Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-10-16

flood would he Quit
lima, kneeliug ut the chamber window,
saw that cloud too, aud bowel her sunny
head; aud she prayed--ab, how earnestlyl
with bitter tears, for her lover. She
had not told her aunt of interview
with Sir Philip Darrell. The old lady had
received her with the JOY of one relieved
from keen anxiety; and she had told lima
that Roland had called twice, and bad
zone To search for her. lima had been
very enitent; but size had only said that
she had been for long ramble and did
not know how the time had passed. which
was strictly true; and Miss DurlIord had
been satisfied with the explanation.
But now the old lady could not sleep,
for she saw the black cloud hanging in the
sutry sky; and She stole softly to Ilma's
chamber and opened the door. The girl
started up from the window aud came TO
meet her.
"Auntier'
My dear child" said Miss Durnford,
cit is past eleven, aud you are not even
undressed. What are you doing by the
open Nindowy"
.Watching that cloud, auntie. / am
rot tired"
Miss Durntord could not see the speak
el's face distinctly in the dusk of the apart
mcnt; but she drew the slight form to-
wards her, and said gently
al cannot sleep to-night, and l came to
see If you were wakeiul too. Ny heart
fails me'-and her voice Filtered. when
| think of sir Philip Darrcll-still at the
Court"
lima gently disengaged herself from her
aunt's embrace, and went back TO the
window, not kneeling down this time, bnt
standing with her forehead resting against
the glass. Presently she said softly, with
ont looking round TO where her aunt still
stood
~ do not believe in the curse, auntie."
"Ilma dear" returned Miss Durnford,
"you must not mind my saying this, that
| hope YOU are not speaking so because YOU
do not wish TO believe in misfortune com
ing to Sir Darrell. l mean, l hope you
do not think too much OF him. You UNDER
stand me?
.'Yes, auntie; | understand"
Miss Durniord paused; but lima said
no more; and the old lady felt disappout-
ed. Why could not TIE child be frank
with her? Surely, she thought, in fear
and perpleXity, nothing had passed be-
tween lima and Sir Philip? If there had
been anything, the child ought To tell her.
Miss Durnlord did not know how difficult
il such confidence to a sensitive nature,
even ii willingly offered, and lima was not
willing. The secret belonged To herself
and sir Philip, for the present 1T least.
Its revelation could only make her aunt
unhappy, aud perhaps angry. Why should
any one know SO the girl stood silent.
"Ilma," said Miss Durnford .'you make
me anxious. You are not open with me,
rs YOU should he. | do not want to blame
YOU; Sir Philip IL Il most fascinating man,
and it would be nothing strange II YOU
had allowed him 10 engage your fancy"
Faney-when the very sound OF his
name thrilled through every nerve! But
the girl shrank from the prim phraseology,
and felt that she could not give her con-
tidenee; besides, had She right TO do SO?
1t was true that her lover had not uttered
a word that implied he desired secrecy;
but she would nOt--indeed she would nos
speak of what seemed to her too solemn
and sacred to be talked about.
"Auntie," she said peadingly--and
there were tears in the sweet Young voice
-"pease do not ask me any questions to-
night-another time perhaps, but not now.
Don't think me unkind or ungratcful; but
| couldn't say anything Tonight"
Miss Durnford sighed heavily.
"Iou American girls she said sadly,
care so independent, cannot understand
you. When 1 was your age, sought my
mothers help when L was in trouble; but
YOU fight your own battles at seventeen.
Good night, dear; go 10 bed and try to
get some sleep"
lima was alone again. Independent?
| Yes, doubtless she was; but somehow she
| did not now feel the need of even mother;
4 al. ula hu1 r
| known her owE--was something that the
kindest of aunts could not be. Her lover
seemed all-suflicient.
Father to me thou art. and mother dear,
And brother too kind husband OF my heart,
| SO speaks Andromache."
And so spoke lima. Even with regard
| to Roland Sabine she felt stronger-she
| still dreaded him, but not so much. She
might have spoken toher aunt, and so ~ old
ed an interview with him; but this ides did
not occur TO her. She, could, in her fear,
run away from him altogether; but TO ask
! any one TO interposc on her behalf was
contrary to her nature; and, after all,
| she thought, Roland had a right to see
| her. Certainly she would not seek an
| interview but Sle would no longer it.
At the turn of night the rain came. 1t
| fell suddenly, like vast sheet of water
| from the heavens, with the roar and hiss
| of cataract. IL beat down the flowers in
| the gardens; it laid nat the corn IN the
| fields; it converted many dry mountain
watercourse into a brawling stream. Viii
| layers, started out of their sleep by the
| pouring of the torrent, drew back their
| curtains and gazed forth in terror and the
| thoughts of all turned to the grand old
| castellated mansion of the barrels and
| its doomed lord.
Job Heston arose and went TO his daugh-
! ter's chamber and knocked at the door
Glass, lass, get up and look AZ the rain J
| 1t has not fallen like this for more than
| twenty years"
The girl was at the door in an instant.
| with u white scared face.
"Fatber, is the Mill safe."
"Aye, for tonight, yes; but, IeLh, if il
rains like this for two nights more, the
| river will be over its BANKS, and this time
the Mill Will CO."
"And Dark Darrell?" said Zeph in "a
| low tone, after pause, filled by the rush
of the rain, minging with and almost
81. Of o,