Year: 1867

tltu, in the dark destiny that pursued the race
the Guiscards, like an avenging Demon. If he hat
never heard the history of his family, he at least
knew the unvarying fatality that had ATTENDED
them, ap9 shrank from the thought of leading
bride to the altar almost as he would from the ide
of immoiating her as victim.


| An opposing rock or tussock OF grass ma!
change the current of river and, so alter the tac
of an entire province The destinies Of great EN-
pires have been thwarted Or changed by apparent!
trivial causes so insignificant as utterly to escap
the observation of those who look upon genera
ton or a people from a distance. ALI experience
teaches


! oTherc Providence above that shapes our ends,
| Rough-hew them how we WILL"


Guiscard was impened by causes which he hat
not foreseen, into forgetting his scruples and de
claring himself lover though, when the words hat
passed his lips he shuddered, and gloom settled
upon his sad face, as he thought Of the fatality at
tending his race-a fatality which, for ten genera
tions had rested upon his house.


1t was IN the month of August, usually a sultr.
one in this latitude, that Guiscard mounted hi
horse, and riding leisurely down the avenue Of live
oaks that led from his mansion, eool shadowy, ant
as sheltered from the sunlight as the aisle OF goth
ic temple, and took his way towards the dwelling
the widow Rothsay, that lay but four or five mile
from his own residence The abundant rains tina
had fallen during the previous week, had saturated
the parched earth, and tempered. the heat Of th'
season. Nevertheless summer fingered in the air
and he willingly dislnounted from his horse at th'
end of the long avenue where it gently curved dow
from the elevated ground, on which the mansion
stood, into the lowlands that skirted the river
Just at the foot of the hill, to the right, brigh
sparkling fountain burstfrom the hill side, I'M broat
sream which one of the former owners Of the place
had had the good taste to enclose in marble basin
and the waters, rising near the brim, leaped owe
through an orifce left for their escape, and falling
below, formed in their fall mimic cascade, which
difused refreshing GOODNESS around uling, at the
same time, the senses with it's gentle murmur. A
tasteful pavilion, fitted with rustic seats, sheltered
the bright waters in the basin, and here Guiscarc
fingered for nearly an hour, watching the sparkling
waters as they leaped down from the lip Of the ba
sin into stone trough, that conducted them ovel
the paved floor of the pavilion, from which they
gain eaped and gliding for few rods over the vel
low sands, disappeared in thicket of alder bushes
and willows that skirted streamlet. Rousing him
self at last from his revere, the young man remount
ed his horse and curving around the hill, emerged
bya sudden turn, into the highway, along which he
rode at full gallop, to his destination.


Mrs Rothsay and her daughter were absent; anc
learning from the servant, who answered his SUM
mons, that they were gone to spend the day in {
social picnic at well known bluff on the river,
bout mile distant, Guiscard rode rapidly thither


The heart of lone and solitary man, how it long
with an unutterable instinct for the companionshiI
of the few who have touched it's sympathies! Tht
ordinary seeker of pleasure might have gone on hi
way with scarcely passing emotion Of disappoint
ment, at the absence of friends whom he hoped tt
meet. But Guiscard could not have returned tt
his home without encountering the kindly glance
which was so dear to him. The prisoner inmuret
for life in gloomy dungeon, into whose cell thu
sunlight struggles but for few stated moments o
the day, what gloom rests upon his heart, if du
ring the brief space when that small patch Of sun
light was wont to steal into his cell, like an ange
from Heaven, bringing sweet bright thoughts ofth'
world without, an envious cloud should cover tn
sun! The happy world without, accustomed to th'
glare of day, might not even notice the passing
shadow of the cloud, but it makes the whole ca.
one of darkness and gloom for him, to whom ligh
and cheer come so seldom, and linger so briefly!


Guscard rode rapidly forward, giving both reil
and spur to his willing steed. On! Guiscard, on
FATE lies before thee, and destiny-thine own ant
| another's-be it for good or for eyil-lies in tn,
speed!