The Forrest City times., 1892-01-08
- CHAPTER N.

ltaEJ tDit MISS lima was out ana naQ leIt no message. No message! Had she for. gotten her promise to him? Roland ground his teeth; but, hiding his wrath from the servant, he said he would walt till Miss Durnford returned.
 The old lady came back before one. She knew nothing of lima; doubtless she would be in during the afternoon. Roland departed, and at three called again. lima had not yet returned. Miss Durnford had fiattered herself that the girl was at the Larcbcs; But tho young squire's, appear ance made her anxious. What could have become of the chidy She could never have staid away so long on purpose. Roland shared her anxiety, and went at once to make inquiries about lima.
 He turned his steps first towards the river, and was just approaching tine lock bridge, when he saw Zeph coming down the slope. She stopped the moment she saw Roland; and, us he came towards her, she looked into his face with . wicked flash in her eyes and laughed.
 "You can keep off," she said shortly; .and you needn't try to hide what you're after. It's Dark Darrell's lady love you were going to ask about, I know"
 .sDear Zeph," began Roland, "if you have seen-"
 "Don't sdcar Zeph' mer' interrupted the girl fercely, stamping her foot. "You'd drown mo as soon as look at me if you dared, or sec me drown, which is the next thing to it. It's that golden haired foreign cousin of yours you are in love with; and all the pretty things you have said to me count for nothing now. But you won't get her. Didn't know Sir Philip would have her when 1 saw her riding the Arab"
 ..Zeph, are you madv' cried Roland ioarsely. .What do you meani"
 "Oh, may suffer-" retorted the un- dauntcd girl; "but you must not wait an instant to know what the girl you love is about! You may talk to me, and tell me you love me, and give mo things, and there is no harm done; as if had no heart, and need not mind seeing you throw me over directly a beauty from foreign parts comes your way. Iris no use to fume, MT. Sabine; you have treated me as Sir Philip would not have done, whatever his ancestor did. He's noble gentleman myhow, and he'd never fool with an honest .'rl he couldn't marry, US you have done. iou needn't worry after Miss lima; ines chosen a handsomer lover than you ia, hal She's been dreeing her weird While you've been hunting tho woods for ner. She's not afraid of Sir Philips kiss os, Ill warrant; she'd rather die with him than live with you"
 "Zeph," said Roland, grasping the girls wrist, "sell me what you know. Are you talking like this to torture me, or do you mean that lima Costello has fled with Darrell!"
 ssOh, .' replied Zeph quietly. "Maybe she's home now; but saw them on the load together twenty minutes ago; he was leading his horse and she was by his side. Drop your hand, MT. Sabine; you hurt me. Just bit above the village they stopped and said goodbye. He didn't kiss her then, though there was nobody by that they could see; but he stood still where she'd left him and watched her. When she'd gone bit, she looked back, and he kissed his hand to her. You don't ike it, eh v'-for Roland stamped his fsot, and, with terrible imprecation, ground it on the path. "Well, go and tell him so; but you can't have her if she loves him; you know that"
 "By the heavens above, he shall not have herw said Roland, in blind fury. sI will take her from him, or they shall perish together! swear it."
 Zeph's eyes flashed. She sprang for. ward and grasped the youeg mans hand.
 "Count on me-" she said. sI hate he: as you hate him, and will hate her when she scorns you; for she will. Ay"--as Roland shook of her hand her voice rose almost to shriek-ssit's of no use, Roland Sabine! If she loves Philip Darrell, she must die; and you know it. You take her from himl Ha Ina v'--and she laughed long and loudly.
 Before the echo of her laughter had died away, Roland was hundreds of yards from the spot, speeding he knew not whither. Not homewards, for he dare not be seen there; nor to the Grange, for he could not meet lima in her aunps presence. He dashed into the woods, and there remained till long after darkness had fallen, now walking wildly to and fro, now lying on shA @rennd in chaos of thought that made him feel at times as if his reason were leaving him. He never doubted that lima had met Sir Philip Dasrell by appoint ment; and she had either forgotten her promise to himself or had deliberately ignored it. He swore again that she sholld be his, or die with the lover she uau rcielTtu tO Hiiii.
 In Roland Sabine's nature there was ferocity that no one would suspect who saw in him frank, perhaps at times sullen- tempered. North-Country squire. His loye was, alter all, selfish passion; It was capable of self-sacrifice. What he de- sired to possess should be his or should be- long to no one else; rather would he de- stroy what he valued than allow another to have it. Ho had displayed this trait even as lad. He had shot favorite pointer that had acquired troublesome habits rather than allow neighbor with whom he was on bad terms to have the animal.
 He would rather have seen lima Costello stretched dead at his feet than happy in . rivals arms. Fearfi as the thought was, he did not put it froi i'm, or even try to do so. He nursed it with fierce triumph, and even noted with grim satisfaction, as he at length walked homewards through the night, that heavy cloud hung solitary in the heavens, otherwise cleai, wnicn seemed to brood over the river, and that inc air was close and heavy. In few days it might be week, it might be lcss--ths flood would be outl
 lima, knecling at the chamber window, saw that cloud too, and bowed her sunny head; and she prayed-ah, how earnestly with bitter tears, for her lover. She had not told her aunt of l r 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 had