Chapter XXV.

Sfcrathewu,. Belle, however, in the meanwhile was not thinking so detpondingly. Gilbert's very presence made life brighter to her— filled her heart with new interests and hopes. She would soon Bee him again ; they were to be friends always, she told herself, and woman-like this made her almost: content. She did not reckon on the strong feelings in Gilbert's heart, nor remember the deep emotions that might sway and overwhelm bis reason with irresistible force. She looked very bright when Stanraoreand Lady Stanmore returned from Hurst. Her cheeks were aglow and her eyes shining, and after she bad uekad about Sir Dick she told them of her visitor. "Captain Gilbert has been here, Stanmore," she said. 11 Has he I I'm sorry I missed him. Did you not ask bitn to stay to dinner? "answered Stanmore.

"I did not ask him," replied Belle. Lady Stanmore looked at Belle, bub said nothing, and presently began to apeak of the great change in Lady Probyn's appearance. " I never saw a woman so changed," she said ; " all her good looks are gone." "I am afraid 6he has suffered great anxiety," said Belle gently and with much pity in her voice. "Bub I hope now all danger is over with Sir Dick 1 " " He is terribly disfigured they say," remarked Stanmore, and for a moment he glanced at Belle. " Did Gilbert s?y anything about joining us at Strathearn 1 " he asked her nsxt. " He said something about to Sootland," answered Bslle. 11 1 must go over to Marcbmont to-morrow and settle the day for them to anlve. I have asked John Lee, ako ; so, Belle, you will have four men to entertain."

"I do not think that will overwhelm Belle," said Lady Stanmore, smiling rather satirically. " I am sure it will not," returned Bslle.

" I had a letter from the agent this morning," continued Stanmore, " and I want to see old Marchmont about that. There's a splendid moor to rent not far from Strathearn, but they want a big rent for it. But I. daresay the old fellow won't mind tbat."

And Stanmore did go over to Marchmont the next day, and Mr Marchmont, sen., was only too delighted to hear of tbe moor that adjoined Strathearn. This worthy couple made no secret— between ' themselves at least— of their desire to rite in life, and to mix intimately with those . whose birth was superior to their own. "We can afford it," Mr Marchmont would say sententiouily, and his helpmate agreed with him. They were both ready to pay for their ambition, and a Highland moor near Lord Stanmore's would aid this.

Ibe affair was soon settled. It was agreed tbat Mr Mwoiuaont, hii ion Jim, and Qaj>-

tain Gilbert were to go down to Scotland two days after tbe Staumores had arrived there, and that they were to be the guest* of the Stanmores at Stratheam until tha arrangements for renting the new moor were completed.

Stanmore seemed glad to get away from Rsdvers Oourt for a while. He was not used to country life, and his marriage had, no doubt, disappointed him. A man who has been accustomed to be flattered all his days by women does not take very kindly to indifference. And he was too shrewd not to see that Belle gave him no love, " I have been a fool," he told himself; "ft man of my ag» to marry a girl of hers. I had better have waited." And he sighed. He was not a keen sportsman, but the purple and green stretch of the moorlands had always given him pleasure. In bis brother's time, before the late lord's failing health had prevented hit going yearly -to Stratheam, Stanmore generally spent some weeks of tbeautumn in Scotland. The shooting lodge, as they called it, was in truth a charming house, situated amid the wildest and most romantic scenery. Built at the head of a loch, and surrounded on either side by lofty mountain crests, on whose rugged steeps the birch and red-berried . rowan grew, Stratheam possessed both foi ' the sportsman and the artist everything that ' could be desired. A splendid trout stream - even went gurgling by. in a little valley below, and Stanmore was a good fisherman. : Tbe aport suited him better than the tramp over the fern-decked hills, and he started in - good spirit* for their journey north. , Belli never forgot the first morning when she awoke in her Highland home. She-went - to the window of her room, and everything outside seemed like fairyland. The sunlight was streaming down the glen in rosy floods, touching with crimson the mountain tops, and falling on the loch below in ripples of shining light. It was a beautif al and romantic scene. At their base the great hills still lay wrapped in purple sbadowp, though their summits were crowned with gold. And the solitude ! th« stillness! It had been dark when they arrived the night before, and Bslle had been ' unable to judge of the wild beauty of Strathearn. Her companions, too, had not been lively. Lady Stanmore was tired with the' long journey, and rather cross, and Sfcanmore waa sleepy. B4le, therefore, now stood delighted, gazing at the blue 6ky and at tht dark storm-rent fira which grew thick and Btro»g up tbe steep tides of the mighty hills, and in many places down to the very water's edge. It was all so new to her ; its gran* dour, its wildnem?, filled her heart with a strange feeling she coald not define. But presently a different thought stole into her mind. In another day Hugh Gilbert would be here, and they would look on this' scene together, and watch the sunsets fall on the water and the light die on the hills. 1 Belle sighed softly ; she wished the hours ' were winged until he came. " H« will think it so beautiful," she whls«. peted to herself ; more beautiful she knew, because she would be by his side. ' ■ She went down to breakfast looking so ; fresh and fair that both Stanmore and Ladj ' Stanmore complimented her on her appear- , ance. " Why, Belle, the Highland air has beei like a beauty draught to yon I " said Stanmore, smiling. "I am delighted— enchanted," answered Balle, with enthusiasm. "The soenery Is quite perfect." ; " How would you like it in a snowstorm V asked Stanmore." "It would still be most grand; most beautiful." " Not very grand for the poor sheep on tbe hillside*, though. I was once here in a storm, and the snow wrapped many a flock in its chill embrace. No, I shall never forget," and Stanmore slightly shivered, " tbe white world we could not escape from." "Scotland must be perfectly dreadful in ; winter, I should think," said Lady Stan- ; more. " Tola is the time for it, and yet I confess I would soon weary of tbe loneliness if I remained here long." " I should never weary of it," said Belle in a low tone ; but she to not thinking only of the beauties of Stratheam. She spent almost the whole morning in rambling among the craggy paths oh the bills. Stanmore's . agent called on him' regarding the moor Mr Marchmont was' thinking of renting, and he had interviews with. tbe keepers, and Belle was left very' much to herself, and she was quite contentthat this should be so. Lady Stanmore was still tired with her journey and remained indoors, except for a short walk daring theafternoon. • ' „. "I shall be glad when the gentlemen' come," she said to Belle. "It will make a little variety, and Sir John Lee is a gentlemanly man, and the two Marcbmonts endurable." She did not mention Hugh Gilberts name,' nor did Belle. Tacitly they had agreed never to speak of him, and Belle was glad of this. She could not tell her anntwhat Bhe thought, nor of Gilbert's bitter indignation against her. There was a kind of armed neutrality, indeed, between the aunt and niece, and neither hinted anything of this to Stanmore. But he, too, was glad when his expected guests arrir^d the next day in time for a very late dinner, or rather supper, and welcomed them cordially to Stratheam. And Bolle 1 Was it the white dress she wore, with heather in her brown hair and at her breast, that made her look so fair as she went forward to receive her visitors? She did not oxohange a word with one of' them. There was a silent handolaep, the sweet consciousness of etch other's presence, and they needed no more. Lady Stanmore watched them, and she was satisfied with Belle's .manner. " I've no doubt she's really grateful to me," she secretly thought, " though she pretended not to be. The young man looks ; rather indignant, bat I was ffis best friend, too." Gilbert, indeed, could scarcely hide his anger in Lady Stanmore's presence. And when ' he looked at Belle, when hfi remembered that this sweet woman would have been his— his very own — but for the scheming brain that had parted them, there was absolute hatred in bis heart for Lady Stan* more. Sat howa» towdtohidothiifisbe&Mlfc

STATION BALLADS. NO. VII.-THE BLOKE FROM SOUTH. On Thursday we was at the tent, Bill Anderson and I, When just about at dinner-time that Southland bloke come by ; And Bill sings out : " Come over, mate, and have a drink of tea." And middling quick he turns about : "My bloomin? oath, that's me." Says Bill : " The roads is muddy, mate ; been long upon the track?" Says he : "I wallabied from south— l wish that I was back." Saya Bill : "And what d'you think of Ward?" ( And Bill he winks at u>e) "The smartest man as ever was," that Southland bloke, says'he. " Well hanged if I can see," says Bill, " where all his smartness lice— He hadn't eavey seems to me to make a decent rise; He didn't even try to clear before they saw his game, He didn't get a penny-piece and has to take the bluine. And as for straight, it seems to me them other jokers there— Thecoves that fixed the Glasgow bank— played just about as fair. ' There, them's my sentiments on Ward. (And • Bill he winks at me.) " You only read the Tory preßß," that Southland bloke says he. Says Bill : " The.Tory press be blo>yed, I read the judge's case, I wouldn't like if you or me was in that joker s pace; They wouldn't hush the matter up, and se;ve us riehtsay I, I don't hold in with gpieler tricks, and plenty reason why— The bloke as does another bloke will do his own mates too, This little gauio of Ward and Co. ain't all to very new. " There, them's my Bentiments on things. (Ann Bill he winks at me.) j " Our Mr Ward ain't understood," that Southland ! bloke suys he. Says Bill to me that afternoon: " Them Southland I blokes licks me ; They'll atick to Ward through thick and thin whatever be may be." "He caa't be quite so bad," cays I, " however tbing-i may go, When fair and houest working blokea sticks by him when he's low." And Bill be grunted: "Black ain't white, and talk won't make it blue." And on the whole I reckon now that what Bill says ii> true, ' For when wo both got home at night and started cooking tea I misßed my pocket-book— it's plain that hloke from south done me. Puketoi, July 24 —David Jl'Kee Wright.

A LAMEST. 0 Death ! couldsi thou n t spare, Among these thousand blos3oma rich and fair, My one poor lowly flower To bloom a longer hour, An I let its Bimple btauty soothe my care ? There are so many here— So mauy and so many that are sere: Dry, barren stems at beat, / That fain would be at reit— ' ' ;And yet thou sparest them from year to year I 0 Ddath I we were so fond ; And I know not, oh, I know not, what's Leyondl, . Is theie some golden shore ' Where lovers part no more ?— We know not, oh, we know not, what's beyond I July 1896. , -H. J. B.