CHAPTER TV.—(Continued.)

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 28, 9 November 1883, Page 7

CHAPTER TV.—(Continued.)

" My lawyer said that even I, the owner, might liave difficulty." said Priscilla, " and he made arrangements with a lawyer in Paris for assisting me in the sa'e." " Then I should think no one but yourself could effect the sale in Europe, that is, all at once, without exceeding danger," said Dalrymple. " And Miss Emerson will hardly be at hand to as-ist Duncan MacElrath to dispose of his property." Something in this speech sounded oddly to Priscilla, though at the moment she could not disentangle the idea suggested to her by it from the frankness and plausibility of Mr. Dalrymple's general conversation. But tbat night, sitting once more on the edge of her bed, under the slanting roof, and having^ locked her door (as she always did now), the thought flashed clearly across her brain : "If Mr. Dalrymple could have possession of my jewels, I should think he had wanted to marry me in order to be able to get them sold. A wife's best chance would be (in such a position) to hold her tongue and consult the welfare of her husband ; or, at least, so he might think. But lam worse than foolish in following out thoughts like this to such hateful conclusions. Besides, lam not at all so anxious, tbat any one should have stolen my jewels. If lam proved to be poor, I may be Kenneth's wife. He will send me adrifc if I become rich. The pride of that honest-faced Scotchman exceeds all the pride I ever heard of ; but he is capable ot as much love as of pride." CHAPTER V. That eight was a restless one for most of the inhabitants of Orra LdcJ^e. About one o'clock in the morning the storm ceased to bellow at tne windows, and no sound was heard save the moaning of the sea. round the island. The silence after so long a clamor about the walls aeemed at first almost intolerable ; the ear ached with the sadden, stillness. Bat it was not this change .alone that kept three or four people awake within the low-roofed, thick-walled bouse on Orra. Each bad a special, feverish excitement of his own. Dr. Craig hugged the bappy conviction that Priscilla preferred him, poor as he was, to Dalrymple. with his boasted wealth. Priscilla thought over her joyful discovery that nothing but a shadow, and a shadow which her woman's will must certainly dispel, could ever part her from Kenneth. Mrs Craig dwelt with a mother's unselfish pleasure on the prospect of her son's future happiness, while to Mr. Dalrymple the mere cessation of the storm brought uneasy thoughts. There "were argent reasons why he should hasten away from Otra I

at soon as the -weather made it possible, and yet a strong motive for staying a little longer where he" wa9 had gradually grown up witbin his mind. He not ro sure, of winning Priscilla as sometime aud he had felt himself to be ; and yet he was determined to win her. That she should prefer to go forth on the world alone, or even to marry the penniless doctor, he would not believe ; but a little more time and patience, he perceived, musk be expended in persuading her to accept his suit. la the mean time he had not been pleased to find her a wiser and more clever woman than he had at first supposed her to be. He would have much preferred that his wife should be a charming simpleton, oue who would not be likely to notice the length of an ulfeter haning on a wall, or to come to quick conclusions as to what might happen to be found in its pockets. There were reasons why he would have much desired, to know if anything of importance had been found within those pockets. He thought he had the right to question her on this point ; but feelings best known to himself withheld him from recurring to the Eubject. After a loag, late sleep Priacilla wakened to the beauty of a spring morning in Orra. A sapphire ocean, girdled with fleecy clouds, brown rocks f nngod with orange weeds, greencapped cliffs, and larks singing with frenzy in the blue overhead, the thud of an oar as a boat shot through the glistening sea- water : these were the^sights and sounds that greeted her, as she leaned her fair head out of the little window, which had withstood the siege of the storm, and wondered at the magical change in the island-world around her. Descending to the breakfast-room she found Mrs. Craig at the table alone, and learning that the coastguards had arrived in the island before sunrise, and were busy with investigations into the matter of waifs and wreckage washed in upon the shores by the storm. Dr. Craig and Mr. Dalrymple had joined them early, and had not returned for breakfast as yet. After a hasty repast Mrs. Craig and Priscilla decided to -walk out and seek for the gentlemen, both being eager to enjoy the air after so long an imprisonment within doors. Having ascertained in what direction the coastguards had gone, they set out to walk across the heather towards the sands on which Priscilla had been found by Duncan MacKlratb. It was a walk of three miles, and before they had proceeded quite so far, they met the whole party returning, after their conference on the scene of the supposed robbery of the jewels. Duucan MacElrath was one of the party, aud Mary, who had been lingering at the distance, watching the proceedings of the men, now came boldly up and took hsr place behind the ladies as they walked. Duncan fell back, and joined Mary, while Kenneth walked on in front with Priscilla, followed by Dalrymple, Mrs. Craig, and the officers of the coastguard. " What do they think?" asked Priscilla, quickly. "I am sorry to say they think Dalrymple right ; that all the jewels could no^have been washed away. They speak of the rings, and 1 am obliged to remember tlafc the rings made me feel doubtful my« self, before Mr. Dalrymple appeared on the scene at all." " I wish I had never mentioned them, never told you that I possessed them 1" exclaimed Priscilla. i " Yuu forget that Dalrymple saw them upon you, and would ; have asked about them." "Ah, that man I" said the girl, shuddering. " Why has he not gone, now that the weather is good 1 1 can not bear the sight of him." Kenneth was so glad at heart to hear the expression of her dislike to his rival that he felt himself obliged to defend him. " After all," he said, '• he is giving his attention to your interests in staying o help us to sift this matter." t "I can not believe it," said Priscilla ; " something tells ma — Heaven forgive me if I wrong him — but I feel that he thinks of no one's int-rests but his own 1" Having got somewhat in advance of the rest of the party Kenneth and Pris-cilla perceived two men coming to meet them, having, the bearing and appearance of gentlemen, though wearing the ordinary fisherman's sou-- wester hat. Much suprised, they quickened their steps and soon met the newcomers face to face. One of them a tall, fair man, advanced to meet them, taking off his hat, and saying :" Dr. Craig, I presume. You are surprised to see strangers." " I am always glad to welcome them," said Dr. Craig. " Thank you. My friend and I are waifs from the wreck of the Minnesota. We were flung up on Gannet Island, two miles from here." ,' I know the island," said Dr. Craig, •'And we have bean locked up there ever since. This morning we started early, and, being curious to see Orra thought we would take it on our way to the mainland. Our boatman told us we could rely on the kindness of Dr. Craig." " I am truly glad to see yon," said Kenneth, shaking the two strangers warmly by the hand. "If you will accept of our simple hospitality. You are not the only friends seat us here by the fate of the Minnesota. This lady-——" The strange gentlemen looked at Priscilla, and Priscilla returning his look, grew as pale as a lily. " Ah 1 " exclaimed the stranger, " can it be Miss Bmerson 1 " " And you ? " faltered Priscilla. •' It was you who gave me that ulster 1 " " Yes, It was I. Thank God you are safe. You are the last person I should have thoushtto see. The wretch " Here th^ coaßtguard officers came up, and following them Mrs. Craig and Dalrymple, who, seeing the sou-wester hats of the men who were talking to the doctor, had taken them, for fishermen. As the tall stranger's eyes fell on Dalrymple, the former utteied a sudden cry. " Seize the ruffian, who struck down this lady on the sinking ship, stunned her and robbed her of her jewels 1 " But Dalrymple was already flying lifce a hunted hare across the heather, Duncan and the coastguards in pursuit of him. (7p be cmtuived.)