'Ah!' thought Katharine, 'before he knew Thorgerd—before he went to Haythorpe.'

It was a very short will. It devised all his property, of every kind, without fetter or restraint, to his sister Katharine, provided she married Louis Kay. If not, it was left in the same free and unconditioned manner to Louis Kay himself. Katharine's own fortune, inherited by her father's will, and which included also her mother's

pro

perty, was of course her own in any case. When this was made known, there was a short silence, during which Mr. Bryant looked as innocent as he could, but was unable to resist giving inquiring glances at Miss Healey and Mr. Kay; Mrs. Kay startled, and rather alarmed; Louis, even, a little amazed; Katharine utterly indifferent.

'I did not know this, Katharine,' said Louis, at last.

'Very likely not. I can hardly congratulate you upon coming into the property, for its owners have always been very miserable people.'

Obeying a sign from Louis, his mother and Mr. Bryant left the room.

'Why do you talk about my property, Katharine ? Don't you see by Wilfrid's will what he wished for you? You will surely not refuse this-his last desire

'I am thankful to know that it was very far from being his last desire,' said Katharine. 'My property!' went on Louis, with a short laugh.

'What would it be to me, unless you

will take it?'

'Not I!' said she, scornfully. 'It is most beautifully arranged that it should be yours, Louis. It is your revenge, don't you see? You have it now; is it not as sweet and as satisfying as your fondest hopes ever pictured it? My brother has openly slighted me; has made a condition to be fulfilled before I could inherit his property—a condition which virtually takes it out of my hands entirely. He has played into your hand in every way. You have triumphed; you are

the winner. But--' (her eyes grew bright, and she smiled a radiant quivering smile in the midst of her anguish), ' when he made that will he cared nothing for me; when he died he loved me he loved me better than all. His last words were for me; his last thought and his last kiss. He called for no one else; he wanted no one else, and I am happy. Say no more to me. I want to hear no more. You are powerless to trouble me now, for you cannot harm him.'

She ceased, a sob catching her breath. Louis retorted in a trembling voice—

'I have not deserved this that you should treat me as if I desired to injure you you, when you know I would give all I possess, fifty times over, to Katharine, my darling' (seizing her hands quickly), 'you shall come to me-you shall be mine. I've a right to you before

She broke from him with a gesture of passionate repugnance.

'At that folly yet!' she exclaimed angrily. 'I will not bear it. You degrade me every time you open your lips on the subject. Rave and protest as you will, I stand above all your efforts, and you know it. I'll leave you.

I wish you long life and health to enjoy the revenge you have secured at last.'

Before he could move she had disappeared, leaving behind her a ringing echo of her scornful, sneering words; leaving Louis to wish that his tongue had been cut out before he had spoken the word 'revenge' to her— the word that she never had forgiven, and would never forgive; the word which he had uttered in his haste and anger, and which she had brooded over in her pain and anguish till it had, in her mind, stamped him not only as traitor, but as coward.

Sits near an open grave, and calls them over,

A youth with hoary hair and haggard eye.

They are the names of kindred, friend, and lover

Which he so feebly calls-they all are gone—

Fond wretch!-all dead: these vacant names alone,
This most familiar scene, my pain,

These tombs, alone remain.'

-SHELLEY.

HAT evening Katharine sent a message to Ughtred Earnshaw-she

wished to speak to him, if it would not trouble him too much to come and see her. In a short time he was with her. He had not seen her, except for about two minutes, since Wilfrid's death, and he looked somewhat eagerly at her now. It seemed to him that she was worn to a shadow. Grief had bodily wasted her away. She had said exult