Saund By A Sign;

Saund by a Sign ;

OR , THE WRECK OF THE CUMBERLAND * A MASONIC SIORY . Bv BEO . W . FRED . VERNON , P . M . 261 , W . M . Axn BARD 58 ,. S . C . * CHAPSEE THE FIRST . " The bubbling and loud-hissing urn Throws up a steamv column . "—Cozi' / . er .

" 'Tis sweet to know there is an eye will mark Our coming , and look brighter when vve come . "—Byron . sjjpKOOD morning , my dear , " said Mr . Richmond , as ho woN *** : entered thc breakfast parlour and received bis ^ psS usual morning salute from his daughter , " Good jj ?/ morning . I seo the letters arc in ; aro there any flf forme ?" & " Oh yes , papa , thero arc two or three for you ,

and only ono for me , ' replied tho young lady , as she handed her father thoso addressed to him . " Wo will discuss their contents and our breakfast at tbe same time , " said ho , seating himself at the breakfast table . After invoking n blessing upon thc meal , bo leisurely opened the epistles and gavo a hasty glance

at their contents , putting aside thoso of a business nature ; retaining one , ho remarked to his daughter , " This letter is from your aunt , accepting of our invitation for Christmas . " "I am so glad aunty ' s coming , " replied the young lady ; " I was afraid sho might havo pleaded hor late

illness as an excuse . My letter is from Harry , saying bc intends coming home iu timo to hear you preach on Christmas day , and—aud—tasto my pudding after thc sermon . " "I suspect tho pudding , or tho maker of it , will have stronger attractions for him than my sermon , "

said her father ; then , seeing his jocular remark had caused her , " blushing like the morn , " to avert her head , ho added , " however , I am glad old Harry is coming homo again ; ifc is but two short years since he went away , and yet it sometimes looks like ages . " This last remark of her father ' s found a i-cadv

response in the heart of the daughter , and for a brief period they wero both silent , as their thoughts carried them back to the past . Presently tho silence was broken by tho clergyman asking , " By tho way , Grace , docs Harry say by what ship ho sails , aud when ? " "Oh yes , papa . He says—let mo sec , " said sho ,

roforing to tho letter ; "ho says , 'I havo secured my passage homo on board the Cumberland , which sails on tho tenth , so I ' m bound to bo homo long before Christmas . " " Ho can't very woll bo homo " e >«< 7 before Christmas if ho sailed on the tenth , but , I suppose , he means a

holidays before . Well , if ho sailed on tho tenth ho ought to bo more than half way home now , as this is the fifteenth . Wo may expect him next week . You'll seo to getting a room ready for him , I suppose . " " Of course , papa , you know I always attend to tho household arrangements . "

" Very well , my dear , and now we have finished breakfast , I'll go into the study and write somo letters and havo a poop at tho Times , and when you havo attended to tlio household arrangements aforesaid , yon know where to find mc if you fcol inclincil for a walk . " Saying which ho gathered up his letters aud papers ,

aud left the room . Thc conversation with which wo open our story took p lace at Grassvnlc Rectory , between Mr . Richmond , tho rector , nnd his daughter Grace . Before going further , it will bo necessary for us to describe tho individuals who form " tho head anil front " of onr littlo narrative .

The Rov . Reginald Richmond was the younger son of Squiro Richmond , of Applotrco Park , Cidorshiro . The cstale , while it supported tho squires of former days in somewhat luxurious style , hail by subdivision , as each succeeding heir had been blessed with largo families for the education and maintainanco of which tho estate had

to be taxed , dwindled down to a comparatively small inheritance . Reginald ' s father had had six children , four daughters and two sons , all of whom hael to bo provided for . Tho elder sou wont into tho arm }* , while tho younger , who wns of studious habits , took holy orders after his University career , and after a

probationary experience , as curato in charge , in a populous and poverty-stricken locality , ho was presented lo the incumbency of Grassvnlc . Mr . Richmond was what is called " middle-aged" before ho married , nor did he enjoy his marital lifo for vory long , for his wife died a year or two after their union , leaving him an infant

daughter . Tho littlo Grace , by her winning ways anil affectionate disposition , had almost filled her mother ' s place in her father ' s heart , and as she grow up sho strove to supply it in tho houso by attending assiduously to household matters , and particularly to hoi- father ' s comforts . In person sho wns rather petite , in tempera .

ment cheerful and good natured , and in manners lively and engaging Her features woro regular and pleasing without being beautiful , although hy most of tho young men about Grassvale sho was considered a rare beauty , and no wonder , for hor frank and genial nature won

ihe hearts of all , and thero were few amongst tho poorer classes in tho parish who did not , think sho was ns beautiful as an angel , as sho was useful in hor ministrations . Many a hearty " God bless her " was uttered from tho hearts of the villagers , us sho tripped past their collages on somo ci-i-ancl of charity .

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The aunfc , whoso letter announced her intention of spending Christmas at tho Rectory , was Mr . Richmond ' s youngest sister , who hael been left a widow with ono son , some years previous to tho date of our story . Sho hael married a wealthy merchant of the name of Warburton , whoso estate of Gvassvalo Grange was iu tho immediate neighbourhood of tho Rectory . Her son

Harry ancl his cousin Grace had beon playmates when children , and it is not surprising thafc tho childish affection thoy then folt for each other should havo strengthened and developed , as thoy grow up , into a warmer anil more lasting passion . Harry would havo married his cousin when his collegiate course was finished , but Mr . Richmond suggested thafc , before

settling down at tho Grange , ho should travel and seo a littlo of tho world ; accordingly , for thc lasfc two years ho had been rambling in tho Now as well as fcho Olel World , picking up ideas of men aud things from his own point of vision , insteatl of trusting to the smoked glasses or rose-coloured spectacles of others . During his absence , tho widow , finding tho Grange too large and

too dull for her residence , with lus approval as heir to tho estate , let it to au ollieer who had como over from India on furlough with his family , sho herself residing occasionally at thc Rectory , but for tho mosfc part in London . Harry , when ho loft homo on his travels , was a strapping , well-built follow of about two-aud-twontv ,

with fair complexion ancl laughing blue eyes . At college ho was a noted athlete , famous afc running , boating , and cricket , but ho was moro noted for another quality among his fellow-students , and that was his coolness or sang froiil in any danger or difficulty , which had earned for him tho soubriquet of " Old Harry . " Tho letter which wo have seen had been received

from him was from America , where ho had been sojourning for tho last year , and his intimation of returning homo indicated to his cousin , with Whom ho regularly corresponded , that he was coming to claim hor and settle down on his own estate . Although this was not expressed in the letter in so many words , yet it wns understood , and thc Rector , when ho retired to

his study , could not help feeling a slight pang at the prospect of soon losing his darling . Tho only objection he hnd to tho match was now overcome , for , when Harry had asked her hand of him , the father pleaded her youth , she then being under twenty , but he promised that if they were both of tho same mind after two years ' separation ho would give his unqualified

consent ; that period was now at hand , and tho father could not but feel a pang of sorrow at the approaching loss of his daughter , whose bright smile and cheering presence had been to him and his houso a ray of sunshine since his wife ' s untimely death . When Mrs . Warburton wrote accepting the invitation to Grassvale Rectorv sho littlo know ut tho time that hor

sou purposed bomg there too , for her letter hatl been written and dispatched before sho received her son ' s . When sho read her son's letter she know well what his coming homo meant , and looked forward to his marriage with every satisfaction and pleasing anticipation ; for sho loved Grace as her own daughter , and felt that prido in her and her son which only mothers can

feci in tho happiness of their children . About a week before Christmas , a few days earlier than sho intended at first , she went down to tho Rectory , so that she might ho present when her son arrived and assist in giving him a welcome home . Wo will not tiro our readers with tho conversations between Grace and her aunt in anticipation of thc long-lookcil-for event ; to

them tho ono engrossing topic was—Harry . It was no matter what commenced tho conversation , or how foreign any stranger might think tho subject was to what it led to—tho weather , the washing , tho doctor , tho dinner , tho decorations , the poultry , tho pigs—in fact , whatever they began to talk about ended always in tho inevitable—Harry . Thoy wondered if bo had

changed much in appearance during tho throe-andtwenty months ho had been away , wondered what ho was doing at that moment , wondered how many more miles ho had to travel , wondered at what hour ho would arrive , and if thoy would actually expect him when ho did como , or ho taken by surprise at last—iu fact , they wondered a good many things which could not bo

satisfactorily answered or settled until tho arrival of tho expected one . Thoy had counted tho . days , bufc now thoy summed up the hours , the hours flow by , and thoy woro fain to allow a day or two longer for the arrival of tho ship with its loiig-lc . okcd-. for freight—that freight being composed , to them , of ono individual only—Harry . In answer to their frequent inquiries nnd numerous

surmises at Harry s non-arrival , Mr . Richmond told them to havo patience , for it was nothing unusual at this season of tho year for a vessel to bo several days overdue , owing to adverse winds and dense fogs whioh generally prevailed , which answer , while ifc silencetl them for a timo , did not altogether satisfy thorn , for their wonilerings anel questionings recurred afc more frequent intervals as time sped on .

CiTAPinu THE Sixoxn . " 0 , 1 have passed a miserable night 1 ****** O Lore ! , me-thought what pain it was to drown What dreadful noise of water in mine enrs ! What sights of uglv death within mine eves !

Me-thought 1 saw a thousand fearful wracks—A thousand men lhat t * ie > hes gnawed upon . " Shakespeare— " King Richard 111 . " Till * year wns fast wearing away , and now it wanted but threo clays till tho great Christian festival camo round . Tho sceno is tho samo as tho former ono—tho

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breakfast-table at tho rectory , but tho company 13 increased by one , viz ., Mrs . Warburton , tho rector ' s sistor , and they wero discussing , as usual , the expected arrival of Harry . " I wonder if he'll bo hero to-day ; I declare I ' m getting quite anxious about him , " said Mrs . Warburton . " Master Harry will havo to look sharp now , " said

the rector , " or else he will let Christmas get hero before him . " " Wc counted upon his beiug hero several days ago , so ho can't bo very long now , cau ho , aunt ? " somewhat illogically reasoned tho neico addressing hor aunt ; then seeing the rural letter-carrier pass tho window sho exclaimed , " Oh , hero ' s tho post ; perhaps ho brings

us news ! and rushing from tho room , sho had opened the front-door before the postman coulel ring . Returning almost immediately sho said , as sho ran her eyo over tho addresses on the covers in hor hand to see if sho coulel detect thc fond familiar handwriting . " What a lot of letters there avc this morning , papa , " anel then , in a tone of disappointment , " hut they ' re all for you !"

" Aro they , indeed , my dear , " remarked ho , glancing at tho correspondence she placetl before him ; " and to judge from thc appearance of most of them , I think they will prove , on opening , to bc begging letters or circulars from cheap wino merchants . But woultl you uot like to seo the papers ? " added ho , ancl suiting tho action to thc word he tossed over a number of

newspapers aud magazines towards the ladies , who , selecting what they fancied most , opened ,-anti began to read in silence , seeing the rector vvas busily engaged in opening and perusing his correspondence . Suddenly both father and daughter wero startled by a piercing scream from the elder lady , followed by tho words , " My child my child ! " Before they could collect their thoughts

or run to her assistance she had fainted away . Plaeiug her upou a couch , thoy endeavoured to restore her to consciousness , but without success . Tho clergyman , therefore , despatched a messenger for tho doctor , and while continuing his efforts to restore his sister , ho wondered in his own mind what could havo caused tho

sudden fit . Associating tho exclamation sho hael maelo with a newspaper she hatl dropped hy the side of her chair , ho picked it up , and , glancing rapidly over tho summary of news , read the following : — "Tho steamship Cumberland , from New York to Liverpool , somo days overdue , is reported wrecked off Cornwall . "

Running his oyes over tho columns as an experienced newspaper reader generally does , ho soon lighted upon the announcement , in large typo , under the head "latest nows , " of "Tho foundering of tho Cumberland off tho coast of Cornwall ; loss of crew and passengers . " Gi-aco was too much concerned abont her her aunt to observe her father , who , subduing his

agitation as much as ho coulel , leant upon tho tablo to steady himself while ho read tho following particulars : " Wo regret to announce that wo havo received tho following telegrams from our correspoiulenfc in Cornwall with the news of tho foundering of a largo vessel which , there is too much reason to fear , is tho missing Cumberland : —Last night , about eleven o ' clock , tho coastguard

brought word to the lifo-boat station that repeated firing had been heard out at sea as if from a vessel in distress . Thc ci-cw of tho lifo-boat lost no timo in proceeding in tho direction indicated , but owing to the very heavy sea and dense fog were unable to fall in with her , and , after rowing about all night , returned this morning without any tidings of tho ill .

fated vessel , for thero can hardly he any donbt as to its fato on such a coast and in such a night . " Then followed a long description of tho vessel ; hor ago , tonnage , and capabilities , with other particulars furnished by the owners , and then in another column , just squeezed in at tho top as tho paper was going to press , was tho following : —

"Loss OK nn : CUMHKUI . AXI ) . L . lTJeST PA » r / fL' * . . UJ . S . BODIES WASIII ' D ASHORE . " Word has been brought to tho coastguard station by a messenger from Bleakpoint Hint bodies havo heen washed ashoro thoro , along with a number of broken pieces of timber anil spars . Ho brought with him a

broken piece of board , on which was painted " Eiu . AN-D , " evidently a portion of ono of tho ship ' s boats , and there can scarcely bo any doubt that it belonged to tho Cumberland , from New York to Liverpool , now overdue . Tho boelies havo been taken to the church to await identification and inquest . " On perusing the above , Mr . Richmond epiiotly folded tho

paper , and , without a word to his daughter , for ho could not trust himself to speak , or oven look at hor , ho went straight to his study , whore , falling upon his knees , ho gave vent to his pent-up feelings , and poured forth his sorrow at tho foot of tho Great Consoler . Wo will leave him in his solitude anel sorrow . Grace- found sho had her hands full that day in

attending to hor aunt and obeying tho doctor ' s instructions . Ho hail considerately told her to pay no attention to hor ravings , for over anxiety for hor sou , added to tho dolicato slato of health sho hacl beon in for a considerable timo past , hacl evidently affected her mind . This to somo extent allayed tho fears which had arisen in her mind in consequence of her aunt ' s sudden

illness , and tho extraordinary remarks sho made . Tho poor lady , when sho regained consciousness , alternately laughed and cried , and talked of going to seo hor dear boy , whom sho wouldn ' t let them drown ; sho would alternately caross hor nioce , and ask hor nofc to loavo hor , and then scold hor for not going to save hor son from tho cruel waves . Under tho influence of a composing draught which tho elector had administered sho at