the skipper
was proceeding with unusual caution. Suddenly, as they were close to the
point, a fleet of canoes, under full sail and evidently racing, swept
out from behind it. So excited were their occupants that they took no
notice of the on-coming sloop, and a collision was imminent. To avert it
the skipper jammed his helm hard down. The sloop luffed sharply into the
wind, and in another moment brought up with a crash that threw every
Ranger to the deck. She heeled so far over that they thought she was
surely going to capsize, then slowly slid off into deep water and
righted. As she did so young Jabe rushed up from below and reported that
a torrent of water was pouring into the hold.

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

OAKLEIGH.

BY ELLEN DOUGLAS DELAND.

CHAPTER XVII.

With dripping clothes and a sad heart Cynthia went up to the house after
Neal had left her. She was bitterly disappointed and extremely
uncomfortable. Her hair, never very securely fastened, had fallen down
and lay in a wet mass about her face and neck; her hat felt heavy as
lead, and water oozed from her shoes as she walked.

"Nothing will ever be right again," she thought, as she gave a depressed
glance at all the familiar objects on the place. "I feel as if it were
going to rain forever, and the sun would never shine again. It would
have been so different if Neal had only come home!"

Mrs. Franklin was thankful to see her appear, and refrained from
reproaching her until she had been thoroughly dried and warmed. Then all
she said was:

"I thought you would never come, Cynthia! Was it worth while to go on
the river such a morning as this?"

"No, mamma; but you will forgive me when you hear why I went," said
Cynthia, setting down the cup of ginger tea which Mary Ann had made so
hot and so strong that she could scarcely swallow it. "But tell me how
Edith is, first."

"She is about the same. She seems anxious about something. She is
restless and uneasy, but it is difficult for her to speak. Perhaps she
wants you. I think that is it, for you know I do not satisfy her," added
Mrs. Franklin, with a sigh.

Cynthia knelt beside her, and put her arms around her. "Dear mamma!" she
said, lovingly.

Mrs. Franklin rested her head on her step-daughter's shoulder. "Cynthia
darling, you are a great comfort to me! Are you sure you feel perfectly
warm? You must not take cold."

"I'm as warm as toast. It won't hurt me a bit; you know I never take
cold. But l