The Forrest City times., 1891-12-18

I = prison bars, ooh, Tuna, Ilma, my soul were . thousand years of life to be mine would give them all for the bliss of ous brief moment--onc 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 ? ? But he only said
 "Pardon me! 1 will not ask you any more questions. Thanks, Ilma." They had reached the opposite bank, and now pulled up for the others to join them; and lima found herself once more by Roland's side.
 lt chanced that lima had not yet visited tho Weir Mill: and as the riders ap- preached it, Roland proposed that she should see it 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 Heston's part l against the Darrells, though certainly he 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. He laughed. "Your wish would be enough" he said gallantly, even, if had any objection and 1 have not indeed. There is Job II ,ston 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, II. ma riding between Darrell and Roland.
 Job Heston's gipsy descent was plainly marked on his face, and 1t was not pleas ant facet the brows wore 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 I to hcri" she muttercd.- "But, If the Dark Darrell fancies her, she would love him rather than Roland Sabine. Who would not except for the curse:"
 "Zcph" said Job suddenly, startling the girl from her angry thoughts.
 "Yes, father.'
 "They are coming here. suppose they want to show the foreign missy the Weir Mill. Pll lay it she knows the story long ago! Ha, hal" "Of course, father; yet what if she should not heed and marries Sir PhilipY "lt's never Sir Philip will marry | wot," returned the miller grimly, "unless he takes his wife home between now and St. Bartholomew; for the foods will De out, and he has but few days more of life"
 "Fatber," said Zeph, turning pale, "why should it be this time" "Bah, girl! See--the foreign missy rides Zuleika, the choicest mare in the Court stable. Do you think Sir Philip will leave Scarth Abbott Not he! Iris his fate that keeps him here; and, If he said to-day, that he would leave, I should know 1t could not be. Be sure Sir Philip will never see gray hairs, and a stranger will reign at Court before the trees are bxre.v
 But Zeph was & woman and grieved for the handsome and winning Lord of the Manor.
 The riders came on and drew up before the Mill, and Sir Philip, ever courtly, raised his hat to Zeph, as she ran forward curtseying, and asked smilingly If Miss Costello might look over the Mill.
 "Surely, Sir Philip, and welcome !" re- RliCu Atpuy stcaihS btahtS "s But Roland was looking Ut 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 and Jamie remained in the saddle, but Sir Philip and Roland accompanied lima; aud Job, who was hab- ituaily saturnine, showed the girl all over the quaint old place.
 "May as we'll see it while ye can, missy" he said presently, as they passed mp from the lower toward the upper floors. "rhe old Mill hasn't long to last, I'll war rsnt."
 "Pooh, Heston p observed Roland. cit will stand good deal yet"
 "No, it won't, MT. 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, it will be, and when it will be-" And Job closed his mouth after that for fully ten minutes.
 alt looks dismal somehow, and makes me think of the story of Bishop Hatto and the rats," said lima, in German, to Sir Philip.
 "There is something eerie and uncanny in the very air of Scarth Abbot, I think" replied Darrell. "You must wish you had never come here, lima. Shall we leave the Mil?"
 "Oh, no, please; want to see all over itl But, Sir Philip, 1 don't like it's own er."
 "Nor I; if he were not miller, he would be quite equal to the role of a mur- derer."
 ssDo you mean thaty"
 "Fully. 1 am not testing; and he may play that part yet" lima shuddered, and instinctively drew nearer to her companion. She remember. ed his words afterwards.