Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-09-25
al cannot but believe IL, Sir Philip ; and

4
| "Ah, do not ask mev'
Her eyes fell aud her bosom heayed.-
| How could she say to him that she beliey-
ed "a noble life could not be doomed for ev-
err for a sin not his, that noble love given
and received must be a savior aud not a
| destroyer She mi ght have said 10 three
days before-eyen perhaps yesterday; but
! now she shrank from the very subject.
Sir Philip dropped his hand, and turned
| away. She believed In the curse, believed
that there were woe and death in loving
him, and yet did not not fear him; then IL
was not too late--she did not love him.
| Nay, in so short a time how could she?-
And yet in the very moment that he re-
| joiced that he could save her, his heart
was crying out, beatil Z, wildly against its
prison bars, "Oh, lima, lima, my soul,
were thousand years OF life To be mine,
/ would give them all for the bliss OF one
| brief moment-one moment to hold thee in
these arms, TO feel thy heart throb an an
swer To mine, to kiss thy sweet lips, and
hear them whisper, 'Philip, love thee p"
| But he only said
pardon me! | will not ask you any
more questions. Thanks, nma."
They had reached the opposite bank,
and now pulled up for the others to join
butH, ilHa iouuu utIstll Ouct
| by Roland's side.
1t CHANGED that lima had not yet visited
the Weir Mill: and AS the riders ap-
preached it, Roland proposed that she
should see il now.
"But Sir Philip might not like it," be-
gan the girl.
Sabine laughed.
"My dear coz, you must not think that
there is an active hatred on Hestou's part
against the barrels, though certainly lie
bears them no good will; moreover, Oar.
rell himself is far too naughty to regard the
hatred OF interiors.
lima however persisted in appealing to
Sir Philip. lie laughed.
"Iour wish would be enough" he said
CALAMITY, even, if had any objection and
1 have not indeed. There is Job Heston
at the door, and Zeph feeding chickens
outside"
Yes, there stood job Heston, with fold
ed arms, leaning against the door, and
watching the advancing riders scrutinis-
ingly, or rather watching Sir Philip and
lima, for the horses were coming up the
river bank all abreast at an easy trot, III.
ma riding between Darrell and Roland.
job Hestons gypsy descent was plainly
marked on his face, and it was not pleas
ant face; the brows were heavy, the lips
thick, and the eyes SINISTER. Zeph too
had ceased from her occupation, and also
watched the riders. She knitted her brows
and clenched her hands under her apron
as she looked from the young Squire TO
lima.
"What am to her?" she muttered.-
"But, If the DARK Darrell faneies her, she
would love him rather than Roland Sabine.
Who would not except tor the curse:"
"Zeph" said Job suddenly, startling
the girl from her angry thoughts.
eyes, father"
"They are coming here. l suppose they
want TO show the foreign missy the Weir
Mill. I'll lay it she knows the story long
ago! Ha, ha!"
"Of course, father; yet what if she
should not heed and marrics Sir Philipyo
"lts never Sir Philip will marry l
wot," returned the miller grimly, "unless
betakes his wife home between now and
ot. Bartholomew; for the floods VIII DO
out, and he has but n few days more Of
life"
"Fatber," said Zeph, turning pale,
"why should it be this timer"
"Bah, girl! See-the foreign missy
rides Zuleika, the choicest mare in the
will leave Scarth Abbot. Not he. 'ris
his fate that keeps him here; and, II ho
said to-day, that he would leave, should
know it could not be. Be sure Sir Philip
will never see gray hairs, and stranger
will reign ut Court before the trees are
bare"
But Zeph WAS woman and grieyed for
the handsome and winning Lord Of tie
Manor.
The riders came on and drew up before
the Mill, and Sir Philip, ever courtly,
raised his hat TO Ieph, as she ran forward
curtseying, and asked smilingly if Miss
Costello might look over the Mill.
"Surely, Sir Philip, and welcomed" re-
piled Zcph, stealing glance at Roland
But Roland was looking at lima; and Zeph
hated lima.
Then Heston came out, and, as politely
as he could, offered to show the young lady
over the Mill. Rose aud jamie rehaiued
in the saddle, but Sir Philip and Roland
accompanied lima; and job, who WAS hab-
itually saturnine, showed the girl all over
the quaint old place.
"May as well see il while We can,
missy" he said presently, Us they passed
up from the lower toward the upper floors.
"rbe old Mill hasn't long to last, I'll war
rant"
''Pooh, Heston - observed Roland. alt
will stand good deal yet"
''No, 1t won't, Mr.. Sabine; the founda-
tions are less secure than you'd think, /
know. They have been repaired more
than once in my time. But, if it will be,
1t will be, and when it will be-" Aud job
closed his mouth after that for fully ten
minutes.
"lt looks dismal somehow, and makes
me think of the story OF Bishop HatNo and
the rats" said lima, in German, to Sir
Philip.
"There is something eerie and uncanny
in the very air of Scarth Abbot, | think"
replied Darrell. 'Iou must wish you had
never come here, lima. Shall we leave
the Mill?"
ooh, no, please; l want to see all over
It'll But, Sir Philip, 1 don't like its own
err"
''Nor L If lie were not miller, he
would be quite equal to the role of a MUIR
derer."
''Do you mean thatg"
"Eully. am NOT testing. and hc may