86 THE FAIR COURIER.

 

“But I rather think your errand will be
that of a fool, if you go any farther to-
night.”

“ Have you seen any thing of the jade?”
asked Mink in a decided tone.

“Well, perhaps I have,” returned Pres-
ton, lowering his voice.

“ Aha!” ejaculated Mink, throwing him-
self from his horse. ‘So I have got on the
right track. She is here ?”

“T did not say so.”

“No matter. It is all the same,” and,
hitching his horse to the fence, the young
man entered the house with the familiarity
of an old acquaintance.

The sound of the horse’s feet, as Mink
came dashing up to the house, awakened
Emily. The room she occupied being on
~ the ground-floor, and the window raised to
admit the cool air, she heard every word
that passed. It may well be supposed that
her heart sank in her bosom. For a long
time after the new-comer entered, she heard
the murmur of voices. Then some one