f (Specially written for ' The Obserxer.') A MESSAGE FOR MISS DARRELL. (Continued.) Chapter IV. " The joys of that day, are they vanished for ever ? Like flowers soon gathered, how soon they decayed. Ripples of light upon time's flowing river, Lost with the breath on whose bosom they strayed." ' How often does the most exquisite pain or pleasure seem to be crowded into the shortest possible time. The hours I spent with Esther on the sea will never be forgotten by me. We were both quiet> yet how happy, and the " rosy hours on angels' wings " passed all too swiftly away.' 'Mr Dacre, we must go back now,' she said at last, ' See the cloud over the south, a storm is rising.' I looked to where she pointed, and ■at once turned to shore. A stiff breeze was beginning to blow, and I rowed as hard as I could, and noticed, with a feeling rather like dismay, what a long way We were from shore. The storm ■cam i on rapidly, and soon how changed was the fair summer's evening; the da/k heavy clouds, the keen wind rising at times almost to a gale, and tlie rain came pouring down. In spite of all my efforts, I found we were near ing the shore some distance higher up than Drayton. I looked at Esther, shivering m her thin summer dress, and noticed her distressed look when she found we were far from the beach at Drayton. I cursed my thoughtless selfishness for persuading her to go with me m the boat. It was nearly •dark when, wet and weary, I at last got close enough to land. As I helped Esther on shore she was trembling with cold and fear. ' Are we far from home? ' she asked. ' I'm afraid you won't be able to go home to-night,' I said, 'But come, I see some cottages, we* can at least shelter.' ' I must go home,' she insisted, 'jl must. Oh dear, whatever will aunt .say to me ? ' I hurried her along. Her dress drip ping. We soon reached the nearest cottage. A handsome young woman, a fisherman's wife, made us welcome m her homely way. 