CHAPTER XXI—Continued.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 10656, 3 July 1896, Page 4

CHAPTER XXl— Continued.

11 Mr Wycombe, pleaso sir, mamma Baid I might bring you these."

" Thank you, thank yon, Sammy," replied tho schoolmaster, receiving the f ra^rnnt blossoms, and pressing his little pupil's hand. 41 You are welcome," lisped the little fellow . Then turning baok, with a wist, ful look, he added : " An' please sir, when Trill you come Dack to school again ?" The childish question went straight to the prisoner's heart. When should he go back to the old school-house— to life, and love, and liberty ? " Ah, Sammy I cannot toll," he answered sadly. "Never again perhaps; bat you must all bo good boys, and do the best you can without me." Sammy departed, rubbing his dimpled fists into hi 3 round eyes, and the schoolmaster went back to his Biblo,, with the fragrant hyacinths filling his coll with Bnggtstivc sweetness. So suggestive, as only odors are, carrying his memory back into the sweet and sunny morning of his boyhood, that^ he failed to hear tho heavy door open, or the light feet that sounded in tho corridor. A light touch upon his arm startled him, and a sweet voice spoke his name.

11 Florence, my darling ! ' he cried '* Yon hoar this bitter morning ?"

" Bitter ? Why, my dear, it is bright and bracing weather," she relied gayly, a resolute smile on her lips, though the tears would rise in her eyes.

The interview was deeply affecting, and ere the devoted girl left him she pathetically aaid : •• Dear Ulric, I am yours as truly as if all this trouble bad happenot one month later, after you had made me your wife. I shall wait for you my love, and when the end of your troubles has come you must return to me; and my dear, as sure as I live, you will find me here, and my love as true as ever.'' Ho could only fold her to his henrt

n worldless gratitude and love.

Tho following morning dawned gloomy and cheerless; the sky was dark and lowering, and great snow-flakes began to fill the chill air, whirled hither and thither by the fierce, wintry wind.

It was sad news which Farmer Kent brought home soon after noon that day. He had been to tho court-hcuse early in the morning to witness the trial of Ulric Wycombe, and was pne of the many spectators who sat in speechless interest, watching evoiy movement, listening to every word of the judge, the lawyers, and the witnesses.

The trial came to nn end; aud now the farmer has just arrived at home, and is met at the door by his wife and daughter.

To Floy's gpgev inquiry he hesitatingly rosponds, in a voice husky with emotion :

"My girl, try to be calm. It is just as I warned you it would be. Ulric has been fonnd guilty, and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment."

" Oh, ray God !"

She went down on her knees, with the pathetic cry breaking from her lips, and buried her face in the cushions of hor father's old chair.