The Mystic Chord.

THE MYSTIC CHORD .

BY HENRY CALVERT APPLEBY . " 'Tis now the very witching hour o' night , When churchyards yawn . " Hamlet .

C 1 HARLE S ROVA was one of those cheerful , good natured , willing 1 fellows to whom one feels irresistibly attracted at first sight ; and he created a feeling of trust in anyone who was brought into slight contact with him , also impressing them with an involuntary desire to become his intimate friend . His light curly hair ancl delicate moustache , combined with a certain expression of his countenancegave him an uncommon look of frankness . He

, was a little above the middle height , and possessed a broadly-built frame , which carried its owner in an easy , graceful manner , delightful to behold . His sparkling blue e } -es , which appeared ever ready to twinkle at some spicy joke , were rather deeply set , ancl a perfectly straig ht nose finished off his fine face . You could not be serious in his company for five minutes ; he was too full of life , too exuberanttoo merry for thatand his whole existence seemed

, , to be one perpetual round of happiness constantly renewed . He was nevertheless an orphan , having never seen his father , whilst his mother died Avhen he was at the tender age of seA'en . Being brought up under the kind care of a maiden aunt on the moderate meaus left by his father , she had developed in her protege all the happy graces which his ancestor had possessed , and the sterling good qualities of his mother . Knoiving very

little of life and its troubles , he was apprenticed at eighteen to an eminent lawyer in the town three miles distant , whither he ivalked to ancl fro , disdaining carriages , and now , at the age of twenty-two , he had only another year to complete his term . Such was the uneventful career of Charles RoA'a , and his happy disposition , combined with a careful education ( for he Avas not averse to study ) , made him a general favourite even with those far older than himself .

Little wonder , then , that he succeeded before all his rich rivals iu winning the coy heart of the beautiful and wayward heiress , Lucy Lovell . Her brig ht black eyes beaming from beneath the most exquisite eyebrows , ancl the dark hair that rolled in ringlets on her shoulders , together with her daring spirit , completely sobered him , and on seeing her he lost all his gaiet y in the fetters of love . That was a year agoancl all envied him his rizewho was now never

, p , separated from his thoughts , and , although his clear ringing laugh was still heard , yet it ever seemed to have a tinge of Lucy in it . At his profession Charles was making rapid headway , ancl when he had finished his term , with the little money left b y his father he would be in an almost independent position , Avith not an improbable prospect of becoming a future partner in the firm . Lucy Lovell had promised to be his bride in a year , with the mutual consent

ancl approval of all parties concerned . This Avas how matters stood on the last day of the year 18— . Charlie Avas cheerfully trud ging home from a loving interview with his "intended , " Avith Avhom he was more than ever enchanted , and he whistled a pretty air as the lig ht , snow-flakes fell on his manl y form and the crisp snow ivas hastily trodden beneath his feet . It was already growing dark , and the neat resi-