Mildred: An Autumn Romance.

» me blind , an affliction brought on by a too close study of the old masters in the galleries here . It appeared that for the last twelve months he had been most assiduously painting in Antwerp and the Flemish towns , and striving to Avin himself a name as an artist . He had got a feAV commissions from travelling Englishmen by painting Reubens' great pictures in Antwerp Cathedral and other places . He had never , it appears , fully recovered from the yelloAV fever , and in the midst of his painting at Bruges he was suddenly seized AA'ith this dreadful calamity . He had had warning

of it , he said , for some time , suffering a good deal from a weak state of the eyes for some months previous . He appears to have no friends , and seems in a IOAV way . He would not allow me to write to his brother , AA'I IO , it appears , has treated him very badly , ancl told me he did not think he had any friend in the world but you . He did not indeed authorise me to AA'rite to you , nor does he know I have done so ; hut I feel sure , and my wife does to , that I am not wrong in doing so . We leave this on the 4 th or 5 th , and' you may be sure anything Ave can do for my poor friend shall be done . Yours trul y , MERVYN KNOLT / VS . '

Mildred could scarcely get through the letter for her tears ; but she resolutely stopped herself at last , ancl looking up at her Aunt Fanny , AVIIO Avas glancing kindly at her now and then Avith a heart full of sympathy—and a face that expressed it—she said in a quiet AA'ay there Avas no ansAvering , — " Auntie , I am going to Bruges . " " To Bruges ! my clear , Avhat next— ? " Mildredwithout another wordgai'e her aunt the letter and left the room . "

, , In a few minutes she had hurried across the town , and made her way to the vicarage . " Is the vicar at home ! " she asked . The vicar Avas at home . Mildred AA'ithout any preface asked if she might haA'e a copy of a certain certificate . The Vicar said , "Oh , certainly , " and gave it to her there and then—for the registers AA'ere kept in his study . After paying for it and thanking him

Avith grave politeness , Mildred Avent off straight to the railway station , and thence to West Hartlepool , ivhere she found a steamer started for AntAverp that night . Booking saloon passengers for two , she AA'ent quietly back to Seaton and told her aunt Avhat she had done . Mildred was accustomed to rule her aunt in her quiet way , ancl it is not altogether surprising that Miss Bethune should elect to go with her dear niece , old though she Avas ,

rather than let her go alone , as she was resolved to do . It was a lovely autumn ni ght AA'hen they started in the good ship "Fairy Queen ;" the sea Avas as smooth as glass all the AA'ay , and they enjoyed the trip amazingly . Mildred was in the highest of spirits , . and her aunt Avondered at their buoyancy , for her niece had nei'er looked more beautiful than she did noAv in the bloom of perfect Avoinanhood . In forty hours or so they Avere at Antwerp , and the same nig ht they Avere

at Bruges . They went strai ght to the Hotel de F'landres , ancl were fortunate in getting beds—for the tOAA'n was full of tourists , coming and going .

CHAPTER X . A NOBLE AVOMAS" AND HEE EEAVAED . THE next morning , soon after breakfast , having preAnously made the acquaintance of Mervyn Knollys and his wife ( a charming woman ) , they consulted Mervyn about seeing the patient .

He had already seen the doctor and explained to him that some very old friends of Captain Mathew had come from England to see him , and he had made no objection . Accordingly Mervyn had seen Marmaduke : he was dressed and sitting near the