The Democratic advocate., 1900-06-30

PunJaub cavalry at the passage vi the out-
lei; had seen the sun darken with the haze
of battle on the plains of Sindia; and had
been one of the first to reach the ramparts
on the great day of victory, when the flag
of England was planted on the blood
stained redoubts of Chillianwalla. He
had been seriously wounded, too, and was
home now for a time invalided.
A gay, handsome, stalwart young fellow
he was, notwithstanding that he was
obliged, for the time being, to use crutch
to assist him in walking; and no one would
think, looking at his bright, pleasant,
laughing eyes, that he had ever drawn
sword to smite foeman, or that he had
ridden over battle field with the dead and
dying lying thick around him. But the
ways of human destiny are wonderful, and
so it was that in his rambles over the hill
of Clare in seach of health he came into
the neighborhood of Mona Clare; and COM
ing into the neighborhood of the old ruin, of
course he heard of the stranger who had
settled down there; and of course, too, out
of an indolent curiosity, he visited the
place.
1t was only few days after the sweet
foreign young lady had come to it, and no
doubt they must have been completely un-
known to one another But they might
have known one another for years so inti-
mate did they become in short time.
They were always together. If Donna
Gracia went for walk along the cliffs
overlooking the Atlantic, it was not long
before she was joined by Captain Norman.
If the sea we're calm and the sun turned
into sheet Of molten gold until it spread
away glittering to the horizon, be sure if
speck broke the level reach of glowing
waters it was Captain Norman's corragh,
with the Spanish Rose beside him. Charlie
Norman-for so the tenantry were wont
affectionately to call him-used to laugh
gaily if anyone joked him on the subject,
and say he was only teaching her to sail
the corragh in return for her teaching him
the Spanish language. But we all knew
well how it was, and that the soft win
some ways of the Spanish Rose had caught
him, and that the sparkles of her black
blue eyes had fairly bewitched him. Be
witched him, indeed, is the only way to
say it, for after few months, and when
the captain was restored to as good health
as ever he was in, the order for his recall
came. His regiment was ordered for for
eign service again, and he was bound to
90, but he did not go. If they had Of
fered him the colonelcy of his regiment
nay, if they had made him general of di-
vision or commander-in chief, he would
have refused it for the pleasure of listen
ing to Donna Gracias silver accents and
basking in the light that streamed from
her sunny eyes.
1t was time when England needed all
her men, and when honor and duty were
words first on all mems lips, and, for the
matter of that, in all mems hearts, too; and
the first consequence of Charlie Norman S
delay OF reluctance in going was that he
was broken from his commission; and the
second, that he was, in fit of wrath and
humiliation, disinherited by his father
He was the second son, you remember, and
the estates were strictly entailed.
All this time the old man-the Mad
Spaniard, as they called him-was working
away steadily at his boat building, pretend
ing to mind nothing, but keeping pretty
sharp eye, you may depend, on his dangh
ter, or niece, or granddaughter, or what
ever relation she might be to him. And
it was really wonderful to see what fair
and trim aud stately little boat he did finely
construct, and how blithe and free she
SWAIN the waters even of the stormiest day.
Bat there came "a new Development il,
affairs; for one evening in the autumn Il
strange schooner dropped her anchor in the
offing. In the morning she was gone, and,
10, and behold with her, too, was gone
the Spassh Rose, Donna Gracla- GONE
beyond all doubt and question, for she was
seen there no more. Gnne-what was
worse-without Charlie Norman knowl-
edge, as was clear enough from his dis
tracted condition when he found it out.
His worst enemy, if he had one, which
was very unlikely, would have pitied hin
in the sorrow and desolaion of his heart
II was not that he cared | do believe fol
the loss of his commission, OF for his being
disinherited by his father, but it was for
the gloom that had fallen ON his heart an,
his life owing to her disappearence. Tn,
Mad Snaniard eould or would give hin
no information of her whereabouts .,
wbither She had oone onlv that she ba,
taken sudden notion of Joining her friend
who where an hoard the schooner. Ipdee,
it would have been difficult to get mucl
more information out of him, for he coulc
not, or pretended he could not speak on
language, and Captain Norman knew non,
of his, save what he picked up from tn,
Rose, and we doubt whether that wa
much
Day after day and week after weel
| Charlie Norman moped about on the hill
and along the coast. hoping against hop,
| ,bat sba might ooma hack as nnavnactadl