WHY DID HE LOVE HER ?

Thames Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9832, 3 January 1901, Page 3

WHY DID HE LOVE HER ?

CHAPTER XVl.—Continued,

The moonlight fell upon his face, and Caesar noted, the rigid whiteness that had settled on it, the restless tire that burned in his dark eyes.

In the open air the old man was no longer afraid; but he saw his master re. enter the house and close the door behind him with a feeling of dread.

He listened; but all remained still, and he move*, toward his cabin in a state of bewilderment which did not escape the keen observation of Aggy when he ap. peared before her. But to all her inquiries ho only replied by deep groans "dat da debbil was to pay in' de ole house.

"I 'sected as much when dese furrin people got to stay in it," she replied. "Bub what's happened?"

"NothhV; only de debbil's to pay, dats all." .

"Ef ho is to pay, I hap© he'll take his deft out'n you, you old stupid," was the retort. "I jes' wish you'd hold your tongue, or else talk sense wid it."

Caesar obeyed her wish; for he refused ta speak further, in spite erf her abuse, or the cajoleries which Aggy condescended to practice. She taunted him with being possessed with a dumb devil, to which he ruefully replied:

"Dat » dumb debbil woa better'n a talkin' one."

"Dat (Jar's for me, so I'lll jes' shet up. But I'll find out what has unstrated you so much, in spite o' your circumbendibusses. Thar! I don't b'lieve marse Claude knows a bigger word dan dat."

At length day dawned, and soon after Caesar heard the voice of Fontaine speak, ing to the overseer in the yard. Thanking God that he was still living, the old servant aroused his wife and prepared himself for the duties of the day.

CHAPTER XVII,

PHILIP, VANE UNEARTHED. Night oiler night, throughout lsola's absence, the same attempts Mere made to extract from Fontaine a pledge that she should never return to the shelter of his roof. '

The draft of his will was- copied, and he placed it in his desk with the original, intending to go to Lynchburg and have it engrossed by a lawyer. A lew days afterwards he sought for them to make some alterations, and both papers were founu" Utfn. into: fragments, nvluch were scattered over the desk.

That night his familiar told him he had done it; that ho would find means to destroy every instrument which alienated from Saveliu, any of the property whichwas hers.

Fontaine hod fallen into replying to the voice as if the speaker were a tangib.e presence, and he said:

"I will place my will where he cannot reach it>."

In response to this came a laugh, followed by the words:

"Try it, Claude, and see if you can find a spot into which I shall be unab.e to penetrate."

The will was placed in an iron chest in his room; ho carried the key about his person, yet three days afterwards, when he sought for it, that he might take it with him to Lynchburg, he found it destroyed.

Examination of the lock convinced him that it hod not been tampered with; but Fontaine still persevered in carrying out his intention. A skeleton, was sent to his lawyer in Lynchburg with a request that he would have it ready for signature at the end of a week.

During the absence of Isola, Savella endeared heiself to Fontaine; she accompanied him in his waik to the quarters, and when there showed the' liveliest interest in the welfare of the people win: were to become her property at-some future day. She appeared to have overcome her distaste to them, and the kindness with which she addressed them won golden opinions.

Savella endeavoured to fill the place oi Isola, and for hours she played and sang to her uncle, who felt the demon exorciaed by the spel! of music. Autumn had set in. One afternoon Fontaine was detained from home several hours, and returned depressed in spirits. He yearned foi music; but on inquiring for has*niece hi was told that she Lad gone out for i. walk. After a few turns he threw on his hat, and took the pathway which he had observed Sa-vella pursued of late when sht set out for her afternoon walk.

Fontaine had proceeded half a mik' without encoantering any one, and ht began to think Savella had taken anothui path, when the sound of voices struck upon his ear. The speakers were sheltered behind a clump of bushes; but a fey steps brought the intruder in view oJ the two who fancied themselves securi from observation.

Savella was seated in a grape vine chair formed by twisting the long branches to. gether, and at her feet reclined Phiiij. Vane, resting his head the rustic, seat, and holding .her hand in his own. He was speaking passionately, aud tin expression of the girl's face* revealed what was passing in her heart. Fontaine read its meaning at one glance, and then strode forward.

Savella uttered a cry, arid Philip sprang to his feet to confront the face that glared on him with bitter contempt.

"So—o— Mr Vale condescends to amuse his hours by attempting to beguile another unsuspecting heart to love him. I ask you if it is the part of an honour, able man to enter my grounds without my knowledge and meet my niece in this clandestine manner?"

Philip recovered bis audacity, and he coolly said:

"My first meeting with Miss Fontaine was accidental, I assure you. Since that happened, as I was no longer a visitor in your house, I have availed myself to eeo your niece. To-morrow I should have waited on you to offer my proposals in form, as Miss Fontaine has just honored me by accepting me as her future husband." Fontaine listened to this address with surprise. He turned, to his niece and sternly said: "Savella, can this be true? Have you disobeyed my wishets so as to suffer your heart to bo won by a man I assured you would never be acceptable to me?" She looked up appealingly and faltered: "Oh, uncle Claude, I loved Philip from the first moment I saw him, I know that I have done wrong; but he loves me, and—and I will never marry any one but him." Her unc!e scornfully said: "Jtewbtless Mr Vane fe&g induced you

to believe that he adores you; but it is I not long since he came to m© and profes-. I s'ed the same feeling for another. I cannot understand the facility with- which hi 3 affections have been transferred from bee to you ;. yet da I say so, for" I am afraid I do comprehend it but too well." "Philip never loved Isola,' Savella exclaimed. "He has told me so, and I believe him." (To be continued.)