Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-10-09

behind her, but saw 10 sign of any living
creature, save the birds in the branches
aud the scuttling squirrels. Sac listened.
There was dead silence, though indeed
on the messy ground even "A horses step
would nos be audible till the animal were
within twenty yards.
She bent down and examined the marks
more attentiycly. An Indian would have
made more of them, light as the impress
was; but lima could see that they were
those of small-hoofcd animal, though
whether they were recent or not her
knowledge did not enable her to determine.
Had lIassan passed that wuyl Well, why
frghten herself soy 1t might have been
Yesterday, or two days before, or three
hours ago, that Sir Philip had ridden
through the glen; and, II 1t were only
five minutes ago, he would be Tar ahead OF
her, far out OF sight before she reached
the end. But how the mere thought Of
his having been 80 near-perhaps 80 re-
cently-made her heart beat Aud how,
argue as she would, her lips quivered and
her eyes gazed fearfully before her with
every onward step she took How she
started at every rustic Of a leaf, rs though
che expected to see an eltn creature in.
stead of bird shoot forth from the brake!
end OF the long winding Harkl
What was that? The girl stopped abrup-
~. A sudden fight OF birds from out OF
the thick f"'age ;arce hundred PAGES
ahead. What had startled them! In
another second dark object came round
the turning--not the knight OF the legend,
with crOss-hilted, sword elevated before
him, but Sir Philip mounted on Hassan,
and gazing before him with such look us
strong proud men wear when they are
fighting u stern battle with their own pas
siuns, aud know that they are losing
ground inch by inch. But this lima had
not time to see; for lie had recognised
the slight form standing in tue soft twl-
light of the glen at the instant that he
passed the curve; and wild joy lighted
up his face, and the last frail barrier the
strong will had stTiven TO uphold tottered
and fell.
Not even pausing to draw bride, lie
sprang from his horse, and was ut llma's
side, her hands clasped in his, before the
startled steed had halted.
"Ilma, lima" he cried-and his whole
heart went out to her in the passionate
utterance-'' OH, my life, my soul, / can
strive no longerl Why have you come 10
tempt me!
was trembling violently. Her golden
head dropped, and her eyes sank before
his. How could she meet the look that
would have told her the whole glorious
truth if his lips had been silent aud his
hand had never touched hers!
"Ilmav' Now his arms were round her,
her heart was throbbing against his, and
his lips sought hers. "llma, my darling,
| know that YOU love me. Let me hear
YOU say it. Raise those dear eyes and
look into mine, and tell me that your life
is mine, as mine is yours"
Was the curse forgotten?
She thought not Of IL, but raised her
eyes to his and whispered softly, the sweet
eyes sinking again immediately
al love yOuw And his lips sealed the
avowal.
Philip DarrelPs wish was granted, and
that brief wild happiness was his. But,
oh, It was brief indeed, and no. even for
a moment was there peacel Once more
and now too late-rose up before him
all that he had trampled under foot and
seemed to have crushed forever. lie
raised his head, which had been bowed
on hers, and sought to loosen his clasp;
but lima held his heart, and with low
cry of pain chung to him, pressing her
golden head against his breast.
"No, no." she said passionately, "you
shall not put me from your You have
done me no wrong TO love me and teach
me-ah, you could not help that Ito love
you. Heaven will not curse you'll will
not believe it,"
"llma, lima, hear mep
"No, mop she cried again. "Eyen IL
the curse be true, you cannot save me" -
aud noble triumph shone In the large
clear eyes that gazcd now fell into his
" for | love you, and | must now suffer
with you. Your fate must be mine,
Philip, whether for veal or woe; and, oil,
il would be thousand times better TO die
with you than to live without yOuv
"Hush, hush, darling, you break my
heart!' But he stroye no more To put
her from him, folding her closer and closer
to him. "Why should be exempt from
the GU that has been on all my house
for three hundred years; though indeed
such love as yours, lima, might redeem
the blacklist doom that ever fell OH man?
Child, listen to me. / was yet youth
when vowed that no innocent life should
suffer TOR my love; and l believe that l
could live my life without love. Once-lt
was years ago. saw one whose face was
fair enough TO linger in my thoughts; and
feared aud would not see her again; and
soon almost the bare memory Of that face
passed away. Since then l have seen
many fair women in many countries, but
not one who could win me to break the
vow j had made. But, when / saw you,
knew for the first time the force of tile
power that had thought more under my
own control. L was master Of my own
heart no more. There was one being in the
world, through which had wandered SO
many years, who was to enter into nay life
and make it her own; and that one was a
golden-haired child, with cIoudless eyes
that spoke to me a language they were not
conscious of uttering."
lie paused a moment; his voice failed
him; but lima whispered softly
alt is so sweet to think that it was my
lot first to win your heart, Philip, and
that even on that morning when you saw
me oil the river bank you gave me what
must ever be mine"
"Ay," he said bitterly; "but l should
have been stronger. | did struggle, Heav-
en- knows, to Conquer, but not till had
madly flung myself into temptation-till
i had sought you defying my fate, and