Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-10-09
Dark Darrell's Bride.
CHAPTER yIIL-CoNrINUED.

She knew now In this solitary self-com-
muning-shrink from IL as she would,
seif-analysis was forced upon her-that
he was right about tue flowers that IL was
because he had given tnem 10 her that she
valued them she knew that he was more
TO her than all the world besides. Aud,
oh, il he loved her, why should the curse
OH his house blight his liiey She did not,
would not, believe in 1t. There was no
stain on his honor; the ban OF Heaven
could not be on sucn as he; and, II u were,
she would rather die with him than live
without him. But lie Was going away, aud
she was glad, for that might save him.
She could not resist the influence Of the
general belief that deadly peril lay for
the last OF the barrels In the Coalmere
floods this year. Would he so without
seeing her? She tremb.ed at the thought
ofmeeting him again, and wept passionate
ly at the thought oil not seeing him.
Morning found the girl with no feeling
OF WEAKNESS; every pulse was beating
high, and every sense on the alert. she
rose before the sun WAS above the horizon,
and, dressing quickly, went down 10 the
stable and saddled Zuieika, and went for
a ride. She rode miles before Miss
Durniord had opened her eyes; and, when
bright and fresh, and seemed 80 happy,
that no one could have guessed how sue
had suffered aud suffered still.
Rose came over early TO the Grange, and
wanted lima To go back with her for u
game of lawn tennis; and lima went,
having no excuse for refusing; but she
took care never to be alone with Roland.
The shadow of the approaching Thursday
| hung over her like pail. She could not
now avoid more than suspecting what
| Roland wanted TO speak TO her about {;
and she shrank from that with a dread
that grew more and more rs the day APP
preached.
Meanwhile nothing was seen OF Sir
| Philip Darrell. He was still at the Court ;
all Scarth Abbott would have speedily
known it if he had left.
sMaybe, Missy" said JOB Heston GRIM
! ly to lima, as she was crossing the lock
bridge early OH "Wednesday morning, and
met the miller, 'he's setting his house in
order at last; time he did, if he means TO
stop till the rains come. They'll be on us
in day or two, or my names not Heston."
"How do you know" asked lima, with
o sinking heart.
"Know? Oh, can tell His days are
numbered, missy"
81 don't believe it," said lima steadily.
"Don't you, missy? But then, you see,
you're foreigner"
GLOW do you know" asked the girl.
"What is meant by life for life >! That
implies life possibly saved"
"Suppose it did, missy, his would be
lost" said job grinly; "aud both must
be lost"
"Why? A life is given If it is given by
| ha ~ 4. MOI al Al il 81 ~
"Wel, OF course" returned Heston,
"the curse is doubtful to some extent
but | fancy Sir Philip himself takes it
rather that he'll lose his life some way.
Don't be the other party, that's all, missy
you're far To handsome to lose your life"
lima turned away haughtily and walked
OIL. job stood and looked after her.
sls that to be it, l wonder? he said to
himself musngly. "The young Squire
fancies her, or Pm much mistaken; but,
If Sir Philips in the field, he'll win-no
fear. Then the squire isn't one to take it
! coolly IL his girl Is taken away from him
! 1 don't know what he'd do-something
many wouldn't expect. AS for the lord,
he'd carry her of; that's the Darrell way"
Thursday morning dawned clear and
sunny; but lima awoke with heavy load
of dread and grief on her heart. She
could not meet Roland; he would taunt
! her about Sir Philip, and her face might
betray her. The dread grew to an over
mastering terror and the girl determined
To fly from the impending interview, the
more SO as Miss Duruford said at breakiast
that She was going TO visit some of the
poor people, and, as lima never accom-
panied her on these occasions, she would
DE left alone.
"What are you going to do with your
self, my dear:" asked Miss Dnrnlord.
81 shall take ramb!e presently, sunty,
perhaps"
.sVery well, dear. How odd it is"
continued Miss Durnford, tying her bon
net-string," that Sir Phllip has not been
this way for 30 long! 1t makes me very
anxious. He seems determined to dare
TO the uttermost."
lima made no answer: aud Miss Durn-
ford went out with her mind tolerably ut
rest concerning Dark Darrell and her
beautiful niece.
lima walked with her aunt to the gate,
and noted which road she took then She
went back to the house, caught up her hat
aud left the premises the back way; but,
instead OF going towards the river, she took
an opposite course, running for some
distance till she had put half mile or
more of wood and field between herself
aud scarth Abbot, and then she dropped
into quick walk.