The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-02

tached to his relatives; and they were
gone and he standing in their place!
The air full of sIlriekS and wild moan
ings of the wind as it tore through the tele
graph wires either side of the road be-
fere he entered the wood. but the sound was
as nothing to the believing thunder as the
tall trees tossed and waved their branches
madly before the blast, and once or twice.
strong as he was Moray was nearly lifted
off his feet, and was glad when he crossed
the stile that separated the Manor Wood
from the Morayville estate, which was some
what more sheltered.
Striking across country through the with
cred leaves and bracken, and skilfully elud-
ing the tree trunks which seemed to dodge
each other in the dim light, he soon reached
the carriage drive through the wood, when
his path became easier.
When he had nearly reached the end, the
recollection of Higgins remark as to the
Kings Oak came to his mind, and he turned
along path to the left to have look at the
fallen monarch before going indoors.
The great tree lay desolately the
ground, its massive boughs, on which a few
tightly-curled russell leaves still chung in
Wlthered beauty, stretched plteously out as
If in supplcation to the powerful force which
had uprooted it, and which now tore Shrek
ingly through it's roots and branches and
Anthony looked at it sadly, for it had been
a favorite haunt for his cousins and himself
as it doubtless had been for generations of
Morays, since it was first planted by Henry
VIII, during one of his state visits to his
noblemens houses.
He was turning away somewhat forlornly
when he saw something dark f1utterng in
the wind at little distance and, moved by
curiosity, went back to examine it more
closely.
At that moment the moon shone out clear
~, and revealed that it was a young and
slender woman who lay there, close beside
an unrooted arch, one of whose branches had
evidently fallen her shoulder, and with an
ejaculation of surprise and pity he fastened
to release her from her uncomfortable posi-
ton.
"Are you hurt?" he cried, but there was
NO answer, and he lightly touched her brow
with his hand, to find it was deathly cold
There was no one near to help and he be-
gan to consider what was best to be DONE
Whether the woman was dead or merely un-
conscious he could not tell, but he felt that
he ought not to leave her any longer exposed
to the cold night air, so hastily throwing off
his heavy travelling cloak, lest it should i'm
pede him, he wrapped her up in her cloak
and lifting her in his arms began to make
his way as quickly as he could over the quar-
ter of mile which lay between them and
the Hall.
He had been through many a fierce storm
during his years at sea, but never had he
seemed less able to breast the wind than he
was that night with his burden. All the
powers Of the air seemed suddenly loosed,
and the wind howled and gasped in his ears
driving torrents of dead leaves across his
face till he was almost blinded, and wrapping
him from time to time in the heavy fur cloak
the WORE until it was difficult for
him to keep his footing.
Battered and bruised by the wind-blow
branches driving across his face he was
obliged several times to rest, for his burden
seemed to grow heavier and heavier but he
was determined not to leave her. and at last
after what seemed an interminable journey,
the lights of the Hall flashed across his eyes,
and he staggered up the steps and into the
vestibule, where the door flew open as if by
magic, in response to his vigorous pull at the
bell, and then into the warm and well-lighted
hall, where he laid his burden upon a settee,
and stopped to take breath
His mother, Lady Norah Moray, the daugh-
ter of an Irish earl, and one of the kindest-
came hurriedly across from the dining ROOM
and welcomed with a half-laughing half
crying kiss. ct knew you'd come tonight
dear" she said; though everyone else said
It was impossible. Just fancy, boy, it's two
years since I've seen you'll believe you've
grown!"
Nonsense, mother Moray laughed. cts
you who have grown-you've grown younger!
But look here-I found this poor girl in the
wood-a tree has fallen on her"
Lady Norah gave a little cry of surprise
for she had not yet seen the stranger. why,
locked at the pale face framed in by golden
hair amongst which oak leaves and bracken
were mixed like a fantastic crown. Don't
you remember her, Tony? Can you carry
her to my room? Poor girl! poor girl! she
has tainted"
whisper. There was something so pathetical-
ly pure and beautiful in the still, white face,
that his heart was strangely moved. Lady
Norah shook her head.
81 hope not she said. mo, she has only
tainted, but her arm hurts her-be careful
as you carry her. DEAR, as the girl gave a
faint moan when Anthony touched her shout
der inadvertently in lifting her. Her cloak