Rookstone Priory.

" Lowndes , " Miss West said , presently , thoughtful and earnest , " did the doctors say that you were incurably blind T " Yes , " was the sad reply . " Butdear - Loivndes" continued she

, , , " have you asked them lately ? Have you seen a doctor since that dreadful time when it was first clone f " jNTo . "

" Then there may be hope , " she cried joyfully ; " there may be hope yet !" Mr . Forrester shook his head . "I fear not , " ho said quietly . "On the first day of my dark awful pain my father summoned a skilful oculist , and he said

that he could hold out no vestige of hope ; not even in the years to come . My case , he declared , was simply hopefess . After that I resigned myself as clalmly as I could to a lifetime of inevitable darkness . "

Alice West rose from the floor . and stood by her lover ' s side . She laid her hand upon his shoulder with an earnest cpiiet gentleness . Her voice was very low in the fast gathering gloom of the waning summer night .

Aunt Jem in shadow behind the woolframe , was still unconscious of passing events . She could not hear Alice's loir pleading A'oice as it stole through the quietude of the cool odorous twilight .

No , Mrs . Lorrimore , dear soul , was in the land of Egypt ; for the time she was faraway from cpiiet , quaint old Rookstone . Half an hour later she came hack with a start from the turbulent shores of the perilous Red Sea , to find herself at

Rookstone again , in the lighted drawingroom , and Lowndes and Alice AVest standing together in front of her big arm-chair . Alice ' s kiss had been the means of bringing her home from her Wanderings .

" Well , " said aunt Jem , looking up and smiling lazily , " you think I have been to sleep , I suppose ?" " Oh , no , " replied LoAvndes . "We have something to tell you , aunt Jem" said Alice .

, " What is it , my dear 11 am quite aivake . ' And then the news was told ; told by beautiful , radiant Alice West . "Loivndes has consented to see uncle Richard , " she said in happy excitement . "I am going to irate to Mm to-night .

Oh , aunt Jem , dear aunt Jem , I am sure LoAvndes -will have his sight restored at last . Uncle Richard is so clever ; he is unknoAvn ; what the world calls unknown , you know ; but , oh , so wonderfully clever ! Loivndes is going up to London the day after to-morrow . "

Mrs . Lorrimore was brisk enough HOAV . " To see your uncle Richard , my dear' . " she exclaimed in wild astonishment . "What for f " Uncle Richard is an oculist , " answered

Alice confidently ; "he will give Lowndes his sight again ; I know he will . Oh , aunt Jem , are not you glad 1 Say that you are glad , aunt Jem . " "I am glad , my child , " replied the old lady ; " but LoAvndes , dear boy , " turning anxiously to him , " can you bear disappointment ; a painful failure perhaps ?"

" I have no hope myself , he answered , "hut Alice has ; and it is for her sake that I am Avilling to risk the trial . " "Ah , there it is , " said aunt Jem , with a troubled brow ; " there must be an operation . Is it wise , dear boy , after

all these years of rest and quiet , to risk the pain of an unsuccessful operation . Think , Lowndes . " "I have-decided , " replied he , firmly . "Aunt Jem , it is for my dear Alice's sake . "

"And I , " whispered Alice , nestling close to his side , " am full of hope . " Mrs . Lorrimore sighed . " Please Heaven it may be all for the best ! " she said , as the man came hi with the clattering cups and saucers and the

hissing urn . By the first post next morning a letter went off from Rookstone , and the address on the outside of the envelope was hi Alice ' s handwritino ' :

Mr . Richard West , 19 Brook Crescent , Islington . And the mission thereof ivas to say that the blind master of Rookstone ivas

coming up to London on the following day to consult Mr , AVest on the expediency of an operation upon eyes which bad not beheld the blessed daylight for the space of nine dark , suffering years .