The Forrest City times., 1891-11-20

dark handsome face, which was earnest enough now. "I cannot help feeling sorry that you feel as you have said, and 1 should always feel sorry if you never | spoke of 1t again." | "Would yout"--and he gazed so intent | ly into the girls face that her eyes fell and her color rose.
 Thus recalled to himself, Sir Philip re- moved his hand, which had till then rest ed on Ilma's arm, and he turned aside, biting his lip. For the next i've minutes he did not speak, walking on silently by the girls side, and she, her young heart bleeding for him dared not say more, ana she did not even venture to look at him. Sir Philip spoke again presently, but on different subject, asking lima if she rode. She answered.
 "Yes, like an Indian."
 "Then we must have some riding par. ties," said Sir Philip. "All of your cous- ms ride well, know; and there are some splendid rides round here. A good gallop over Connaby Tells would bring roses to your cheeks, though they would not last, 1 suppose"
 lima smiled: but she did not choose to say that she could not enJoy that pastime, as her aunt did not keep riding horses, and her cousins had only those which they themselves rode. SIT fniilp however aI- vined the position at once, and added
 "But perhaps your cousins have no spare horses"
 "They have not, know" answered II. ma; "but I dare say my uncle would let mo have one if asked him."
 "That would never do; all the good weather will be gone before you can hear from Canada. You must let me give you
 
 such a pleasure; and there are beautiful horses in my stables eating their heads oil, as the grooms say. You shall make your choice on Friday
 "You won't let me refuse. Then how shall thank youa" said the girl. "I shall just wild to be on horseback again."
 "sJust wild,' you American laughed Sir Philip, hiding deep feeling under a light tone. "Well, you have thanked me for what is, after all, selfish act"
 "You mean because you like to give en- joyment! But that isn't selfish." returned lima; for selfish people don't have pleas. ure in other peoples happiness"
 "Ah, you are metaphysical! We must dismiss the subjcct," said Sir Philip quickly, and, with some embarrassment, which lima was delighted to perceive; for Sir Philip, she felt certain was not ea- silly dislodged from his citadel of self-pos- session.
 Dark Darrell, with all his courtliness, was the reverse of a ceremonious person. age; and so he followed Ilma's lead mp the terrace-steps and presented himself through the open window of the morning. room before the astonished Sabines.
 They were all there except Roland, in xl and they greeted Sir Philip warmly. He speedily explained how lima came to be with him, and in what manner he had b,en introduced to her.
 Meanwhile lima had found Roland busi- ly engaged in the repair of some fishing tackle in his study, if an apartment only devoted to sporting literature and imple- ments deserved the name; he looked up, and his whole face frightened as his beau- tiful young cousin hastened to his side.
 "Wcll catsmount," said Roland, taxing her hand and kissing her, "were you sent for me, or did you come of your own ac. cord?"
 s'Of my own accord; though I have come to fetch you to see-whom do you think: Dark Darrell himselfv'
 "He here," said Roland in tone that did not betray much pleasure.
 "Yes; and he came with me. He break lasted with us this morning, and Roland," added lima, tossing up her hat and catch ing it, "he is just the incest fellow ever met"
 ooh, of course" said Roland, laughing; but the laugh, lima thought, sounded forced. "Girls are bound to worship a man who looks like picture, though he doesn't do much more in the world than z l. IIz .s.-l.t t.- ( l.n foreigner he looks for all that he is among his own tenants or cares about them."
 sThats not my business" and lima flushed little-the girl was quick-tem- pered, and ever ready to resent injustice. "I don't think Cumberland peasants are very nice people,"
 "You don't know anything about them, my dear," said Roland; "though 1 dare say you know as much about them as Dar- rell does. Rough speech and manners don't always near bad heart, any more than suavity and smooth words mean q good one."
 lima said no more, but descended with her cousin to the morning-room. The oirl went over to her aunt, and watched from beneath her sweeping lashes the meeting between Roland Sabine and Sir Philip bar rell. What g difference there was be- tween them! Roland seemed to belong to another and lower order of beings than the man of whom he had spoken with hardly yelled contempt.
 "You are good deal altered from what l saw you last, Sabine," said Sir Philip surveying his host. "You were not much more than boy then; and, though l should have known you at once, that for est of hair about your face makes an im- mense change in you.'
 "There is little difference in you," re- piled Roland, laughing. "You look bit older, bnt not much; and when you are forty, you won't look older than you do now.'
 "Maybe not,' said Sir Philip, witha halEsmilc, as he resumed his seat.
 Something in the look and tone gave H. ma the clue to the thought-sHow should look older in ten years? Time stands still in the grave" The girl felt some- thing like terror come over her. Was there, after all, some truth in curse which seemed to have influenced the whole life of a man so unlikely to yield to mere superstition as Sir Philip Darrell:
 ssSr Philip," said Mrs. Sabine, turning to her son, ''has kindly asked us all to the Court on Friday, with aunt Rachael and Ilma."
 sTI shah be delighted" returned Ro- land.
 "And." added Sir Philip, q want. to make up riding party, while the mo weather lasts. Do you know any one you would care to ask to join us:"
 Roland shook his head.
 "No, newcomers are scarce in these parts. lima is the first for twenty years at least; and the last before her were only