Year: 1860

Illness and sorrow had done their work
upon Randolph Grey. lie was so altered
that his best friends would scarce have
known him; for the mental was even great
er than the physical change. The depres-
sion of Lis spirits was such that be ap-
peared as if nothing could arouse him
Formerly cordial and warm hearted, he
now exhibited morbid desire for solitude
and stunned all those, who had been the
companions Of his happier days. This
might BE- in part, attributable to impaired
health, but cause and effect were allied
and if bodily weakness tended to depress
lis spirits, their depression e1ectuaIly i'm
pejed tic recovery of his strength His
physicians recommended change Of air and
scene, and adyerted to the bracirg effect
of sea breezes, and the patient acque8ced
with more readiness than might have been
expected from his habitual apathy.


His place of abode by the sea was not
prescribed j; he would seek it where he
might bs most secure of the solitude for
which he longed. uo decided upon
small fishing village on the Cornish coast,
not far from the Lands End nor could
lie have found place that better answer
ed his requirements. There was-not even
gentleuan's house within distance Of
several miles, and The village itself consist
4! merely Of fi>harmen's huts, diversified
hy one small general shop, which was also
the post office, to which letters came in
small numbers and at rare intervals; the
school, the church, tie parsonage, and a
farmhouse in which Randolph Grey found
board and lodging.


Four or five days passed, or were dream
ol away by him, chiefly in sitting on the
bench aud gazing listessly upon the roll
ing of the waves. One evening he was
sitting beneath the shadow Of projecting
rock, immersed in gloomy musings, when
his attention was arrested by the unwel-
come sound Of an approaching footstep-
lie turned, and to his surprise beheld a
female figure advancing along the rocks
which jutted out beyond the spot where
he was seated into kind of promontory,
against the extreme poim OF which the
advancing tide was beginning to ripple.


His first impulse was 10 retreat at once,
but he was checked by the reflection that
the rock beneath which lie sat would
doubtless conceal him, whereas if be rose
lie would be exposed to view; and, more
over, his attention had besn aroused by
some spark Of latent curiosity, which in
duced him to stay and watch the move
men.s Of the stranger. She was not one
Of the peasant women Of tie district her
dress, though sim pie, As beitted the crags
and waves amidst which it was worn, was
evidently that of a gentIewom He
could only conclude her to be the wife Of
the clergyman With light, firm step,
sue advanced along the Jagged rocks till
she had reached the end Of the little prom
ontory. There she sat down. A slight,
very slight breeze came in from the sea
and she took off her bonnet and turned to
meet it, as if to let It play more freely
around her brow. lie could not see her
face plainly. 1t gave him the impression
Of one recovering from recent illness; for
though still young it was pale, and looked
worn and almost haggsrd. She sat for
some time with folded hands, gazing out
10 seaward her countensnce growing ever
sadder as she gazed at length lie heard
n iChE' NSeP-H1 AVN eiBl, ana, turning
away from the sea, she leaned against the
rock and wept.


The curiosity, not to say the interest of
Captain Grey was excited there was a
strange similarity between thi. woman's
situation and hi. own. While he was
pondering, the twilight was closing in, and
silently the tide had riseu around them
it was time 10 retreat. The stranger raised
her head, and wiped away her tears; then
rose, and, after ono more long gaze over
the darkening sea, put on her bonnet end
retraccd her steps over the rocks. The
waves had by this time flowed completely
round their base, forming channel be-
tween them and the beach, which, though
by no means dangerous, might be difficult.
to.cross. This, Captain Grey observed !;
and, passing round the rock that she might
not discover how near he had been to her.
he approached from the opposite side, and
bowiug, offered lis hand TO help her. She
seemed surprised, even startled lut she