Year: 1860

-.Os--


BY MRS. NJ. RITCHIE.


-:o-


CHAPTER VI.-CoNT1NuED.


At short distance from Norland castle
in wild glen, hemmed in on every side BY
rugged hills, reposed limpid lake; and or
small island in the midst of its Tranquil
waters, smouldered the ruins of a chapel
the depository, for ages, of the dead mem
bers Of the house of Anstruther. The ruins
were screened from sight by natural
growth of trees and shrubs; for human
blood had stained the altar, and the priests
had long refused to perform the holy rites
in sanctuary that had suffered such pollu'
ton. The roof was falling to decay, and
many 6ssure gave admission to the heavy
rain that fell on the monumental figures oi
those whose remains below, had long before
crumbled into dust Superstition asserted
that the spirit Of the murdered man, do.
mestic, who had been killed by an early
ancestor of the present owner in a fit Of
mad impetuosity, still wandered round the
spot, and might frequently be heard amidst
the stormy gusts of the tempest, adding bis
shrieks to the harsh bowling of the blast.
The place was, therefore, carefully avoided
after night-fall by the inmates Of the castle,
and the residents Of the vicinity.


The majesty of day had just disappeared
from the,verge of the horizon, and that still
and solemn hour was creeping on, when
objects were losing their distinctness in the
thickening gloom and the glorious host Of
heaven gradually began to spaugle the azure
vault, when Evan cautiously entered the
ruined door Of the chapel and concealed
himself behind massive tomb which stood
fronting the entrance The noise of music,
the shouts of revelry, and the sound OF
wassail came waited on the still air, and
bitter expression of impatience passed over
his manly countenance. At length, the
the sounds of approaching footsteps were
heard, and as he shrunk back into niche,
he murmured to himself:


sShe comes she comes and we will part
no more. Yet surely we are discovered.
Yonder blaze of light, and that measured
tread that echoes around the walls-ah
now, I see what it is-men bearing the last
remains of frail mortality to the tomb
Who can it be?'


Evan had barely time to retreat from the
spot, by gliding slong under the shadow of
the pillars, ere Ronald entered bearing a
lamp in his hand, and followed by four men
carrying a funeral bier.


Iet down your burden here said Ron
aid, pointing to the space in front of the
dilapidated altar. lit was here the unhap.
py creature first plighted troth.'


sHoly Peter protect US p exclaimed one
of the men after placing the bier as direct
ed, and glanoiug timidly round. 'How grim
and frightful the old sinners in stone look,
staring full upon u.s.


Il would not venture to this place alone,
and at this hour, not to exchange places
with the King said another. But come,
Ronald, suppose we may 60


The dead do not scare me; they are mo.
tionless, and cannot stand in earthly array
against u.s. replied Ronald. Look on this
lifeless lump Of clay and tell me what there
is to fear


The curate says observed another Of
the domestics, sthat dead men sometimes
play strange freaks. Hark! hear noise
was it delusion? Oh horror, the cloth
surely moved


He covered his face with his hands, and
panic would have seized the party, had not
Ronald quickly quieted their alarm.


s'Tis a mockery of sight, he said, 'and
the throbbing of your own corrupt hearts.


Good spirits never are troubled, they
spring up right before you in an instant and
run their cold, chill noses in your face
Some unconfessed sin must lie heavy on the
soul of this woman, and these groans are
Satan wrestling with his prey. Oh! I wish
We were away from this unhallowed spot,
added the speaker with shudder.


sAt any other time these paltry fears
would yield amusement said Ronald
mournfully; 'but listen to the truth-the
spirits of the just are far too blissful in the
realms of Immortality, to return to earth tt
testify against US, and those who have
passed the boundaries of divine endurance
are too surely devoted to everlasting tor
ments, to be watching our motions


This may be your belief, Ronald, ant
that of the hereto creed you profess, which
has made an immaterial shadow of mate
rial substance, but the death of all such il
doomed, and the dissolution of the body il
only the prelude to the endless work o
hell. I do not wonder that you don't wist
to read the riddle interposed the frs
speaker.


Ronald knew that his religious opinions
which were opposed to the tenets of th'
church of Rome, rendered him obnoxious
to his fellow servants, and that they regard
ed the confidence he enjoyed with 81
Robert with mingled feelings Of hatred anc
envy. He too, had not been insensible t.
certain mysterious sounds, like the sighins
of the night wind amid the pine trees, ant
on more iutently peeringi into the gloom hat
observed, what escaped the observation o
the rest, that an addition had been made t
their party of stranger, apparently en-
deavoring to conceal himself on the oppo
site side of the altar to which they wer
grouped. A shuddering sensation cam
over him, as the closely muffled figure be
came more defined in its tall majestic pro
portions, for it appeared to him there wa
but one of such commanding modelling
when living, and if this we're not the effect
of imagination, then his companions mus