Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-10-09
Dark Darrell's Bride.
CuAprER Nm.-coNrINUED.

CHAPTER NIII.-CONrINUED.
She knew now In this solitary self-com-
muning-shrink from IL as she would,
self-analysis was forced upon her--that
he was rignt about tue flowers; that it. was
because lac had given taem TO her that she
valued them; sne knew that he was more
TO her than all the world besides. And,
oh, il lie loved her, why should the curse
on his house blight his liley Sue did not,
would not, believe in it. There was no
stain on his honor; the ban of Heaven
could not be on such as he; aud, ii IL were,
she would rather die with him than live
without him. But he was going away, and
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 20 without
seeing her? She tremb!ed at tine thought
ofmeeting him again, and wept passionate
ly Mt the thought OF 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 to the
stable and saddled Zuleika, and went for
ride. She rode miles before Miss
Durnford had opened her eyes; and, when
lima came in TO breakfast, she looked so
bright and fresh, and seemed so 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 a
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
I now avoid more than suspecting what
Roland wanted TO speak to her about ;
and she shrank from that with dread
that grew more and more as the day APP
preached.
Meanwhile nothing was seen OF Sir
Philip Darrell. lie was still at the Court
all Scarth Abbott would have speedily
known il If be had left.
eMaybe, Missy" said JOB Heston GRIM
ly to lima, us she was crossing the lock
bridge early on Wednesday morning, and
met the miller, she's setting his house in
order at last; time he did, if hc means to
stop till the rains come. They'll he on Us
in u day or two, or my names not Heston."
elbow do you know" asked lima, with
q sinking heart.
"Know? Oh, can tell! His days are
numbered, missy"
al don't believe it," said lima steadily.
"Don't you, missy? But then, you see,
you're u foreigner"
elbow 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 grimly; ''and both must
be lost"
"Why? A life is given If it is given by
the will actual death is not a necessity
'Well, OF COURSE" returned Heston,
"the curse is doubtful to some extent
but L fancy Sir Philip himself takes IL
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 aud walked
on. Job stood and looked after her.
"Is that TO be it, L wonder? he said to
himself musingly. "The young Squire
fancies her, or Pm much mistaken; but,
IL Sir Philips in the field, he'll win-no
fear. Then the Squire isn't one to take it
cooly ii his girl is taken away from him
l 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 awokc with Il heavy load
of dread aud grief on her heart. Sue
could not meet Roland; he would tauut
her about Sir Philip, aud her face might
betray her. The dread grew to an over
mastering terror; aud the girl determined
TO fly from the impending interview, the
more so Us Miss Durnford said ut breakfast
that she was going to visit some of the
poor people, and, as lima never accom-
panied her Oh these occasions, she would
be left alone.
s.What are you going to do with your
self, my deary" asked Miss Dnrnford.
81 shall take ramble presently, aunty,
perhaps"
..Very well, dear. How odd it is"
continued Miss Durnford, tying her bon
net-string," that Sir Philip has not been
this way for SO long! it makes Inc very
anxious. He seems determined to dare
TO the uttermost."
lima made no answer: and 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,
aud 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
and Scarth Abbot, and then she dropped
into quick walk.