Love And Loyalty.

"The strange creature then intoned the following sentences . I remember them well , because I wrote them down in my note-book as she delivered them—•When the grey clouds shall be lit with destruction ' s fierce glare , And mountain and g len shall echo the cannon ' s grim roar , When the moorland " shall ring with the shrieks of the dyiug ,

And thc sweet heather be stained wifch the blood of the slain , Then will thy death note of agony- peal to the skies , And fche lov'd hearts of thy- kindred be heavy with woe . ' These startling utterances would have unnerved some men , but in my sceptical mind they only created amusement . It was no doubt discourteous , but when she had finished her rhapsody , I laughed heartily .

" ' Mistress , ' I said , ' your prediction is too ridiculous to be taken seriously . In the event of there being a battle , of course I run the risk of being killed , but in all probability there will be no fighting . The Prince ' s intention , I have heard , is to retreat to the mountains ,

Hid there to disband his followers . He has come to the conclusion . hat it is useless under the present circumstances , to persevere in his mission . The force at his disposal is too small and badly equipped to oppose the strong , well-armed and disciplined army that is in pursuit . ' " ¦

" The gipsy ' s face at that moment was a study . Scorn , contempt and anger were shadowed on her handsome features . The words that she hissed , rather than spoke , were the reverse of pleasant . " ' Obstinate and perverse man , thou hast treated my augury with

unseemly mirth . I tell thee , that ere long Ihere will be a terrible slaughter , and that thou wilt , be one of the slain . I am sorry for I'hee . but thou canst not fight against the inevitable ! Thou werfc born to die by a violent death ! 'Tis fate ! M y art that thou mockest cveals this to mc ! ' "

" To this outburst , 1 quietly- replied as follows : " ' Astrology , palmistry , divination and other mystic absurdities , arc subjects I have never studied . However , 1 am curious to g lean by what means thou hast arrived at so gloomy a conclusion . '

" ' By thy palm , ' she returned . ' Thy line of life is not only very faint , but 'tis broken and points conclusively to a premature and bloody death . But enough of this , ' she abruptly added , 'it pleaseth mc not to discuss such matters with one like thee . Wilt thou obey my behest with regard to thy friend ? '

" ' In that matter , mistress , ' I replied , ' your advice is cogent and well meant . I will promise you this , that I will take counsel with others , and if they agree , every effort shall be made to carry out your wishes . Good-night . '"

" Tbe gipsy gazed at me strangel y for a moment , and without vouchsafing a word , left me . My eyes curiously watched the sib y l till her commanding form was merged in the mist . " Now , my friends , what think yc of my adventure ? I may add ( hat the strange gruesome prediction has neither taken away my appetite , nor deprived me of sleep . "

"Dick , old friend , ifc was Seymour who spoke , "if you had ( rented the warning at all seriousl y 'twould have been my painful duty to have called thee a gander . Fortune-tellers' utterances arc like ghost stories , lit only to frighten the credulous . "

" I agree with Seymour , remarked Somerville . " The so-called art of the Egyptian or gipsy to my mind is as shadowy as Aiiubis himself . Sonic years ago 1 was passing a pleasant hour at the Spring Gardens at Yauxhall . In a dark avenue there was arr artificial cave , and at its entrance a notice was posted inviting visitors to walk in

and consult the oracle . For the fun of the thing 1 . entered , and after the usual monetary preliminaries , the dark-eyed priestess who presided held forth most glibly . I expected to have scon an old crone with a Punchinello ' s nose , watery eyes , wrinkled face , hirsute shaded lips , and a voice as melodious as the croak of a raven . Faith !

I was greatl y disappointed when 1 saw before me a charming young creature . She had a nose of faultless contour , eyes like a gazelle , cheeks rounded and glowing with health , lips full and red as cherries , teeth small and beautifully white , and a voice as musically rich as Peg Woffinglon ' s . I fell ill with her humour , and to test her skill .

I conveyed hints ( hat led her to suppose that I was married . Egad , I cannot remember all that she told me ! In abstract , 'twas this : My wife was very fair and fond of male admiration . Wc were , however , lo have a few years'felicity : children would be born fo us ; then a dark cloud would obscure lhe sun of our happiness .

' In reply to my question as to its nature , she said , ' Beware of a dark man who will seemingl y be thy friend , bnt in his evil heart ho will hate thee , and will plot to destroy thy domestic peace . '" " i appeared to he greatl y concerned by her exposition ; thanked her for her warning , and gave her lo understand lhat my dark friend should be . if possible , out wilted . To think that freedom lovine-. fair

sex despising Ned Somerville was a married man , and a prospective father . Ha ! ha ! The fair wife ; the progeny and the dark false trieiul exist not . I am still a bachelor , and intend lo remain so . M y dear Marslon , I regard your elderly siby l ' s utterances as seriousl y as 1 did those of my youthful oracle . Now , Harold , what is your "pinion ?"

Wharton had paid great attention to the recital of Marston ' s •vdventure , and his face wore a thoughtful expression . " I think , " he said , meditatively , that although the majority of gipsies are nnpostors , yefc there are some who possess traits of a mysterious character . They are close observers of character-. No doiibfc their wanderings and intercourse with all classes of humanity terrd to streng then their natural keenness of perception . Like yourselves , I

Love And Loyalty.

do not believe in their vaunted powers of divination . They are clever , ancl no doubt oeeassionally make a happy guess . I cannot understand thc gipsy ' s object in predicting the death of Marston on the battle-field . He has not done any harm cither to her or to her people , and , therefore , cannot have incurred her enmity . I do nofc believe in any- mortal being gifted with prescience . She believes that there will be a conflict between the forces of tho Prince and his

enemies . Her reasoning faculties arc good , and as the pursuers are stronger than the pursued , she predicts disaster to the latter . There is nothing wonderful in thafc . " "Wharton , my dear fellow , " interposed Marston , "cau you

explain the cause of her solicitude on your behalf ?—Why should she wish to save you from destruction ? Yon are , for alight , I know to the contrary , a perfect stranger to her . For mc , as 1 have related , there is no escape . I am fco be taken nolens colens like ' a lamb to the shambles . '"

" t cannot explain , " was the reply . " However , ifc is not my intention to leave you . 'Twill be useless for any one of you here to try and persuade me to the contrary . Obstinacy is a family trait of tho Whartons . If the Prince be forced to draw the sword once more , I shall not shrink from doing my duty . The motto ' Love and Loyalty ' was granted fco an ancestor of mine centuries ago on tho

battle-field in recognition of his devoted bravery to his royal master . The members of our house have ever been ready to lay down their lives on behalf of a just cause . En passant , what a glorious profession is that of arms . Picture to yourselves a great conflict . The wild nei ghing of horses , the deep booming of lhe cannon , the Hash of musketry fire , the beating of drums , the gleaming of claymores and

sabres in the charge , the waving of the colours , and the fierce cries of many men ! War has ifc horrors , but it has its glories ! . Methinks , it rniisfc be sweet to die with lhe din of battle ringing in orre ' s ears !

if it bo my fate to fall , I will cry with my last breath , ' God save Prince Charles!—Confusion to his enemies !'" As ( he young mair uttered these words his face was lit up with enthusiasm , his eves

glistened with excitement , and his form seemed to expand . His companions became infected wilh his hearing , and springing lo their feet they exclaimed as they drew their swords , " God save Princo Charles !—Confusion to his enemies ! "

CHAPTER IV . A few weeks after the events narrated in ( he preceding chapter , the brave adherents of the young Prince and the troops of King George under the coinniand ' of the Duke of Cumberland , faced each other on Culloden ' s black moor . The four friends fought side by side in the terrible conflict that ensued . They appeared to bear charmed