Rookstone Priory.

"' That is a he ! he cried , roughly . "My darling , had he been any other than my brother , no poiver on earth should have prevented me from felling Mm on the spot where he stood . I controlled myself as Avell as I Avas ablebut I know

, that my lips ivero \ vhiter than ash itself . Drawing myself rip proudly , I turned away . I did not speak , for I could not trust my tongue . My hand was on the lock of ! the door , when Alec clutched my shoulder .

"' Don't go ! ' he said , hoarsely . 'I beg your pardon , Loivndes . I am hard upindeed I am ! Heaven knows I don't knoAV Aidiich way to turn V " 'Thatisanoldstory , ' Ianswered wearily . " ' Lowndes , I must have the money i '

he cried , desperately . " I was desperate , too . I turned round fiercely , and told him ivhat I thought of his heartlessness . Yes , I called him heartless and cruel ; hut , as Heaven is my ivitUessI called him nothing harder .

, His passion rose Avith mine , however , and terrible and many Avere the evil words Avhich he in his anger cast at me . My brother that clay Avas dressed in full uniform , and his gloves Avere a curious mixture of Avhite leather and delicate steel

ornaments , a fine steel chain extending over the back of thc glove , and fastening on either side of the hand in tiny steel rings . Thc chain of the ri ghthand

glove had in some Avay become unfastened , and IIOAV hung loosely and swung from Alec ' s ivrist . The torrent of Ms abuse Avas unlimited ; and among the many bitter and false things which he uttered ivas the accusation that I had effectually

poisoned our father ' s mind against him , and ivas striving my utmost to keep him out of Rookstone altogether . "' Perhaps Avhen the time comes you will be for altering the—you know—eh ?' he insinuatedtauntingly . ' Not unlikely

, , I suppose , Loivndes , if my share is more than you think I deserve 1 ' and he laughed a horrible sneering laugh ; and then it was , Alice , that I forgot everythingmyself , the forbearance due to a brother , the better angel whispering 'Patience' at

my side- —all . My darling , I forgot all . To the most patient endurance there are hounds . " ' It is you who are the liar ! ' I cried , in uncontrollable wrath .

"In another moment my brother had struck me full in the face , a straight , enerring UOAV , fatal and sure , the fine sharp steel chain hanging from his glove Avhizzing right across tho pupils of my dilated eyes . I remember dimly a keen ,

stinging agony , a blinding rush of burning , brine-like tears ; and then , in spite of my manhood and strength , of Aidiich I used to be so proud , I fainted from the sheer intensity of the fiery pain . When consciousness returnedaunt Jem Avas leaning

, over me , and I was lying on a sofa in my own dressing-room , whither I had been carried by somo of the servants , John Barnes for one . I could only hear—I could not see them . Nov have I beheld

the light of heaven from that dreadful day to this Before that night closed in—before Alec , my brother , left Rookstone for his head-quarters— I had learned the bitter truth . I ivas blind . They'broke it to me as gently as they could that my sight was gone—that I should never see again .

Alice , dear , they were right . " Lowndes Forrester paused , and felt Miss West's tears dropping on his hand , which the girl was holding , clasped tightly within her own . "My poor Lowndes" she murmured ,

, brokenly , "how you must have suffered —how you must have suffered ! " And , looking up , she perceived for the first time the silver threads in his soft dark hair . Yes , silver threads , and he so youngscarcely one-and-thirty .

"At the time , dear , " he said ; "but the first great bitterness has long since passed away . I have been contented for years ; hut you , Alice , have made mc happier than I eA'er thought to have- been . " " Have I , Lowndes 1 "

" You know you have . " " And now , " asked Alice , "Alec is dead f " Yes , lie is dead , " replied Lowndes . " Poor fellow , he was accidentally killed at some boisterous wine party , ivhich he himself Avas giving . He never came again

to Rookstone after striking the blow Avhich made me so helpless , except when they brought him homo to his last long rest , and laid him beside our mother in the Rookstone churchyard . Poor fellow !" " Poor fellow ! " echoed Alice , very softly . Silence fell upon theui , and the twilight deepened .