A Manr Story.

Many girls would have been glad to accept him , but , as has been said , none of them touched his heart . This was his state of mind until the memorable night when the March gale landed him on the very shores of all others he would have avoided . He recalled tho evening when he had first known where he was , and when the truth first dawned upon him that he had loved Nan Gorry . With the knowledge of his love had come the conviction that he was no fit mate for her . His parents' crime seemed suddenly to become blacker , and he to share in it when ho thought of the spotless

purity of the girl who had become so dear to him . How ilave be ask her to become his wife knowing the blood that flowed in his veins , and much less how could he ask her to marry him keeping his secret . It was one thing to think what lie . would do before he loved ; now his code of honour had changed , he must let her judge for herself if he ever told his love . Ho must place truth first—¦ without it there could be no real union ; but even if she loved him , could she ever forget his birth ? ' So ho had argued that night . By morning things looked somewhat different ; he would put away the subject for tho present , and let time show what course to take .

When , after a few more days , he wns able to walk out with a strange fascination , his footsteps turned towards Castle Rushcn . As ho looked at its gloomy old walls , the whole horror of the story took possession of him . Drawn by a strange feeling , he went all over the fortress , oven questioning the goaler about the story of the last execution , so well remembered by people here , so real and yet so unreal to him . Within these walls his father and mother had been imprisoned and tried , and suffered the last penalties of the law . How could he ask a girl in the very place it had happened to become his wife ? It was too

horrible ! Sho would shrink from him with loathing , nnd the fear of losing her became terrible to him . Then came thc temptation to ask her to marry him , and for ever bury his secret in his own breast—go away from the Isle of Man , where he might forget it had ever been . Rut as often as he looked into Nan ' s clear truthful eyes he knew he could not do this—he could not live with a secret between them . At times he would loathe himself , feeling that he was a pariah , and that he would go away and leave her for ever . Then came the thought of his rival . Would she marry him when he went away ? The thought as madness , and not to he borne .

A Manr Story.

No wonder that , torn by these conflicting feelings , his moods were variable during these weeks . Added to this , he could not tell if Nan really cared for him . Ho sometimes felt that but for his birth he could plead his cause with such ardour that she could not fail but listen . Rut even this thought would recuryou must tell her the truth , anil then sho will turn from you with some pity , perhaps , Vmt not less with slirinking horror .

Then came this evening , when , impelled hy his love , and for a moment forgetting all else , when he saw Nan ' s tears and felt that he was loved , ho had spoken . To-night the battle had to be fought all oyer again , he knew now sho loved him , and had no right , he told himself at first , to make her miserable . He could not leave her without speaking , and why should he break her heart b y telling who he was . Listening to thc story bo felt , more than over , she could not look upon him with anything but loathing , when she knew he was the child of crime and shame .

Far into the night , until thc dawn broke in the east , he went over anil over these arguments until at last the sun n . se , chasing away the shadows of night , and he resolved that Truth was the highest Good , and that , casting all dark fears side , he would tell his love , and trust his fate in her hands .

VI . It was still early morning , too early for oven the fisher folk to be on tho shore , when Staunton went out . The sen broke in tender , laughing wavelets at his feet , sparkling its welcome to thc returning day . Gulls came swooping down on the wet sand , flying away with their strange melancholy cry .

IV ithout hearing any sound , Staunton felt a hand upon his arm , and looked up into Nan ' s eyes . His own were heavy from the night ' s watch nnd the terrible struggle he had passed through . His heart leapt as ho saw her , and for a moment he clasped her in his arms . Then , putting her away from him , he said , " Nan , I have something to say to you—something that , I dare not hide . Oh ! mv love , how can I tell you what may part us ?"

Nan ' s arms were round his neck . "You have nothing to tell me I do not know . Do you think I'll not love you more for knowing your life has been darkened by sorrow ? I care not for your birth so long as I know your love is all my own . " - BARRULE .

"Light And Shade."

" Light and Shade . "

R v T . c . w A L L s . Author of . " Saved hy a Sign , " " Red Room Mystery , " " Old Manor House , " " . 1 Ni < jht of Peril , " § "c . cj ' c .

CHAPTER I . "Art is long , and Time is fleeting , And our hearts , though stout and brave . Still like muffled drums are beating

Funeral marches to the grave . " EAR tho pretty village of Ripley , in the fair county of Surrey , and on the coach road leading fom the Metropolis to Guildford , stood in the summer of the year of grace 1 H-MI —nnd does now for aught we know to the contrary—a commodious cottage . It was a dwelling of two stories , quaintly gabled and ehinniieil , and having curiously enrved eaves of an old-world fashion . Its windows were many , with tliumonil-shnped glazing . The principal door of this rustic retreat was approached by an oval-formed porch , around which twined in almost wild luxuriance climbing roses , red and white , intermingled with that pretty plant the jasminum , nielijtorum , whose

golden star-shaped flowers in mid-winter gladden our eyes long before its leaves appear . A few ornamental bods gay with geraniums , verbenas , petunias , and other bright flowers were tastefully grouped in the front garden , which was shut off from ihe public footway by a dwarf hedge of sweet briar . The back part of the house was embellished by n graceful verandah , supported by iron pillars , clothed with honeysuckle , whose perfume was wafted by the gentle summer breeze . Tho casements of tho sitting room opened to the garden , and gave n

delightful prosppct of a well-mown lawn of vivid green , dotted at intervals with coniferous plants . Winding paths led to a small eminence , upon which was perched a picturesque arbour , overshadowed by the foliage of a fine sycamore tree . It was a clear summer ' s day , and the view from this spot as the eye wandered in ecstasy over the undid ting and well-wooded country was truly charming

in its diversity . The landscap . ' was relieved and improved by the old-lashioned , substantial-looking homesteads , and the neatly-thatched hay-ricks in the pleasant meadow land . Having thus briefly and imperfectly sketched some of the beauties of this truly typical English cottage , and its sylvan surroundings , we will introduce the render to erne of the characters in our short story .

Sitting at a table in the aforesaid sitting room was a graceful-looking lady , whose features were regular and handsome . Her fair hair , surmounted by a tortoise-shell eomb , was parted high on the forehead and hung in clustering ringlets ,

"Light And Shade."

as was tho fashion of the time , on each side of her oval face . Her eyes , of violet blue , were richly shaded by beautiful lashes , nnd the outlines of her figure wore shapely to a degree . Sho was engaged in deftly embroidering a velvet smoking cup . Ever and anon an arch smile stole over her pleasing countenance , and a low musical laugh escaped her .

Presently the pattering of feet was hoard m the outside passage , tho door was flung open , and a good looking , well-grown boy of ten years or so , bounded in , whose sparkling eyes , brilliant colour , and finely nurtured form bespoke robust health and a superabundance of animal spirits . The lady raised her eyes and gently reproved him for so rudely disturbing her .

" Where is papa ? " cried ho . " I want him to fix tho masts to my yacht . Martha has promised to take me to Wisley Common this evening and I should like to sail the bout on tho lake . " " Your papa , Bertie , is in the arbour finishing his picture , but you must not worry him , as he is not very well to-day . " " Poor papa , " said the lad , and his bright sunny face beenmo clouded ; " he quite frightened me yesterday . " " Frightened you , my darling , " repeated tho lady in wondering tones .

" Yes , clear mamma ; but I must not tell you anything ; papa told me not to mention it , " answered tho boy . " He was taken ill when out walking with you yesterday and you became alarmed , " surmised the mother . " I noticed when he returned a strangeness of manner that a spirir of enforced cheerfulness could not disguise , " and she sighed henvilv .

" . Mamma , dear mamma , do not cry , ' niurmiircd tho child , as ho placed nn arm around her neck and nestled his rosy cheek against hers . " You are right , poor papa was taken ill and 1 will tell you all about it . " " Do so , my darling , I am very anxious to know what occurred , " she returned . " We had been walking some time , " commenced the boy , "and I was getting tired . The sun was very warm yesterday , if you remember inuiuma , and there was scarcely unv breeze . I ' upa had been telling mo during our walk what he hoped

to do for me when I grew older . He said that he wished to see me turn out a clever scholar at one of the Universities , and that he should strain every nerve and make all kinds of sacrifices to enter me lirst at a large public school—Rugb y , I think he said . Of course I was only too glnd fo hear this . Harry Stanley , a playmate of mine , has a brother at Harrow , and he tells me that lifeat any of tho great schools of England is very jolly . Routing , swimming , nni ] cricketing in the summer , and football , skating , ' hare and hounds , ' nnd other sports in the winter . "

" Yes , Bertie , " interrupted his mother smiling , " but you must not forget that it is not all piny nt those excellent institutions . There lire many hard tasks fo perforin , audi am afraid that you will have to put up with a great deal of discomfort and havo to bear many little annoyances and caprices at the hands of hoys , older than yourself . But go on , my dear , I nni nnxious to hear more . " " Well , inainina , " resinned the lad , " we walked along talking about school-boy life , and were in sight of Wisley Hut , when all at once , papa , who had been in high spirits all the morning , faltered in his speech , his f .-it'o became very red , he

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