The Forrest City times., 1891-08-14

tnls very IHiHuic. II | lOSt my uccnSe the very next" declared Mrs Top ping. "But l know no more than the babe unborn, for madam is as close and proud and careful as can be. I pity poor Miss Lepa from the bottom | of my heart, for there isn't worse | young man anywhere than Mir. Gus tavious, or whatever his name is; and
 madam knows it, though she won't own to it. There's been more than one quarrel atween those two. Count | Despard and our beautiful lady would
 rise from their graves if they knew all
 as is going onr'
 Clifford was pacing the room with | impatient strides, his face white and stern, when suddenly he took up his hat.
 ''I am going to look at Fairview," | he said. Il will be back in half an hour" and he went.
 He looked in at the deserted lodge, he leaned against the closed iron gates. he paced up and down the gate way among the leaves now fast falling from the trees. Clouds had gathered | in the sky-all was dark, desolate and l dreary; the wind moaned around the
 ruin, an owl gave dismal screech close by. He could not long endure | the loneliness and his dismal thoughts and hastily made his way back to the 1 inn. There good dinner and blaz- ing fire awaited him. bespeaking Mrs. Topping's care; but Clifford found it impossible to rest or eat.
 Il am going away at once," he said, in reply to Mrs. Toppings remon- strance. .'I will find her-I will save | her; for she has promised to be my wife. can neither eat nor sleep in my present state of uncertainty.
 Please let me have my bill at once-I shall catch the last train up to town" .'To be sure, sir. 1 know pretty much how you feel. and I'll bring your bill in minute. All I can say is, I
 wish it had been heavier; but, if I can help you in any way only, tell me-"
 You can help me by keeping ali you know to yourself-not telling even your husband; and, moro than that, you can help me, if you should hear or see anything of Madam Du- masque, by writing to me at this ad- dress. l told you should ask your aid; you see am keeping my word," said Clifford. attempting to smile.
 And I'll keep mine, sir.n replied Mrs. Topping, as she copied the ad- dress he had written down. ..I'll be sure to do all you wish and, as to telling my Joe, why, if he never knows it till he hears 1t from me, that'll be long time yet! Keep your heart up. sir! And wish you good luck. and poor Miss Lena too. You may depend on the word of Sarah Topping"
 sI do, feel you are true friend. | and you will not find me ungrateful. Remember, that address will always find me sooner or later. Goodbye"
 .Good-bye. sir.a returned the good hearted little woman with curtsey, as he shook hands with her; and then she turned away and shed some sym pathetic tears, while Clifford was whirled through the rain and mist. s'It do seem cruel shamer com mented Mrs. Topping. as she sat sew ing in her quaint bar-parlor; but she did not utter her thoughts aloud. for they referred to the separation of Clif- ford and Lena.
 The secret had been safe with her. and all tho questionings of Mir. Joe Topping were unavailing. As she sat at needlework she was picturing Cliff ford us he stood before her the last time she saw him---his face partly turned away from her. his hand rais- ed in a gesture of despair. She great ly admired the tall. broad -shouldered young fellow. with his handsome class ical features and dark-bue eyes. She strongly resented his being separated from tho lovely girl of whom all in the village were proud.
 ..At first Mrs. Topping hoped for news week after week; then she said;
 .Thcy must come home some time or other, so the truth will have to be known" but Christmas arrived with ice and frost ana snow. the birds came daily to be fed in the yard and garden of ..The Blackthorn;" yet Faireview remained deserted, and spring saw the fragrant violet and fair primrose blooming .unheeded in the neglected walk. Summer followed. gay with sunshine, rich with flowers; autumn came; year had fled. and there was not sigh of any of those in whose fate the landlady was so deeply inter- ested.
 Once more winter came and made the fireside welcome place; and the good woman sighed as she sat by her trim hearth, and wondered what had become of the two lovers whom fate had treated so harshly.
 The house taken by Madame Du- masque was situated about mile from the dull fashionable watering place of Fladgate. The place did not bear an enviable reputation. having been un- occupied since the death of the last tenant, who owned the desolate-look- ing mill which stood at the back of the house. It was said that the man who fad died there was n reckless drunken proiligate, and that dark deeds had been perpetrated in the mill. which was worked by water as well as by wind
 Lena was now In the middle of her second winter in the Mill House. She had passed many terrible nights un- der its red-tiled roof. when tho wind blew across the wild waste of undu-