St. Elmo

the room where she had been so long confined, and explor

ing circular basin, a pair of crouching monsters glared from the steps. When Edna first found herself before these grim doorkeepers, she started back in unfeigned terror, and could scarcely repress a cry of alarm, for the howling rage and despair of the distorted hideous heads seemed fearfully real, and years elapsed before she comprehended their significance, or the sombre mood which impelled their creation. They were imitations of that monumental lion's head, raised on the battle-field of Chaeroneia, to commemorate the Boeotians slain. In the rear of and adjoining the library, a narrow, vaulted passage with high Gothic windows of stained-gla

son's apartments, and he d

estum and of Bendemer. The elevation upon which the house was placed commanded an extensive view of the surrounding country. Far away to the northeast purplish gray waves along the sky showed a range of lofty hills, and in an easterly direction, scarcely two miles distant, glittering spires told where the village clung to the railroad, and to a deep rushing creek, whose sinuous course was distinctly marked by the dense growth that clothed its steep banks. Now and then luxuriant fields of corn covered the level lands with an emerald mantle, while sheep and cattle roamed through the adjacent champaign; and in the calm, cool morning air, a black smoke-serpent crawled above the tree-tops, mapping out the track over which the long train of cars darted and thundered. Mr. Paul Murray, the first proprietor of the estate, and father of the present owner, had early in life spent much time in France, where, espousing the royalist cause, his sympathies were fully enlisted by the desperate daring of Charette, Stofflet, and Cathelineau. On his return to his native land, his admiration of the heroism of those who dwelt upon the Loire, found expression in one of their sobriquets, "Le Bocage," which he gave to his country residence; and certainly the venerable groves that surrounded it justified the application. While his own fortune was handsome and abundant, he married the orphan of a rich banker, who survived her father only a short time and died leaving Mr. Murray childless. After a few years, when the frosts of age fell upon his head, he married a handsome and very wealthy widow; but, unfortunately, having lost their first child, a daughter, he lived only long enough to hear the infantile prattle of his son, St. Elmo, to whom he bequeathed an immense fortune, which many succeeding years of reckless expenditure had failed to materially impair. Such was "Le Bocage," naturally a beautiful situation, improved and embellished with everything which refined taste and world-wide travel could suggest to the fastidious owner. Notwithstanding the countless charms of the home so benevolently offered to her, the bl

lking this afternoon

g to see if I could not

riment cause

, but I find my

t moderately. By the by, you are now well enough to come to the table; and f

eized Edna, and in a frigh

a'

ll eat at the table inst

s. Murray, I would

objection can you hav

ead, but wrung her

owned, and con

instead of a knife. You need not be ashamed to meet people; there is nothing clownish about you

y than usual, despite the trembling of her hands; and when the ringing of the little silver bell summoned her to the dining-room, her heart seeme

e window. Unobserved, she scanned the tall, powerful figure clad in a suit of white linen, and saw that he wore no beard save the heavy but closely-trimmed moustache, which now, in some degree, conceale

dded to her young protegee, an

r shears, and detained me. Hereafter I shall turn over this work of dressing vases

linen coat, and, as he thanked her briefly, and tu

me introduce yo

on the orphan, whose cheeks crimsoned as s

ning, Mr.

rning, M

ss Earl,' indeed! C

ot let the coffee and chocolate get cold

t her eyes on the china, wondering if all their breakfasts would be like th

though it seems much longer. It will soon be time to prepare for my

flitted across the mother's coun

to me. You are such a confirmed absentee, that

nly never approach the angelic. 'Welcome the coming, s

the room, looked over his shoulder, saying indifferently, "That box of pictures from Munich is

heavy sigh Mrs. Murray dropped her head on her hand, compre

ce for some seconds, and then putting her

ress the f

lors, and the library. Always cut the flo

d Edna joyfully escaped from a room whose

sultry afternoon she went into the park, and threw herself down on the long grass, under a clump of cedars, near which the deer and bison were quietly browsing, while the large white merinoes huddled in the shade and blinked at the sun. Opening a pictorial history of England, which she had selected from the library, she spread it on the grass, and leaning her face in her palms, rested her elbows on the ground, and began to read. Now and then she paused as she turned a leaf, to look around at the beautiful a

and was never loosed except at night; consequently, the expression of his fierce, red eyes, as he

ich had so puzzled her once before, when her grandfather could not control the horse he was attempting to shoe. The dog was sullen and unmanageable, kee

eized the heavy brass collar of the savage creature, hurled him back on h

ng at a little distance, he tightened his grasp o

that stick

hold was not relaxed, and the face of the master rivaled in rage that of the brute, which seemed as ferocious as the hounds of Gian Maria Visconti, fed with human

p him any more! It is

g on with her whole weight, repeating her words. If one of his meek, frightened sheep had sprung at his throat to throttle him, Mr. Murray would not have been more astounde

or he does not know it is wrong;

he first time ventured to look

not he worry down and

rve you right for your

ear you lim

etter," she an

will teach him! H

You have nearly put out

stick, I te

at, but held out his hand

e threw as far as her strength would permit. There was a brief pause, broken only by the piteous howling of the suffering creature, and, as she began to realize what she had done, Edna's face reddened, and she put her hands over her eyes to

but bruise and trample them, and instantly they are on their knees licking the feet that kicked them. Begone! you bloodthirsty devil!

o face with the object of her aversion, and she almost wished that the earth would open and swallow her. Mr. Murray ca

ou defy and

ut I could not help you to

ask your help nor intend to permit your i

do with that stick. I don't want to interfere, sir. I try to keep out of your way, and I am very sorry

he very devil himself, walking the earth like a roaring lion. Mind your own affairs hereafter, and when I give you a positive order

not med

will not obey me unle

her beautiful soft e

wer

o say that you wo

Out w

t to think me impertin

l not devour you,

the motion brought two t

even Torquemada's red-hot steel fingers could not open.

ndkerchief and wip

ou, sir," she sai

ead back and l

there are hairs on your head! Keep your pity for your pover

hich he seemed to hold un

your money, you n

all, 'Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings.' Pshaw! I am a fool nevertheless to waste wor

iving thing; but an hour ago it seemed to me more like the garden of Eden,

nsidering the fact that you are on my premises, and know something of my an

ot say t

. Don't be hypocritical! Is

erview painfully embarrassing to her, stepped forw

book i

picture representing the murder of Becket. A scowl blackene

epense! or

oned the whim which induced his master to call him "Tamerlane." As Mr. Murray approached his horse, Edna walked away toward the house, fearing that he might overtake her; but no sound of hoofs reached her ears, and looking back as

ibility of his long absence. Insensibly her dislike of the owner extended to everything he handled, and much as she had enjoyed the perusal of Dante, she determined to lose no time in restoring the lost volume, which she felt well assured his keen eyes would recognize the first time she inadvertently left it in the library or the greenhouse. The doubt of her honesty, which he h