ISHMAEL; Or, IN THE DEPTHS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 459, 2 April 1890, Page 6

ISHMAEL; Or, IN THE DEPTHS.

By MRS EMMA D. E. N. SOUTHWORTH, Author of “Solf-Raiscil.” “Fair Play.” “Ihe Missing Bride.” “A Noble Lord, How He Won Her.” “The Prince of Darkness,” “Tried for Her Life.” Etc.. Etc. CHAPTER XXXVI. DARKNESS. With such wrong and woo exhausted, what I suffered and occasioned — As a wild horse, through a city, runs, with lightning in his eyes, And then dashing at a church s cold and passive wall impassioned. . . , Strikes the death into his burning brain, and blindly drops and diesSo I fell struck down before her! Do you blame me, friends, for weakness? . .. ’Twas my strength of passion slew me .—tell before her like a stone: Fast the dreadful world rolled from me on its

roaring wheels of blackness! . . When the light came, I was lying in tins chamber—and alone. E. B. Browning. Ishmaei, heard no more. Dropping his books, he darted out of the gate, and fled along the road taken by the travellers. Was it in the mad hops of overtaking the sleigh? As well might he expect to overtake an express train ! No—he was mad indeed ! maddened by the suddenness of his bereavement; but not so mad as that; and he started after his flying love in the fierce, blind, passionate instinct of pursuit. A whirl of wild hopes kept him up and urged him on—hopes that they might stop on the road to water the horses, or to refresh themselves, or that they might be delayed at the toll-gate to make change, or that some other 'possible or impossible thing might happen to stop their journey long enough for him to overtake them and see Claudia once more; to shake hands with her, bid her good-bye, and receive from her at parting some last word of regard—some last token of remembrance. This was now the only object of his life ; this was wbat urged him onward in that fearful chase ! To see Clandia once more—to meet her eyes —to clasp her hand— to hear her voice—to bid her farewell ! On and on be ran : toiling up hill, and rushing down dale ; overturning all impediments that lay in his way ; startling all the foot-passengers with the fear of an escaped maniac ! On and on he sped in his mad flight, until he reached the outskirts of the village. Then a sharp pang and a sudden faintness obliged him to stop and rest, grudging the few moments required for the recovery of his breath. Then he set oft again, and ran all the way to the village—ran down the principal street, and turned down the one leading to the wharf. A quick, breathless glance told him alb! The boat had left the shore, and was steaming down the bay ! He . ran down to the water’s edge—stretched his arms out toward the receding steamer —arid with an agonising cry of ‘ Claudia ! Claudia !’ fell forward on his face in a deep swoon. A crowd of villagers gathered around him.

‘ Who is he ?’ ‘ What is the matter with him ?’ ‘ Is he iil ?’ ‘ Has he fainted ?’ ‘ Has he been hurt ?’ ‘ Has an accident happened ?’ ‘ Is there a doctor to be had ?’ All these questions were a-ked in the same breath by the various individuals of the crowd that had collected around the insensible boy; but none seemed ready with an answer. ‘ls there no one here who can tell who he is?’ inquired a tall, grey-haired, mildlooking man, stooping to raise the prostrate form. ‘Yes—it is lshmael Worth!’ answered Hamlin, the bookseller, who was a newcomer upon the scene. ‘lshmael Worth? Hannah Worth’s nephew ?’ ‘ Yes—that is who he is.' ‘ Then stand out of the way, friends; I will take charge of the lad,’ said the greyhaired stranger, lifting the form of the boy in his arms, and gazing into his face. ‘He is not hurt; he is only in a dead faint, and I had better take him home at once,’ continued the old man, as he carried his burden to a light waggon that stood in the street in charge of a negro, and laid him carefully on the cushions. Then he got in himself and took the boy's bead upon his knees, and directed the negro to drive gently along the road leading to the weaver’s. And with what infinite tenderness the stranger supported the light form ! with what wistful interest he contemplated the livid young face ! And so at an easy pace they reached the hill hut.

Hannah Worth was sitting over her great wood fire and busily engaged in needlework, when the door was gently pushed open and the grey-haired man entered, bearing the bov in his arms. Hannah looked calmly up, then threw down her work and started from her chair, exclaiming : ‘Reuben Gray ! you back again ! you ! and—who have you gob there?—lshmael? Good Heavens ! what has happened bo the poor boy ?’ ‘Nothing to frighten you, Hannah, my dear; he has fainted, I think, that is all,’ answered Reuben gently, as he laid the boy carefully upon the bed. ‘ Bub, oh, my goodness, Reuben, how did it happen? where did you find him?’ cried Hannah, frantically seizing first one hand and then the other of the fainting boy, and clapping and rubbing them vigorously. ‘ I picked him up on the Baymouth wharf about half an hour ago, Hannah, my dear, and— ’ ‘ The Baymouth wharf ! that is out of all reason! Why, it is not more than two hours since ho started to go to Brudenell Hall,’ exclaimed Hannah, as she violently rubbed away at the boy’s hands. Reuben was standing patiently at the foot of the bed, with his hat in his hands, and he answered slowly : ‘ Well. Hannah, I don’t know how that might be ; but I know I picked him up where I said.’ ‘ Bub what caused all this, Reuben Gray ? What caused it? that’s what I want to know ! can’t you speak ?’ harshly demanded the woman, as she flew to her cupboard, seized a vinegar cruet, and began to bathe Ishmael’s head and face with its stimulating contente. ‘ Well, Hannah, I couldn’t tell exactly ; but ’pears to me some one went off in the boat as he was a-pining after.’ * Who went off in the boat ? asked Hannah, impatiently. ‘Law Hannah, my dear, how could 1 tell ? Why, there wasn’t less than thirty or forty passengers, more or less, went off in that boat!’ ‘ What do I care how many restless fools went off in the boat ? Tell me about the boy J’ snapped Hannah, as she once more _#an to the cupboard, poured, out a little

precious brandy kept for medicinal purposes), and came and tried to force a teaspoonful between Ishmael’slips. ‘ Hannah, woman, don’t be so unpatient. Indeed it wasn’t my fault. I will tell you all I know about it.’ • Tell me, then.’ ‘ I am going to. Well, you see I had just taken some of the judge’s luggage down to the boat and got it well on, and the boat had just started, and I was just a-getting into my cart again, when I seen a youth come a-tearin’ down the street like mad, and he whips round the corner like a rush of wind, and streaks it down to the wharf and looks after the boat as if it was a-carrying oil every friend he had upon the veth ; and then he stretches out both his arms and cries out aloud, and falls on his face like a tree cub down. And a crowd gathered, and some one said how the lad was your nephew, so 1 picked him up and laid him in my cart to bring him home. And I made Bob drive slow ; and I bathed the boy’s face and hands with some good ,vhiskv_ and tried to make him swallow

some ; but it was no use.’ While Reuben spoke, lahmael gave signs of returning consciousness, and then suddenly opened his eye 3 and looked around him. ‘ Drink this, my boy ; drink this, my darling Ishmael,’ said Hannah, raising his head with one hand while she hold the brandy to his lips with the other. Ishmael obediently drank a little and then sank back upon his pillow. He gazed lixedly for a few moments, and then he suddenly threw his arms around her neck, as she stooped over him, and cried out in a voice piercing shrill with anguish : ‘Oh, aunt Hannah 1 she is gone : she is gone for ever !’ ‘ Who i 3 gone, my boy?’ asked Hannab, sympathetically. ‘Claudia ! Claudia !’ he wailed, covering Uid n.irurnlcDfl fn wif.K lllS nflllflS.

‘ Now, my ban upon Brudenell Hall and all connected with it!’ exclaimed Hannah, bitterly, as the hitherto unsuspected fact of Ishmael’s fatal love flashed upon her mind —-* my blackest ban upon Brudenell Hall and all its hateful race ! It was built for the ruin of me and mine ! I was a fool ! a weak, wicked fool, ever to have allowed Ishmael to enter its unlucky doors ! My curse upon them !’ The boy threw up his thin hands with a gesture of deprecation. * Don’t! don’t! don’t, aunt Hannah ! Every word you speak is a stab through my heart.’ And the sentence closed with a gasp and a sob, and he covered his face with his hands. ‘ W'hat can I do for him ?’ said Hannah,

appealing to Reuben. ‘Nothing, ray dear, but what you have done. Leave him alone to rest quietly. It is easy to see that he has been very much shaken both in body and mind ; and perfect rest is the only thing as will help him,’ answered Gray. Ishmael’s hands covered his quivering face ; but they saw that his bosom was heaving convulsively. He seemed to be struggling valiantly to regain composure. Presently, as if ashamed of having betrayed his weakness, he covered his face and said, in a faltering and interrupted voice : ‘ Dear aunt Hannah, I am so sorry that I have disturbed you ; excuse me; and let me lie here for half an hour to recover myself. Ido not wish to be self-indulgent; but lam exhausted. I ran all the way from Brudenell Hall to Baymouth to get—to gee —to see— ’ His voice broke do*n with a sob, he covered his face with his hands, and shook as with an ague. ‘ Never mind, my dear, don’t try to explain ; lie as long as you wish, and sleep if you can,’ said Hannah. But Ishmael looked up again, and with recovered calmness, said : ‘I will rest for half an hour, aunt Hannah, no longer; and then I will get up and cut the wood, or do any work you want done.’ 4 Very well, my boy,’ said Hannah, stooping and kissing him. Then she arranged his pillow, covered him up carefully, drew the curtains and came away and loft him. 4 He will bo all rieht in a little while, Hannah, my dear,’ said Reuben, as he walked with her towards the fireplace. 4 Sit down there, Reuben, and tell me about yourself, and where you have been living all this time,’ said Hannah, seating herself in her arm-chair and pointing to another. Reuben slowly took the seat and carefully deposited his hat on the floor by his side. 4 1 am sorry I spoke so sharply to you about the lad, Reuben ; it was a thankless return for all your kindness in taking care of him and bringing him home ; but indeed I am not thankless, Reuben ; but I have rrrown to be a very cross old woman,’ she said. 4 Have you, indeed, Hannah, my dear ?’ exclaimed Reuben, raising his eyebrows in sincere astonishment and some consternation.

* It appears to me that you might see tha f , I have,’ replied Hannah plainly. ‘ Well, no ; seems to me, my dear, you’re the same as you allers was, both as to looks and as to temper.’ ‘ I feel that I am very much changed. And so are you, Reuben ! How grey your hair is !’ she said, looking critically at her admirer. ‘ Grey ! I believe you ! Ain't it though?’ exclaimed Reuben, smiling, and running his thorny fingers through his blanched locks. ‘ But you haven’t told me all about yourself, yet; where you have been living; how you have been getting along, and what brought you back to this part of the country,’ said Hannah, with an air of deep interest. ‘ Why, Hannah, my dear, didn’t you know all how and about it?’ ‘No; I heard long ago, of course, that you had got a place as overseer on the plantation of some rich gentleman up in the forest; but that was all; I never even heard the name of the place or the master.’ 4 Well, now, that beats all! Why, Hannah, woman, as soon as I gob settled, I set down and-writ you a letter, and all how and about it, and axed you, if ever you changed your mind about what —about the —about our affairs, you know—to drop me a line and I’d come and marry you and the child, right out of hand, and fetch you both to my new home.’ ‘I never got the letter.’ ‘ See that, now ! Everything, even the post, goes to cross a feller’s love ! Bub Hannah, woman, if you had a got the letter, would you a-called me back ?’ asked Gray, eagerly. ‘No, Reuben, certainly not,’ said Hannah, decidedly. • Then it is just as well you didn’t get it, sighed this most faithful, though most unfortunate of suitors. ‘Tees; just as well, Reuben,’ assented Hannah ; ‘but that fact does nob lessen my interest in your fortunes, and as I never got the letter I am still ignorant of your circumstances. ’ ‘Well, Hannah, my dear, I’m thankful as you feel any interest in me at all, and I’ll tell you everything. Let me see, what was it you was wanting to know, now? all about myself ; where I was living ; how I was getting along ; and what fotch me back here;—all soon told, Hannah, my d ear i— First about myself: You see, Hannah, that day as you slammed the door

in my face, I felt so distressed in my mind as I didn’t care what on earth became of me; first I thought I’d list for a soldier ; then I thought I’d ship for a sailor ; last I thought I’d go and seek my fortun’ in Californy ; but then the idee of the girls having of no protector but myself, hindered of me; hows’ever anyways I made up my mind, as come what would I’d leave the neighbourhood, first opportunity ; and so, soon after, as I heard of a situation as overseer at Judge Merlins plantation up in the forest of Prince George’s County, I sots oil and walks up there, and offers myself for the place ; and was so for’nate as to be taken ; so I comes back and moves my family, bag and baggage, up there. Now as to the place whero I live, it is called Tanglowood, and a tangle it is, as gets more and more tangled every year of its life. As to how I’m getting on, Hannah, I can’t complain ; for if I have to do very hard work, 1 get very good wages. As to what brought me back to the neighbourhood, Hannah, it. was to do some business for tho judge, and to buy some stock for the farm. But there, my dear ! that boy has slipped out, and is cutting the wood ; I’ll go and do it for him,’ said Reuben, as the sound of Ishmael’s axe fell upon their ears. Hannah arose and followed Gray to the door, and there before it stood Ishmael, chopping away at random upon the pile of wood, his cheeks flushed with fever and his eyes wild with excitement. ‘ Hannab, he is ill ; he is very ill ; see, he doesn’t well know what he is about,' said Reuben, trying to take the axe from the boj ? ’s hand. ‘ I-hmael, Ishmael, my lad, come in; you are not well enough to work,’ said Hannah, anxiously. Ishmael yielded up the axe and suffered

Reuben to draw him into the house. ‘ It is only that I am so hot and dizzy and weak, Mr Middleton ; but I am sure I shall be able to do it presently,’ said lahmael, apologetically, as he put his hand to his head and looked around himself in perplexity. ‘ I’ll tell you what, the boy is out of his head, Hannah, and it’s my belief as he’s a going to have a bad illness,’ said Reuben, as he guided Ishmael to the bed and laid him on it.

‘ Oh, Reuben ! what shall we do ?’ exclaimed Hannah. ‘ I don’t know, child i wait a bit and see.’ They had nob long to wait; in a few hours Ishmael was burning with fever and raving with delirium. ‘ This is a-gwine to be a bad job ! I’ll go and fetch a doctor,’ said Reuben Gray, hurrying away for the purpose. Reuben’s words proved true. It was a * bad job.’ Severe study, mental excitement, disappointment and distress had done their work upon his extremely sensitive organisation, and Ishmael was prostrated by illness.

We will nob linger over the gloomy days that followed. The village doctor brought by Reuben was as skilful as if he had been the fashionable physician of a large city, and as attentive as if his poor young patient had been a millionaire. Hannah devoted herself with almost motherly love to the suffering boy ; and Reuben remained in tho neighbourhood and came every day to fetch and carry, chop wood and bring water and help Hannah to nurse Ishmael. And Hannah 'was absolutely reduced to the necessity of accepting his affectionate services. Mr Middleton, as soon as he heard of his favourite’s illness, hurried to the hut to inquire into Ishmael’s condition and to offer every assistance in his power to render; and he repeated his visits as often as the great pressure of his affairs permitted him to do. Ishmael’s illness was long protracted; Mr Middleton’s orders to vacate Brudenell Hall on or before the first day of February were peremptory ; and thus it followed that the whole family removed from the neighbourhood before Ishmael was in a condition to bid them farewell. The day previous to their departure, however, Mr and Mrs Middleton, with Walter and Beatrice, came to take leave of him. As Mrs Middleton stooped over the unconscious youth, her tears fell fast and warm upon his face, so that in his fever dream he murmured : 1 Claudia, it is beginning to rain, let us go in.’ At this Beatrice burst into a flood of tears and was led away to the carriage by her father. After tho departure of the Middletons it was currently reported in the neighbour hood that the arrival of Mr Herman Brudenell was daily expected. Hannah became very much disturbed with an anxiety that was all the more wearing because she could not communicate it to anyone. The idea of remaining in the neighbourhood with Mr Brudenell, and being subjected to the chance of meeting him, was unsupportablo to her; she would have been glad of any happy event that might take her ofi to a distant part of the State, and she resolved, in the event of poor Ishmael’s death, to go and seek a home and serrice somewhere else. Reuben Gray stayed on; and in answer to all Hannah’s remonstrances, he said : ‘lb is of no use talking to me now, Hannah. You can’t do without mo, woman ; and I mean to stop until the poor lad gets well or dies.’ But our boy was not doomed to die ; the indestructible vitality, the irrepressible elasticity of his delicate and sensitive organisation, bore him through and above his terrible illness, and he passed the crisis safely and lived. After that turning point his recovery was rapid. It was a mild, dry mid-day in early spring that Ishmael walked out for the first time. He bent his steps to the old oak tree that overshadowed his mother’s grave, and seated himself there to enjoy the fresh air while he reflected. Ishmael took himself severely to task for what he called the blindness, the weakness and the folly with which he had permitted himself tofallinto ahopeless, mad and nearly fatal passion for one placed so high above him tha' indeed he might as well have loved some ‘ bright particular star,’ and hoped to win it. And here on the sacred turf of his mother’s grave he resolved once for all to conquer this boyish passion, by devoting himself to the serious business of life. Hannah and Reuben were left alone in the hut. ‘Now, Reuben Gray,’ began Hannah, ‘no tongue can tell how much I feel your goodness to me and Ishmael: but, my good man, you mustn’t stay in this neighbourhood any longer ; Ishmael is well and does nob need you, and your employer’s affairs are neglected and do need you. So, Reuben, my friend, you had better start home as soon as possible.’ ‘ Well, Hannah, my dear, I think so too, and I have thought so for tho last week, only I did not like to hurry you,’ said Reuben, acquiescently. 1 Didn’t like to hurry me, Reuben ? how hurry me? I don’t know what you mean,’ Raid Hannah, raising her eyes in astonishment.

‘ Why, I didn’t know as you’d like to get ready so soon ; or, indeed, whether the lad was able to bear the journey yet,’ said Reuben, calmly and reflectively. ‘Reuben, I haven’t the least idea of your meaning.’

* Why, law, Hannab, my dear, it seems to me it is plain enough ; no woman likes to be hurried at sich times, and I thought you wouldn’t like to be neither ; I thought you would like a little time to get up some finery ; and also the boy would be the better for more rest before taking of a long journey ; but hows’ever, Hannah, if you don’t think all these delays necessary, why I wouldn’t be the man to be a-raaking of thorn. Because to tell you tho truth, considering the shortness of life, T think tho delays have been lone enough ; and considering our age, I think we have pretty little time to lose. I’m fifty-one years of age, Hannah ; and you be getting on smart towards forty-four ; and if we ever mean to marry in this world, I think it is about time, my dear. ’ ‘ Reuben Gray, is that what you mean ?’ ‘ Sartain, Hannah ! You didn’t think as I was a-going away again without you, did you now ?’ ‘ And so that was what you meant, was

it?’ ‘That was what I meant., and that was what I still mean, Hannah, my dear. ’ ‘ Then you must be a natural fool!’ burst forth Hannah. * Now stop o’ that, my dear ! ’taint a bit of use ! all them hard words might o’ fooled me years and years agone, when you kept me at such a distance that I had no chance of reading of your natur’ ; but they can’t fool me non:, as I have been six weeks in constant sarvice here, Hannah, and obsarving of you close. Once they might have made me think you hated me ; but now nothing you can say will make me believe but what you like old Reuben to-day just as well as you liked young Reuben that day ' we first fell in love long o’ one another at the harvest home. And as for me, Hannah, the Lord knows I have never changed towards you. We always liked each other, Hannah, and we like each other still. So don’t try to deceive yourself about it, for you can’t deceive me !’ ‘Reuben Gray, why do you talk so to me?’ ‘ Because it is right, dear.’ 4 I gave you your answer years ago.’ 1 1 know you did, Hannah ; because there were sartain circumstances as you chose to elewate into obstacles against our marriage ; but now, Hannah, all these obstacles are removed. Nancy and Peggy married and went out to Texas years ago. And little Kitty married and left me last summer. She and her husband have gone to Californy ; where, they do tell me, that lumps of pure gold lay about the ground as plenty as stones do around here ! Anyways, they’ve all gone ! all tho little sisters as I have worked for, and cared for, and saved for--all gone, and left me alone in my old age !’ * That was very ungrateful, ar.d selfish, and cruel of them, Reuben ! They should have taken you with them ! At least, little Kitty" and her husband should have done so,’ said Hannah, with more feeling than she had yet betrayed. * Law, Hannah, why little Kitty and her husband couldn’t! Why, child, it takes mints and mints of money to pay for a passage out yonder to Californy ! and it takes nine months to go the v’yge—they have to go all around Cape —Cape Hoof, no, Horn—Cape Horn ! I knowed it wor somethin’ relating to cattle. Yes, Hannah—hundreds of dollars and months of time do it take to go to that gold region ! and so, ’stead o’ them being able to take me out, I had to gather up all my savings to help ’em to pay tlieir own passage.’ ‘ Poor Reuben ! poor, poor Reuben !’ said Hannah, with the tears springing to her eyes. 4 Thank you, thank you, dear ; but I shall not be poor Reuben if yoxi will be mine,’ whispered Gray. ‘Reuben, dear, I would —indeed I would —if I were still young and good-looking ; but I am not so, dear Reuben ; I am middleaged and plain.’ 4 Well, Hannah, old sweetheart, while you have been growing older, have I been going bac’ards and growing younger ? One would think so to hear you "talk. No, Hannah ! I think there is just about the same difference in our ages now as there was years ago ; and besides, if you were young and handsome, Hannah, I would never do you such a wrong as to ask you to be the wife of a poor old man like me ! It i 3 the fitnes3 of our ages and circumstances, as well as our lqng attachment, that gives me the courage to ask you even a*j this late day, old friend, to come and cheer my lonely home. Will you do so, Hannah ?’ 4 Reuben, do you really think that I could make you any happier than you are, or make your home any more comfortable than ibis?’ asked-Hannah, in a low, doubting voice. * Sartain, my dear.’ * Bub, Reuben, I am nob good-tempered like I used to be ; I am very often cross; and—’ 4 That is because you have been all alone, with no one to care for you, Hannah, my dear. You couldn't bo cross, with me to love you,’ said Reuben, soothingly. 4 But, indeed, I fear I should ; it is my infirmity; I am cross eveu with Ishmael, poor dear lad.’ ‘ Well, Hannah, even if you was to be, I shouldn’t mind it much. I don’t want to boast, bub I do hope as I’ve gob boo much manhood to be out of patience with women ; besides, I ain’t easy pub out, you know.’ ‘ No, you good fellow ; I never saw you out of temper in my life.’ 4 Thank you, Hannah ! Then it’s a bar gain ?’ 4 Bub, Reuben ! about Ishmael?’ 4 Lord bless you, Hannah ! why, I told you years ago, when the lad was a helpless baby, that he should be as welcome to me as a son of my own ; and now, Hannah, at his age, with his lamin’, he’ll be a perfect treasure to me,’ said Reuben, brightening up. 4 In what manner, Reuben ?’ 4 Why, law, Hannah, you know I never could make any fist of reading, writing and ’rithmetic ; and so the keeping of the farmbooks is just the one great torment of my life. Little Kitty used to keep them for me before she- was married (you know I managed to give the child a bit of schooling) ; bub since she have been gone they haven’t been half kept, and if I hadn’t a good memory of my own I shouldn’t be able to give no account of nothing. Now, Ishmael, you know, could pub all the books to rights for me, and keep them to rights,’ 4 If that be so, it will relieve my mind very much, Reuben,’ replied Hannah. The appearance of Ishmael’s pale face at the door put an end to the conversation for the time being. And Reuben took up his hat and departed. That evening, after Reuben had bid them good-night, and departed to the neighbour’s house where he slept, Hannah told Ishmael all about her engagement to Gray. And it was with the utmost astonishment the youth learned they were all to go to reside on the plantation of Judge Merlin—Claudia’s father t Well, to live so near her house would make his duty to conquer his passion only the more difficult, but he was still resolved to effect his purpose. Having once given her consent, Hannah would not compromise Reuben’s interest with his employer by making

any more difficulties or delays. She spent the remainder of that week in packing up the few effects belonging to herself and Ishmael. The boy himself employed his time in transplanting rosebushes from the cottage garden to his mother's grave, and fencing it around with a rude but substantial paling. On Sunday morning Reuben and Hannah were married at the church ; and on Monday they were to set out for their new home.

Early on Monday morning Ishmael arose and went out to take leave of his mother’s grave; and, kneeling there, he silently renewed his vow to rescue her name from reproach and give it to honour. Before the cottage door stood Reuben's light waggon, in which were packed the trunks with their wearing apparel, the hamper with their luncheon, and ail the little light effects which required care. Into this Gray placed Hannah and Ishmael, taking the driver's seat himself. A heavier waggon behind this one contained all Hannah’s household furniture, including her loom and wheel, and Ishmael’s homemade desk and book shelf, and in the driver’s seat sat the negro man who had come down in attendance upon the overseer.

The Professor of Odd Jobs stood in the door of the hut, with his hat in his h nd, waving adieu to tho departing travellers. The professor had come by appointment to see them off and take the key >. f the hut to the overseer at the Hall.

The sun was just rising above the heights of Brudenell Hall and flooding all the vale with light. The season was very forward, and, although the month was March, the weather was like that of April. The sky was of that clear, soft, bright blue of early spring ; the sun shone with dazzling splendour ; the new grass was springing everywhere, and was enamelled with early violets and snow-drops ; the woods were budding with the tender green of young vegetation. Distant, sunny hills, covered with apple or peach orchards all in blossom, looked like vast gardens of mammoth x - ed and white rose trees.

Even to the aged, spring brings renewal of life, but to the young—not even poets have words at command to tell what exhilaration, what ecstatic rapture.it brjngs to the young, who are also sensitive and sympathetic. Ishmael »vas all these; his delicate organisation was susceptible of intense enjoyment or suffering. He had never in his life been five miles from his native place ; he had just risen from a sick bed as from a grave ; ho was going to penetrate a little beyond his native round of hills, and see what was on the other side ; the morning was young, the season was early, the world was fresh ; this day seemed a new birth to Ishmael; this journey a new start in life ; he intensely enjoyed it all: to him all was delightful; the ride through the beautiful, green, blossoming woods ; the glimpses of the blue sky through the quivering upper leaves ; the shining of the sun ; the singing of the birds ; the fragrance of the ffpwers.

To him the waving trees seemed bending in worship, the birds trilling hymns of joy ; and the flowers wafting offerings of incense! There are times and places when this earth seems heaven and all nature worshippers. Ishmael was divinely happy ; even the lost image of Claudia reappeared now surrounded with a halo of hope, for to-day aspirations indeed seemed prophecies, will seemed power, and all things possible. And nob on Ishmael alone beamed the blessed influence of the spring weather. Even Hannah’s care-worn face was softened into contentment and enjoyment. As for Reuben’s honest phiz, it was a sight to behold in its perfect satisfaction. Even the negro driver of the heavy waggon let Ins horses take their time as he raised his ear to catch some very delicate trill in a bird’s song or turned his head to inhale the perfume from some bank of flowers. Onward they journeyed at their leisure through all that glad morning landscape. At noon they stopped at a clearing around a cool spring in the woods, and while the negro fed and watered the horses, they rested and refreshed themselves with a substantial luncheon, and then strolled about through the shades until * Sam ’ had eaten his dinner, re - packed the hamper, and pub the horses to the waggons again. And then they all returned to their seats and recommenced their journey. On and on they journeyed through the afternoon; deeper and deeper they descended into the foreit as the sun declined in the west. When it was on the edge of the horizon, striking long golden lines through the interstices of the woods, Hannah grew rather anxious, and she spoke up : ‘Seems to me, Reuben, that we have come ten miles since we saw a house or a farm.’

‘ Yes, my dear. We are now in the midst of the old forest of Prince George’s, and our home is yet about five miles off'. But don't be afraid, Hannah, woman : you have got me with you, and we will get home before midnight.’ 1 1 am only thinking of the runaway negroes, Reuben ; they all take refuge in these thick woods, you know : and they are a very desperate gang; their hands against everybody and everybody’s hands against them, you may say.’ ‘ True, Hannah ; they are_ desperate enough, for they have everything to fear and nothing bo hope, in a meeting with most of the whites ; but there is no danger to us, child.’ * I don’t know ; they murdered a harmless pedlar last winter, and attacked a peaceable teamster this spring.’ ‘ Still, my dear, there is no danger : we havea pair of double-barrelled pistolsloaded, and also a blunderbuss ; and we are three men and you are as good as a fourth ; so don’t be afraid.’ Hannah was silenced, if not reassured. They journeyed on at a rate as fast as the rather tired horses could be urged to make. When the sun had set it grew dark in the forest. There was no moon ; and although it was a clear, starlight night, yet that did not help them much. They had to drive very slowly and carefully to avoid accidents, and it was indeed midnight when they drove up to the door of Hannah’s new home, lb was too dark to see more of it than that it was a two-storeyed white cottage with a vine-clad porch, and that it stood in a garden on the edge of the wood. (To be continued.)