Jasper's Folly.

Sad , sad to think that , a being endowed and moulded by nature with graces of mind and body , g ifted also with other qualities that might have raised him high above the common herd of humanity is nowlying an inert mass of clay . Where are his noble aspir itions YVanished like himself ! To-nig ht I feci strangely moved . An oppression of mind greater than usual casts its gloomy spell over

me ; an inward monitor seems to whisper that my short stay on earth is drawing to a close . This presentiment , troubles me nofc as life possesses no joy to nio : I only wish to live long enough to clear the mystery surrounding the disappearance of my wife—if that be possible , f am glad that t commenced to pen last night an account of the matter . When 1 am gone the manuscript may interest those

in whose hands'it may fall . Who knows but it may some day be of use in unravelling the mystery ? " He unlocked a drawer in his desk and drew forth a MS . He perused it , added a few lines , and with a sigh p laced the document on the table . " f cannot write more , " he murmured . " It re-opens the old wound . My thoughts li y back to those happy days before desolation and grief took possession of me . How oppressive the air is ! "

At that instant vivid lightning illumined that part ot the huge apartment hitherto shrouded in gloom . A terrific peal of thunder followed so loud and near that it seemed to shake the old house to its foundations . Thc casement of the room had folding doors which led to a stone terrace overlooking an old-time garden with its quaintly cut yews , prim lawns and box-edged paths .

Ere the thunder had ceased to reverberate , the figure of a man approached the window and noiselessly opened the doors . He entered thc apartment and quickly concealed himself within the folds of the window curtains . However , he need not have been so cautious , as his entry was -unsuspected by the occupant of the room , who was sitting with his back to the window and was gazing meditatively at the fire .

"Nature , like myself , ' he mused , " is troubled to-night . Her mood is forbidding . My feelings and the elements are in accord . Is my mind about to become ilisrsuiglit ? Will insanity engulf mc in a vortex of mental chaos ? Gracious God ! spare me from such a living

death . What has the world at large done to me that at the present moment I should entertain so strong a feeling of bitterness against it ? " He then arose and paced the room with an agitated mien . His hands were clasped behind him , and his eyes were cast downward .

He suddenly paused and directed his gaze towards a portrait that adorned the wall , lt represented the half-length figure of a beautiful girl on the verge of womanhood . It was an excellent work of art . The broad and intellectual forehead was framed with ringlets of a golden hue ; the violet-coloured eyes were shadowed by handsome lashes , and in their limpid depths there shone forth the rellection of

a pure and g ifted mind . The contour of the face was oval , the cheeks were full , and the complexion clear and roseate . The great beaufcy of the charming countenance was the mobile mouth ; the artist hail happil y caught an expression when the fair sitter was in a joyous humour ; tho full red lips were wreathed in smiles , and thc rounded checks were becomingly dimpled . The picture presented not the

" Ktlii'l , ileal' 1 , 11 c , " he passionalely i-i-ieil , " weiiilel thai you eoalil spe'ak to me . " artificial pose of a coquette , nor the wanton abandonment of a sensualist , such as Lely loved to pourtray . but 11 vivid presentment of natural and youthful grace and purity The lovel y features were the index of the innocent soul that dwell within .

Jasper's Folly.

The light from the embers played fantastically on the portrait " and gave it the appearance of liie . To the man who gazed with long yearning on the picture the eyes seemed to glisten , the lips to move aud the beautiful bust to rise and fall witli living regularity . " Ethel , dear one , " he passionately cried , " would that you could

speak to ine ! Oh , why did you forsake me ? In }* on creation limned by a gifted hand your sweet eyes are gazing at me as they did in thafc long ago when thero was no cloud to shadow the happiness of our young lives . In that fair face there is no trace of evil , nothing guilty , nothing insincere . Hypocrisy and duplicity held

no place in th y soul ! Oh , Ethel , Ethel , my heart is breaking ! Come back to me , my love , as life without you is but a' dreary desert ! If I could but know that you were no longer alive , it would be a mournful yet happy relief to me , as I should then court an eternal rest . Oblivion would present no terrors to me . As it is I

cling to life , buoyed with the hope that you may yet return to me . My heart yearns once more to enfold you within these arms and to breathe forgiveness for the past . Forgiveness ! Fool that I am .

What is there to forgive ? I am speaking as if your action in leaving me was premeditated . There is some great mystery about your sudden disappearance and long silence which no investigation has at present solved . " The speaker left fche vicinity of the portrait and advanced towards the casement .

At that instant an almost blinding flash of lightning shone luridly through thc glass •then came a fearful crash , followed by an awful peal of thunder . He rushed to the window , opened the doors , and peered forth into the ni ght .

" The li ghtning has done some mischief , " he cried . " Something in the courtyard has been struck . " He was not left long in doubt . The skies were again illumined

by the storm ' s forked messengers of destruction , and ere the radiance died out the spectator beheld the shattered remains of a tall watchtower that had been a prominent aud picturesque object in the grounds .

"Jasper ' s Folly , " he muttered-grimly , " has come to grief at last . I well remember my old nurse telling me its history and the tradition associated with it . So long as tho tower stood prosperity and happiness would attend the house of Mortimer , but if destruction overtook it the extinction of the famil y would speedily feillow . I recollect ,

also , that after my father ' s death I found among his papers some rugged lines written in the quaint phraseology of the First James ' s time . For amusement I wrote out the effusion in modern English . By the way , it lies in yonder desk , it i . s years since I read it . The

weird prophecy it contains , mcthinks , is apparently Hearing its consummation . Wife gone , my only sou dead , and J , to the best of my belief , the last male descendant of the ancient race of Mortimer . He then sat down and read ulouel the following stanzas : —

"JASVKH ' FOU . Y . " At Mortimer Hall there stands a tower , By the folly of proud Sir Jasper reared ; Within its gloom thero nestles the bower Of his haughty Dame , onco hated and feared .

Old folk say that she a power did wield O ' er the doughty old knight of courage bold ; He , who grim Death had faced on battle field ,

Quailed beneath her eye , and his heart grew cold . ' By her stern will WHS raised the tower great—That eyry of mystery , far and near . It was there she read the bright stars of Fate ,

Or the " black art" studied when ni ghts were drear . There came a day when , within thc old Hall , Sir Jasper mourned for the loss of his Dame ; They said that thc Devil had made his call , For she dead was found half consumed by flame .

The legend states that she predicted ill To the Mortimer race and statel y Hall , If , b y tempest ' s power or human will , Black ruin should rive the grey tower tall . When he had finished reading again was the li ghtning seen and heavy thunder heard .

" What an awful ni ght , " he murmured . " M y visitor will not bo here now . The man who faced snch a storm as this among the hills would need to have a stout nag and a brave heart . I will fasten tho casement , and then to bed . " As he rose from his seat a tremor shook his frame .

" Pshaw ! " he exclaimed , " this condition of body i . s morbid . M y thoughts , the storm , and the ballad of ' . Jasper ' s Foll y' have combined to make me a veritable coward . J am all nerves ! If I werc * superstitious I should swear that 1 saw yonder curtains move , and that some horror was in the room . Great God ! 1 am going mad !

What is it that confronts me Y Can such things be Y I am lost ! " The speaker staggered forward ; a shadowy figure emerged from the gloom . There was a fierce struggle , then there came a piercing cry—the cry of one in mortal agony . A heavy fall was heard , the lamp was extinguished , and an awful stillnes reigned . The silence appeared the greater as the terrible storm had ceased . ******* It was a beautiful morning . The air was fresh , and the heavens smiled .