The Baronet's Bride

ger of death-for

d cases it can do no harm, Sir Jasper, for the clergyman to be here. He may not be

Do your best, Doctor Godroy, and for God's sake let me know t

sympathetically at him throu

e result is in the hands of the Great Dispenser of lif

ke. Sir Jasper Kingsland seized

d, imperatively, to the servant who answered, "a

Kingsland Court, was alone-alone in the gloomy grandeur of the vas

ir Jasper Kingsland lifted his gloomy eyes for a moment at the sound. A tall, spare middle-aged m

ed this maddening agony of suspense! Another day is given to the world, and before its clo

of Raphael's-the Man of Sorrows fainting under the weight of the cross, and the fir

you. Tiger heart, you were merciless in the days gone by.

had spoken in trumpet-tones, and with a hollow groan

es. Busts and bronzes stood on brackets and surmounted doors; a thick, rich carpet of moss-green, sprinkled with oak leaves and acorns, muffled the tread; voluminous draperies of dark green shrouded the tall, narrow windows. The massive chairs and tables, fifty years old at least, were spindle-legged and rich in

Death will stalk grimly over your threshold and snatch away the life you love more than your own, then even that glory is not omniscient. For t

f coming morning sighs lamentingly through the tossing copper-beeches, and the roar of the surf afar off comes ever and anon like distant thunder. The house is silent as the tomb-so horribly silent that the cold

ride and turned his bloodshot eyes that way. Hi

me

-the same who had

Green is here, sir.

Show him into the drawin

arker Godroy came briskly forward. "My dear Sir Jasper, allow me

ing from head to foot, turning sick and faint

d, in a gasping

strated-exhausted-but that was to be looked for, you know; and the baby-ah! the finest boy I

onet cried, star

nly be a little cautious, you know. Our good lady must be kept composed and quiet, and l

physicians do, up a grand stair-way where you might have driven a coach

doctor whispered, warn

nswerable fo

to the bed. His own face was perfectly colorless, and his lips were tw

aid, "my darli

d a pair of haggard, dark eyes gazed up at

would come. Have you se

of you. My poor pale wife, ho

smiling gently. "And now you must go, for I canno

ce and rose up. Nurse and baby sat in state by the fire, and a slender girl of fif

est little thing, and nurse

y as he looked. For was it not a boy? Had he not at last, after weary, weary waiting,

age of yours. He's asleep now, you know, and you can't see them. And look at the dear, darling little hands and finge

m up again and let him sleep. We must take extra care of the heir of Kingsland Court. And Mildre

I could sleep and

o your room. Mamma and baby both want to sl

So run away, Miss Milly, and go to sleep yourself. Th

stairs, and back into the library, with the face of a man who has just been reprieved from sudden death. As he re-entered the library, he paused and started a

ronet to himself; "that face ca

e never moved. A hand was raised and tap

nd let me in, before I per

d opened the window

re," he said. "No one

, this ha

tered and stood before him. And Sir Jasper Kingsland saw the stranges