All rights of Translation and property in the LOYALIST'S DAUGHTER are reserved for the Author. J. SWIFT, Regent Press, 55, King Street, Regent Street, W. THE LOYALIST'S DAUGHTER. CHAPTER XLIV. The world's false lights-its mild emotion, The star which wakes her soul's devotion Illumes th' eternal shore. Vain dreams of youth are past and perish'd, While youth is still in bloom; Friends, hopes, and scenes once loved and cherish'd, Or those eventful days of fearful adventures recorded in our last chapter, little remains to be told. A direct walk of a mile brought Strickland and his new acquaintance, bearing Hough between them, back to the bereaved and sorrowful smuggler's hut. The Oxford man's thanks to the good sister, and his apologies for the alarm and trouble which he had caused her; and his indescribable 50 VOL. IV. B admiration of her presence of mind, were, indeed, rather looked than spoken; for the tender and conflicting emotions of feeling and prostration of body denied him more power of utterance than the indistinct murmurings of gratitude, apparently mingled with an expression of affection which Strickland could not understand; nor could he divine the sister's manner of receiving those indications of such tender regard. As the poor fellow, when endeavouring to lighten his companions of the burden which his weakness imposed on them, took her hand with a grateful, but respectful courtesy, and would have pressed it to his lips, she gently forbade the endearment, presenting to him the crucifix which was suspended at her girdle. Her whole manner of receiving his expressions of gratitude, was that of a young woman consecrated to God, and on her mission of heavenly love. She seemed no way displeased with the approaches which he would make to her sympathy and her heart. She admitted no word or look of recognition; and yet, there was something in that shriek of hers that seemed to tell of other feelings; there was a mysterious meaning in that irresistible influence which impelled Hough to that terrific leap; there was more than met the eye in the united sensations which mutually affected the two young people. Strickland, comparing all that he witnessed with the letter he had found on the beach of Galloway, in connection with some rattling remarks of Clare at the old church in Kent, could not but suspect the possibility of a former acquaintance between the rescued and the rescuer. The terrible incidents which had all crowded upon each other in the course of a few hours, rushed tumultuously through the soldier's mind, as the gurgling waters gushed and tumbled through the fathomless and dark abyss from whose yawning jaws his friend had been saved. But in the mental confusion the thought flashed through his mind, that this was not the first meeting of him whom she had delivered from destruction and the beautiful sister. On reaching the hut nothing could exceed the old inmate's welcome of the party. His own unutterable affliction and self- condemnation, aroused his sympathies for others' woe. With the youthful party he felt not only a fellowship of sorrow, but a communion of religious sentiment, strengthened by the common bond of loyalty which seemed to involve all in the same fate. A couch of heather was instantly pre |