Year: 1879

O1D hV0hn oO0Oo <AxSs
1t was a stormy night, on bleak New
England coast The wind and r nm kept
driving piteously, and the white hungry
waves came laundering over the sand-hills
and breaking IN cataracts of foam upon
the desolate, rocky shore. In room OF
little cottage, built so close to the sea that
some of the breakers, more aggressive
than the rest, seemed almost to threaten to
overwhelm it, old Roger Boscawan sal
smoking his pipe beside the fire, that
roared up the wide, old-fashioned chimney
rs if in defiance of the tempest of wind
and rain outside.


aBless mel Leah, do you hear the
storm ?''


"Yes father"


twas strangely beautiful face that
looked up into the weather-beaten one oil
the old man from the shadow OF the pro
iectine angle of the fireplace, and strange.
ly out of place it seemed among the rough
surroundings of the fisherman's cabin
Large and lustrous were the eyes OF orien.
tal midnight darkness whitelidded and
long lashed. The forehead low but broad,
around which the luxuriant hair was
braided in heavy classic coils the cheek OF
dusky carmine. and the mouth sweet and
expressive, and the dimples that it showed
when it parted in q smile. Many people
had often wondered how old Roger came
10 have daughter equally unlike himself
and her brother.


Il pity any craft that Is out tonight
the old man went on. 81 have lived on
this coast for NOR. than fifty years. man
and boy, and never saw o wilder night
than this"


Leah cid not answer. She had risen
from her seat, and crossing the room, was
looking out of the window seaward. She
could see nothing through the pane ex.
cent the driving storm, and the red, lurld
lamp of the lighthouse, but in the other
dir. ction could be discerned few twink.
ling lights of the fishing village, and
further down the town, among its dark
clump of evergreens. the WINDOWS ol
Hallam Lodge ablaze with lights. Hallam
Lodge was the Oldest and grandest house
for miles around. and was owned by the
man whose name it bore, the direct de
sc6ndont of Ralph Hallam Colonel in the
Parliamentary armies, who had crossed
the ocean for his principles, and laid the
first stone Of this new dwelling place
more than 200 years ago.


Suddenly the tramp of approaching feet
was heard through the storm outside, and
the next minute the door opened to admit
Stephen, old Rogers son, and three othel
men. who carried the insensible body OF
man betweel them. He was fine hand
some fellow, this son of the old fisherman
but utterly unlike his sister, both IN Tea
ture and in complexion, having clear
ruddy skin, though somewhat Drowned by
exposure 10 the weather; honest blue eyes
and curling, chestnut hair. He NIGH
have sat to an artist for some old Morse
vikings son, but a tender look came into
his face, and his voice assumed a soffel
tone as he spoke TO the girl.


at is the young gentleman that they
saw is soon going To marry Miss Editl
Hallam," he said, as they laid the uncon
scious man upon the warm hearthstone be
| fore the fire.


His Yacht struck on the rocks below
the lighthouse, and all hands were lost bu
him. He has breath of life in him yet
though, and we may pull him through
Give me some OF that rum out OF the closet
little sister" >.
ence to her brothers command, she knel
down and began to chafe the wet, whit
hands of the unconscious man, whil
Stephens poured some of the warm spirit
down his throat.


She could not help admiring the hand
some face, so still and pallid, supported ol
her brothers knee. The features wer
regular and highbred, with dark, blacl
curls falling over the high, white forehead
She was thinking, too, what handsom
hands they were, into which she was Try
ing to rub returning life-almost as smal
as her own-when sharp knock came u
the door, and a young lady, tall but state
Iy, swept into the cabin and kneit Desia


him. :.


she said sweetly, yet decisively. as sb
took the hands, to which the warmth o
life was slowly beginning to return, be


tween her own.


Leah relinauished them nj once, AM


shrank back to her position in the SHADOW


of the fireplace, with n feeling In he


breast she had never known before. Thl


tall, stately young lady was Miss Edit


Hallam, the heiress of the lodge, and sh


was only Leah Boscawan, fisherman


daughter. She could not analyze tn


cause that made her mind dwell so bitterl


upon the fact, yet it did in spite OF herself


and the knowledge OF the great socia


gull fixed between them filled her with


great. vague regret


In less than half an hour the young ma


was sufficiently revived to thank his pr


servers and accompany his cousin in he


carriage, which waited outside to th


lodge. He thanked them all most cordia
ly. To the three men who had assiste
, him he gave money, and to Stephen hi
card, which showed his name to be Fran
Vernon, and promised to call the next da


and thank them again. Both the old ma
! and his son were taken with his manne


and spoke in praise of him and his SUI
posed betrothed; but Leah sitting sileI
IN the shadow, said nothing, brooding.
silence over her newly awakened thought
, with vague, rebellious feelings again
: her destiny surging in her heart.


The storm did not abate that hight, N
the next day. Neither did the next ds


bring Frank Vernon to the cottage, but


sent a message stating he was too unwe
10 leave the house. When night aga
|. fell the wind was still driving the hea,
! rain along the shore, and the fury Of Il
sea seemed unabated. The old man al