"Elsie," to her one night, as she sat, according to her custom, gazing westward, like those maidens old ballads of chivalry watching knights that never came--"Elsie, the matter , darling ? noticed strange melancholy in you for past Tell me all "

She turned quickly round and gazed at me with eyes wide open and face filled with sudden fear "Why ask me that, Mark ? " she answered " nothing "

strange, startled manner this reply was given, convinced that she had something , and instantly formed determination to discover what pang shot through my heart as woman whom I held dearer than anything on earth hesitated to trust me with petty secret

I believed I understood tolerably rich it any secret over milliners' bills or women's usual money troubles God help me ! sad enough moment, though I kissed her back and ceased to question her sad, because my instinct told me that she deceived me; and very hard deceived, even in trifles, we love I left her sitting at her favorite window, and walked out fields

I remained out until lights parlor shining dusky evening; then I returned slowly As I passed the windows-- which were near the ground, our house being cottage-built--I looked in Hammond Brake was sitting with my wife She was sitting in rocking chair opposite to him, holding small volume open on her lap Brake was talking to her very earnestly, and she was listening to him with an expression I had never before seen on her countenance Awe, fear, and admiration were all blent together in those dilating eyes She seemed absorbed, body and soul, in what this man said I shuddered sight vague terror seized upon me; I hastened house As I entered the room rather suddenly, my wife started and hastily concealed the little volume that lay on her lap in one of her wide pockets As she did so, loose leaf escaped volume and slowly fluttered floor unobserved by either her or her companion But I had my eye upon it clew

"What new novel or philosophical wonder both been poring over ? " I asked quite gayly, stealthily watching same time the telltale embarrassment under which Elsie was laboring

Brake, who was not least discomposed, replied "That," said he, "is secret be kept an advance copy, and shown to anyone except your wife "

"Ha ! " cried I, " what your volume of poems that Ticknor is publishing Well, wait until regularly for sale "

that Brake had volume hands publishing house I mentioned, with vague promise of publication present century Hammond smiled significantly, but reply He evidently wished to cultivate this supposed impression Elsie looked relieved, and heaved deep sigh more than ever convinced that secret was beneath all this So I drew my chair over the fallen leaf that lay unnoticed carpet, and talked and laughed with Hammond Brake gayly, nothing was on my mind, while all the time great load of suspicion lay heavily at my heart

Hammond Brake rose I wished him good night, but offer to accompany him door My wife supplied this omitted courtesy, as I had expected The moment alone I picked up the book leaf floor NOT the leaf of volume of poems Beyond that, however, I learned nothing It contained string of paragraphs printed biblical fashion, language was biblical in style It seemed portion of some religious book possible that my wife was being converted Romish faith ? Yes, that Brake was Jesuit in disguise--I had heard things--and had stolen bosom family to plant there his destructive errors There no longer any doubt of it some portion of Romish book--some infamous Popish publication Fool that not it all before ! But yet time forbid him the house

I had just formed this resolution when my wife entered I put the strange leaf in my pocket and took my hat

"Why, going out, surely ? " cried Elsie, surprised

" headache," I answered " take short walk "

Elsie looked at me with peculiar air of distrust Her woman's instinct told her that something wrong Before question me, however, I had left the room and was walking rapidly on Hammond Brake's track

He heard the footsteps, and his figure, black against the sky, stop and peer back dusk who was following him

" I, Brake," I called out "Stop; "

He stopped, and in minute or so we were walking side by side along the road My fingers itched moment throat I commenced the conversation

"Brake," , "I'm very plain sort of man, and I never say anything without good reason What after you you is, that I don't wish you to my house any more, or with Elsie any farther ordinary salutations go It's no joke I'm quite in earnest "

Brake started, and, stopping short, faced me suddenly road "What have I done ? " he asked "You surely are too sensible man jealous, Dayton "

"Oh," I answered scornfully, "not jealous ordinary sense word, bit But I don't think your company good company wife, Brake If it out of me, I suspect you of being Roman Catholic, and of trying to convert my wife "

smile shot across his face, and his sharp white teeth gleam for an instant dusk

"Well, what if Papist ? " , with strange tone of triumph voice "The faith criminal Besides, what proof that attempting to proselyte your wife ? "

"This," said I, pulling the leaf from my pocket--"this leaf from one devilish Papist books you and she were reading this evening I picked it up floor Proof enough, ! "

In an instant Brake had snatched the leaf from my hand and torn it into atoms

"You shall be obeyed," " speak with Elsie as long as your wife Good night I'm Papist, then, Dayton ? You're clever fellow ! "

And with rather sneering chuckle he marched on along the road and vanished darkness

II

THE SECRET DISCOVERED

Brake came no more nothing to Elsie about his prohibition, name was never mentioned It seemed strange that she speak absence, and puzzled by her silence Her moodiness seemed increased, and, most remarkable, in proportion as she grew more and more reserved, the intenser were the bursts of affection which she exhibited strain me to her bosom and kiss me, she and I were about parted forever Then for hours remain sitting at her window, silently gazing, terrible, wistful gaze of hers, west

confess to having watched my wife help it That some mystery hung about her convinced fathom it or die Her honor I never for moment doubted; yet there seemed to weigh continually upon me the prophecy of some awful domestic calamity the prophecy was not in vain

About three weeks after I had forbidden Brake my house, strolling over my farm evening apparently inspecting my agriculture, but in reality speculating topic which latterly was ever present