Rookstone Priory.

the teacups and saucers awakening Mrs . Lorrimore from her after dinner nap . "Well , my dears , " said she , eyeing Lowndes and Miss West with one lid open the other partially closed , " how have you been getting along ] I ' ve heard you talking

—I ' ve not been to sleep you know . " Which assertion was " as old as the hills . " Lowndes had heard it hundreds of times before ; Aunt Jem was , very like the Iandlard of Longfellow ' s " Wayside Inn , " who Protested that he had not slept

, But only shut his eyes and kept His ears attentive to each word . " We have been getting along capitally , " Lowndes answered . " Have we not , Miss West ] Ready for your tea , Aunt Jem ]" "Whenever you are , dear bo _ , " said Aunt Jem .

" Shall 1 make it , Mrs . Lorrimore . ' " Alice asked eagerly , moving towards the table which the servant had wheeled close to tho lire . "If you please , my dear , " answered the old lacty , who seemed delighted at the

idea of having the task of tea-making taken out of her hands altogether . So Alice West made tea , and waited on Mrs . Lorrimore and the blind master of Rookstone Priory , with a sweet watchful guardian-like air that made her more charming than ever in tho eyes of that lady , to whom so gentle an attendance was as welcome as it was new .

" 1 have certainly got a treasure ; ' was Aunt Jem ' s mental comment , as she sipped her strong tea , and nibbled her carefully buttered muffin , and , with her toes on the polished and steel-glittering fender , watched Alice ' s white hands flitting busily to aud fro among the delicate

old-fashioned tea-things ; " Yes , I have certainly got a treasure . How bright she will make this silent old house , and how p leasant it will be for dear Lowndes and me , to have her always with us !" When the clock in the hall had chimed

the half hour after ten , John Barnes came in to lead his master up to bed . It was his custom always so to do . As Lowndes Forrester left the room , leaning on old John ' s arm , looking so manly yet so kmchiiigly helpless . Alice West ' s beautiful pitying eyes followed him till the door closed upon him . " Oh , Mrs . Lorrimore , " she cried , almost

excitedly , when she and Aunt Jem were alone , " how patient he is under so heavy an affliction ! How bravely ho bears it' " "You mean Lowndes , my dear ] Yes , ho does , lie has borne it now for nine weary years , " sighed Mrs . Lorrimore .

'' And is he always led about like that ]" asked Alice . " Only up and down stairs , my dear , " said Aunt Jem , shaking her head sadly ; " out of doors , out in the park and gardens , he manages to go alone . He seldom

ventures beyond them though . Since his misfortune he has had an aversion to what ho calls the ' outer world ; ' that is to say , beyond the boundaries of Rookstone Park . " "Did he become blind naturally ] " asked

Alice , hesitatingly . " My dear , no , " Mrs . Lorrimore replied , in a manner that forbade further questioning . " And now , my child , I think it is quite time that you were in bed and . asleep ,

for you have had a long journey and must be tired . Good night , my dear , and Heaven bless you . " When Alice -found herself in the pretty , elegant , and , to her , luxurious bedchamber which kind Mrs . Lorrimore had had prepared for hershe fell on her knees and

, prtryed fervently that she might show herself worthy of the great goodness which Heaven had lavished upon her , in guiding her footsteps to Rookstone Priory . " I wonder—oh , I wonder , " she cried to herselfits she laid her head upon tho

, soft down pillow , " If Uncle Richard could g ive him his sig ht again ! He is so clever , poor Uncle Richard . When I know Air . Forrester better , I will tell him of Uncle Richard ' s wonderful skill , and will lie bold enough to ask him to Who

knows , " she broke off , " but that I . may have been sent to Rookstone Priory for some good purpose ] Oh , if it might only be so ' !"

All that night the dreams of Alice West were haunted by a dark ' , sad bearded face with sig htless eyes and a patient voice , and towards the morning she thought that the owner thereof was kneeling at her feet beseeching her to restore the beautiful gift

of which an unkind Fate had cruelly deprived him . She dreamed that , stooping over htm , she lightly touched with lier lips those eyes that could not see , and that immediately they wore opened , and he saw