Mrs. Geoffrey

Mona, awaking from her h

ey and the dogs left us." Together they examine his watch, b

says Mona, with much compun

ning her, "let us finish what we were saying.

n you afford it? Italy seems so far away." Th

e you speaking t

" with s

ack is that. Can't you

?" says Mo

me Geo

ance; "but to say it is so different. Well," bravely, "I'll try. Dear, dear, dear

whatever it may cost. And then we shall return to England to our own home. And then-little rebel that you are

t a king," says the girl, with

lips. "Your king is also your sl

e, and go down the road th

mind is crowded with glad anticipations of what the near future is to give him. He has no re

, still tormenting herself with unseen evils,-"if ever I shou

self I am a cur, and despise me accordingly. But I think you are paying both yourself and me very bad compliments when you talk like that. Do

returns no more to the lachrymose mood that

om, when a voice, coming from apparently nowhere, startles them, and brings

ys this voice close at Mona

unkempt, and only half clad, creeps thro

matter what they do to me, I says to myself, I'll warn her surely. They're waitin' for the agi

iting for?" says

tell on me now they'll kill me.

it to shoot him?" asks

now 'twill be all up wid me. Fegs an' inti

says. "You may trust me.

hind the hawthorn-bush. Go home some oth

e you doing here?" s

sses he, shifting from one foot to the other, and g

"Go home, Paddy. Go home to your mother." Then, changing her censuring

d, darts through the hedge again like a shaft from a bow,

nation, and a hard look on her usually mobile lips, she moves deliberat

o and expostulate with these men. It is late, darling, and their b

. Besides, they will not harm me. There is no fear of that.

from further expostulation, and just accom

en she is within a hundred yards of the hid

late, but a guess nevertheless. It proves, however, to be a correct one. A man, indistinct, but

t from me-a gun! And you too, Carthy," peering into the darkness to where another man, less plucky than Ryan l

ing his hand impulsively upon his gun, and glancing at her and Rodney alternately with murder i

rt to put himself before her; and when he would have spo

informer' to one of my blood," she says, coldly,

odney, the ruffianly look still on his face. "The Englishman, I mane. I

beneath the cold penetrating rays of the "pale-faced moon" that up above in "heaven's ebon

ever done to you that you sh

your ways. It is with him I have

with him," says

and, taking her hand in his, draws it through his arm.

who up to this has appeared desirous of concealing himself from vi

hing that savors of amusement showing itself even in his ill-favored face. For an I

ughing again: "I am going to

ittin' on us," says the man. "So now go; we'v

shu

I would ask you to remember that it is not Mr. Maxwell's fault that Peggy Madden was evicted, but the fault of his master. If any one must be s

untouched. "Go yer ways, will ye? an' quick too. Maybe

Mona slips her hand into Rodne

are quite out of sight and hearing, R

oing to murder. I must indeed, darling. Forgive me that I desert you here and at such an hour, but I see you are safe in th

fore eleven, and it is but a little after ten. I know the hour he usually returns, because he always goes by our gate, and often I bid him good-night in the summer-time. Come with me,"

gap into a ploughed field,

ar there, and can send him back

ces as she rushes, like a light-footed deer, acr

ap, on to a wall, straight and broad, up which Rodney pulls

ow diving down into the plain, without faintness or despondency, or

But to Mona, with her fresh and perfect health, and lithe and lissom body, and all the rich young blood that surges upward in her veins, excitement serves but to make he

de, she raises her hands to her head, and listens with

ll is

e down the other road, and is perhaps now already "done to de

"all the air a solemn stillness holds," and that no sound makes itself heard save the faint sighing of the night-wind

yet full of mystery and unexplained sadness, but

er head, and pushes back her hair, and strains her eyes eagerly int

es the sweet heaven, studded with its stars! how cool, how fragrant, is the breeze! How the tiny wavelets move and sparkle in the glor

reets her ear? The ring of ho

ds passionately, and tu

g her hand; and so they both stand, almost bre

cart swings round the corner, drawn by a large, bony, bay mare, a

e heavy man, drawing up, looks round at her with keen surprise, bendi

?" he says, at length;

not delay. There are those waiting for you on the Tullymore road who will take you

to shoot me?" says Maxw

t go. Even now they may have suspected my purpose, an

nly helps to increase

here?" demands the agent

t never ask me. It is enough that I speak the tr

you?" says Maxw

that. Now go," says Mona, i

oking first at her and then v

service?" Then, turning quietly to Rodney, "I have not the pleasure of your acquaintance, sir,"

care for the well-being of his beloved, even in the midst of his own immediate danger.

n saved. And they two, Mona and Geoffrey, ar

ng to her lover, as the last faint ring o

red," says

ard. Uncle Brian will be uneasy about me if he discovers my abse

rough the dewy meads, meeting no one until they re

craning her long neck up and down the

here were ye at all, darlin'? An' I breakin' me heart wid fear for ye. Did ye know Tim Ryan was out to-night? When I heerd tell of that f

arm," says Mona,

"On me bended knees I was with the blessid beads for the last two hours. An' shure I've had me

ian?" asks Mo

f us if he knew ye were out so late. An' truth to say, Miss Mona," changing her tone from one of extreme joy and thank

ment in any form being new to her, and very foreign to her trut

ys Miss Bridget, with more vehemence than politeness,

are made up, and the

sit be the fire an' smoke his dhudheen. Oh, be the powers of Moll Kelly, but I'll pay him out for his lie

go in and get me a cup of tea

es the ground she walks on; and then, turning, she

een to-night?" she says, earnestly. "At the inn

ightest danger now, and my horse is a good

have to go up that road again," with a strong shudder. "I shall not go in

ty, and that she is completely overwrought, he

, and then, as he stoops to kiss her, she throws

not cry on this night of all others that has made me yours and you mine! If this thought made you as happy as it makes me, you could not cry. Now lift your head, and let me look at

e, on which is dawning an adorable smile. Then, sighing heavily,-a sigh of utter exhaustion,-"You have d

count!" says Geoffrey, impatiently. "Good-night, Mo