could devise to combat her scruples; and, as he perceived that he gained some ground, he urged upon her that the suffering she now endured was only the result of nervous agitation caused by her indecision, and that when once the final step was taken, when there was no further room for hesitation, no possibility of drawing back, she would find peace, and, he ventured to trust, eventual happiness.
She made no answer. Silence, he hoped, gave consent.
“Then, Rachel,” pleaded he, “why should we delay longer; why not end this suspense so painfully prolonged? Say that you will at length be mine.”
“Be it as you will,” replied she, faintly. “I feel that I am doing wrong; but I have no strength longer to resist you.”
“You consent? Oh, Rachel! God bless you for your words. It shall be the study of my life to guard you from ever repenting them. You will then suffer our marriage to take place immediately — to-morrow?“
She covered her face with her hands and groaned; but when she again raised her head her only reply was —
“Yes — if you desire it.”
“Rachel, now, indeed, I may look upon you as my affianced wife. Now, indeed, I may call you mine. You will not refuse to set a seal upon your words? — to grant me one kiss before we part to- night?“
“I have said,” and her voice trembled so as to be scarcely audible: “I have said that I can refuse you nothing;“ and she rose from her seat.
He drew near, and extended his arms to clasp her to his bosom. As he did so she slightly turned her head, and at the same moment uttered a piercing shriek. Randolph’s eyes followed the direction of hers. There was but one light in the room, for the fire had burnt out, and the shadows of the two figures were traced sharply and dis- tinctly upon the opposite wall — but — no, it was no delusion of Rachel’s brain — there was a thirdt vague and undefined, which interposing between them, and waving aloft its misty arms, seemed forcibly to thrust them asunder.
At the sight Randolph involuntarily started back, and Rachel fell heavily to the ground.
Forgetful of all but her, he sprang to her side, and raised her in his arms. A wild cry for help brought Mr. and Mrs. Wood to the spot; but assistance came too late. The spirit of Rachel
Maxwell had passed away.I.
HOW TO IMPROVISE A RIFLE-GALLERY.
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To ensure the efficiency of a body of men, whose chief qualification shall be marksmanship, actual practice at a mark is even more necessary than attention to drill. Yet, except the ground at Kilburn belonging to the Victoria Rifles, there is no available ground near London. The proposed butt at Wormwood Scrubs would be useless to the great mass of London Volunteers.
Almost every country lad from his earliest days has been accustomed to handle a gun of some sort; but of Londoners, even among the middle I classes, certainly not more than twenty per cent, have any notion of the use of fire-arms, and not one per cent, have ever fired a rifle,
I propose a plan by which targets may be set up in every Park in London, and also at any place where a length of from 200 to 400 yards can be found, without the expense of the very high walls I generally considered necessary, and with a more positive certainty of absolute security from risk;
as no accident could possibly occur, even if the