d's study, and the wind
blowing through the broken window-pane; it was there that she had cried
so bitterly, forgetting everything save her own loneliness.

Nothing could be done; there was no house within several miles--no one
to help. The old servants were infirm, and the fire had obtained strong
headway; then the high wind rushed in, and sent the flames up through
the roof and over the tops of the trees. When the whole upper story was
one sheet of red and yellow, some one rode furiously up the road and
into the garden, where Gardis stood alone, her little figure illumined
by the glare; nearer the house the two old servants were at work, trying
to save some of the furniture from the lower rooms.

"I saw the light and hurried back, Miss Duke," began Captain Newell.
Then, as he saw the wan desolation of the girl's face: "O Gardis! why
will you resist me longer?" he cried passionately. "You shall be
anything you like, think anything you like--only love me, dear, as I
love you."

And Gardis burst into tears. "I can not help it," she sobbed;
"everything is against me. The very house is burning before my eyes. O
David, David! it is all wrong; everything is wrong. But what can I do
when--when you hold me so, and when--Oh, do not ask me any more."

"But I shall," said Newell, his face flushing with deep happiness. "When
what, dear?"

"When I--"

"Love me?" said Newell. He would have it spoken.

"Yes," whispered Gardis, hanging her head.

"And I have adored the very shoe-tie of my proud little love ever since
I first saw her sweet face at the drawing-room window," said Newell,
holding her close and closer, and gazing down into her eyes with the
deep gaze of the quiet heart that loves but once.

And the old house burned on, burned as though it knew a contractor's
wife was waiting for it. "I see our Gardis is provided for," said the
old house. "She never was a real Gardiston--only a Duke; so it is just
as well. As for that contractor's wife, she shall have nothing; not a
Chinese image, not a spindle-legged chair, not one crocodile cup--no,
not even one stone upon another."

It kept its word: in the morning there was nothing left. Old Gardiston
was gone!

THE SOUTH DEVIL.

The trees that lean'd in their love unto trees,
That lock'd in their loves, and were made so strong,
Stronger than armies; ay, stronger than seas
That rush from their caves in a storm of song.

The cockatoo swung