THE MIDNIGHT PROPHECY; OR, THE HEIR OF STRATHSPEY TOWER.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 221, 19 September 1888, Page 6

THE MIDNIGHT PROPHECY; OR, THE HEIR OF STRATHSPEY TOWER.

BY EMMA i GARRISON JONES, j^iti-or of • A Great; Wroiig,'

Princess,' ' A Terrible Crime,' ' The Mining Bride;' etc.

CHAPTER. LXV.

AIT A_GE_ VISITOR,

Ldßi-.S^RATHSi^EY' had given up all hope, and resigned hiinse-.. to his -ate.-.' A terrible ■fate it. was, to die all alone in that dismal dungeon, tho lingering death of starvation. ' :*:.':. "'."."•--'-' '-'-••

By a mere chance,, or perhaps it was the j work* of a Di.ih-''Wdv'iuehco, in Perth, | when he determined. to obey the request ■ contained in tlie mysterious letter, and go to tho old ' border watch-tower,' tho earl obtained a few sandwiches anda case of manillas, which he deposited in his pocket, little dreaming what a blessing they would prove to hini.** AS the days of his imprisonment wore on, and the panss of starvation assailed him, he had devoured his sandwiches and smoked his manillas, thereby prolonging his life. Bub oh thi.i sltbrmy night the Itiab crumb Was gone, and the/poor man lay ot. the Kibuldy flagstones, in tlid laSb 6-remibies of thirsband hunger. His tortures were indescribable. It death would only come and end them! .;■ ' , He had resigned all hope, all interest.in life, and lay there in the black gloom, with a wild, dreamy fancy that death would soon come, and his wife's face smi.o upon him in beauty ritid tender forgiveness .from the celestial shore. '■■'' ' ' He feltakinc- of pleasure in his sufienngs, enduring them as a penance for the wrongs she"had'su-Tere'cl, and believing that when the starless Sight ended, and the eternal morning broke; all his sins and errors would be at ah end. ■■■'•*•' -. But the nigh t: was go long, so long ! The chill gloom clung to him like a garmeht ; the mad sea thundered against the walls of bis prison/and the wild etorm shook the hoary babblements above him. Would the end never come ? Xn his agony and impatience he moaned like a weak woman. . But: What oraSli was that? Had the storm loosened, the foundations of his cell V And a cry, a 'woman's plaintive cry ! He •struggled up, and strained his byea in the' darkness. Soma subtile iivstincb warned liim that some human creature was near. 'Who's there, he demanded, his voice startling him. with its hollow, ghostly sound. : . ' 'lb is I! Maggie Renfrew. Can I* help, yon?'* Who are you? '*..*'. * 'The' Sweetest^ soffce&b, tehde'rest voice that mortal ear fever lieiud. ;■- Ahangel, surely, sent from Heaven to help hitri. rlhe earl thotiphb Of the bid Bible story of Pari 1 arid Silas" and looked to see his prison doors burst open, arid the glory of Heaven illumine tho darkness around him. But the sweet W6i_ah-voice spoke again : - . . • ' VVho's there? Won't you speak and tel. me what I can do?' ' V The earl spoke, still iri doubt whether an angel or a woman addressed him. 'I: am Atigus, Earl oi Strathspey, utiprisoned here by those who seek my life,' 110 sSid: ' Who is it that offers me help !'

■;.;''A suppressed cry of surprise answered hirhj aUd then in the dead, dai-k silence, he could hear the lighb fall of a woman's foob., Tho Uweetj Sad voice spoke agaid Close bo Where he lay ". , ' ".' Lord Sbrathspay, ate you here, too ? I ai_ Maggie Renfrew, Doctor I*teiifr,evVjS| daughter. Hon _ you knOW hie V "'Why, yes, I know you;''tho earl replied, brought.Jajick to his,sober senses by the familiar riauiet "x In "Heaven's name, my child, why are you here ?' . Maggie hesitated one ihstarit, in her reluctance to give pain, and then spoke the truth; . . ' I am imprisoned here by the young Lord Angus, your son.' . The; earl started to his feet, but reeled back again in his weakness. - ..'■ . * IhiprisiOried here,*1 in this dark tOmb? he cried. 'My poor 'little girl, for; what prirpOsO?' *' * Because I refused to become his Wife.' For an instant botli were silent, fturt then the girl asked :' _ 'Arid you, my lord, why ar** ' , . here They told me you were dead".' r ' I was lured into this den h. the p« ." "mah-f-tbe iiiati who bears my ftairie.whorii 1 have 16v_d arid cherished as a son,' gasped the earl, pantirig'with weakness; '.;.':* arid.lefb.Wre to die, thrtfc he hiriy iriherit my possessions. Bub, my child, don't think of riie, bub ybrirself. Is there no hope of ;escape?'. ..'■' ' 'None at present, returned the sWebt voice;- ' bub Heaven has sent me to you ? arid will Open some way. It wa.s not of my • owri will,.not with hiy ownstrength, that I discovered the secret: passage,, apd; desaeiided that awful Stairway in all its tmbk darkiiess. ( Heav'eri is at work for .us.; be of good clieerj mfloi'di' * ;" , words thrilled him like wine, , j ' >■■ 'Ah !' he cried, I'- VaS wiliirig to dio, bribj ybri rimkeme long for life again; Therearol so many wrongs bliab shorild bo righted. If ! I were strong—if 1 had food to sustain life a few days longer I': % . •>,-,■ . • 'Fdod f Ate you starvihg, Lord Sbrath-1 spey?' '■*..'' I haven't tasted food for two days, Maggie.5 They think me dead; .rio doubt I shovild have been, 'but for a few sandwiches i that chariCed to 'be iri my pocket. They! ate gone; and lam weak unto death how.' | 'Arid I have food in 'my room,' she cried, j .*■' Oh, if wehada Hghb—if my candle had j n6t been oxbihguished.' ; . , -' You have a ctodle, then ?' '/■ ' "Yes, yes fgroping in the gloom. ' Ah* bgte'itisyhtib'bbw'to light it?' . ;'.','.;.. 'I have a "match-ca^e* in my pocket, if •they'lire1 h'btirijrired by the damp.' Maggie uttered a.cry Of relief. The earl tOblc bucMiis friiateh-caso, and struck one afffe'r another ; but in vain—the .dampness '.h_td*;-t-uined" "'fchbm,-, as he feared. But; at last one Shot up into a sleadei-, flickering <bl-tz'e. Maggie hurried forwiird with the" candle, and the wick ignited and burned Intoa blaze. The two, co unexpectedly brought together, ..griaed feftently for tho space Of a, minute into each -Others eyes.'-" Maggie's _ips quivered at-the sight of the earl's shadowy faee/* ; .- •> ; ;'Ah; -my lo«ij'. she said, 'how you muss have' sufl'eredi Let me hrirry, back: now arid brjng ydu the food. . I Won't'be long— imJess—uhless~l have been miflsed.' ~.. -.' 'j'Thehungry, wistfuKookinhiseyeS made iherjieart ache. She* caughb up the; candle, apd ,hurried through th c aperbhre and up bhe spiral stairway; With .vvinge.d.feeb-~onj* andon, never pausing bill she reached the , ;te*!__iri'dS.'The sliding paSriel was still open, .and the.great ghostly chamb3r beyond as *dark arid sileri-as the grave.-• - * - v She flew in* and .transferred :< the bee apd-oaten cakes from the platter to.heaprOm fastening it up to the belt sous to form a pocket; then she took,the,mug of itea In one hand, and her light in the pthei* ; arid Went down again, through all the.must ;and- mould, the bats fluttering; in hfer Vei'y t'acS, the-nOiSomeii creeping thingsolii-giiig to' her .feet. ~:*"." " > Tho' feirl's death-iwhite face and eager | - eye^ half startled her when she reached the . varilt. He pub -oub his hands for the food ■ ■■like air impatient child, and Maggie, ..with th* tears- stsearning down her own white cheeks/; placed,it befote him,,.and sitting down on the great, stone .bench that .occupied ode corner, washed him while ho devoured it,

«You' feball hav<_ Mote she said, simply, wheft lie Mtl finished ; they always bringn_S mms "than T .need-j-and* now, my lord, I must go.. If by. any chance I should M hiiseedy all hope would be at ' i begin to feel strong alrSady,' said the earl, draining the last drop of tea. ' Matfffie, yon have saved my hfe, and now I tarn think of saving you. TOU me how you gob here—all abottt this secret stair-; ' ity lord, I'M vary fe'iiro" that I' #bi£ii frail j some means to save you,' she'repliod, with a little eelf-confidenjfc smil& 'God would never have sent me do.*n to you, it Me did nob mean to save you.' ; ... ..;■- ~i Ai, _[ The earl smiled tenderly at het girlish i faith, and listened gravely while she described tl>e secret stairway, and the mariner iri which she discovered it. • v _ . 'If the Spiral stairway leads downward, he said, after a moment of itibenb bhoughb, 'there miieb be one that leads Upward, to the main bower. But what could be gamed by that? t am afraid, my poor child, there is no hope.'of escape. .And your fate troubles hie far more than Oaf own. Heaven help lis'!'... . ~: . ~; :. *~-,. . 'It will, riiy lord. Do hot despair. And do riot, I,implore you, • stir from this place till 1 come (igaiii. They believe you dead. I)o not undeceive them. Yoii ; may look for ihesoon. Farewell, my lord !' ~','v,j She held out her huri'd with ah air ot womanly tehderticss. The earl clasped it, and raised it to his lips. ' -~ 'Farewell^ Maggie,' lie said. If ever heaven sent an angel of_ mercy to mortal man, it aeiifc you to me this riighb.' . . r She took rip Ber candid, and left him with a light step; and with the last glimmer of her taper, as it vanished frdm his sight up the spiral passage-way, he Saw her white face" and sßtoirig eyes looking back upon hirii like an impersonation bf immortal hope.

CHAPTEK LXVI. c-.t-.s-rrAi. mcsio.

MAdAii threw herself across the grand bed' with its faded silken coverlid* utterly ex hausted. Hor temples throbbed, and her breath came in gasps. The exercise arid exbibement of the night had been almost too much fdr hd-\ . .

.if slid could only sleep, her. weariness would wear off. Bub 'tiredNature'sSiveet restorer' refused its soothing solace. She lay with distended eyes and clasped hand 3, her flickering taper bumiiig in the alcove of the .oaken casement, tl.e grim portraits staring down upon her, aijd only one thought ringing a_m!n and again through her overwrought train—Lord -trathspey s words,: - ~---, •■ -i 'If tho spiral stairway leads, down, ib must also run upward to the main tower. Should she, weak and weary as sh6 was, start forth again', and test the truth of his assertion ? The storhi had s-pcrtb its fury, the winds bad lulled and the sea subsided into sullen silence. Through the bars of her window she could catch now and then a rift of silver moonlight. ~ She arose at last, finding repose out of the question, and sat upon the edge of the couch, debating within herself what course to pursue, when all ab once, sweefc and soft as the music of some heavenly, dream, the notes of a flute carrie .floating from below. The air was', that well-known old Highland melody, 'Trie Campbells are Coming,' played with exquisite skill and sweetness* Maggie had heard her old father sing it a hundred times, sitting by the fireside, on winter evenings. It thrilled her through and through. She buried her fece in the silken couch, and sobbed like a child. Still the witchingnotes came up, clear arid liquid as the voice of a nightingale. They seemed to call hex', draw Iter by an irresistible spell. ■*, ■" *■■''' '■'• *'-.:■ , I She arose,-ihoved by a Vague impulse, i and took up her taper, which still burned lin the casement. Passing through the j sliding panel, she began ..ier researches again—upward this tiinei Yes, the earl 'was right. Thete was a kind of door, which after ponsiderable difficulty Maggie succeeded in getting open; and then she beheld the little spiral stairway winding upward into the shades of impenetrable gloom. She began the ascent without a mori-ehts hesitation, impelled, as before* by something stronger bhanher own wijl. .. w ■ tip. and up, slie toilSd, as she had toiled downward, only a little while before. The darkness,and must.and riiould were just the ; same 5 tho bats fluttered aboubr her head, j creeping things ; clung to .the dauk walls I that.shut her in;" '.-. At last when her head began to grow I dizzy, and her limbs to tremble under heiV the little stairway, terminated abruptly ma I square, small room, from every side of which ' a window looked out. Maggio approached : one of these; and a cry of terror broke from I her lips. The earth seemedmiles and miles ' below her—she was ab the very pinnacle ot I the main toWeh' The Lookout it Was called, and it had been used during the border wars by the HighlAud chieftaihfe! when they desired to reconnoitre the position of an enemy. '•-.. . : .',. ■. , For the apace of a mmuto her head reeled dizzily, and, she grew sick and fairil;; but bhe sweet flute-notes came quivering up from below, and the old border, war-song thrillo-' her like a sudden inspiration.. VVho :.yt'l6 it? Some friend waiting to save her? She drew near the wihdowy and looked out again, her nerves like steel, her gaze unfaltering. The storm was over, and far above the Scottish , peaks ■ the jblaek clouds were rolling off in great rugged masses, and in the clear blue between soared a full moon. , A great bwi hooted; disnially amid, the rank ivy that,covered one entire side of the ruins; and the - lone. heath, and staglake, and ruined portcullis gleamed Jar below, in the white moonlight, with ghastly distinctness. '■";.' - '■ Maggie leaned far over the stone W»pdOWsillj her large eyes searching; for some hiiroan figure, for the stirring notes.Of' The Campbells are Coming'; still filled .tho W;eird midnight silence with the melodious echoes* Couldit be sbine Mend who knew of her imprisonment ? : , _ The thrilling flute-strains seemod to draw nearer, to sound Jusb> below My"' lofby Window-, and ab last her eyes espied a tall figure, a man's figure without doubt, stand i'rig inst beyond the drawbridge, in the ful, light of 'the soaring irioon.. How should she let him kndw thalthb'wy heard ? What signal shduld- she make? The grim turret was far tod high for speech, and her window, in the sh-tdbw of tho fraiik.iyyjWas very dark. '' , fehe; turhed, gazihg round the Square, tower-room inquiringly, and. her eyes fell oil her candle; which; she hM Mb dbwri ih One Corner. The blaze was flickering in the socket; in another -hdiriehb it; Would bu.ti ; out. : She tittered a Cry of , horror,; bub at the sUme ihsMhfca happy i_spir_tlon flashed , across her mind. . ' . , Shd tore the llttie lace handkerchief from her rie'eki -arid twistiHg it into a'- wick, she 'held one corner to the dying blaze Qf her! caridld, Ib flared up on the instant; arid turning to the winaew she thre>v it;*,oat; Arid it werit blazing rind fluttering .dbWiiward, like aired meteor, , failing arid"* expiring almost: at the fee*''pf the, solitary figute standing id tho moonlight. ■ linmediately the music changed.. In- v stead df ' The Caiiipbells ate Cdiriirig/ the sweet, alluring iiut-jbers,, (if ;' Highland^ Mary .filled the waiting silebCe. and "lophirig'doWnwith;strained;eyes, Maggie dis: tiricbly ssiw the figure remove his hab, arid ivrive it aloft in 'M*a.--i_b'o-H^ht.;-"'*"Aiid. she knew that her sigftal had booh. Observed. ' 'Shti turned again to her cafadlei bub the last fitful gleam was gone, nbfchiiig rerriairied hub the * black,, smokirig' s6cket. (Arid that long black stairwaybefore her. Jf fehe rewaioedihth. toW^ wVafcjHfoft»i

ho lay of light would pfenetrate to tliab dr&idfU- secret passage-wiiy^ithd she would be risking tlie chance, of discovery. Sh must try it'in tho dark.* -Lord Strathspey lay below in i that awful dungeon. She must not fail him. Heaven would help lier. ' •" ''■•.. ;! ' **'■'■ I She took up her candlestick. The music j had ceased, tli3 moon had gone under a. scudding cloud, and an owl hooted dis : ,| riially. VVifch an unspoken prayer in her heart, she begad the- aWful descent. : Down and down; winding round and round till her brain grew dizzy, Reeling her way from step to step ; the darkness so thick it made her gasp for breath. strange, phosphorescent lights flashing before her i dilated eyes, ghostly hands seemmg^o clutch at her in the gloom, unearthly voices to whisper and gibber in her ears Thfoilgh the Very ih'adow and darkness of death, groping, falling, trembling with nervous horror, yet brave and determined .at heart. : . ' - - ■ The time of her descent seemed like an etcrhity ; but it elided lib last. Iter grdping hand struck the trap-door; she made her way through, and caught a pallid glihihier from fclte ihopulight that str&ameu throiio-h tlie barred casement of her owu chamber. She gob through the aperbitre, slid back tho oaken p^nel, arranged tho dusty tapestry, an-t then tottorihg. across the room, threw htJi'Setf Upon -the old sfcatebed in an agdhy of weakness &h& weariness.

CHAPTER LXVIi.

.1 WILL SAVE YOU.'

'I climbed the gory vulture, neslv. . ' ■ ■ And *foiind the. tremblihg dove within. The voice of Mother Gwyrineth aroused her from a deep sleep, the sleep of utter exhaustion; She/started up with a thHllof terror. The situ Was.shihing in at the window j and the old woman was placing the tray contain" 'jng.her breakfast'on the table. * ■' Ye slumber late, my lassie,' she reJ marked, as Maggie sprang up, all dressed, as she had thrown herself down ; ' ye must a' kept bad hours last night j see'—pointing to ih- Ompty candlestick—'yer candle's burntoub.' .;.*v* -; ' ... :

. * I .like to burn my light all night in this ghostly place,' replied Maggie, quietly j but .-htillhig with*terror lest the dust on her clothes or some disarrangement about tho room should-betray her]: j* and I got to-'ummAgirig among the dusty old books, boo, to pass away tlie time—-'tis awfully dull shut up in- this way, ray good woman.' '• . ... ,;.!' ■-

• ' Weel, wee!,' responded the old woman, Her eyeS glearriing wickedly, ' 'twas yer own stubborn will as brtirig ye here; why diiiha ye marry the young laird at once ?' 'Because I was foolish,' I dare say,' said Maggie, obeying a sudden deberminatioh to prebend she was .bein-g conquered in order to Ward off suspicion; ' but Lord Aiigus should httve been patie'tit ftritl riot whisked mo off and shut me up like a prisoner. I can't forgive him.' ' Yes, ye can,' coaxed Mother Gwynneth* •Why.ne done ib all fur love Of ye,arid ho be a braW young laird as any lassie need be proud to win.- Ye'U forgie him an' meet him wi' a kiss when he gets back froth Lundon, won't ye now ?' ... , t Maggie tossed her head with a chaririirig coquettish dir. ' When does he coirie'lf'.slielasked. • :4 'To-morrow, mebbe; lie thought to be gone a week, but 'Berkit' come last'night ah'.eaySihe*]! beback sooner—so ye may be loojdn' yer putticst. Ceom, here's yer bf&ikfa-it ail hot riow; sit ye dOwri an' eftt, an' doh't fret any more j I shall be brisy to-day j since the young laird cooms tomorrow.'".:''.';.' , ' She left the room, locking it after her, and Maggie heard her go shuffling down the greac stairway with the blood-hound whining at her heels. "He followed the old creature wherever "she Went.

To-morrow ! Lord Angus coming back to-m6f-,0-T" Ohi What should she do? Jioyr should she escape ? She Sab for a long tifcae iri; deep,thought;; There )<■ seemed to be no hope, arid she came, to, her decisign iri silent calmness. If the worst came she would slip through the aperfcute, replace the sliding p-thel, and lie doWh iri thi awMl gloom someivher© below and die. They would ridveri find her, lor it was evident they knew nothing of the? secret passage; Bub it would be a dreadful "end bo life and her bid fabbe- modrnitig ovei l her loss. A^id bhe Eari of Strathspey ! Atbhp-ighb of hint she started up. The reirieriibrarice of his white face and hungry 6yea thrilled her with new hope. She crossed Over to the table. The breakfast was very toinpt^ ing and she was weak and hungry. She ate One calte, and a little bit of the broiled bacon, and swallowed a mouthful of tea; the remainder &hb ieirirved for the poor Buffered below- But date Bhe attempt bo make the^descenb by daylighb?;; What if so-hooniS should ehbei' her rpoih and find bhd panel open, bhe secret StAirWayVre-Voided?-Bub she. could riot bedftd let the -earl famish throughout the long, long day. She resolved to risk it.. - -

Taking the food in her apron as before she removed the panel add hurried ddwri. Whan /she: reached the varilt she was breabhlessi : The peer, reclining f. _n.*:, his bed of stone, heard her Coming and arose to, meet her, his white face: eager and Smiling. It bad.seemed an eternity siricO she lefc him. #■ ;,..: She spread her breakfast before him and irivited aim to, partake of it; ;~ ' But, iriy little friend,' he said, gravely, his _yeß turning WibhWisbful lohgirigf towards thO food, in spite Of his Will?. I can-' hob prolong my life ab bhe co'sbLOf youri —you bring me your food while you, are sbarving !'': *"''':'?"-''.'•'""";'"■'""'" ■'",' * • Oh, no,' said Maggie.; /NO, indeed, I have eaten Some, arid I shall have more ab -loon—please eat ib,' and/.bry to geb ybur Strength; you will need it all. .And,l musb leave you again this moment: 1 will come again 3 iri the mijaritime, rehiaiu quiet, arid; do not despair^ Thd darkest hour is just before <ihe dawn.' *~.* / ,; -hd fed -Way as she had come, with noiseless steps, up the spiral stairs, and back to her prison. ■ The .morning, wore away.,, ._Toori Cam 6, and a hot September sun blazed down upon the hoaiy batblemebte; the ldttg afternoon, the cool, gtey twilight/ ahdafc l&sbjr rib; last the silent night. Maggie threw asido the Old volume; glid had boen tryirig in vain to read, and went to the window' With a sigh of relief. The day had seemed so' e'ridtSSs, and slio had longed; for tho night with a'vagvie hbpe. A groundless hope, alas, for.,there was not the most-temote possibility of escape.' Yet she longed with feverish impatience for the darkriesii/;'ahd^ welfcoiiied' it - ri.OW, and wate-ied the great>'iehitevetefroi-';fi{^M'ih'g out in. the far-off sky, with tear-dimmed eye 5 ...... Her keeper, came up With her supper and a little morsel of candle thab would nob lasi bhrou^h half the night.

•roug * I won't have ye watching the nX-fl-t through An' inSkinVa glipst 0' yerselj'she said \ *;.' go to bed like a gude lassie ;,yer brdw'young sweetheart will be here tomorrow.'1 : .'.'■ '*'-" - .'" Maggie shuddered and sat down by the 6asferii*erib, that foolish, 'Vague hope still jiormenbirig her. s She: reserved her supper for bhe earl, intending to bake ib down to him by-and»By-X Slowly the hours went b^ and Maggie Bat there counting her heart-beats. ; She could hear tfte fir trees moaning in; the September winds, and the sea beating on the sands;below, and at last, after weary, weary waiting, she hfeard -that for which she had hoped with such, feverish (mrest. : ■ The swoeb. flute-notes seb to, : . the" music of iW'-kib bid1 SOhg, ' Tlie eariipb^ll- atef Gomihgi' v, '' *' ' ' :., ,' '.'.,*■'.'.;':,'. :'-Assured now ( thafi it waslntended-as; & signal to* herself ; she aross, in abriemor; ot; excitewent, ahd lither bitof cftridle. Then

she riiade her way out, atid started &_f the dizzy stairs again. Iffipatierice winged her feeb, and She made the long arid tiresome ascent very speedily.* , : - A stout wind was blowing Whotf She reached the tower-chamber, and she hurried hercandieintoashelteredcornerlestib should be blown out. Then she tore a strip from her apron j and twisting ib into fi wisp, bt it at bhe blaze, and: hastening ;to the wilidow blirewib Oub as before. ...

The wind caughtitand whirled it away, lite a flaming perinoh, in the darkriesSj and swift as thought, ,frorii: below, caihe the dulcet numbers of '■' Highlartd Mary. Maggie kneto; bhab she Was. answered. A delicious thrill stirred her heart, and , a bright bloom suffused her waxen cheeks, as she gazed down the dizzy distance- She could see a man's figure crossing the barren heath below, and raising an arm, ever and anon, wrtha warning gesture. . ■, . She watched the dark, tall figure with fascinated eyes. It approached the base of the ruins with rapid steps, and then she ; lost sight, of it. Still she did not remove ■ her fascinated gaze,. bub.; Continued,-, to leau j over the stone sill, her eyes strained dpwn into the shadowy depths below. Ten minutes pissed in" dead silence ! Then, all at onco, a strain of exquisite melody, broke, on her ear. And, wonder of wonders, it came, not from bhe heabh bolpw, bub from soriie near point. Her heart throbbed with painful rapidity, arid she drew back half in terror. Ten minutes .more! The. great ..owlstarted from his roost in the ivy, flew o.ut With a wild cryj arid; ; : in the after silence, bhe girl caught, ab intervals, the sound of hoarse, panting respirations; -Impelled by some emotion 'stronger than her terror, she leaned far out into the night, and she caught sight of. a ' man's head protruding above the clustering ivy.,.. A low, startled cry escaped her lips. ■•■ It wasinstantaneously answered. ._ v /Be quiet,' spoke a clear, firm voice, a voice that inspired her w^th confidonce and courage;'do not fear; 1 arc coming to help you.'. , ; 'Corrie on 1' she respondedi still leaniHg but.

The ivy vines that clung about the lofty tower began to shake and rustle, the panting respirations carrie nearer, and presently the man's head came distinctly into viewrt a handsome, blonde head, and a pair of shining, resolute blue eyes. Their/owner, was accomplishing the daring f^at of clirribihg the 'Border, Watch-tower' by aid of the ivy vines that covered it. ( ; He came up cautiously, but fearlessly, how clinging by his arms, now finding a foothold against bhe rugged masonry. Maggie grew sick and faint as Bhe watched him, bub he smiled up iribo her whito face, as it hung oyer him in bhe silvery moonlighb; and in anobherbreath he swung himself up to the window-sill, and leaped in. Covered with ; perspiration, and almost gasping from his greab exerbion, his closefitting hunting-jacket torn into shreds* his handsome face flushed, his blonde curls all in a tunable; yeb Maggie knew .*: him in an instanb. Ho was the young stranger who bad drawn her from under the horse's feet ab the ' Lion and the Unicorn,' arid to whom she appealed for. help when Lord Angus forced her away. Her eyes brightened, and a lovely colour rose to her, cheek. She extended her hand with a shy bub exquisite grace.; . . ' I remember you,' she said, simply;' and you have risked your,life to corri- to me t. The, young man bowed, and; took the cold little fingers in his; own shapely hand. :.*...■'■.■■•, :;.. \ 'No, riot quite that,' he replied. < 'Twas a oloso thing, I'll admiti but I've a talent for olimbing, and the ivy is strong and, i safe; my life was iri no danger*; But I'm glad you remember me,' he added,; with a | flashing glance, ''because I've never forgotten you for one single, moment; sleeping or Wakirig, your face has haunted me. I knew you were not mad, as: they asserted and t was determined to save you. I followed the \ carriage; that bore: you away that nighb, and saw you conveyed into this place; and finding rio other mode of entrance, you see, ■' I've climbed the, gory Vultrire'A neSbi' Arid how, Whttt cari Ido 'for.you,?',: ■::,. -'!. .:.;' .■,-:■ . ■: ■ ■ ...:.:•<,.:■■ ■: m 'Help me to escape,' roplied Maggie, prompbly* 'If I remain bill bo-morrow* a fate worse than death will be mine.' He considered a moment, his.handsome face turned toward the setting moon. 'First, tell me/ he then replied, 'how you over managed jfeo get up here, if,: as I infer, you have been held a prisoner. You Surelydidnob ascend by bhe..-secret stair-' ■.vay?' . ... 'Yes, I did/ Maggie replied,, 'I discovered ib by chance, and came up here abbrac'bed by the sound of your flute ; bub I fancied no one knew bhab such a stairway feXiSted.'" ' ' ' '■'*''■ V"

The young man smiled, Shoeing his habd^ some white teeth, '

' Yod faritiidd rightly. 1 stdmbled dpori it by chance, like yoliteelf, when this old place Was unoccupied, and I wasliSteOh ari investigating tour; but I can't; Well be-li-^ve thit you had fcliO c6ui_ge to aiceifd ib.' " . • ' 'I did,' said Maggie 'j would go thtedgh' the gates 6t death, I think, to make my escape/ ' H*^ flashed anqbho-glahce upon lier frbrd his brighb blue oy'es. ;, '(.omej then, he said j ' 'we have no bime bo losej; arid' there is bub one way. Thd ■ dOors arid gates are barred and bolted, arid Mother Gvvytindth and' her bipod-hound aro playing sentinel. We iridstb down the ivy,' Maggie started in surprise, and grew a Hh6.de paler as she glariced down the di-.zy distance.1.; '

* There'snb danger,'replied the stranger, encOuragiuglyJ 'if you will only trusb me, X Will save you. CoHieV He heldoub his hand,! and; Maggie drew near.',:, '..",, . '/;'. ,;.''*.;' '_■ . -!■, "'* ,-TbW you'll have to cling bo1 me wibh all your. strehgth--here, this way, so that, I can dse my hands iri descending, and do hOfi feii-'; you look like a brave girl.' " ■She perrdibbed him bo clasp her close, Whil-i; she twined her arms about his Stalwatb shoulders. ~He .waS jusb on the pdinb Of Spfiftgirig through bhe window, when shel uttered a quick cry !', ' Oh, I had forgotten !' she exclaimed ; ' how. übtirly sfelfish I alii in n.y eagerness bo save myself. There is another prisoner in this old casble—away down iri the old donjon keep, the Earl Of Strathspey lie dyirig.* We tdttsb SaVO him—l" Wori'b* leave him behind.' '•'.-.'..,

[ The yourig man burried and faced her, a c^'ious expression in his- eyes. '. Whi*£ do you B_*j f. he cried; 'the Earl of Strathspey, a prisoner here f '■'•■■:.•■.. : « ' Yes—his own son, of "the boy rather, Who has been reared as-his son, lured him here by a false letter, and locked.him. iii the dungeon to die. Providence sent me down to him, I think, and' I saved his life by sharirig my food with him.' . j-And why should this boy lure his father here, and leave him to die V. questioned the stranger, a slight .'tremor running through his clear.voice. . - .-.,-...,,... ?, The earl suspects that the boy is riot his son, and talks.of renouncing him, and the ybung man wants to. murder him and secure the earldom.' ~.■■ ■ , .*;■..:.;-. •:. ■ ;.• For;the space of an instant .t he yourig man stood sdenb, fa slow flush rising to hifi fair, clear-cub face.* ' Well,' he ejaculated ab lasb, 'of all .b^H?.J hlPgß* ■-s*.*■■•& the strangest,-the Earl of Strathspey; incarcerated hereby his Son and heir. 41 can scarcely believe iti? :; „ <It is true,' cyied Maggie," eagerly 5-:' and he will die—he looks like, death now^-arid I haye carried him no: food since morning-* Oh, sir, can'^ you help him ? -■; • ' Of course I.will—£ll,rouse the officers of the law, andransack this old,ghost-nest from top tbbottom-^. •--' ; ; , •■'•'• -, '.> , > *; ' «But every mowenti is precious,' fotec-

posed Maggie; ' the youris Lord AngUß, M he is called, falsely ehbugn too, fori have the proof that he is no son of the earl.',; ; ' What, you have th»proof ?" : 'Yes—l found ity as I seem to find every= thing, by mere chance, iri' the flannel mantle worn by that poor little babe that wae fdurid ori the Tyrol mountain—the written proof that—-^' :: < r*1 - ' Hist!' cried the young man, catching at her arm, ' there's a ca,rriage below—'put out your candle, quick!' Maggie darted aerbaß to'tho corner in which the candle:flickered andfextinguished it wjth a breath, then shei turned; to the wiiidowi gazihg cautiously dbwri, A two-wheeled vehicle containing p couple of men wal bowling up the gravel Walk. Iri ii second th^y paused before the great gate, arid One of then, leaped out arid proceeded to urilock ib. Maggie had aM_ view of the "other as" he sab in the white moonlight.:-';''..';; , '-; 'Oh, heavens !' she whispered, her cheeks paling with terror 'it iaLoi'd Arigciii, tUb : earl's son; we dre lost 1'

' "R ay,' replied the stranger, *■ not lost yet. See, they have entered—MothefGwyhnetfifrf bldtid-hound bids thehi welcdihe, Comfe j' He clasped her firrhiy With Ohe -jfiri and approached the Window. 1 Bub fcbe edrl ?' gaiSped Maggid, shivering wibh terror a 6 she heard the fierce baying of the beast belo-flr, v /

'I'll Save him,' t'eplied thg young man, quietly ; * but you musb be gob into a safe place' first; Ooirie —• thd momenta are precious.':',;. . ' ' ~ ; And clasping het once rriorej he leaped lightly through the window arid eivung himself out. '

( To be continued on Saturday.)

, ;. ... ..."EOUGH ON RATS." ■ C*.ears out iats, m rdache flies, ant-bed-bugs, beetled, Insects skunks, jaShbitS sparrows. gophers. At chemists' and drug^tl