At this Talbot's face flushed, and all her expression was suddenly changed from one of dull dejection to animation and delight. "I think, Talbot, you might ask me to raged within him, and was as far from a show you the way.' decisive end as ever. The prospect of parting with Talbot filled him with a sense of horrible desolation, and the one idea now in his mind was that of accompanying her wherever she might go. He did not look far into the future. His plans were bounded by that tower to which Talbot was going. This much he might do without any hesitation. It seemed to him no more than Talbot's due. She only wanted to go as far as that. She wished to be out of the reach of Rivers. She didn't know the way there. He could certainly help her thus far; in fact, it would be impossible for him not to do that much. If Dolores herself were present, he thought, she could not object; in fact, she could do nothing else but approve. "Will you?" she asked, breathlessly. "Oh yes," said Brooke, "that isn't much to do-oh yes, I can easily show you the way to the tower. After all, it is as safe there as here; and if you are determined to go, why, we can start, you know-at any time, you know." "But will you-can you-will you, really?" said Talbot, who seemed quite overwhelmed at this unexpected offer. "Then you have your human weakness, after all, have you, Brooke? You will not sacrifice me to a punctilio, will you? you will not let your poor Talbot go away all alone?" "No," said Brooke, softly; "I will not let my Talbot go away all alone." Talbot cast a swift glance at him, as if to read his soul. Brooke's eye met hers, | but only for an instant. Then he looked away. Again there was quick and active within him that old vigilant feeling that kept him on guard against being surprised and overpowered by passion. Within his heart there had already been a fierce struggle between love and honor. Love had once conquered, and that completely; but the appearance of Dolores had roused his conscience, and made him once more aware of the bond that lay in his plighted word. Could he again break that word? Could he sacrifice his honor almost in the very presence of her whom he supposed to be his loving and faithful Dolores? Could he do such a deed as this, and sully his soul, even for Talbot? Yet, on the other hand, how could he bring himself to give her up? Give her up!-the "lad Talbot," | whom he loved as he had never loved any other human being! How could he? And thus love drew him impetuously in one direction, while duty sternly and imperiously drove him back; and so there went on in the breast of this newspaper correspondent a struggle the like of which does not often come within the experience of gentlemen of the press. "You will see me as far as the tower?" said Talbot, pathetically. "Yes," murmured Brooke. And there," continued Talbot, in the same tone, "we can say to one another our last farewells." Silence now followed, which lasted for some time, and at length Talbot said, with a heavy sigh, "How strange it is, and how sad!-isn't it, Brooke?" "What?" said Brooke. "To bid good-by," repeated Talbot, "and never meet again." Brooke drew a long breath, looked at Talbot, and then looked away. "Shall we, Brooke ?" asked Talbot. "Shall we what?" said Brooke, harshly. "Shall we ever meet again?" "How do I know?" said Brooke, snappishly. And yet you gave your life for me," said Talbot, pensively. "It was you "I didn't," said Brooke. that gave your life for me. "The offer was made," said Talbot, mournfully, "but it wasn't accepted. I wish now that the offer had been accepted." Brooke raised his head and looked at her with his pale, haggard face, whereon was still the impression of that great agony through which he had so lately passed. He looked at her with all his unspeakable love in his earnest, yearning gaze. "Do you really wish that, Talbot ?" "I do," said she, sadly. "Oh, my darling!" cried Brooke-"my own love, and my only love! What shall I do? Help me to decide." He caught her in his arms, and held her pressed convulsively to his heart, while Talbot laid her head on his shoulder and Brooke said nothing. The struggle still wept. At length they rose to go. Brooke was conscious of a sense of profound relief as he went out of the castle and away from Dolores. On reaching the gate Brooke explained to the guard that he and the lady were going out for a little walk. The guard suggested that there might be danger. Ashby had been prompt in decision, and had taken all responsibility from Dolores. She meekly acquiesced in his decision, was all the happier for it, and prepared with the briskness of a bird to carry out their purpose of flight. She led Ashby down by the same way through which she had formerly conducted "his Majesty," starting from that lower room in which Ashby Brooke said that he was not going far had been confined. Had she gone from away, and that he would be back. In this one of the upper rooms, they might, perhe was not deceiving them, for he himself | haps, have encountered the lurking Rita, thought that he would be coming back and thus have rescued the unhappy Rusagain. He had a vague idea of keeping sell from his vengeful captor and from his Talbot in the tower, and conveying her coming woe. But such was not to be their food, etc., from the castle, as he had done lot. It was from the lower room that they once before. started; and on they went, to the no small amazement of Ashby, through all those intricate ways, until at length they emerged from the interior, and found themselves in the chasm. Here the moon was shining, as it had been during all the eventful days in which all these wonderful and authentic adventures had been taking place, and gave them ample light by which to find the path. Their way lay along the lower part of the chasm, where the brook was foaming and bubbling and dashing on its He now passed through the gates, accompanied by Talbot. The course which he took was the same that he had taken on the occasion of his first visit to the Carlists in his disguise of priest. After walking for some distance they descended into the chasm, and at length reached the bottom. By this time it was dusk, and twilight was coming on rapidly. They then began the ascent, and reached the tower without any difficulty. Here they paused to take breath. But no sooner had they stood still than they were aware of a noise without. It was a noise rather distant, yet well defined, and sounded as if a multitude were approaching the place. 66 "Some one's coming," said Talbot. "Yes," said Brooke, we must go back." They hurried back. But as they stood at the opening they heard something which once more startled them. There were voices and footsteps down the chasm, as of some one coming up the pathway. "We are pursued!" said Brooke. "We are captured!" said Talbot; and then she added, as she took Brooke's hands in hers, "But, oh, Brooke, how I should love to be captured, if you are only captured with me!" Brooke said nothing, but a thrill of joy passed through him at the thought. CHAPTER LVI. IN WHICH SOME OLD FRIENDS RE-APPEAR. DOLORES and Ashby had experienced none of that inner conflict that had disturbed the souls of Brooke and Talbot, for way. Before long they reached the place where the path ascended toward the tower. Up this they proceeded. As they went up they heard voices. Thus far they had been talking with one another quite merrily and carelessly, but these sounds at once arrested them. They stopped for a moment, and listened in deep anxiety. The sound of the voices seemed to draw nearer, and to come up from some point in the pathway behind them, as though others were advancing in the same direction. "We are pursued," said Dolores. "Who would pursue us?" said Ashby. "Mr. Brooke," said Dolores, in a tone of alarm. "It must be Mr. Brooke. He has been looking for me. and is pursuing us." He has seen us, Ashby muttered a curse. "Confound him!" said he. "Let him keep his distance. We must hurry on faster." They hurried on. In a few moments they had reached the tower. Inside that tower were Brooke and Talbot, who had reached it some time before, and now heard the sounds made by these new-comers, though the darkness of the interior prevented them from seeing who they were. On entering, Dolores drew Ashby carefully on one side. Brooke and Talbot waited in breathless suspense. But now other sounds startled the occupants of the tower-the sounds as of an advancing crowd. Dolores clung in terror to Ashby, and drew him still farther on one side. They were caught-that was plain. They could neither advance nor retreat; for now already they heard new-comers at the opening through which they had just passed. They shrank back still farther, and Dolores clung more closely to Ashby. These new-comers, however, were not very formidable. They were merely Harry and Katie. To "Ha!" he cried, in Spanish, "here it is; but it's all dark. Bring lights, some one. We must wait here till the others come round to the front; but there's no reason why we shouldn't have lights. We can't be seen from the castle: the walls here are too thick to be transparent. It's just the place for a little supper." A number of others now came forward and entered. The fugitives stood clinging to one another as before, expecting the worst, and awaiting with intense anxiety the moment when lights would be introduced. There was now the flash of sudden flames - some of them were striking ex-matches. The flames leaped forth, and soon half a dozen torches were kindled, and then, blazing and smoking, they were held aloft, throwing a bright light upon the whole interior, while those who held them looked around without any other purpose, just then, than to find some convenient place where they might place them, so as to save themselves the trouble of holding them. Harry had waited for some time in pectation of being joined by Russell. his surprise, that worthy person did not put in an appearance. He could not account for this, and finally concluded that Russell must have gone ahead, so as to take his time about it and save himself by daylight. In this belief, Harry resolved to delay no longer, and congratulating himself that he knew the way so well, he started off with Katie. In that one instant the whole scene stood revealed. round Katie; and there Ashby, supporting Dolores. And as Ashby and Harry stared at these noisy new-comers, they saw the familiar face of no less a person than "his Majesty." He went with all the caution in the world, first reconnoitring to see that no There stood Brooke, with Talbot clingone was within view, and then, on reach-ing to him; there Harry, with his arms ing the side door which gave entrance to the cellars, he cautioned Katie to keep silence. In this way they went on silently enough until they emerged from the opening. Then they began to descend the chasm, and here Harry felt safe. On their way down and up they talked and laughed quite freely, and these were the voices which had startled their prede cessors. At this sight they were filled with amazement and consternation. Yet their amazement, great though it may have been, was not greater than that of "his Majesty." For an instant he stood like one transfixed, and then exclaimed, in that peculiar English which he spoke, "Howly Moses! but this bates the worruld!" and then stood staring at each of them. At length they reached the tower and clambered in. The moment they found themselves inside they were startled by those noises which had already terrified the others, and which had now drawn much nearer. At this exclamation Katie started. She Katie gave a low cry of terror, and recognized the voice at once; and, strange stood trembling in every limb. Harry was quite bewildered at this sudden and unexpected shock. For a moment he thought of flight; but that was impossible, for Katie, in her terror, was almost fainting, and he had to support her, while she clung breathlessly to him. And so they stood, unable to move. The noises were now just outsidevoices, cries, songs, and wild laughterall the indications of a lawless crowd. Suddenly some one burst inside. to say, all her terror fled. From that man she felt as if there was nothing to fear. She looked up, and showed her sweet face all smiles, with all its anxiety and all its terror vanished. Dolores also heard the English words, and looked up in surprise, recognizing at the first glance that familiar face. Harry and Ashby made the same discovery. But there were other discoveries to be made. Their eyes, as the lights shone around, took in the whole scene; and it was with the deepest dismay and confusion that, on looking around, each one caught sight of his or her old lover; and, what was more, the feeling of each one was that the other had come in pursuit, to claim that vow which each was break- | ing. Harry saw Talbot, and felt sure that she had come after him to demand a new explanation, and to reproach him for this new perfidy. She had suffered, he felt, wrongs that were intolerable at his hands, and his heart sank within him at this new meeting. He seemed to himself base beyond all expression, and no words could be found with which he might excuse himself. Brooke saw Dolores, and his only thought was that she had suspected him, had watched him, had tracked him, and had now come to overwhelm him with dishonor, and he felt that he must be dumb before her. Ashby saw Katie, and thought that she had surely come in pursuit of him; that perhaps his suspicions had been unfounded; that she loved him; that she had only been trifling with Harry, and had come to tear him from Dolores. Talbot saw Harry with guilty terror. She had fled from him, and intentionally. He had pursued; he had come to claim her hand-her promised hand! Dolores saw Brooke with the same feelings. She knew him as the chivalrous American who had saved her life and that of her mother in their direst need, who had won her heart and the promise of her hand. She had broken her wordshe had fled. What now? With what eyes could she look at him? with what words could she speak to him? Katie's face had lightened up with joy at the sight of "his Majesty," but the moment afterward it clouded over with fear and apprehension at the sight of Ashby. "Thus conscience does make cowards of us all," and conscience told her that she had treated Ashby very, very badly, and that he had followed her to make her keep her plighted word. And so she only clung to Harry more closely than ever. And so, in fact, did the other couples. They all clung to one another more closely than ever. There was a moment of embarrassment-intense, awful, tremen dous. The deep silence was broken by the voice of his Majesty." "Herself!" he cried, with his eyes fixed on Katie-"herself! begorra, it's herself! Shure an' it is! an' oh, but it's meself that's the lucky man this day! An' shure an' may I dhrop dead if I iver saw sich a mayting as this! Shure ye've forgotten all about me offer av the crown av Spain, an' the sceptre, an' the throne. Begorra, ye've given up all that same for that bit av a boy that's a-howldin' av ye. An' shure we're all together again, so we are. Here's welcome to yez all-Messrs. Rivers an' Ashby, an' the ladies, one an' all. Niver fare, I'll take good care av yez this toime. Only what's become av Lord Russell? Begorra, it's meself that 'ud loike to have another look at that same!" Talking in this way, with frequent pauses, "his Majesty" succeeded in expressing his feelings, which had at first seemed quite too strong for utterance. Meanwhile the soldiers who had been inspecting the interior had found convenient places for fixing the torches, which now flared up, throwing a bright light around, and filling the tower with smoke. During all this time the prisoners had been agitated by various feelings. Harry and Ashby saw in "his Majesty" a remorseless brigand, whose only idea was plunder, and who would now hold them to ransom as before. They despaired of escape. This new capture seemed far worse than the former one, yet each one thought less of himself than of that dear one whom he had tried to save. Thus Harry clung to Katie and Ashby clung to Dolores more closely than ever. Brooke and Talbot, on the contrary, had less fear, yet they had anxiety. Brooke recognized in "his Majesty" the unscrupulous Carlist whom he had visited, and was somewhat uneasy about a recognition; while Talbot, seeing his uneasiness, felt something like fear herself. Yet, in the midst of all this, they all alike made one discovery. It was this: each one saw that his or her old love had become strangely indifferent. Harry saw that Talbot was clinging to that strange man whom he had never seen before, but who now, as he thought, seemed uncommonly sweet on her. Talbot saw that Harry was devoted to that lady whom he was so assiduously supporting and consoling. She was utterly amazed at the discovery, yet inexpressibly glad. Dolores, in her delight, saw that Brooke took no notice of herself, but devoted himself to the lady with him, and in such a fervent manner that she understood it all without being told. recalled that old nonsense with which she had amused herself when she had suggested that Mrs. Russell should marry "his Majesty"; but now a great terror seized her: was it possible that Mrs. Russell had done such a thing? "Oh, auntie!" she said; "oh, auntie! you haven't-you haven't-done-done it ?" "Done it!" said Mrs. Russell, who seemed at once to understand her; "no, child Katie also saw that Ashby had forgotten all about her, and thought of nothing-not yet; but as soon as the affairs of but Dolores. And at this discovery, which flashed almost simultaneously upon them, each one felt the most inexpressible joy. At the same time the whole truth came upon them. Each one, instead of pursuing the other, had been trying to fly. Each lover had found a new and more congenial friend, and with this dear friend had left the castle. Each one felt equally guilty, yet equally glad; but then as to guilt, there was Brooke, who didn't feel guilty at all-oh, bless you, no!-he had only come with Talbot as far as the tower! In the midst of all this Harry and Ashby and Brooke were amazed at the Irish brogue of the Carlist chief, who had formerly spoken to them in Spanish. And now, while they were thus wondering, who should come in but a certain female in a very peculiar dress-for this female wore what looked like a military cloak, and she wore also an officer's "kepi," which was perched upon the top of her chignon which female took a glance around, and then exclaimed: "Well, goodness gracious me! I never! Did I ever! No, never!" 66 'Auntie!" screamed Katie; and with this she rushed toward the aforesaid female, who was no other than Mrs. Russell. She flung her arms around that lady, and almost smothered her with kisses. "Dear child," said Mrs. Russell, "how impetuous you are! But it's natural-it's touching-it's grateful-we deserve it, dear. We came to seek and to save. Bless you, my child, and may you be happy! His Majesty' has a tender heart, and often talks of you. We also cherish for you a fond affection, child; but in future try to be a little less boisterous, and respect the majesty of Spain." At this reception Katie was quite bewildered. It was only by a strong effort that she could comprehend it. She then state will allow, 'his Majesty' says that the ceremony shall be performed; after which comes the coronation, you know, and then, dear, I shall be queen, and you may be princess, and may marry the proudest of all the Spanish chivalry.” The At this Katie was so terrified that she did not know what to say. The only thought she had was that "auntie" had gone raving mad. She knew that Mr. Russell was alive and well, for she had seen him only a short time before. old joke about marrying "his Majesty" had been almost forgotten by her; and to find "auntie" now as full as ever of that nonsensical piece of ambition was inexpressibly shocking to her. Yet she did not know what to say. To disabuse her seemed impossible. She did not dare to tell her that Mr. Russell was alive; it might be dangerous. "Auntie" had so set her mind upon this insane project that any attempt to thwart her would certainly draw down vengeance upon the head of the one who should dare to make it. That one certainly was not Katie. She liked, as far as possible, to have things move on smoothly around her; and so the only thought she now had was to chime in with "auntie's" fancy; to humor her as one would humor an insane person, and to hope that something might turn up in time to prevent anything "dreadful." In this state of mind Katie went on talking with "auntie." But "auntie" was hard to humor; she was altogether too grand and lofty for little Katie. In fancy she already wore a crown, and talked of the throne, the sceptre, and the majesty of Spain as though they had always been her private property. "I've been two or three days," said she, "with his Majesty.' He has been most kind. His royal will is that I should wear this hat. Do you think it is becoming! Under other circumstances I should be |