HAROLD’S BRIDE
Alicia’s Escape.
“Then He did hear me!”
Preface.
Many years ago a huge panorama of a vast extent ofcountry was exhibited in London. Of what country itwas memory retains no clear impression; but I recollecta remark made by the exhibiting artist. Referring tothe tints of some hills pictured in the panorama, heobserved, “They ought to be natural, for I took mymaterials from the hills themselves.”
The artist’s remark had slight weight, for the factthat he had used pigments taken from the actual soilwas no warrant for the accuracy of his delineation; butI am reminded of that remark by the circumstancesunder which the following tale has been written. Itwas not penned in some study in London, nor in somerural home in an English county; the authoress wasliving, as it were, surrounded by the materials neededfor her picture. The old missionary came in heated andtired from the daily round in zenanas to dip her penand write of a zenana. The materials for her touchesof natural history lay, as it were, at her elbow. Shemight feelingly picture little inconveniences which sheherself had experienced.
Such of A. L. O. E.’s readers as are already, fromformer volumes, acquainted with the Hartley brothers,may perhaps like to hear how they fared when they hadcrossed the ocean, and had entered on the mission lifewhich they had contemplated from boyhood. It maybe that the tale will be thought suitable for readingaloud at working parties in aid of missions, and that itmay hel