Year: 1878

Dut people rarely remembered Saral'S
dress or anything about her but her
eyes, the meaning of which always
remained with you after she
was gone. Mr.. Harbour watched her
as she passed through the room, detain-
ed by one eager group after another.
Was it possible that she did not know
that since she was child she had been
regarded as princess by these trades
mems wives and daughters, simply be-
cause she was born an heiress? Could
it be possible that she did not see how
vulgar and coarse-grained they were I?
She did not seem to see it. They were
her friends whom she had known and
loved since she was baby it did not
occur to her to criticise their minds or
manners, any more than to quarrel with
the beeches on the village street because
they were not oaks. When she sat
down beside little Miss Maddox, the
tailoress, there was Difference, almost
approaching humility, in her manner.
True, the poor little defOrmed woman
was almost saint, thought the clergy
man, but what fine instinct Taught that
reverence to the girl? He never had
felt it himself. How delicate and rare
she was, this lady of his love With
all her cordial sweetness, no one could
be familiar with her. She would have
held Il prince as far apart from her as
she did poor little Sam the cobbler.


Presently, he went up and joined her,
going from stall to stall. The effect
upon him was curious. Grab-bag and
post office slowly sank to their proper
place in the universe even the rose
window, for which all this mighty
pother was made, no longer appeared
to be the end of human life and action !;
it was, after all, a small one. Yet Sarah
had not said a word concerning grab
she was so simple and true that this
hurly-burly appeared to him paltry and
foolish


He left the hall, walking beside her
down through the low-lying meadows
towards ClevedOn Place. He remem-
bered the furry and fever of the last
few days as man might who had end
ed long race and found a mean tinsel
crown in his hands. If he could win
this woman he could leave all vulgar
fever forever below him and rise to the
height on which she dwelt. To see
Sarah ClevedOn among these other wO-
men was like hearing noble song sung
in the chaffering market-place. They
reached the gate and passed under the
great elms TO the house, which was old,
and not without a certain stateliness of
affiuence and comfort.


at imports good deal in the char
acter of a woman," said Mr.. Harbour,
continuing his thoughts aloud, ''to have
been born to an inheritance like this,
haunted by the legends of an honorable
family"


Sarah looked at him with surprise.
81 am very fond of the old house," she
said simply. ''and believe the Cleve-
dons were honest folk"


Mr.. Harbour WINGED at this as though
he had been cut to the marrow. He
had gathered some flowers to give her
as they walked-white Stars of Beth
lehem veined with blue. He let them
fall suddenly. He felt as though his
hands were tainted.


But it was impossible that she could
know. Why should she ever know Z
He was not guilty because his father
had chosen to become thief and his
brother brute. Why should he bear
their punishment Sarah had neither
parent or kinsfOlk to ask troublesome
questions. She was her own mistress.
If he married her, perhaps when years
had passed, when their lives and souls
had grown close together, sitting by the
fire some winter evening, he would dare
to tell her the shameful story, which
would then seem vague and unreal as Il
dream.


To be just to the man, he loved Sarah
her just then than ever before, and sore
ly tempted.


His eyes while he reasoned were fixed
on the top of the hill they were very
fine speaking eyes. Sarah had no
doubt that his spirit was now lifted in
high communing; he was veritable
St. Augustine in her eyes; she was apt
to make saints and heroes out of every
day people, but for this hero and saint
she could find no halo too bright. II
he had only f1eshly thoughts enough to
think of wOmen--tO feel the need of a
friend, sister-suddenly the eyes fell,
directly on her face which burned and
blushed under the unexpected passion
ate gaze. His chin quivered, his eyes
filed with tears. She turned her head
from him, knowing that the eager
pleading look followed her.


What was this ? Did he love her?


GLOW still the woods are ?" she said
burriedly; 81 think we shall have a
storm before morning"


Mr.. Harbour did not know what she
said. He knew that she trembled, and
shrank back from him. Her hand, a
large, firm hand by the way, was rest
ing on the stile. What if he should
take it in his own? Tell her


Her hair fell loosely from her hat
one soft, curly lock almost touched him
He took it in his fingers. Since his
mother died, he had never touched a
woman's hair. Sarah turned at the
movement, and their eyes met.


"Miss Clevedon-" dropping the hair
and stepping back, his fingers nervously
raised to his chin-''surely you under
stand ? You know that III


The gate at the moment clicked be-
bind him, and a quick step sounded Oh
the gravel. A man, bloated with drink
the fumes of the last glass strong about
him, stood before them.


care you the Reverend Nicholas Har-
bour ?n


1t was his brother John.


Nicholas did not speak.


The poor wretch, looking at Sarah
took off his rag of cap, with a grace
which Mr.. Harbour never possessed.


81 beg your pardon, Madam, but my
business is pressing. shall detain Mr.
Harbour but a moment" He moved
quickly away, waiting at little dis
tance.


Sarah looked after him eagerly will
a great sympathy and pity in her face
''lt is some poor creature from the aims