per

But, oh, go away, and never return-never. I will I will pray God unceasingly to have mercy on you." The great drops of spiration stood out on his forehead as he stepped forward motioning the beggar away with both hands.

"You are very kind, your reverence! Still I would rather you told the lad something about me. My spirit would have awakened in him then all the sooner, and it would have been less trouble to draw him to me, Can I speak to him?"

"Never, never!" solemnly answered the priest. A contemptuous look came over the beggar's face. "It would kill him," added he in a half whisper. The stranger appeared to reflect for a moment.

"What are you going to do with him?" he demanded. "Are you going to put him in a soutane like yourself?"

"That is my warmest, most earnest desire!" replied the priest, folding his hands. The dark eyes of the stranger darted a look of fiery hatred-"That he must never be! Do you hear? I will prevent it, and woe to you if you attempt pressure! In that case I should pay no attention to your wish that I should go without seeing him. In his present frame of mind, however, he would not be capable of grasping my plans; the world must first influence him a little, so I must wait. But in time we will both meet! I feel in no way grateful to you for your trouble in bringing him up; on the contrary-but of that later on. Once more I warn you against trying to force the lad's inclinations! I shall remain in the neighbourhood until his vocation is settled, to be able to step in if my wishes in that quarter be thwarted. And beware of setting the police after me! My aim is sure, and never missed but once in my life! Till we meet again, Father!"

With a mocking gesture the intruder took off his hat and bowed, then disappeared in the dark shadow of the trees. With a groan of agony the priest sank back on the bench utterly exhausted.

"How terrible, my God, how terrible!" letting his grey head fall forwards on the edge of the rustic table.

Felix, after resting a little, and bringing up his various properties to the little room which he had always called his own, had also gone into the garden, but to the opposite side, and from there had passed half mechanically into the churchyard, the door of which was ajar. At first he was turning his steps towards the sexton's little house, when, struck by a sudden impulse, he wended his way to a retired corner, so completely enclosed by thick elder bushes that it seemed to make a little churchyard of its own. There was the glimmer of a white dress through the trees. "Alloa!" he called softly. "Alloa!" "Felix!" came the answer, in a clear girlish voice; the branches parted, and Felix saw a tall, slight figure in a gracefully draped white dress standing before him, two great azure blue eyes were gazing into his, and two tiny, painfully transparent hands had seized on his strong right one.

"Is that really you, Alloa? Werner's Alloa?" asked Felix, looking with astonishment at the pale, beautiful girl. Aloysia nodded her head, laughing softly, while a delicate pink tint coloured her face.

"Why, Alloa, how tall and lovely you have grown!" and he passed his hands over her thick, fair hair, as he used in his boyish days.

66 And you have grown immense, Felix. Look, I scarcely reach up to your shoulders."

"Is that so? I fancied it to-day when I had to bend down so much to uncle; then I began to think it must be my dear uncle had grown smaller."

"No, you have got tall and stately, like a fine gentleman,' and Aloysia laughed with a light shade of embarrassment. "That is just what I am going to be," was the laughing response. "But why did you not come to welcome me before, Alloa ?"

"I was afraid of being in the way when you met your uncle first; and besides, I was not sure if you would remember me."

"Remember you, Alloa! You are constantly in my thoughts," and a soft light shone in the young man's eyes. "Why did you come back, Alloa? Uncle told me you had been staying in some large town with relations who wished you to remain with them as their own child."

"Yes, Felix, I was very glad to see how they all loved me, but I could not stay."

"I do not know if you will quite understand me."

'Well, at any rate, I can try," replied Felix, laughing. "Then, Felix, I have come back to die here."

Stop! Do not say any more." A shadow had fallen on Felix's face; he could not conceal his annoyance. The young girl looked troubled, but replied in a firm, gentle voice :"It is a fact, Felix; I spoke to you about it before. Long ago the doctor found I had symptoms of that fatal disease which by preference chooses the young for its victims."

"But you are healthy; you have grown tall and blooming." "Do not deceive yourself, Felix; my face has not, and never had, the bloom of health, and the gaiety of youth has always been wanting to me."

"No wonder, when from your earliest years you have been hugging that thought of an early death. Such an idea works on the spirits and nerves, damping the one, overstraining the other, till the health is broken down. You had no right to yield so completely to the imaginary fears of a stupid doctor."

The golden girlish head shook doubtfully.

"You do not know, Felix, no, no--What matter? It will soon be over. I often get a sharp pain in my chest, and cough a good deal at night. But it does not trouble me; it is right, if it is God's will. Grandfather is old and must

soon go-we shall go together. What would I do alone in the world?”

"What would you do, Alloa ? Listen and I will tell you. I have always liked you greatly, but did not think much about it until now; but now I know. You would be my wife. Your gentle submissive character would counteract hot impetuous nature, and we would be very happy."

my

A vivid blush spread over the maiden's face; she stepped back as if startled. “Do not speak so,” she said, in evident distress; "such a thing could never be. I could never raise myself to your level, and—and you are too ambitious to dream of marrying the grand-daughter of a village sexton." Ambitious, am I? And is it not possible for me to possess some better qualities besides ?" cried Felix irritably. "That's not what I mean, Felix, dear; but you would have to make many sacrifices, and thus

"Are they impossible to me, Alloa ? "
She nodded her head.

"How do you come to that conclusion ?" he demanded. "Forgive me, Felix," said Aloysia imploringly. "I have my own peculiar thoughts, and I do not know if they are

correct.

(To be continued.)

PERIODICALS RECEIVED.

Ave Maria (Indiana); Illustrated Catholic Missions (London); Annals of the Propagation of the Faith, (Dublin); Le Saint aux Miracles (Padua); Revue du Tiers-Ordre, et de la Terre Sainte (Montreal); Annales du Tiers-Ordre Seraphique (Caen); Le Messager de Saint Francois (Antwerp); El Eco Francescano (Santiago); Sanct' Francisci Glöcklein (Innsbruck); La Palestina (Rome); Revista Francescana (Barcelona); Franciscan Annals (Pantasaph).