Year: 1866

mountains next day; that Evleen Blake


would be Of the number; and that he, Coll,
must prepare to house and refresh crowd
of weary people, who in the evening should


be brought, hungry and faint, TO his door.
The simple mushroom gatherer should be
discovered laying in her humble stock a.
mong the green places between the hills,
should volunteer to act as guide to the par
ty, should lead them far out of their way
through the mountains and up and down
the most tOilsOme ascentS and across dan
gerous places to escape safely from which
the servants should be told to throw away
the baskets of provisions which they car
ricd


Coll Dhu was not idle Such feast was
set forth as had never been spared so near
the clouds before. We are told Of wonder
full dishes furnished by unwholesome agen-
cy, and from place believed much hotter
than is necessary for purposes of cookery.
We are told hlso how Coll Dhu's barren
chambers were suddenly hung with curtains
of velvet and with fringes of gold how
the blank white walls glowed with delicate
colors and gliding how gems Of pictures
sprang into sight between the panels how
the tables bazed with plate and gold, and
p
wines flowed, as the guests had never tast-
ed how servants in the richest livery


amongst whom the wizen-iaced old man


was mere nonentity, appeared, and stood
ready to carry in the wonderful dishes, at


whose extraordinary fragrance the eagles
came pecking to the windows, and the foxes
drew near the walls, snufling. Sure enough,
in all good time the weary party came


al. l., n,l Vii


Dhu sailed forth to invite them across his


lonely threshold Colonel Blake Ito whom


Eveen, in her delicacy, had said no word
Of the soitary's strange behavior to her
Self,) hailed his appearance with delight,
and the whole party sat down to ColPs ban
quet i'll high good humor. Also, it is sad,


in much amazement at the magniicence Of
the mountain recluse.


All went into Coils feast save Evleen
Blake who remained standing on the thres-
hold Of the outer door weary, but unwIl-
ing to rest there hungry, but unwilling to
eat there Her white cambria dress was


gathered on her arms, crushed and sul!led


with the tolls of the day her bright cheek


was little sunburned her small dark


head with its braids a little tossed, was
+ barred to the mountain air and the glory of
the sinking sun ; her hands were loosely


tangled i'll the strings of her hat and her
foot sometimes tapped the threshold stone.


SO she was seen.


The peasants tell that Doll Dhu and her


father came praying her to enter, and that


the magnificent servants brought viands to


the threshold ; but no step would she move


inward, no morsel would she taste


"Poison, poison !" she murmured, and
threw the food in handfuls to the foxes, who
were suffering on the heath.


But it was different when Muireade, the


kindly old woman, the simple mushroom


gatherer, with all the wicked wrinkle


snfoothed out of her face, came to the side
| of the hungry girl, and coaxingly presented
a savOry mess of her own sweet mushrooms
, served OH common earthcn platter
AM darlin my lady, poor Muircade


her cook them hersel, an no thing o this


house touch them or look at poor Muir
eade's mushrooms"


Then Evleen took the platter and ate a
delicious meal. Scarcely was it finished
when heavy drowsincss fell upon her,
, and, unable to sustain herself on her feet,
she presently sat down upon the doOr-stone.


Leaning her head against The framework
Of the door, she was soon IN deep sleep,
or trance. So she was found.


Whimsical, obstinate little girl y said


the Colonel, putting his hand on the beau
tiful slnmbering head. Aud taking her il
his arms, he carried her into chamber
which had been (say the story-tellers) }
nothing but bare and sorry closet in the
, morning. but which was now fitted up with
Oriental splendor. And here on "A lux
, urious couch she was laid, with a crimson
coverlet wrapping her feet. And here il
the tempered light coming through jewelcd
glass, where yesterday had been coarse
rough-hung window, her father looked his


last upon her lovely face.


The Colonel returned to his host and
. friends, and by-and-by the whole party
sailed forth to see the afterglare of "A
, fierce sunset swathing the hills in flames
| 1t was not until they had gone some dis


tance that Coll Dhu remembered to go back
f and fetch his telescope. He was not long
: absent But he was absent long enough
: to enter that glowing chamber with steal
thy step, to throw a light chain aronnd the
/ neck of the sleeping girl, and to slip among
/ the folds of her dress the hidcous glitter
: ing burragh-bos.


After he had gone away again, PeXiC
t came stealing 10 the door, ana, opening i
: a little, sat down on the mat outside, Will
: her cloak wrapped round her. An hou
: passed, and Eveleen Blake still slept, he
: breathing scarcely stirring the deadly
+ bauble on her breast. After that she be
e gan to murmur and moan, and Pexie prick
) ed up her ears. Presently a sound i'll tht
II room told her the victim was awake an(
= had risen. Then Pexie put her face to th'
II aperture of the door and looked in, gave
+ howl of dismay, and fled from the house. t.


be seen in that country no more.


e The light was fading among the hills
q and the rambers were returning towart


the DEVILS Inn, when group of ladie
k who were considerably in advance Of thu
e rest, met Evleen Blake advanced toward
s them on the heath, with her hair disordereC
$ as by sleep, and no covering on her head
: They noticed something bright, like gold


shifting and glancing with the motion 0
- her figure. There had been some .estins


among them about Evleen's fancy for fall
d ing asleep on the doorstep instead Of com


ing in to dinner, aud they advanced laugh
h ing, to rally her on the subject. But sh
n stared at them in strange way, as if sh
: did not know them, and passed on He