THE SMUGGLER. 31? 



amongst the trees, the pretty figure of Kate Clare, as trim, and 

 neat, and simple as a wild flower, appeared walking slowly back 

 towards the cottage. But she was not alone. By her side 

 was a tall, handsome young man, dressed in full military cos- 

 tume, with his heavy sword under his arm, and a star upon 

 his breast. He was bending down, talking to his fair com- 

 panion with a friendly air, and she was answering him with a 

 gay smile. 



A pang shot through Harding's bosom; it was the first that 

 ever the poor girl had caused; nor, indeed, would he have felt 

 it then, had he not been irritated; for his was a frank and 

 confiding heart, open as the day, in which that foul and 

 dangerous guest, Suspicion, usually could find no lurking place. 

 At first he did not recognize, in the glittering personage be- 

 fore his eyes, the grave, plain-looking stranger, who, a week 

 or two before, had conversed with him for a few minutes on 

 the cliffs near Sandgate; but he saw, as the two came on, 

 that Kate raised her eyes; and as soon as she perceived him 

 standing by her mother, a look of joy lighted up her face, 

 which made him murmur to himself, " I'm a fool!" 



The stranger, too, saw him ; but it made no change in his 

 demeanour; and the next moment, to Harding's surprise, the 

 officer came forward somewhat more quickly, and took Widow 

 Clare by the hand, saying, with a grave smile, " Do you not 

 know me, Mrs. Clare?" 



"Gracious heaven!" cried the widow, drawing back and 

 gazing at him. " Can it be you, sir?'' 



" Yes, indeed I" he answered. " Why, Kate here knew me 

 directly, though she was but ten or eleven, I think, when I 

 went away.'* 



"Oh! that was because you were always so fond of her, 

 Mr. Henry," replied Widow Clare. "Gracious ! how you are 

 changed!" 



Harding was talking to Kate while these few words passed, 

 but he heard them; nor did he fail to remark that two 

 mounted dragoons, one leading a horse by the rein, followed 

 the young officer from the wood. He now recognised him 

 also; and by his dress perceived the rank he held in the 

 army, though Mrs. Clare called him " Mr. Henry." 



" Yes, I am changed, indeed!'' replied Layton, to the 

 widow's last remark, " in body and health, Mrs. Clare, but 



