The Man with a Secret

the earth, for mine e

this life, with its

r, in mercy, best

sweet singing to

swelling organ, my

deur of music, and

rison of gloom, soar

my, majestical br

votion, with very little of that useful quality called common sense. But Reginald and Una were the most sedate of sweethearts, and talked

in his manly dignity. They looked like two lovers who had strayed from the enchanted garden of Boccaccio, with nothing to talk about but the pains and passions of Eros, but, ala

everything to Una, "it is not the slightest use my depe

Una decisively. "It's far better for you to depen

d a certain sum which she paid to Doctor Larcher for my education. I believe," said the yo

cher has ne

eel sure that such is the case. Never mind; should it ever

e you becoming a singer?"

d medicine all require money to make a start, and even then it is a difficult game to play. I know a good deal about

approves, what

ndon and place myself under a good master, and if my voice

y," said Una, with

t not be choosers, and if I don't use the only talent I've got, what else is there for me to do? I cannot r

le money," she

live on my wife. It is your dear self I want, not your mon

laug

ue I am the squire's next-of-kin, and should inherit, but you know how e

asy of a madman's brain. No court of law would uphold such a will. How he is goi

mad, and that any will made on the principle of his hallucination

he was nev

is somewhere about, and he inten

s great scheme of enjoying the m

" said Miss Chal

the property away from you, would not hold good, for he certai

Una, with decision. "But it is my opin

He's v

not let us speculate on his death. I

tempted to there and then kiss his lady-love, but as they were now crossing the brid

ear," he said fondly, "for your sake I

"you know I lived a long time in Germany and heard a number of g

tter

d the churchyard, "when you are enchanting London audiences you will rem

one about, so I'll do better--cross the gipsy's lips with kisses," and bef

Regin

another. Come along, here's the church, and by Jove," as the so

the Wedding March,"

as they walked up the aisle, "this is

rough the empty church the organist turned round on her se

in Cecilia with a distinct want of colour and of life. She had the same pale complexion, the same golden hair and the same blue eyes, but the complexion was a dead white, and lacked the opalescent transparency of Una's, the golden hair was dull in appearance, without any lustre, and the azure eyes were coldly blue, though in this latter case, being

ascending the chancel steps. "I h

in a soft, fluty voice which, though low, was distinct and

advancing towards the orga

d Cecilia, lightly touching the yellow keys

na; "'Oh, that we two were Maying

uickly. "I think every one will like tha

" she replied, touching off the

ng to sing?" interru

e a piece

will be int

ou are," said

ed Reginald pathetically; "I do. It's a mixtur

gs," fini

s you call halting verse and interminable poems Priggian," sa

n listening to the analysis with a quiet smile, "and Mr. Pemberton sin

e programme is excellent--let us hope the perfor

answered Cecilia. "Oh, I fo

his is capital. Well, now we've finished business, let us go

or?" as

osser turned to the organ. "You know why--you must give me your candid opini

e critic," observed U

d out Blake; "don't spare me--i

comfortable pew at the far end of the

f shadow, which produced a faint, misty twilight, eminently suited to the sacred character of the place. At intervals on either side of

e sombre appearance of the choir seats, with their overhanging canopies, was somewhat relieved by the white glimmer of the communion table carved out of pure marble, on which stood a large crucifix of ebony, looking black and sharply defined against the great painted window at the back. Through the fantastically painted windows, with their bizarre figures of red, yellow and green, crept the gr

pealed from the mighty mouths of the pipes--Cecilia played the majestic melody, which floated grandly through the church--and then the volume of melodiou

animam

antur et

sivit g

g upon a lonely shore. Una closed her eyes as that superb voice with its penetrating sweetness rang out the mournful words with an intensity of dramatic feeling which went to her very soul with its strong religious

ype="