Show NOT ALL DROSS — jh rolled the family chariot of the D’Lacy towards the ancestral home of Sir Richard Courtney the lord of a noble estate Mournin the countyfof Somersetshire fully mournfully trod the intelligent steeds which had grown old in the service of the D’Lacys and who from instinct and long association with man had 'caught per-hap- s a ray of his intellect which told them that they were serving for the last time the kind lord whose hand had so often caressed them But he who drove them more fully knew that neither they nor he could go with him on that journey which last journey of he w as about to takc--thSorrowful more sorrowour mortality ful than seemed the steeds that drew the chariot of the dying lord was he who' drove them and who from time to time looked in upon his beloved master “I wish I was driving to my own grave” the old man muttered in a voice choked w ith grief as he dashed away a tear with his hand “ When he was no taller than my knee” — the old— now the only servant of the D’Lacys unused in a half crying under voice as he ran back to the memory of days when not a cloud overhung the house whose lords he had served from a sta- -' hie her — “ When he was no taller than my knee he rode his fust lioss on crusty old George’s back when he were old enough to mount real boss flesh ’twas old George taught him to ride with any boy in the county’ and now ’tis old George that’s driviu’ him to another’s house to die I wish I were drivin’ to my own grave I do” Raid the old man blubbering like a child as lie curbed the horses to a still slower pace for he knew’ the dace was near where his dear young was laid ord’s death-be- d Slowly more slowly — solemnly more solemnly rolled the lamilyr chariot of the D’Locy now on the lands of Sir Richard Courtney ! mournfully more mournfully trod the intelligent steeds towards the stately ancestral mansion of the dying lord Frederick’s friend and sorrowful more sorrowful than before was the last remaining faithful old servant of the D’La-cy- s as the chariot w’eiided its way up the avenue of fine old English oaks that led to Courtney House CHAPTER II TIIE FRIEND3 COMPACT Oh holy Friendship thou art most sublime In darkest hour and thy light like the Electric glory best displays When black’ning clouds and thunders fill the sky Nor pales except to sight in fairer day E L T Harrison Night had hung her black mantle pyer the ancestral mansion pf Sir Richard The day w’hich had been so Courtney serene and yellow saw’ at its close signs of A mourn- the gathering thunder-storful silence m that stately mansion for while Night had spread her dark drapery without Death had hung his sable pall within t Hut the lightning flashed not in angry tokens of Heaven’s displeasure upon the inmates of that lordly mansion nor did the rumbling thunder echo a warning voice from the Powers above forbidding the compact of the friends in the presThe loud-voice- d ence of Death storm of that night had no relation except of contrast to the peaceful flight of the soul of Sir Richard’s friend yet the night and its setups laid a gentle awe w ithin find the happy careless voices of the family jnd servants usually heard were now hushed anfl the silence was broken only by minor times bufctjiey knew’ that the spirit of a good maifwas about to return in peace to Him who gave it and for once cvcu superstition found not Its' die- - t torted imagination conjured up - on such a night Lord Frederick D’Lacy was in the last sweet sleep of his mortal life which stole over him after his arrival at the mansion of hisjriend where 'he understandiugly had come to die By his side sat Sii' Richard Courtney — or to use the affec- - ' tionatc familiarity of their boyhood— his friend “ Dick ” whose love for the dying “ Fred ” was as the love of David for JonathanWhen Lord Frederick arrived at Sir Richard’s he was so exhausted that life scarcely remained and although he recognized his friend he wras pow’erless to speak A strengthening cordial w’as administered and the dying gentleman soon fell into a refreshing sleep upon the baronet’s owTn bed where he directed his servants to lay his beloved friend He had slept nearly six hours for the journey though it much fatigued him made his sleep deeper and more refreshing It wTas now about nine o’clock at night By the bed of death Sir Richard had mournfully sat wTatching his friend and listening to the storm without which did not awe but served to deepen his meditation upon the memory of the past — the events which had consummated the ruin of the D’Lacy house and the will of that mysterious Pow’er of good which had summoned the tw o dear ones of himself and friend who had stood together Qt the same marriage altar and who had now also sent the dread message of Death to that friend himself “Life would have been even now’ in the fresh opened bud of our youth yet of those beloved ones who in that quiet village church on that blessed day when all seemed sunshine for many a cloudless year' entered into holy marriage bonds w’hich our yqung hearts had sanctioned— of them all I — I aloue” murmurred Sir x Richard “ shall ore comes bo left the last Were it uot for the many holy trusts committed tp me to which wifi sppn be added this dear motherless fatherless boy I could almost wish tliut Fred and I were about to stand again at the same altar— this time the altar above — to be united with our dear ones for ever” The half wish of Sir Richard might be unorthodox but in our fresh fond youth we afl more or less hope for a eternal in a better world with those we love on earth Lord Frederick moved gently— he was w’aking for the last time in mortal life Sir Richard was ready to catch the first glance of consciousness of his dying friend for he knew that although he would aw ake renewed awhile his very moments w’ere numbered “ Dick— dear Dick ! Thank Heaven I have lived tp see you once more” fondly and gratefully murmured the dying gentleman as soon as he became conscious of the presence of his friend “Fred — dear Fred!” returned Sir Richard with great emotion as he knelt of Lord Frederick “My by the bed-sid- e best beloved friend !— Oh! brother of my soul that we should thus meet again !” “ Tis not' dear Dick the kind of visit I and my Agnes I promised — auu our darling boy — but njy wjfo — well J an going tp fler soon and I have come to leave our son with you dear Dick Heaveu willed it otherwise my brother — Jleaven willed it otherwise !M “ That you should come to mv ancestral home to lie !” said Sir Richard mournfully “ Why where could I better come to die old friend ?” half cheerfully and with "‘“"i r-- -s fond confidence replied Lord Frederick “ I fear not death it has a prospect better of warning and by compacts and death ' Since my Agues now to me than life passed away 1 have longed to join her in a better sphere and I haye come to spend the last moments of ipy life with the beloved brother that shared so many of its years with lye” “ Would to God that many more for us to share together !” “ An eternity above doar pick — friends forever wThen we nprnt vhero brotherhood is first highest most enduring !” “May the merciful Power grant it!” said the baronet reverently “ My son I leave to your guardianship — my darling little oue who has held me to life since his mother died — I could uot — dared not pass away until I had placed him myself into your hands Oh ! to none but you my more thau brother could I trust without a pang of agony iny motherless fatherless boy” fatherless dear “Not fatherless-rru- ot Fred!” “ Thank God no He wilf Jose his '’Tis that father but' not be fatherless assurance that takes the sting from death” “ I will be a father to him eyen ai said Sir though he w’ere my Richard fervently “ I know it— I know it !” And the friends fondly clasped each In that others hand in expressive silence silent communion of souls they understood the thoughts feelings and sublime mutual confidence in each pjther that moved them Their language of sympathy w’as more expressive than vocal speech Lord Frederick broke tip1 charm of ! ! ” silence by dreaniingly observing : “ Does it not seem as though we wero boys again' Since my Agnes passed uwuy nearly all of this world lias faded from my memory and become like tho shadow of a dream but there is one of earth’s landscapes fresh aud verdant still It is that one Dick where stand our boyhood own friendship and the dear one How happy around that marriage altar we were then my brpther — hpw long and deasant was the path of life before us — low youthful tiie whole world appeared and how full of promise everything You remember well that day ?” “Better than yesterday!” murmured Sir Richard i “ Both gpnp tiqw’ — both gone like flow ers too rare for earth They are together now — sisters again They are waitiug us Let us join tlum my as on that day brother We’ll go at once dear Dick I am growing so yvoary to be gone” The sob of Sir Richard recalled th® wandering mind of his dying friend “ There is a scene pf our youth that tuturo s bears upon the present and the that I wouhbrecail dear Fred” observed the baronet recovering his composure for lie wished to arouse his friend from dreamy revery to matters leading to tho future of their families aud the fulfillment of dearly cherished compacts That night iu Romo Dear Fred— that sacred night in Rome ! you remember my brother?” “Remember — I have it always beforo me I am here to die because of that I saw nothing on my journey hero night Jhqt did ijpt conjure up that night— that Yes ’twas in Rome” holy compact “ You remember the nature of that compact Fred? — The present? — tho future ? — ourselves — the children 7” “ Aye word by word item by item I have come to you that all may be fulfilled my brother” “ Aye” he continued dreamily “iu Rome grand old historic lTioK ly superstitious Rome !v How fresh ayd ? f |