Year: 1870

had missed her, and was jealousy looking about
for her, when the champion brushed past him.


"Td like to know who you are 2' demanded
Joe augrily, "who come and"


Hold your tongue, you fool" was the an
swer and Joe stared, literally startled into sub
mission.


While Hugh, making his way up the place where
the gentlefolkS sat, bowed before the squire.


81 have come to offer my thanks, my lord, i"
he said, "and to say with your lordship's per-
mission, will take my departure, as | have
nights walk before me-"


g. am sorry for it, said the squire, bluAly !;
{" I'd fain keep all such fellows as you in this
parish. What say you parson2 Don't you
think such thews and sinews would be well used
to our work 2'


The parson, spare, sad-looking man, smiled
gently, but eyeug the stranger with keen, un-
satisfied look, he said


Truly, my lord, if the heart is as good as the
body, it would be WELL Where do you come
from, friend?


{" From Mddleshire, Sir parson."


Were you ever here before2 Your face
seems strangely familiar"


Z" Yes, sir, have been but it is hardly fair
to question a man thus. Not that have any to
care whether say yes or no; whether hang or
walk"


"Then come here," quoth the squire, more
earnestly, "and be one of my keepers there is
room for one"


Faith, it's a tempting offer replied the
other, with merry laugh. What should my
wages be ~


As the squire was going to speak, one of his
daughters touched his arm and blushing like a
rose, whispered something in his ear. He
seemed 10th at first to believe, then suddenly
convinced he cried out


no by the Lord Harry it is so Faith
believe the girls right; trust woman eyes.
Well, young sir but hulo where has he
gomez What has become of our championP'


{" He hurried away while Miss Beatrice was
speaking" said the parson dryly.
The squire looked veXed albeit he laughed,
and parried the feeling questions thrown out by
the parson, nor did he mention the matter again
until he and his daughter stood together in one
of the bay windows of the drawing after supper,
when he began


How did you recognize the Earl, Trix2"


al danced with him at the Yeomanry ball,
papa"


Only once? and you pretend to remember
him so well?'


"No, papa, twice. Nay almost think it was
three times, confessed Miss TriX blushiug Grim
son, while her father looked grave, though with
twinkle in his kind eyes, saying;


"Sull, | don't see what is to make him come
masquerading around here; why cannot he
come and see us like an honest man %


And that night, when the squire aud his good
wife laid side by side, they talked the
whole matter over, and were not altogether
pleased for, though the young Earl had money
enough, and was one Of the handsomest men in
the kings service people told sad stories of his
morals, and, on the whole the mother decided
thauahe was not the sort of husband to seek for
her daughter, and that Trix should pay visit
forthwith to an aunt in Scotland. But the good
folks might have spared themselves some anXi-
ETY., and had better have left the girl at home, to
forget among familiar scenes the soft voice and
tender eyes that had awakened her heart. The
sight of her pretty face had been surprise to
the distinguished Ear-a surprise by no means
welcome-for he had no mind to be discovered
or have any obstacles put in the way of his love
making. He had met Jessie in the forest, and
the meeting was somewhat singular The Earl
had been hunting. A lost shoe had resulted in
losing sight of his comrades, and lastly, losing
his way, so that he was wandering along, staring
helplessly about, when he caught sight of Jessie,
perched upon bank, watching him through the
dropping branches Of a hazel tree. The Earl
had an eye for beauty at all times, and at all
things, so checking his horse he lifted his cap,
with laughing face said


Verify, shall believe that st. Leonardo is
forest of enchantment, for here fororn
and lost wanderer, saved by queen Of beauty.
Will it please your highness to show me the way
OFT of this wilderness? Nay" he added, as Jes
sic shrank back rather than advance, and drop
ping her hand, let branch fall between herself
and the Earl. "Nay, if you will not descend to
me, | must, for dear lifes sake ascend to thee"


And springing up the bank, he caught hold Of
her hand.


"Flesh and blood it is vertable flesh
though of the brownest and veritabe blood,
warm enough aud red enough to make one for
get what blue is wanting. Ten times better than
a fairy this; and who are you, sweetheart and
how far am from the grosser world? Not that
| care much so long as have your sweet com
pany."


Jessie looked perplexed she did not under
stand such high-hown language, and was half
inclined to think the wonderful knight who is
said to have slain the dragoon Of the forest, had
come to life again but then he was dressed
like the fine gentlemen she saw about the
squire's and his hand-that was human, there
was no doubt of that gradually she began to
see how it was, aud consented to show the near
est way out of the forest.


During their walk, which, though pretty
long one, was all too short to please the Earl.
Jessie learnt that her companion was poor gen
teman, soldier, and obliged to conceal him
self at present. She learnt, too, that he was fond
of riding in the forest, and that he would not be
the less foud of it now that he might meet her.
For her part she told him where she lived, and
the story of her fathers death, and having led
him to what she called 90 The Hollow Ash, a
great weather beaten haunted monarch of the
forest, she pointed out the pathway, and stood
there watching willis he rode away, turning at
times to wave farewell


Jessie had not seen him again until the day of
the "games," and yet there was scarcely an hour
he had not been in her thoughts day after day
she had goue 10 the "ash" and sat there, flutter-
Ing and shaking at every sound; sat there teach
ing her heart what love must be, and dreaming,
as only the innocent ard loving can do, of the
bright days to come-dreams, hopes and visions,
which seemed all on the point Of realization,
when he told her that he had made plan by
which he would see her every moment Of the
twenty-four hours Jessie could only one
answer to this, and that answer made her heart
sink in the very fulness Of happiness, and chased
the warm blood from her cheek, leaving her
what some of our poets have described 50 ex-
quisitely as "passlon pale" What long day
that was after he Games. Jessie cOul1 not rest