Love And Loyalty.

" The letter , " continued Hagar , apparently not heeding the remark , " contained important news , and came from one who is as dear fco thee as life . " Again were the eyes fixed steadfastly upon the lady ' s face . Notwithstanding Constance ' s natural firmness aud self-control , her lips quivered and the tell-tale blush dyed her checks .

" Mcthinks , good woman , you presume too much , " she coldly remarked , but with confusion . " This I will admit , that I did receive a letter this morning from a gentleman whom I have known from childhood . " •'I meant no offence , " said the other . "In that letter , thy

lov—1 shonld say , th y friend , counselled thee to take a great step—a project thafc concerns one allied to thee by blood . For a time yc took counsel with yourself . Thy mind misgave thee . Thou sawest strange ! visions . Thy heart became racked with conflicting emotions and—"

" Woman ! I am amazed at th y knowledge of my inmost thoughts , " broke in the lady , passionately . " To what conclusion did 1 come ? " " To carry oufc the wishes of the writer . Havo 1 nofc read well ? Dost thou still doubt , my skill ? " triumphantly demanded thc prophetess . " " Constance , without replying to the questions , said :

" Good Hagar . I prithee tell me one thing , and that without delay . Will the grave undertaking that my friend hath so much at heart be ultimately successful ? " Thc gipsy paused for a moment , and then slowly answered" It will not . In the years yet , unborn , hundreds will mourn for thc loss of many dear ones wdio gave their lives for a patriotic yefc shadowy cause . I can see the precious blood of the noble , the gentle , and the peasant , staining the smiling fields and frowning scaffolds . "

Carried away by the woman ' s impressive manner , the lady ' s scepticism in matters occult for the time vanished , and , in trembling accents , she asked' •Will my dear- friend come to harm ? " " No . " was the firm reply . "His eird will be a peaceful one . Your destiny- and his are closely interwoven . Ye will both pass through many vicissitudes , but your days will bc prolonged . "

"One more question , Hagar , and I will not trouble yon any further . You mentioned just now , and spoke truly , lhat one closely allied to mo by blood would bc counselled lo join the enterprise . II hc consents so to do , will his liberty or his life bo imperilled V "

" Lady , " gravely replied the other , " thou art seeking to test the poor gipsy ' s powers too deeply . I can only tell thee this , ( hat gr-cat danger will attend his footsteps . 1 owe thee a debt of gratitude for thy kindness to my dead daughter ' s son , and if thou wilt take counsel from mc , I say let him not join a project that is doomed to end in

. 1 'hcn raising her eyes to thc heavens , and , with her right hand pointing upwards , Hagar solcmly said—•' 1 swear to thee by the sun and the stars that 1 have spoken the truth ! Think of me hereafter as thou will bnt treat not the gipsy ' s warning lightly . For thee and thine I have naught in my heart bill good will !"

Ere Constance conld prevent it her companion seized her hand and passionately kissed it . " Your words and wishes are kind , my good Hagar , " the lad y said , "I will weigh Ihem well and will not lightly disregard them Come now with me to ' the house , and when thou hast , rested and refreshed thyself 1 will accompany thee to the sick boy ' s bedside . "

"' Lady , " said Hagar , " I ( hank thee . If at any tune thou art . in trouble fail nofc to send for me The people on ( he hill yonder will soon find means to let me know . Among them arc lads fleet of foot who will ( ravel day and night to bring me th y message . " Xol wishine- ( o offend the mysterious woman . Constance thanked

her , and to humour her said — - ' If I need thy services , how shall 1 make sure thai my letter In thee will be delivered by thy people r W'll il be sullicieuf ( o lucid ion th y name ? " "No , " was the answer . " If lhe ( rouble bc great send with thy letter this token and it will iuslaullv command obedience . "

Hagar then gave the lady a triangular-shaped copper coin . Upon it were a rudely engraved heart pierced by a dagger and surrounded by mystic figures of an Egyptian character . By this lime Ihey had reached flic mansion . The gipsy was hospitably entertained ,

subsequently saw her- grandson and at dusk left the house after making renewed protestations of fidelity . When Hagar had departed tin heart of Constance was distressed . 'Twas true that the glamour produced b y the strange woman ' s presence and predictions had passed away . Her stromr and educated mind re-asserted itself . She believed

not . as it has hnen alread y stated , in superstitious matter yet she could not hut wonder at Hague ' s knowledge How did she obtain the news that a letter had been sent from the North ? By what means had she become acquainted with its most important features ? 'I hen again , the gipsy had accurately gauged fhe troubled thoughts that the letter had conjured up . She fell into a deep lit of luiishu . .

" 1 know that Harold is adventurous and has openl y declared his intention to embark in the ' Cause ' on a lilting opportunity . He is sell-willed and may refuse to listen to my advice . I must show him Reginald ' s letter as I cannot . practice deception towards one J love x" well . It will he useless for mc to relate ( o Harold ( he details of my interview wilh Hagar and her ominous warnings . He is brave , b ghf-licarfcd , and like m \ self , is sceptical on matters supernatural .

Love And Loyalty.

Ho would treat her well meant advice with scoi ' n and laughter , Unit would , doubtless say ' that gipsy tales wore like the author ' s , of tin account ; vulgar nonsense fit , onl y for the ears of foolish maids and nervous women . ' If hc insists on joining Reginald and comes to harm thereby , as Hagar predicts , I shall never cease to grieve , "

In Constance ' s sleeping chamber was a large-sized portrait of her mother taken shortl y before that lady ' s death . It hung on the wall facing the head of tho bed . Constance , upon retiring to rest had extinguished her taper , as the room was flooded wifch moonlight :. Thc beams shone full on the picture . For a time the lady gazed with moistened eyes upon the representation of the beloved dead .

" Oh ! mother , " she murmured , " would that you could revisit the earth and give thy distracted daughter counsel . " She then sank into an uneasy sleep and dreamt that the spirit of the dead appeared to her . The face and eyes were very sad . " Dear child , " the vision said , in tones of melancholy cadence , " th y wish is granted—1 am here ! With thee , and with thee only , rests the making or the marring of thy brother ' s future . Nay , more .

I warn thee that his existence is in th y keeping . Let him not , prematurely cast away so priceless a gift as life . Hc is thy only brother and the last male descendant of the ancient race of Wharton , No brother ever loved a sister better than ho loves thee . Exercise ( he power that that great affection gives fchec for his mortal advantage . Daughter mine , remember thy promise to me as the night of life was closing upon my eyes and ere they opened in the dawn of immortality . Farewell !" ' So vivid was the dream that Constance awoke with a cry of anguish . She nervously glanced around her . Did her eyes deceive

her ? Al the foot of the bed she saw , or fancied she saw , a shadowy figure which appeared to he raising its hand in a warning manner . Then in the deep silence of the ni g ht , there came softly stealing from flic lips of the vision us it slowl y vanished fche word "Remember !" The remainder of lhe nig ht , was spent by Constance in fitful slumber , troubled and agitated b y other and still stranger dreams . CHAPTER IU .

ll forms no pail of our plan lo describe the relrcafc of Prince Charles with his disheartened and disappointed followers from Derby lo Scotland . The causes that led to it , and thc hardships anil dangers that the disorganised body encountered on its fatal march homeward are historic . We have simply to deal with events connected wilh lhe chief personages who figured in the first chapter of this narrative . Within a shepherd ' s rude lint , situate on a wild

moor , were seated lhe four friends lo whom the reader was introduced al the ' Old Bell ' Inn , in far disfant Loudon . They were greatly altered in appearance . Tlieir features had lost , the freshness of ease and conlcut ment , and lheir semi-military apparel was mud-stained and worn . It was night . A small fire of peat burnt on the hearth and gave a welcome warmth to the occupants . The miserable room hail but , little furniture and ifc was dimly illumined by a spluffonn 0-" tallow-diii . "

' •This is a bad business , my friends , " remarked Somerville , gloomily . '' f wish from my soul that you fellows had taken my advice and cui the whole thing al Derby . We were justified in so doing . The Scotch advisers of the Prince have wrecked the ' Cause ' and broken faith with the English party . A hold and forced march to London would have won for James a throne . Rumour hath ifc that ,

the ' White Rat' and his alien followers were rodent , like , about fo lice from the foundering ship of Slate . He—George of Hanoverdoubted the loyalty of Ihe Londoners fo his person in thc event of Prince Charlie and his army arriving victorious at the capital . I . sec nothing but misery and ruin iu the near distance . I would to

Heaven thai I had never cas ( in my lot with ( he rising ! " " Bird of ill-omen , cease ( h y croaking ! " exclaimed Seymour , in withering ( ones , as he arose from his seat and confronted thc speaker . "Did I not ieM thee at the ' Old Bell ' that I caved not to work with an unwilling ov timorous comrade ? Leave ns if thou will . ' Tlie parting will not break my heart . The night is dark , thou canst easily get throiigh ' the lines , "