A Canadian Heroine, Volume 2

igh; and cultivated and fertile lands stretched back for a mile or two, till they were bordered and shut in by the fore

ew luxuriantly, covering them in many places with thick and graceful foliage, and small purple clusters of grapes. There were pools, too, in some places, where water-lilies had managed to plant themselves, and where colonies of mud-turtles lived undisturbed; and there were shady places by the sides of the pools, where the brown pitcher-plant held its cups of clear water, and the ghost-flower glimmered spectrally among the dead leaves of last year. But the plain generally was hot and sunny in summer, and v

urned aside, to avoid the thick brushwood underneath. The "waggon," which was neither more nor less than a large tray placed upon four wheels, and having a seat for two people, was occupied by two young men, Harry Scott and George Anderson. They were coming down from their homes, two far

ly; it was natural enough, therefore, that their chat should turn to speculations as to

orge Anderson; "there is not a tree on

ituation. I only wish it were mine," answered Harry, who had his own

is whip-lash, "my belief is, that it is quite as much for p

eas

ed him something about Clarkson the other day; and if y

great brute, that Clarkson. I shoul

hing; "the chances of his pitching i

disturbing the Indians, especially if I had to ride about the country at all hours. It would not be very difficult t

. Look what miserable fellows those are that Dawson has at the mil

ich was grazing on the further side, raised its head and looked at them. There was nothing remarkable in that, certainly, for horses were not unfrequently turned out there; but what was remarkable, was that this one had a bridle on. George involuntarily tightened his reins; and the next moment the animal, which seemed to have been disturb

t up, "Doctor Morton!" and with a horror-struck face pointed to a

n bushes, and there, half hidden in branches and leaves, lay something-something that had once been human and living. Dark pools of blood lay about it, an

at to do? To touch what lay there seemed almost impossible, and any thought of succour was hopeless; but something must be done. They both dr

ithout a word; but just as he wa

ody must take the news on to C

y we

re he kept watch, that the men began to hurry out of the mill, and come towards him in a confused throng. Some, however, stayed to bring a

one seemed ready to be the first to touch. But, at last, it was done; the distorted limbs were smoothed and the wounds partially covered; and some semblance

rson, but even in the excitement of horror some one had sense enoug

ere. They followed the tracks, and came to a place where many low bushes growing close together formed a kind of thicket. Almost buried in this, the figure of a man lying upon the ground filled th

nor to hear the questions of the men who knew him and called him by his name. But there were answers to their questions in another shape

ted, nor indeed spoke at all. He seemed not to understand what was going on; and the men about him were for the m

there waited, dreading to carry their ghastly load into

now? "Poor Bella!" broke from his lips, and he shuddered as he fancied, not Bella, but his cousin Magdalen crushed down in her youth by such a blow as this. But the momentary, fanciful connection of the two girls, did but make him the more tender of the young widow. "Widow!" he said the word half aloud, it seemed so unnatural, so incredible. But while he thought, h

half announced as they were by his looks, Mr. Bellairs instantly understood the message, and why it was brought to him. He took hi

nce' sake they carried the body into a lower room, and laid it there until its burial, while Bella sat in her chamber above, silent and tearless, not understanding yet what had befall