Year: 1877

plenty, such it was The birds did
not desert Us, nor the fish; there were
eggs, there was kind of wild lettuce.
there was abundance of fresh water,
and there was still tin Of biscuits for
Miss Elwood in case she might take
dislike, as happened once, to the sim
pie food of our island life. We fell in
to the way by degrees Of arranging our
days, as IL there was never to be any
change. For myself almost think
now that, but for one thing, did not
want any so far as l was concerned.
The one thing was that had come to
an understanding with Miss Elwood.
1t grew up by degrees. 1t was long
before 1 ventured to tell her what |
felt. The words were forced from me
one night when, old Ben being asleep
on his stool with his head against the
fire, my sweet mistress was more than
usually kind-ifit were possible for
her to be kinder at one time than at
another-and I was more than usually
forgetful of my condition. remem-
ber-as if should ever forget that mo-
ment!-that I took her hand as it lay
upon her lap, and held it mine while
looked in her face, and in her soft,
sweet hazel eyes. I saw by the look
in those eyes that she knew what ]
was burning to say, and l waited for
the least token, any hint, that / was
not to say it, 1t was a night in our
winter, the English July; outside the
hut the wind whistled and the rain
fell.


told her in three words what had
to say, and was silent again. She
said nothing, and kissed her hand.


"Speak to me, darling, speak," !
whispered; "if it is only to forbid me
ever again to tell you what feel"


George" she replied, bending low
toward me, so that I felt her sweet
breath, and caught the glow of the
fire upon her blushing cheek, 1--WE
have been together more than two
years; we have learned to read each
others souls. My beloved, if you have
learned to love me, who am | that |
should not learn to love you in return
Tell me what is right to do. No, not
now-not tonight; think it over, and
tell me tomorrow"


l passed that night in sleepless
thought. Had I done wrong in speak
ing my mind? And yet if we were to
spend our lives i'm this forlorn and
castaway condition. Could Helen
marry me if we were back in Mel
bourne or in London? With what
face could ask it; how go to her
father; how dare even to lift my eyes
toward her? But here it was differ
ent; and in the msrning l came to
some sort of conclusion. l told her
what thought was right for us both
to do. l would not accept the great
sacrifice of an engagement from her.
| had been wrong, perhaps, in telling
her my love. but it was too late to re-
tract that. If relief came to Us speed
lily, she should be free; if none came
within year, we would marry on the
island; but should we before that time
be taken from the place, we would
only marry should it please God to
make my innocence plain before all
the world


She accepted my conditions. She
said that she would marry me when
and where pleased, but for the sake
of her father. FIVE got safe to Eng
land my character should be cleared, If
that might be, for my own sake. She
knew me, she said, and that was
enough.


We were happier, / think, after
that. l began almost to hope even
that no ship might come before the
end of the year; but one day-it want
ed but a month of the time-I saw
with heart full of conflicting emo
tions, whaler steering straight for
our island. Ben Croil rushed up to
the signal rock, and began waving his
streamers with frantic shouts.
Helen and looked at each other.
and the tears came into my eyes.


"Helen," said, 81 am going back
again to the world as returned con-
Wet. | have lost you forever"
"No, no" she cried, throwing her.
self into my arms. "Never, George.
We will work together to solve this
mystery; and if it is never solved. my
love and my husband, the Lord will
find out way. Only wait and trust;
and If the worst comes to the worst
if we are never to marry-we shall be
brother and sister always. But in all
this wide world do not forget that
there is only one man whom / can
ever love-


And here lay down the pen and
leave another to tell the story of how
the sword of honor was restored to me.


10 be contiaued.)