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bright tell-tale blood , which would rush so madly to her cheeks at the unexpected sound of his voice or footstep . He took his hat from tho peg and together they started . He had watched and waited for this

opportunity to be alone with her , and he meant to make tho most of it now that he had gained it ; nevertheless his heart felt very sad and heavy , as though oppressed by the shadow of a coming failure . Ho thought it next to impossible that she in

all her bright young loveliness could ever care for him , sightless , and ten years her senior . Still there would lie no harm in speaking Out ; no harm in telling her that he loved her fondly . It was not long before they came to Alice ' s favourite spot ; a shadowed nook where the trees were thickest , and a

meandering brook widest ; where tho pure white water-lilies sailed palely on the surface , and the minnows in countless shoals 'floated swiftly down with the stream . This afternoon everything was very still and peaceful in the glare of the glittering sunshine .

Alice seated herself upon her campstool , and Lowndes threw himself on the gra -s at her feet . She opened her hook , but not a word did she read . Never before had Lowndes been so silent , and somehow Alice felt that something out of

the ordinary way was going to happen , for either weal or woo—she could not tell which . Never before had her heart fluttered so restlessly , nor the beautiful colour in her cheeks faded and then glowed again so rapidly . A silence , that neither dared to break seemed to have fallen on them both .

Lowndes broke it . " Alice ! " It was the first time that ho had called her by her Christian name ... She was not in the least surprised . " Yes , Mr . Forrester , " she said faintly . He got ii ]) from the grass then , and ,

coming behind her , laid his hand gently upon her shoulder . " Alice , " he said very earnestly , and his strong voice shook , " I love you ! Pity ray great weakness ; have pity , oh , my dear love , and be my wife 1 "

Her head drooped low on her breastdrooped as do the Jlowrets in the warmth , of the too generous sun . Thankful , . happytears sprang up and trembled on her lashes .

Her bosom heaved—for ho loved her How great a happiness was hers ! She did not speak ; she could find no words in which to answer him . ; but she wanted to make him understand that it could not be ; the social gulf was too cruelly witle . A et

for all that her happincss . was great , andshe . loved him . " AVon't you say one word to me , dear 1 " Drawing in a long trembling breath , site rose from her camp-stool and stood infront of him .

"Lowndes , " she whispered , dwelling with unutterable fondness on Ids name , and clasping her hands together with a little passionate hopeless gesture , "I do love you ; love you with all my soul , but—but it cannot be . "

She burst into tears . But ho in his passion had caught her to his breast , and was straining her there as though he could never part with her more . " My darling , my thirling , my own love !" he cried , almost wild with joy . "A ou are my own now ; nothing shall over part us !" "Let mo go , Mr . Forrester , " pleaded

Miss AVest between her sobs , thinking now that she had gone too far . " You must not ; indeed you must not ! Please let me go . " " And you say yon love me , child !" " Yes , yes . " " Then what do you meanmy darling ?"

, " AVhat would the world say V said she , faintly , and still struggling to free herself from his winding embrace . " The world ! " he repeated , scornfully . " It has forgotten mo . AVo parted nine years ago . I know tho exact worth of its

prejudice and hollow flatteries . But , with you by my side , my little darling , 1 will face it again . Perhaps , after all , it is not so bad . Oh , my dear love , " he continued , "don't lie cruel ; I love you very , very clearly . Alan as I am , I think it would

break my heart wore you to cast me off and give mo no hope . 1 never knew until this moment how much 1 loved you . Say < Ye- * , " Alice —« ay ' A ' es . ' No man will ever love you so dearly as I . " . The temptation was great ; what should she say to him ? It was sweet indeed to feel his arms around her . She knew not

what to do . "It is because I am blind ! " cried Lowndes , with exceeding bitterness , while .