do," were magnets more powerful than she dreamed of in her innocence. He would have been less than man who could have resisted them, even though he .sread between the lines," for Darrell knew that some one must have told his young companion all about the curse, and doubted not that she, nouting it, only wanted, in her sweet childish way, to make him happy.
 sCan 1 say No to such an applicxntV he said, passing his arm through his hcrse's bridlc as they moved forward.
 al hope you cannot" returned Ilma.- "Yes. Oh, how nice that will be--that is, if you would really like to come, Sir Philip"
 sa should like to come above all things else"
 lima was quite satisfied, and moved along by her tall cavaliers side till they. came to the Grange, where Molly the cook, looking out of the Kitchen window, was not little astonished to see no less per- son than Dark Darrell himself advancing with his horse along the path between the currant-bushes, with Miss lima by his side.
 .Why, Jennie," she cried to the house. maid, "there's the lord; and if Miss lima isn't talking away to him as if she'd ha' known him all her life-and she such x beauty too! We'll away; she may be dreeing her weird, and not know it Just think if the lord should take fancy to her, poor dear"
 Jennie, who was young, shook her head portentously, but remarked that "they furriners" were mostly mad"
 CHAPTER ".
 "sir Philip Darrell," exclaimed Miss Durnford, quickly descending the steps of the terrace at the back of the house-for Jennie had fled precipitately to inform her of the distinguished visitor who was ap- preaching with truant Miss Ilma--s.this is a most unexpected, most welcome pleas urer'
 She held out her hand, her face and ac. tion amply seconding her cordial words, and he, in courtly fashion, learnt abroad, bent and kissed that hand.
 "How kind of you," he said, "to be so glad to see me! Five years have not changed you, Miss Durnford; wish I could believe they had wrought as little change in me. Your niece, whom I had the pleasure of meeting on the river bank, melted me to invite myself to breakfast with you this morning.; but if