s she
also did; he then turned around and pressed her to his heart; and their
tears in this melancholy embrace of love and sorrow both literally
mingled together.

"I would be ungrateful to God, my beloved Mave," he replied, "and
unworthy of you--and, indeed, at best I'm not worthy of you--if I didn't
take hope an' courage, when I know that sich a girl Joves me; as it is,
I feel my heart aisier, an' my spirits lighter; although, at the same
time, dear Mave, I'm very wake, and far from being well."

"That's bekaise this disturbance of your mind is too much for you
yet--but keep your spirits up; you don't know," she continued, smiling
sweetly through her tears; "what a delightful prophecy was fulfilled for
us this day--ay, awhile ago, even when I met you."

"No," he replied, "what was it?" She then detailed the particulars
of Donnel Dhu's prediction, which she dwelt upon with a very cheerful
spirit, after which she added:

"And now, Con dear, don't you think that's a sign we'll be yet happy?"

Dalton, who placed no reliance whatever on Donnel Dhu's impostures,
still felt reluctant to destroy the hope occasioned by such an agreeable
illusion. "Well," he replied, "although I don't much believe in anything
that ould scoundrel says; I trust, for all that, that he has tould you
truth for wanst."

"But how did you happen to come here, Con?" she asked; "to be here at
the very minute, too?"

"Why," said he, "I was desired to be the first to meet you after you
passed the Grey Stone--the very one we're sittin' on--if I loved you,
an' wished to sarve you."

"But who on earth could tell you this?" she asked; "bekaise I thought no
livin' bein' knew of it but myself and Donnel Dhu."

"It was Sarah, his daughter," said Dalton; "but when I asked her why I
should come to do so, she wouldn't tell me--she said if I wished to save
you from evil, or at any rate from trouble. That's a strange girl--his
daughter," he added; "she makes one do whatever she likes."

"Isn't she very handsome?" said Mave, with an expression of admiration.
"I think she's without exception, the prettiest girl I ever seen; an'
her beautiful figure beats all; but somehow they say every one's afraid
of her, an' durstn't vex her."

"She examined me well yesterday, at all events," replied Con. "I thought
them broad, black, beautiful eyes of hers would look through me. Many
a wager has been laid as to which is the handsomest--you or she; an'
I know hundreds th