Macleod of Dare

tood on the steps of the Star and Garter-black fingers in the blaze of light. And now the people on the drag had finally ensconced themselves, and t

a little preliminary prancing of the leaders, away swung the big v

" observed Lieutenant Ogilvie to his companion. "He wouldn't do it for most folks. He wouldn't do it

"I do not know why. I wish I could take them all up to Castl

" said his companion. "Shall we go upstairs

nt had been used as a sort of withdrawing room; in the other stood the long banquet-table, still covered with bright-colore

London for a season, and being asked about by people who are precious glad to get unmarried men to their houses, is not expected to give these swell din

re about it? I think they enjoyed themselves

l say it is none of my business; but what would your d

good deal better if my mother was at the head of it. And the cost?-oh, I am only following out her instructions. She would not have people think that I was insensible to the kin

l things before him; they would look st

in Janet-she is the kindest-hearted of all the women I know-and when

g the course of your holidays?" And then he looked at the table before him, and a new id

the suggestion, he would have received a tolerably sh

is wonderful, the anxiety and affection of women who live away out of the world like that. There was my mother, quite sure that something awful was going to happen to me, merely because I was going away for two or three months, And Janet-I

Ogilvie, "you have never gon

ain. You know Miss Rawlinson; you have seen her at Mrs. Ross's, no doubt. Very well; I met her first when we went down to the Thames yacht race, and afterwards we became great friends; and the dear little old lady already looks on me as if I were her son. And do you know what her proposal is? That she is to give me up her house and garden for a garden party, and I am

0 or ￡300 at least,"

easant evening, and you show them that

s he had heard of Macleod's extravagant entertainmen

e to be one o

e theatre will be closed

been a good many t

iccadilly

es

re-when you and I went together," said Macleod

risen in the south, and the winding river showed a pale gray among the black woods, and there was a silvery light on the stone parapet on which they leaned their arms. The night was mild

, straightening himself up, "what do you say to the 12th? A few breathers over Ben-an-Sloich would put new lungs into you. I don't think you look quite so limp as most of the London men; but still you are not up to the mark. And then an occasional run out to Coll or Tiree in that old tub of ours, with a brisk sou'-wester blowing across-that would put some mettle into you. Mind you, you won't have any grand banquets at Castle Dare. I think it is hard on the poor old mother that she should have all the pinching, and none of the squande

the 12th of August. But I must say there are some capitally good fellows in our mess-and it isn't every one gets the chance you offer me-and th

Then you will have th

do you

of the press-gang, and of Nelson, and of the raids on the merchant-ships for officers for the navy. Did you know that Miss Rawlinson was an old sweetheart of his? He knew her when she lived in Jamaica with her father-several centuries ago you would think,

of Miss Gertrude White, or referred to her family, or even to her public appearances, about which there was plenty of talk at this time. Yet Lieutenant Ogilvie, on his rare visits to London, had more than once heard Sir Keith Macleod's name mentioned in conjunction with that of the young actress whom society was pleased to regard with a special and unusual favor just then; and once or twice he, as Macleod's friend, had been archly questioned on the subject by some inquisitive lady, whose eyes asked more than her words. But

now drove down to catch, after he had paid his bill. When they reached Waterloo Station it was not yet eleven o'clock; when he, having bade

enjoying ourselves all the day, and you have

nstairs, and a slight, pardonable bark of joy in the hall, and a wild dash into the freedom of the narrow street when the door was opened. T

t, with the gas lamps shining up on the thick foliage of the maples. In Grosvenor Square he had a bit of a scamper; but there was no rabbit to hunt. In Oxford Street his master took him into a public-hous

he could not be expected to notice that his master glanced somewhat nervously along South Bank when he had reached the entrance to that thoroughfare. Apparently the place was quite deserted; there was nothing

trees. Did he expect to see a light in one of those upper windows, which the drooping acacias did not altogether conceal. He

listening. There was no light in the windows; there was no sound at all; there was no motion but that of the trembling acacia leaves as the cold wind of the night

of the small house; which was to all appearances as lifeless as the grave. Then, far away, twelv

Or was it merely some passing whim-some slight underchord of sentiment struck amidst the careless joy of a young man's holiday-that had led him up into

stopped at the gate of the house he had been watching, and two young ladies stepped out. Fionaghal, the Fair Stranger, had not, then, been wandering in the enchanted land of dreams, but toiling home in a humble four-wheeler from the scene of her anxious labors? He would

g Oscar a run. I am glad to have a chance of biddi

"but I have only two more night

good-night, and departed. As Miss Gertrude White w

screwed up the gas, "wouldn't the name

as a quick flush of color in her face-whether caused by anger or