The Holly chieftain., 1901-08-02

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but for, the footsteps, seemed lying
there before them.
He put the fancy into words, and
whispered It to Rose.
She looked up in his face with 4
frank, truth-tslhnE case. Those wore
the very soft, clear eyes, clear and
quiet ~ mountain lake, yet with a
slight shadow In their depth, that
seemed to tell of stormier elements be-
low. Of which he had dreamed for
years, and which he had only seen
twice In his life-once in q picture Of
the Virgin by Murillo-once here!
Here was the only heart his own
had sought-the only being for whom
he had ever really suffered the pangs
and pleasures of that mad fever which
we call by the name Of love. No other
could claim her from him, no other
could watch that bright young face In
all Its bewitching. changes. No other
could rest that pretty head upon his
bosom, and play with those silky curls
No other kiss the bread, high fore
head. the beautiful eyes, or the full,
warm. loving lips! But still he mur-
INJURED in her ear, as he held her
closely to his heart that first evening
In their common home, Are you hap
py. Rose! Are you sure you are hap
py"
There was no need to ask that ques-
ton. A perfect stranger coming into
that pretty cottage by the deep blue
sea might we'll have answered 1t for
him.
1t was pleasant spot: rome the less
SO. that everywhere were traces of the
presence Of its pretty mistress. A
spanking portrait hung over the piano,
smile lingering archly on its parted
lips; her favorite books were on the
table; her little dog played about the
grounds; her horse neighed in the sta
BILE. and fairy-like boat. bearing her
name upon the stern, rocked at anchor
upon the pebbly beach below"
Running down the graveled walk,
with the little dog barking and leap
ing at her side. feeding her horse with
snowy bread presiding with all the
grace of woman. yet with the sweet,
shy bashfulness Of child, at her Ia
BILE, or singing and playing, after the
evening meal. sweet. low ballads and
dear old songs such as she loved best,
f1lling every spot with beauty and
grace, and forming the delight of her
husbands eyes. as well as the pride Of
his hearts, she not happy?
assure you, dear reader, their home
is one Of the sweetest spots on earth.
And full Of content with the bliss Of
the peaceful present, and the promise
Of cloudless future, they have quite
forgotten the tragic and painful past,
and have no wish to go back to their
early years, or to visit that scene of a
heart rejected and slighted love
avenged.
For Hollow Ash Hall is q ruin!
Given up to the bats and the owls. and
carefully avoided by everything hui
man. 1t has fallen gradually into total
decay: but the ground has been sold
and an enterprising cockney talks Of
building soap factory there-so 1t is
within the bounds Of possibility that
the ghost may yet be exercised by al
kalies and noxious gases.
Mr.. and Mrs. Cowley still reside In
Mechlenburgh Square. with their
nephew and niece: and Mrs. Mccarthy
now reigns supreme over the whole
household. But Catharine IL no longer
with them; she IL the wife Of dash
ing 0uardsman, and goes to Court. and
il 70 fne. generally. that 30 humble =
pen q mine shrinks nervoualy from
attempting to record her. daily life. %
George Vernon died penniless and
forsaken In Australia soon after the
mystery OF Hollow Ash Hall was made
clear.
THE END.