THE WIDOW'S EVENING PRAYER.

I KINGS, XVII.

By the Author of 'Earth's Many Voices.'

LORD Jehovah, sure and never failing,

Leader of our fathers through the dreary wild,

Friend of the feeble, Help of the desolate,

Thou hast stayed the widow's heart, and fed her fainting child.

O Lord Jehovah, who would not trust in Thee?

Who that but once hath proved Thy faithful word?

Sure as returning day, so are Thy promises;

Take Thou thus my evensong, Israel's mighty Lord.

M

ANNIE PENDREATH.

CHAPTER XI.

JR. WILSON'S business in London was soon satisfactorily concluded. With a full purse it is not difficult for a man to obtain all that he requires. He was in high good humour, for it was very pleasant to have his son as a companion again after such a long absence. They had a late luncheon together at the club, and then Mr. Wilson announced his intention of returning home by the next train.

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'We've finished a good morning's work, Bob,' said he; there's nothing to be done in town at this dull season. Of course you'll come back with me?'

'Well, father, you see I have been away from England so long, that there are several things I must attend to at once. They may keep me in town a few hours later,' replied Robert, with an uncomfortable feeling that it was but a poor excuse.

In truth, he had been all day in a state of miserable anxiety as to how he should manage to get back to Mere, and account to poor Annie for his absence. He knew that she must be eagerly expecting him, and would be getting quite uneasy at his delay. Fortunately for him his father was in a mood to be easily satisfied.

'You must settle it as you please, Bob,' he replied; but don't forget that if you miss the six-o'clock express you'll have to stay the night in town. And now I must be off at once. How the time passes! I'd no notion it was so late!'

Robert watched him depart, longing to return with him, yet not

daring to arouse suspicion by stopping at Mere on the way. No, he must wait for that later train, and make the best excuse he could devise for his prolonged absence. What a wretched web of falsehoods was that in which he had become entangled! His very soul revolted from it, and yet how could he escape? He felt himself to be like a man wandering through a bog, and sinking deeper and deeper at every step.

What could be done? How was he to meet his wife that evening and tell her, either that he had changed his mind or that circumstances were altered, and he could not take her to Hurst Court? How would it be possible to explain such a decision, without either confessing the whole truth, or telling more lies? Might not Annie begin to have suspicions, and what would be the consequenos if once her trusting faith in him were shaken? He paced up and down the station, where he had driven an hour too soon, feeling utterly distracted.

'After all,' he thought, 'would it not be better to throw up the game and tell everything?'

But as he remembered his wife's perfect confidence in him, and her pure, truthful, open character, he felt that he dared not risk such a betrayal. If she ceased to respect him, might she not cease to love him? Better a thousand times face his father's anger, and all its consequences, rather than let Annie know that he had deceived her.

The train was late that day, and when he reached Mere it was after eight o'clock, and almost dusk. There were several people waiting on the platform, and in his eager impatience to hurry out he did not notice a lady who was shown into the very carriage he had left.

On what slight chances do the most important results often seem to depend! And how different might the event have been, if he had paused to recognise the pale features of the weary traveller who passed so close to him!

It was not far to the 'Three Herons,' and he had soon reached it; as quickly as his impatient steps could carry him. In the hall he happened to catch sight of the landlady, and with a hurried nod remarked,

'Mrs. Wilson has dined, I suppose?'

He was passing on, when her answer suddenly arrested him.

If you please, sir, Mrs. Wilson has not come in yet!'

She spoke in rather an aggrieved tone, for the good lady liked people in her house to keep to regular meals and hours.

What do you mean?" he exclaimed. 'Not come in? Why it has been dark the last hour! There must be some mistake.'

And without waiting to hear more, he rushed up two stairs at a time, and on through the dimly-lighted passage to the sitting-room. It was all in darkness.

'Annie, dear!' he called, first in a low voice and then more loudly.

Perhaps she was resting and might have fallen asleep. There was no answer,-only his own words resounded through the quiet room; and then he hurriedly rang for lights.

The search was vain.

It was indeed true; she was not there.

In reply to his anxious questions, all he could learn was that nothing had been seen of her since the morning, when a lady had called. "It was Miss Wilson of Hurst Court,' added the chambermaid, who knew her by sight, having often seen her in Mere.

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'Are you quite sure?' cried Robert, eagerly. And did Mrs. Wilson go away with her?'

The girl thought so, but nobody knew for certain, as no one happened to have seen the ladies go out. One thing was certain, no note or message had been left for him. Still this visit seemed to throw light upon the subject, though at the same time it gave him a new cause for anxiety. What could have possessed Laura to come and fetch his wife in that mysterious manner? And she had taken nothing with her, for all the luggage was left behind. It was a most extraordinary thing, and the young man was quite confounded. Still a vague hope began to steal over him that a sensible girl like Laura would do nothing rash; probably she had contrived some clever scheme by which everything would be settled comfortably, and everybody would be satisfied.

This view of the case having somewhat relieved his anxiety, it now only remained for him to get over to Hurst Court as quickly as possible. There was no other train that night, but he could easily drive over in less than an hour. A carriage was soon ready, and Robert found that the rapid drive through the brisk autumnal air revived his spirits, until he almost forgot that he had no certain proof of finding Annie.

He had reached Hurst Court, and the door had been quickly opened in answer to his loud summons. In his impatience he would not wait to ask questions of the servants, but hurried on to the smaller drawing-room, which was generally used in the evening, when there were no visitors in the house.

It was a peaceful domestic scene which he interrupted. Mrs. Wilson was lying on a sofa near the fire, Mr. Wilson was taking an after-dinner nap in an easy-chair, and Laura was sitting at a writingtable, busy with some school accounts. Robert hastily glanced round the brilliantly lighted room; no one else was to be seen. Still nothing doubting, he went up to his sister,

'How can I ever thank you enough, Laura? It was indeed good of you! But tell me, where is she?"

Miss Wilson looked up in amazement. What had she done to deserve her brother's thanks? To tell the truth, her conscience had been accusing her all day of having done harm, and caused needless pain.

'How late you are, Robert!' said his mother, looking up languidly from her pillows.

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Tell me, Laura,' he repeated, impatiently. Why did you not leave word at Mere that you had been to fetch Annie? It would have saved me so much anxiety.'

"Fetch Annie!' exclaimed his sister, in a tone of dismay. "What are you thinking of?'

'Why, what's all this about? Who's Annie?' cried Mr. Wilson, roused by the sound of voices from his half-sleeping condition.

But Robert heeded him not. In the sudden horrible dread which had come over him everything else was forgotten.

'Where is she, Laura?' he repeated, in a low, hoarse voice of suppressed emotion, as he put his hands on her shoulders, and almost shook her in his desperate eagerness. Do you mean to say that you did not drive to Mere this morning and fetch my wife?'

'I did go to Mere,' replied the startled girl, trying to release herself from his grasp. And I saw her, but I never thought of bringing her here. How could you suppose it?'

Do you not know where Annie is? For the love of Heaven tell me!' he cried, his voice rising to a pitch of agonized intensity. She is gone, I say, and no one knows where she is. They had not seen her at the hotel since this morning when you were there. Answer me, I implore you, or you will drive me mad.'