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A Heart of GokL I

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A Heart of GokL I By VHHJET COMOti CHARLESWOBTH. j The name of the author of A Heart t Goid" will be familiar to our readers as I the bmnne of one of the most sensational and romantic episodes of recent years, I whieh for same time kept Press and Pu-blic afSOg with oonjeotore. Oar readers # will find in A Heart of QoU" a sympathetic and graceful little lo^e-sfeory wath a somewhat, unusual olimax. (OEHmifCED FROM YESTERDAY.) II. There wBtS a dull. grey sky overhead when the immortal Black Watch marched out of Edinburgh Castle next morning. With tartans fluttering in the light breeze, I headed by the pipe-major, the pipers caine four abreast, playing tne stirring strains of Soot-land Yet." Outside the castle gates were little knots of people who had braved tne early morning hour to s.peed the brave Highlanders, who, during their sojourn at the castle, had strengthened the ties of good feeling which! were universally expressed towards the gal-1 larit oorps. A Scottish cheer. full and deep, roee and foil. echoing far over the Galtcm Hill, andi, brea-king on the silver waiters of the Firth of Forth. The pipe tune changed to Hiel,an' Laddie," and here and there above the pipers' skirt oame from Scottish throats, "Will ye no come back again?" as relatives and, friends clasped hands with their dear ones as the Rtetck Watchmen, their bonneted heads held high, their white-gaitered feet keeping time to the pipers' skirl, marched out through the barrack gates. Kiks swung side by side in rhyme, and the proud array of brooches gleamed fitfully on the shoulder plaids of tile Scotch laddies, as they marched down the Princes Street en route for the station. Among those who had seen the departing troopo within the castle was Marie Douglas. My bonnie darling." cried Alistair, fondly, I did not expect to see you, really, on Account of the earliness of the hour." I had to c,,me. Alistair. I promised, you know, and I persuaded Aunt Annie to accom- pany me. Alistair Gordon took the elder lady's hand in a warm clasp, as he cried:- Mrs. Maitland, how can I thank you?" "Don't try. laddie." she returned, gaily. -It isn't likely I'd let you go myself without fckjding you good-bye. It's awfully good of you, though," he •aid, a strange wistinlness creeping into his voice; then added, in a lower tone, Mrs. 3fadtland, cannot you give me a gleam of hope?" j Trust in Providence, and bide a wee, laddie. AH will eome right presently." I wish I could think so," he said, moodily. '■ You're not going to tell me you're a Gordon and a Black Watchman, and canna trust and wait?" laughed Mr3. Maitland. "-No, no; I've known you since you were a. wee laddie, and I ken you're made of different stuff than that. You'll be coming back with a. bit more goid lace on your coat in no time. Though it's bonnie enough you look now, I'm thinking, in all your war paint." There's many an aohing heart under thej, auld tartan to-day, for all the glamour and i the glory. Mine, for one," he responded, with a dreary laugh. You're wanted on the square, sir." It tras Alistair's orderly who spoke, standing pttttty at salute. Very well, Maophiail, I'll come." The man retreated, and Alistair knew that da greatest of all mom-edits had arrived for him. the moment which meant parting from the one who was all in all to him, and whom he mig-ht never see again. ( Marie, ber soft cheek pressed against t rich folds of his plaid, strove bravely to stifle her sobbing, and to whisper instead words of encouragement which she knew were sorely needed by the one who, at the call of the pibroch, must sally forth, and j away ayont the borders of his native land. Be brave, little girl," he whispered, i fpemtly raising the tear-stained face and taking toll of the sweet lips. Good-bye, my darling, my little Marie, my loved one. God I watoh between me and thee when we are j absent one from the other." One swift embrace from hearts too full for Jpeech, one last passionate kiss, to Alistair the seal of their love troth, to Marie an 4bternal farewell, and Alistair Gordon hurried out on the square as the last company of 5 moldiers fell into line. i One of the finest sights in the world is to oee a kilted regiment on the march, and so thought Mrs. Maitland as. with Marie by her fide, she looked down from the castle bzttle- Vtents at the bonnie lads assembled below. "Quick maroh!" The colonel's voice roee clear and com- Branding above the tumult, and in response i the battalion moved forward as one man. The tramp of feet sounded farther and farther away. The skirl of the pipes came fainter and fainter on the morning air. They had gone. the gallant Highlanders, and with j thtv Alistair Gordon, for whom already in Marie's heart a cry was awakening. Lieutenant Gordon." Sir Ricbard Geary." Such was the greeting between the two men as Alistair stepped briskly on to the platform with his company. Can I have a few moments alone with you, Mr. Gordon?" I'm afraid not; what you have to say must be said here. It is, as you must admit, hardly a tinne for private conversation," was the cold reply. The baronet was piqued, but when he spoke again his voice was as cheery as ever. I have come purposely to see you, Mr. Gordon. As man to man. will you answer me one or two questions?" The young officer'gt lips curled ever so tlightly under his well-trimmed moustache. His voice, carrying a mote of intensity with it. sounded strange in the ears of Sir Richard, wbo, in his heart of hearts, had a very kindly feeling towards the popular lieutenant. "That. Sir Richard, depends on the sub- ject." Sir Richard hesitated, but the entraining was rapidly being pushed forward, and soon Lieutenant Gordon, with no knowledge of -what was in Sir Richard's heart, would be whirling away southwards. You love Miss Douglaa, and the dearest wieh of your heart is to make her your wite?" Sir Richard asked, with British bluntness. Alistair flushed, and his bonneted head, if possible, went a shade higher as he answered, x frith a careless smile: "Since you have so accurately guessed the state of my feelings towards Mias Douglas, there is no need for us to discuss the matter further. It might only lead to unpleasant complications. Sir Richard winced. To be taken down by this cool, youthful Scotsman was a little galling. To be treated with such utter dis- Tegn-rd was new to him. bnt to pursue the subject further would most likely not improve matters. And, in point of fact, AlistaiT's words bad declared it at an end M far as ne was concerned. Under the circumstances, then, T will say good-bye and God speed," he said, stretching out his hand as he spoke- The two rivals clasped hands, the single 'WOro.goood,.by.&.aIliDg hard amd metallic fmom Aiisiairs get lips. The baronet raised his golAnounted cane by way of salute as he moved away, the soldier returning it with .military precision. Then, his face white arnd set, he slipped swiftly into the compartnfent. Marie sat in her charming blue and white boudoir at Douglas House, looking listlessly at the flashing gems lying on her lap. Diamonds and sapphires, rubies and pearls all l-»y in one brilliant, mass, aa she bad emptied them carelessly fro-m their cases. Suddemily she gathered them up in the skirt of her drees, and crossing over to the window, drew up the blind with a jerk. Then, sitting down before the casement, her beautiful eyes strayed rest- lessly to the grim outlines of the fine old catstle, lifted like ")me weird monster against the heavens, which look almost blue in the intemeness of the moonlight. Once a?ain she was within its grey walls, once again she was pressed against a manly breast, and an eager voice whispered undying love. It was but a dream how, a beautiful dream which bad lost its reality in a cruel silence which had followed it. "Twelve months," Marie said to herself, softly, twelve months to-day since AILstarr went a-way. Only a year, yet to me it has been an eternity. Oh, Alistair, my love, your I cruelty has broken my heart. I thought you loved me, but it was only a. foolish dream, and in three days I shall be a bride. I shall vow before God's aka-r to love, honour, and obey—ail the time knowing I have no love to give. For it is yours, my beloved, and will, be until I die." With the air of one who has taated the cup of happiness and then seen it dahed ruth- less?y from the lips, Marie gathered up the a<M.rkIin? gems, which had fa'?n unheeded to the n<Mr, makm? no sound as they fdl on the thkk velvet pile carpet. &ad, walking to I the inlaid secretaire, she laid them upon it, then, taking a key. unlocked one of the drawers and drew out a slip of paper and a small box. With trembling fingers she raised the lid and gazed at the contents—only a spray of ivy clasped within a brooch bearing the solitary wor-l Bydand," and by its side a. companion spray, which t-old of Gordon's broken vow. Twelve months before it had been a, thing of treasure lying pressed over a soldier's heart. Six months Later it was brought to Marie from a far-off foreign station, and with it a. few scrawled, unsigned lines, tell- ing how the writer had regretted the vow so thoughtlessly made before leaving the far- off northern city, and with a heart-broken cry Marie had laid them—the emblems of her !ove tooth and Alistair Gordon's—side by sida- and locked them away. They were but the relics of days unmarred by mistrust in human faith. Marie touched the bell, which was answered by her maid. I shall not come down to-night, Annie," she said. "Tell my father I have a bad Headache, and I think I shall go to bed." The maid started at the deadly p-allor of her young mistress's face. "Are you ill, Miss Marie?" she inquired, anxiously. No. Anr.ie, I am not ill, only very, very miserable," the tears welling up into her eyes ao she spoke. "Y on c,an go now," she added. I wi?h to be alone, and you need not come in Again to-pi gilt; I can manage quite well myself." e l f The maid withdrew quietly. On the corri- dor she met Sir Ri-eh-ard Geary. -R-he" is Misa Douglas?" he awaked. kindly. "Is she not coming down?" Miss Marie is in her room, sir. She wished me to tell the master she had a headache, and would not come down to- night." Sir Richard thanked her, and passed on, pausing as he reached Marie's door. Marie, my child, you shall be bal-,py yet," he breathed softly. You shall marry the one you love. God helping me, darling, you shall." A vision of a stalwart figure, a pair of dark eyes in which the love-light glittered, a broad shoulder with a Gordon plaid thrown carelessly across, and II. young girl, dark- haired, with long lashes veiling a pair of eortlPul eyes, looking up into the earnest face of her lover, ru--o before his mental gare The vision was the plighting of the love troth between Alistair Gordon and Marie Douglas at Kelvin brae, where Sir Richard and the gay young Highlander had been her father's guesti many months before. Sir Richard had been an unseen spectator of the little affair, anal now it rose up in strong force before him. His heart told him, with a pang of anguish, that such love as he re>ul between them then would live and live for ever. He dragged himself wearily down the great staircase into the- hall, startling, the footman with his ghastly face. But Sir Richard's resolve was made, and without a word he pafesed out into the night. John Douglas, coming suddenly from the dining-room, caught a glimpse of a dazed. agonised fa^e. and a strange foreboding of coming evil flashed before him as he re-tra-ced his steps to make the most feasible sugges- tion for the unwonted absence of Sir Richard Geary, the prospective bridegroom. (TO BE CONCLUDED TO-MORROW.

SWIMMING. I

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f __PREYED ON HIS MIND.

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