In the break of a hill a platform | the judges' stand. Agnes smiled, for had been erected from which several she knew the eldest Miss Gilbraith's of the wealthier families of the weak point. neighborhood looked on and jested Agnes now ventured to take notice "Dear me, how provoking," again and indulged in small talk generally. said Miss Gilbraith, in a tone of voice Here was the judges' stand located; which made it evident that it was not for the occasion warranted the selection in the least provoking but quite of a whole dozen of umpires, referees, agreeable in fact, "as I live he's lookand so on. Of course the crowd ing here again. How strange he does gathered early. Crowds always do in look to be sure." cases of this kind. A belt of male humanity, in close buttoned coats, en- of the the phenomenon which Miss compassed the place on and around Gilbraith had made the object of so the platform; quite a number of the much observation and remark. Her local beauties appeared, half lost to eyes wandered over the group at the sight in bewildering accumulations of stand, and she gave a start as they fell winter gear. Finally the players on Robert Graham's flushed, handsome strolled in, looking very gallant in their face. He had been looking at her Highland costume, and making a fair long and earnestly. The old love, display of muscular limbs and lithe which had during the weary six bodies. Then the judges took their places, the players scattered into position, and the game began with an uproar of shouting and a great show of excited faces. It would be no easy matter to follow that game. What with the racing hither and thither, the clamor, the calling, and the laughing, one was bewildered, but amused nevertheless. So thought Agnes Stuart as she sat upon the platform with her aunt, Mrs. Gilbert Gilbraith of Heatherhouse, and a half dozen blooming cousins with whom she was on a visit. months that followed their parting burned on unceasingly, was given fuel to consume him by the presence of his idol. He had striven to forget her. He had tried to remember only that she had refused to be his wife. But the form, the face, around which his very heart-strings clung could not be torn away or buried out of sight. In gay, giddy London, when he tried to drown his memory of her in the excitement of the ballroom or the gossip of the salon he found how vain was strength of mind against the heart's affection. Now, when he saw her again before him, when he traced in the flesh the features he loved to view in fancy, his heart throbbed fast, and he longed to kneel again at the fair girl's side and own himself willing to do anything for her. But even then the thought of her noble nature, her proud but generous heart, assured him that "Aggie, dear," said the eldest Miss Gilbraith in a whisper, "do look at that handsome young man near the judges' platform. Not now-he's looking this way. And I really believe he has been eying us for half an hour. Dear me!" And Miss Gilbraith blushed scarlet and cast sidelong and insinuating glances in the direction of taking her faith for her sake, and not "One lithe, active fellow, biding his time and keeping his head cool, won it for his side, while the impatient crowd, unable to bear the suspense, thronged close upon him."-89. for its own merits could only lower players retired. Robert Graham had him in her eyes. He never thought kept his eye on Agnes all through the for a moment that this faith she loved game. But at its close, as he was so well might after all have saving hurrying up to the platform, several truths in it. It never entered his mind of his acquaintances gathered round to inquire, to inform himself of its him and when he had disengaged himdoctrines and its rites. Catholicity to self from them the platform was emphim could only be an absurd, a sense- ty-the bird had flown. less superstition, its members priest- Robert was frantic. He rushed ridden fanatics or misled innocents at among the few lingering equipages, least. His youth's lessons made him and collaring a stable-boy, fiercely associate it with villany, deceit, and demanded which way Miss Stuart had subterfuge its ministers with craft gone. Of course the boy was in utter ignorance of any such person, and told and malice. When Agnes had with difficulty him as much. Robert hurried away overcome her emotion she acknowl- from him and was just meditating a edged the young man's salute with an dash along the road when the boy inclination of her head and a sweet smile called after him: that went straight to Graham's heart. "Say sur, wiltha hae the lassie ye "Gracious me," exclaimed Miss Gil-wur throwin' sheeps' eyes at?" braith, not quite pleased with the turn Robert bowed a negative to the affairs had taken. "Gracious me, uncouth interrogation. Aggie, so you know him. Who would have thought it?" Then, with great frigidity and consummate indifference, "He seems to be a nice young man." Agnes Stuart did not answer her. She was thinking of that autumn day six months before, and of the parting on the sands at Clyburn. "Then ye maun ken she's gane wi' the Gilbraiths o' Heatherhouse." "Well?" "Weel, that's a'," said the boy. "Confound the stupid," cried the impatient lover. "Who are the Gilbraiths of Heatherhouse? Where are they now? Where's Heatherhouse? Speak, booby." The booby looked around him as if for a way of escape from his fiery questioner before answering. "Whaur's Heatherhouse?" said he. "Deil a body but kens whaur thot is. Up amang the hills owre the big brae, t' be sure." Meantime the game went on. There was cheering here and hooting there, screeching and bawling, whistling and screaming—a perfect Babel of broad voices showing their capacity to good purpose. At last the game was brought to a close. One lithe, active fellow, biding his time and keeping his head cool, won it for his side, while the im- Robert waited for no more. He patient crowd, unable to bear suspense, knew that the boy meant the range of thronged close upon him. Then there hills beyond the stretch of grazing arose a roar of triumph from the victors, land that came up within a mile of the in which all joined heartily, followed spot where the day's celebration was by the cheers of the spectators, and the held. So off he went through carriages and men like a madman. Just as he each of them to look for some trace was flying along he espied young Lord of the carriage; but the ground was Athol's groom leading the nobleman's hard and stony, and broken into ruts saddled horse along. Without a word and holes. So taking chance for his of explanation he seized the reins out of guide he turned into the middle road the man's hands, yelled to him, "Tell and went up the hill at a canter. Athol," and was off like a flash. If ever there was a road to try a "He's daft," muttered the bewil- man's temper it was that one. Winddered groom, gazing in open-mouthed ing through bushes, passing under wonder after the fiery horseman as he galloped along the road to the hills. III. crags, creeping around the feet of the hills-wherever it went it only brought new and more cheerless prospects to view. Night was falling as Robert Graham Suddenly the storm which had threatreached the foot of the hills. He ened so long burst upon the horseman. thought it strange not to have over- The snow came down fast and heavy, taken the Gilbraiths' carriage before and the wind swept along, chilling the this, as he had come all the way at a blood and biting sorely. Still Robert gallop. But Robert was a man of im- pressed on. He was maddened by pulse, and now his all-absorbing desire his disappointment and he hurried along was to see again sweet Agnes Stuart, without caring where his horse brought to converse with her, if it were only him. But snow and sleet cool the to exchange a word. There was no temper quickly, and Robert soon began other horseman than himself upon the to think a little more seriously about lonely road, and the brown moor stretch- his situation. Here he was on a loneing out with its patches of lately fallen some road that led into the heart of snow, looked desolate enough. There this wild district, and with the prospect was no habitation at hand, and the dark of stumbling upon a human being small sky and fitful gusts of wind promised a indeed. Still the road must lead somewild night. "Confound the luck!" where, and with the hope of reaching cried Robert. "This is beginning to that indefinite destination he still purlook far too much like a wild goose sued it. On and on he went. The chase to please me." Before he had night closed upon him, the snow fell done speaking the road turned in among thicker, and wilder roared the blast. the hills and branched off in three Yet no trace of human habitation yet directions. appeared. Twice he stopped to halloo, hoping his voice might reach some mountain shepherd's ear, but the wild rush of the tempest drowned it, and still blank, dreary solitude stretched before him. "Here's a dilemma with three horns to it instead of two," thought Robert. "Now, Bob Graham, put your wits to work. Which road is the right one? There's a riddle for you." And indeed it was a riddle that would puzzle older and wiser heads than Bob Graham's. He turned into The instinct of self-preservation urged him to some effort. Already his limbs were stiffening in the intense cold |