CHAPTER III.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 11315, 6 September 1898, Page 4

CHAPTER 111.

When the corn was cot down, and the ripe fruit gathered in from the orchard, when the free and happy barley lay under the scythe, Mark had gone away. When the hour of parting came, I believe Mark would have given up the appointment, with all its advantages, rather than leave me. Twenty minutes he kissed me with despairing passion and love, left me, and returned. He could not leave me ; I could not let him go. My mother said it was useless to prolong the agony of patting. Mark looked at her with a white set face. * I cannot go— l cannot/ he eaid, hoarsely. .

He had to leave Graced ieu by the last train that evening, and sail from London on the morrow. He had spent the whole of the previous day with us, and he was at the cottage early on this morning of Ms last day. Outside the very glory of the summer lay over the land. We stood watching the golden sunshine, with the chill of our parting on us, a chill more bitter than the chill of death. Mark bad loosened 'my hair, and had cut off a long shining tress. • That shall lie next my heart, Nell, even when lam dead, 1 he said. ' Promise me that no hand but mine shall touch these golden curls of your while I am away. You are very beautiful, Nell,' although you do not seem to know anything about it ; the men will admire you ; but you must not listen to them. You are mine, all mme — mine only. I told him — truthfully — that all other, men were to me like shadows. •Promisa me, Nell,' he said as he

kisaed my lips over and over again, ' promise me that no one shall kiss you while I am away.' ' Dear heart, what fear,' I cried. Then in my turn I began to exact a promise. ' You will love and think of me to ), Mark ?

' I shall love and think of no one else, Nell.'

rt And yon will not call anyone else beautiful, or ' He interrupted me with a laugh. 'Perhaps I could be happier if I could think less of you, IN ellie,' he said, 'My life will be one unceasing longing for you.' ' My dear Mark,' said my mother, ' if you are to catch the six o'clock train, it is time you went.' His face grew white and a dark shadow came over his eyes.

•Nellie just come a little way with me,' he said. ' Let our last farewell be spoken v i^re we first met. Once more we stood under the lilac trees ; every flower was dead, but the green leaves were there still. 1 1 shall leave you here my darling.' said my lover in a low voice. ' I shall be away four years, Nellie. Promise me that when I return you will meet me here in this same place. Here, where I met the sweetest love ever given to man — here I shall return to claim my wife. Good-by Nellie.' ' Good-by Mark,' I whispered. For one brief moment he put his face on mine ; lie kissed my bn>w and my lips ; for one moment, sweet and bitter as death, I laid bis bead on my breast, and then he was gone. There was a blinding mist about me, a surging as of great waters around me A sharp and bitter pain went through my heart ; I felt my whole frame tremble. Then the blue sky, the green earth, the trees and the river were all one, and I reeled and fell upon the grass. I could not weep, I could not cry out. No word came to relieve my dumb anguish and despair.

[to bb continued.]