Love And Loyalty.

tin ; fild-world tales of chivalry and romance as told to thee by thy grandsire . 1 can well remember how thy young face glowed with excitement when such stirring events were described so graphically and picturesquely by him who is now no more , ln imagination 1 can see the dear- old warrior . . My ear seems to bc filled with the tones of his voice , mellowed by age , yefc rich in modulation . To him , word

painting was an art—A piiccless gift . — By the magie of his diction he could rivet fche attention of his hearers and keep them enthralled for hour's together . Alas ! 'tis sad to think that the bright flashing eyes arc closed and the eloquent lips for ever dumb . I hope that the Royal line of Stuart will again rule these realms , and that that end mav he achieved withont bloodshed . Harold will be home

soon—Will it be prudent to carry oufc dear Reginalds wishes ? Brother mine . '' she mused , " our mother , now at , rest , besought mo as thy elder to watch over anil fo guard thee against thyself . Thou werf ever self-willed ! 'Twas a great trust , and I have endeavoured fco rrv out our mother ' s dying wish . Oh , Heaven guide me now !"

She then rose from her seat and slowl y paced the broad expanse of lawn . She possessed a noble bearing and moved as one born to command . Whilst thus engaged , her thoughts again resolved themselves into words . " I have looked at the bright side of the enterprise , but what if disaster and its attendant evils overtake the ' Cause' ? What if the

rising ends as sadly as did the one of thirty years ago ? There were many then as young , as handsome , and as gallant as Reginald , who met a shameful end at the hands of the common executioner' . 'Twas true they died nobly as patriots , blessing with tlieir last , breath the Prince for whom they had sacrificed everything . Thc State called them 'traitors , ' but their names will live in the hearts of all

who love unselfish and devoted fidelity . It would , indeed , ho sad to lose lover and brother both . Why am I thus depressed ? It ill becomes fche descendant of that gallant Royalist , Sir Charles Lucas , whose blood stained the stones of Colchester ' s old stronghold , to hesitate for a moment as to the lino of action she should take . Yes ,

Harold , my brother , ihori shalt don fche white cockade , and draw , if need be . thy father ' s sword against the enemies of the ' Cause' Thou shalt go forth like a gallant knight of old to do service for thy princc , wearing a lady ' s favour-, arrd may heaven bless thy mission ! — God save King James ! "

At this point the lady raised her eyes heavenward , and she saw a wood-pigeon fl ying from the pursuit of a large hawk . The pursued appeared to be greatly distressed . Its tierce enemy , after the mannei of ifs kind before striking , hovered for- a moment directly above it , ( hen swooped down and fixed its talons in the prey . Thc poorquarry struggled for a moment and the hawk released ils hold , but

it had evidently with its cruel beak inflicted a mortal wound , as the pigeon faintly ( bit tering it swings fell dead almost at the lady ' s feet . Its destroyer hovered irresolutely for a time over the spot , and then with a discordant cry soared away . The lady shuddered when she noticed upon her arm a few drops of blood ( hat had fallen from ( he dying bird .

Ere this incident the sun had been shining brightly , but it was now obscured by dark clouds . The air became close , and lowlnullercd thunder was heard . Presently , ( he storm-clouds gathered , vivid lightning dazzled her eyes , and the rain fell in torrents . The ladv for shelter sped fo ( lie arbour .

"Ifi were superstitious , " she ruminated , "I should regard the slaying of the dove as a had augury . Yet another sinister omen ! A few moments since the landscape was as fair and smiling as Hope , now it is as dark and as frowning as Despair . Heigho ! Reginald ' s lelfi ¦ •!•i- gay and sanguine . I ( rust that the next may not he sad and despondent . "

The storm ceased as suddenl y as i ( had commenced , and the lad y was about , to venture forth on her- reiurn to the houSo when she saw a woman making her way across the lawn . The intruder , also nol iced lhe lady , she paused for a moment and ( hen approached ( he arbour . She was apparently middle aged , but ( here were no signs of failing powers . She boro her head creel , her large dark eyes were

blight and her olive complexion glowed wilh health . The costume of the period among all classes was p icturesque , but in lhc case of the woman who confronted Constance , the effect was heightened b y flic seini-barbaric way in which her figure was draped in the folds of a scarlet cloak , and by the arrangement of her f urban-like headdress . Her cloak was fastened by a gold crescent-shaped brooch .

and her ears wero pierced by massive ornaments fashioned as stars . With si slig ht inclination of the head , but without an obeisance , the intruder said : "Art thou , Mistress Wharton ? " " I am she , " answered the lady . " Wherefore , the query ? " " Thou hast , in ( hv household a lad named . lohn Osborn ? "

"That is so , " returned Constance . "He has been very ill , but he is getting better . He is a well-behaved youth , respectful and attentive . By my directions he has been well eaied for . The doctor told me this morning lhat the crisis had passed . " "Lady , I thank thee I ' or th y kindness . " and lhe woman ' s eyes hcc ' . tiitc dimmed with tears . "He is the son of my dead daug-liler

who was beguiled away from me , and who married against , my will . I had hc . ird that the boy was ill , and I have come this day to sec him and lo I hank thee for thy kindness . " She then added , bitterl y , •¦ Perhaps if t lion hadst known that iu his veins there llowed Hie blood of my despised race , thou wouldsl have cast him forth to die ou the highway ? " " . My good woman , " returned the lady , reprovingly , " von are

Love And Loyalty.

speakingdisro . specfcfully . B y your appearance and words I take yon to be a gipsy , one of a race that for ages has been warring against the customs of civilisation . It is true that I did not know that Osborn was in any way allied fco yonr nomadic people , but , if 1 had , his treatment at my hands and b y fche household would have bcen thc same . To my humble thinking , the principles that govern humanity and charity , should bo extended to all of God ' s creatures without reference to race , sex , position , or creed . "

The woman ' s proud demeanour left her , and bending low she passionatel y kissed Constance ' s hand and cried -. " Lady , forgive me ! Hagar ' s eyes have not yet lost their gift Thou showest thy good heaVfc in th y face . 'Twas cruel of me to doubt ifc ! Let mo read th y hand ? " * Constance drew back somewhat contemptuously , and

said" I believe not in such idle pastime , lt is a practice that only appeals to the superstitious , or fascinates fche illiterate . " " Lad y , " returned the other , and she raised her head somewhat scornfully , "thou arl mistaken in thinking ; ( hat J am one of ( host

women who prey on the minds and pockets of silly maids and amorous hoys . They are creatures of my race , ' tis true , hufc mere mummers in the art , knowing little more ' than the jargon of the true readers of destiny , f am known as Ha gar Faa of Yetholm , and am of royal blood . "

" lelholm ? repealed Constance . "'That place is far from here . Ifc is on the wild and romantic Borderland . What has brouo-lif v , so far south ? " " ' J •' That I cannot divulge as if , is a secret , matter . This much will I tell thee . I was summoned some weeks ago by messenger to attend a meeting of our race at , the big camp on the hill at Norwood yonder . Twas there I heard that , my grandson was with thee . " The lady glanced sleadily al lhe gipsy , anil

said"There is some mystery about you . Your speech is intollmonfc and yttur manner refined . Where and in what manner were " you educated ? The gipsies that I have seen have acted and spoken differently fo thee "

" Lady , ( hon speakest truly , but , I cannot enlighten thee on the matter , " replied Hag .-rr , firmly . " l { thou wilt let me see ( hv hand , I can , and will read th y future , and that without reward . " Constance , with a smile of incredulity , acceded fo her companion ' s request . The quick eye of the gipsy noticed the expression on ( fie face of her companion .

"Ye arc nol the first disbeliever thai- 1 have met , " she reproachfull y said . "But those who scoffed at my skill at ( he oulset became convinced ere ( hey left me . "

" I prithee , go on , " said Constance , wearily . " 1 have mutters ol moment lo Iransact . " Hagar , narrowl y scrutinised the extended hand , and occasionall y glanced at ( he lady ' s face . In fact , so searehingl y did ( he dark orbs of the former meet those of the latter lhat she experienced a feeliii " of fascina ( ion that she conld not shako oil ' , and it was a relief to her when lhe luminous eyes were withdrawn .

" Mistress \\ harton , '' commenced lhe woman , " ere I speak of graver matter , and to prove to thee f hat f am no impostor , 1 g |( . an that ihon hadst a letter this morning . " Constance glanced at the arbour seal , Blinking that , she nii < . 'hf have left Reginald ' s missive there , but then remembered that if was sale within her bosom . " A good guess , " said she ; "but if is not an uncommon circumstance for a girl to receive a letter , "