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l ""' . . i Arch smiles had passed between xts members as they had seen Gwendo- line Cassilis and Colonel Hillier stroll o arm in arm to where the little boat; was moored. ,,___`I L-` a I 5 u a w vvu-q -v..- ___--, The women had almost ceased to ;be jealous of Gwendoline, or to ask where lay her charm. She exercised her fascination even among them as among men, and they bowed before her-rst from necessity, then from - choice. v-av-ww- 1 ' But, though` her victims were countless, she was twenty-three, and Gwendoline Cassilis still. However, this time she had encountered-the little world at Lady Southwel1 s country seat said-a foeman worthy of her steel. cvvc __A_ _._...-...n. an-anti r0`|I1t` ` U1 ucl ayccn. What she was among men, Claudel Hillier was `among women. There-| fore, seeing these two brought oe-I` neath the same roof, and thrown in-. to daily intercourse, rumour was rife, and speculation `awaited results with bated breath. Meantime, the litle boat oated calmly on the quiet surface of the lake. * ` Miss -Cassilis! . T It was the first word either had spoken in full ve minutes, ` -r`l_._-_.I .... 4.4- (-151: *\9n`(PI I ppuncu HI Lung .uv\.. ........--_, She glanced up at the ~The white lace thrown carelessly upon her dark hair, out from which peered the beautiful, pale- face, lent her some of the moon s` mystic charm; but meeting the magnetic `gaze of the dark, earnest eyes bent upon her, hers fell for an instant; then, as though ashamed of the mo- mentary weakness, again _shot a questioning look into the handsome V faceof the beau_sabreur who sat "speaker. l IUUK IHLQ Lllt; Itannuuv---\. face of beau sabreu; H gopposite her. ' "`Miss Cassilis,- he r_epeatd,. slow- ly,- did you know that we were in dange-r2 4 M ., W " se. fIL.u1ia; s'_ bxjilliancy reected fhere -4-ground, `about her. Not `a leaet lstxrred. .- ` V . . No, he said, in answer to her 'loOk,`not from any`~of `these. The ]moon,' the wind, the water, all are ;our frxends to~night. -We are in dan- ` get from each other. - 1 ,Oh, .how_vshe prayed the moon might fail to make apparent the in- _stant ushing of hot blood to her cheek! Sl1e'sfelt,it" glow, like a warm, crimson rose, even while she raised .her little `head`al'r`nost deantly, as I though to hurl a challenge at his` ` audacxty. ; Men 1_1ad' made love to her in| many forms, but always as suppl1- ants. This man dared suppose her" ` in equal danger with himself! 1 I to you an unknown tongue, and that 1 am the first man who has dared speak trankly- Would youha-ve me more open still? '3: cu shall -have your wish. A week longer under the same roof with you, a week more of exposure to your maddening fas- cinations, anc1_myJship would go to wreck and rum on .the bar; unless- he leaned nearer,-his voice grew soft- er, more full of tender feeling and his hand fell on her; very lightly, but with ` caressing grace - unless, Gwendoline, you would let it oat your pennon, and guide it into the safe harbour of your love. Rather say that, plain speech is l _You `deal in enigmas, Colonel H1lher,"` she returned, haughtuy. "1 am accustomed to_ plam speech. -`She had been wooed many- times, in many. climes, by many men, but i naught had ever moved her as this iwooing, on this moonlight night 111 Hune. Yet this man had dared tell her that in another week this might come to pass. Others had sworn to go from her presence to put an end to the exist- ence she had rendered miserable; or had vowed` that henceforth woman s `smile would be gall and wormwood; _ _1__.l-.J `Lao nl-.5 Inn:-1 cknrn 1-hair Slllllc VVUUIU UC 5611 auu VvuAAAL1vvuu, tor pleaded that she had shorn their `manhood of its strength, and rend- ered their life 3. burden. This one did none of these things. While his strength yet was his, he saw and met the danger. . A week hence," she said to her- self, bitterly, and the ame might singe him. Now his wings are all unscorched. 'He does not say, `I Jove you! He Says, ` In time I i might love you. `Was he thus to win so easy a vmtory? Not so. f`Let us go home, she interrupted,` with a little shiver. It is growing chill. | 'I" i,,,.,..,.,;~ +~:-:~-a-1-~s-+-M-.2--a-+4..:-5:-4~io++ i-I-++-:-I-I--igci-4-+-:4-3-to-i~+-i--i-1-1-oz-1-+-i-+ e A fair. beautiful yvoman, tall and now. It has been such apleasant visit ~tate1y of gure, with a proud am; --I did notdr'ea_m1tcou1dbe sopleas- peri)u>`ness of bearing that would ant---t_hat I_d1slike to part with. all hum, bcttcd a queen, and yet withal my kind friends. And yet I ought her features bearing a tender wist- to have left before.- It was weak in fulm-ss like that of a child, as soft me to stay here so long. and pure, though P35` the b1m 0f V `Clare smiled again,- but pfaintly. girlhood. She was thinking of Bella Vane. Wedded wife and mother for six So; you have something to con-! yum past, Clare Meredith was scare- fess? she;pers1sted.. _ I cely four-and-twenty_ : $00 young Why will you thmlg so? Is it not bumt` said~-too beautiful, h0W man) enough that I am going away from 1hougth--t0 have given 811 the 10118 you all`? I b_eg_of you, Mrs: Mere- years of life that lay bf01' he! to 3 dlth, do not insist upon hearing any man more than tliirty Years her Sell" confessions from me. I value your for; 1: man, too, who had 110 Charm good opinion so much that I would- uf pa-rsml or manner to compensate never have you learn the 'truth!' for his added years. ` then glaze knew, if She `had Gwendoline Cassilis, is this my answer? Have you none other to gave me? _Your answer? with an assump- txon of surpnse. "I was not aware of any questxon. You shall not even 11a_ve this ex- %cuse. Will you be my wife? 5 His voice was stern now---stem to harshness--and his grasp tightened Lon her hand. You hurt me, Colonel Hillier, she complained, petulantly, making `an eort towithdraw her ngers. Instantly he `released her. `'13 see that I have hurt you, he re- turned, courteously, and took up the idle oars. Pardon me, he con- tinued, "I will not oend again. It is time we were returning. A few bold strokes, and the boat s! keel grated on the shore. Ten min-'| utes later, and the two re-appeared in their hostess tastefully-appoint-i `ed drawing-room. i -_ M A group of men instantly gathered about Miss Cassilis. Never had her laugh rung out more clearly, her: gay sallies of wit and repartee been more sparkling; but ever, from -time L- 4.3.4....` Law aura 1-nvprl 1'PQf`P]v IIIOYC Sparnuug, Uul. evu, Hy... .....- to time, her eye roved restlessly to the open window, where, ,on the lawn beyond, beneath the tall ced- ars, shone the red llgth from a man s cigar. ' .3 It was still there, still gleaming, when she had gone up to her own room. She crossed to the window to pull down the blind, but stood a minute, fascinated, motionless, After to-night, Tie will forget me, she murmured, sadly. And I-I shall remember him for ever h Then, as though a sudden truth ihad burst upon her, she drew down the blind---to throw herself, with quick, impetuous motion, p-rone up- An LI-`A nf\IIt5I and 11799 THURSDAY,` ICK, lmpctuuus lllUtlUll, uluuw us? on the couch, and weep `the first heartt.ears `she had ever shed. The drama is ended--Miss Cas- silis has refused him! This was the .general verdict, when, twenty- fours later, Claude Hillier bade his [hostess adieu, and withdrew to town "` 4' -: ~---`AA--I kI1C:IDCC hostess adxeu, and wltnarew U.) LUWII on plea of sudden business. Of icpurse the news reached Gwendo- \|1me s ear. n c 1' ,1! -1-.. __2_ 11116 a was . .I have not refused him, she said, aloud. Not even that satisfaction -is mine, she added to herse1f-nor ever will be! It was only the might have been. \ 1 [. -- - -1, 1-.. _ __'- IGVL u\.\.JI. He was not the man,` she knew full well, to plunge desperately into irtation, or associate his name at . once with another woman s, or to re- `tire later or rise earlier, or in any way disturb the even tenour of his way. The difference between them was only his--his wound was hea1-- ing, perhaps already ~healed, but he would bear its scar to the grave; hers was a festeringvsore, which hurt _the more that she had let the phy- sician who might work its cure pass her` by. The summer waned to its close. Nature had _1ent autumn its wond- `mus paint-box and magic brush, and ymountain andhillside. were convert- ed thereby into glorious beauty. Then came .King Frost, ..r-st`to heighten byshis touch, then to kill, followed -by winter- s, lagging footsteps,` merci- fully bearing _the ' exquisite. white shroud of snow to cover up,aIl signs 0.... s, "g\*:a_3'1i?ti0n,.,and ~-de,<:',;z_3'r.V, . "1`.he_ segtson in the_ga.y world was t _i;_he1g_jht. I C_)ccas1ona1y_ murmurs among th deb.utar;t es `-for}. its .. `h9g1 , ta . `Ix . ours ax-os.e at the_ _fact that, th9ugh.' .Gwendolme Cassnhs fourth. wmter, her former succiesses Lpaled in its more effulgent light. .q /1 1 , 1 1 1'Il'- , . 41 u.. .....,7 7 _, Young, ignorant of what possibili-" `(its life held in the future for her, Clare. Pembroke, then scarce seven- . Q L...` rr1'17nr| }1IJI`QPF `Q --cw She and Colonel '-Hillier constantljr ` met. She almost wishedfhef might avoid her; but at their first chance: encounter he had approached. with.` outstretched hand. _ ., And all in vain_ she had. watched" for a_ t_rem m hug to1_1c, or a. shade of embarrassment 1n hxs manner. "Only a week between him and shipwreck! she thought, bitterly._ Ah, he has sailed so far from the fatal rock, that doub1;less he `would, noiv laugh at his `supposed danger-,5 and I--I was weakand `vain enough to think he stood upon the precipg ice s brink. ' Q How charming you are lookin Miss Cassilis! he had said. I The new year had come, and one, evening Gwendoline stood alone iri her father s drawing-room, vlooking out_at the fast-gathering darkness,- when through its sombrevshade she saw a gure pass and mount the steps. V A viitor! she qttered, wearily; then wanted the mevntable announce-~ ment she knew must follow. _But, spite of her every effort, she started when the servant, throwing `open the door, uttered Colonel Hill- ier s name. -Oh, how glad she was that the rooms were not yet lxghted as she went forward to receive him. May I welcome you in dark- nessf she questxoned. As you will, he said. I have but a few moments to stay. I am come to bid you good-bye, and to ask you to wish, me bon voyage." L1,... uvtxunrutv-11' \/nu .. n-ninm "59:: J\-ILI `VJ VVILJII` Ill`: :Jll V\JJ I-55%: ` 1 b Bo&1?v'oyage! You are gomg `Ea roa . Yes; I sail on Saturday for India. :1 hesitated about calling, but my desire to see you led me to believe you would pardon my audacity in supposing my going a question of enough moment to make it worth a special call. My friends are always welcome, Colonel Hillier, said Gwendoline, `and icy feeling at her heart, though she maintained an outward compos- ure. `I did not suppose it necessary you should hear that repeated now. Llarc reniuiunc, mu: mu..- .....-.. teen, had given herself to Laurence i\Icrcdith--lier father s partner---to save her family from ruin. She had hardly felt it as a sacrice then, for she knew naught of the meaning of love, and V r. Meredith, though grave and taciturn, absorbed in his own pursuits, was yet kind to the fair young wife he had chosen, and when a little life blessed their union Clare thought that in her child s love she would be always happy. Alas! that moment came which C(,ll llt`S to all, sooner or later. `One autumn came when Mr. Mered1tl1,t after the rising of Parliament-where 1 I,,. 1 ..,. nr \i1nn1}\nr fnr hie: ntive Nor is it. It was only morbid fancy on my part which induced me to question it. 1 shall come back, I trust, with my mind clearer. At `least '1 shall be some years older. When I return I presume I shall look for Miss Cassilis in vain, until I find her in some matron, equally charming. I cannot imagine her quite staid and portly. So he could speak- thus lightly of ;her becoming the wife 'of another man! And he was going away; she mxght never agam hear has vonce not see hns face. It was too cruel! He and Fate were too strong for }her. The tears gathered in the grey eyes, but the darkness hid them. He rattled on---she had no need to speak. Then he rose to go. --- A -1- an 1,_ Good-bye, Miss Cassi1is!-he took her hands in both his--"g0od- bye! God bless" you! .I._ ~.v'- ~- _ Was_it hgr fancy that, just at the lost, hxs voxce trembled? He crossed the room; he had gain- ed the door. Another in_stant, he would he gone-another mstant, It '~`-L L "l\l\ 1n+a l`Jul\L u\. sun might be too late. ; C1aude!" she said, softly. t Two strides ,it. seemed, brought | him back to her. ; You called me? For what? To make my gomg harder? Oh, is it hard? In mercy, tell me, for my own heart is breaking!" ' Your heart breaking'._ Gwendo- lme, and the man's voice sounded strangely hoarse, "what does this mean? lllwuln - But the sound of her sobs was the only answer. ; Chi1d," he continued, can it be that I have judged you wrongly? Look up, my darling! Is it your wish that I should stay ,9 Then she found her voice. I thought you did not love me enough, she murmured; but stay, I will try to make you love me more; or, if you must go, take me with --- E_,,.4.4..o-o+-i~'!~!'~'4~!-+~1-'!l'+'!'l'l'3"i'_ !'H'"l'1f ` June had given place to January, and warmth. to cold; but where was coldness now was warmth, and the winter moon was happier than the early June crescent--for in Gwen~ doline s heart was the song of birds. and the fragrance of owers, ming- ling with the words which stole soft- ly into her car while nestling in her lover s arms-the words, My love-- my wife. ` HERE S nothing like 5 nnnp to [ pave the way for 3 good inner. And there : nothing like Armour : Extract of Beef to give that indescribable relish and nvonr to soup. I I, `lI_.4_- -1. .1 DA.` niuogn `kn IDVUUI` luv uuula-. Armour : Extract of Beef gives the rich, tasty, eppetizing nvor of roast beef to all meet dmhes. _ My Favorite Reotga tells of many we. in which Armour`: tract of Beef may `need. Sent tree on receipt of one metal cap from 3,13: of Armour : Extract of Beef. Address, Armour Limited. Toronto.` I\1.'-:n"_o~t;1 s Solid L Extract of Beef * mconpdaxrzo 4332. 0 V. 0 4 Capital $5,000,000. ` RIerveFu:n%d,. Head Office. 0 . - `Halifax. -N.'3; % = General Manager : Office. `-0 Toronto. J Kink of uovasm HIICT IHL` Tlblllg U1 Lcuxnauavus nut..- ` he had set, as Member for his: native ] luwll, since the year Clare was born . ~paid a long-promised visit to Ches- -1 Slllgltlll .\lanor, the country seat of ` Sir Henry Chessington, his sister's 1 l`iu.l):tnd-; and there, among the crowd of \'i>'it<>rs---for Lady Ches- sillgltill l(`i\'t.`(l to see many faces Ttilllltl her-~Cl;irc met one to whom her heart went out, whose Astolen glziiictrs revealed to her the secret that he dared not speak. Ur, rather was forbade by honour- i.\'<. libertine passion was that which Herbert Cireshain felt; there was no litllll of earthliness about it. As the saint, he wt-rrihipped from afar the` diviiiity he could not approach; and Silt'-$ilL' knew of, shared his love,` but with no thought, no hope that it could be ever blessed. No word hull p:i.~'sed between them, and none] would; that wifely duty on the one `mind. a ehivalrous, unselsh devo- tion on the other, could forbid. One lml< had }).'l.\SCd between them, and t.-iily, in which soul had responded to mnl, and after tltat--as though by lllllllliti consent~-they avoided any .'t}>})I`U.'lCll to each other, save what was deniantletl by commonest court} I 1 l <`.~_v_; held no communion, except that t-rtlinary intercourse which, being dwellers beneath the same roof, they The uvv\.JI\.).) |l\ll\..1.l.l.ll c<.-uld not avoid. Su;n~-vcry Ts0on--they must P31't~ \\'-H. it was better. far better, Clare Iultl herself. and so thought Herbert Gresham. He must forget he! -he .._,u1 r,,_._,.. 1.,,_ .....I ha: hatter UrL`.Hl'luIll. rlc lllubl. iuigcu uv-V --v VW|l1l(li0I`g(`t her---and how better than by raising between them 8. .~t*ttm`. bztrricr. ' lit: fclt himself weak, though. 116 vans sure of Clarc s strength. It wa_s itiisinrttiiic that he loved her, It vtrinltl lie shame and dishonour 1f_h tl(`Cl2ll'L`(l that love to her, a married. wnmon, a mother, and a saint tool holy In pollute with the foul breath of lll tmhallowcd passion. So he plunged into a reckless irt- ation with Bella Vane, a coquette. lrnm her birth, but none the less, (,l(`iL`Tl`Ill1l(.'(1 to seize so favourable 3; chance as this of securing 0_nel9f the riclit-st prizes in the matx:1m0m" :tl l`ll. lrl\ L`I. Herbert had not intend- ed to commit himself, but as.~C1al' .\lt-mlitli sat one afternoon---it W35 the (lay before Herbert was to leave the m;mor---watching a game 0f`la.V}V l( 11lliF, she saw Miss Vane. W_h. heightened colour and sparklmzi eyes, hastily pass out from a shrub- bcry near and go quickly t0Wi_1fd5- the liuuse, as though to avoid c\1f1011S Cyc-5. V -. . ,-_......o Frmn the same path a moment nftcrwzmls, came Herbert Gresham, gloomy and downcast. q - .' ." _I,_ _..`..n` (`I 6- U|Hy HHU UUWIIUGDL.` Clare knew instinctively what had h:1ppcnc(l--she was almost as sure as though she had heard the words Spoken, and looked up as he 315* Droachcd her, and in a few Vf1'ma` wm-.1.~ L...`l.\ 1--.. ....m...-.11 :1: he was. HIUclL'H\'(l I101`, anu xu a. 19" "'"'""; Words bade her farewell, 35 he wasl -leaving Chessington Mam?" within` an hour. .0 .;' I;.I..._' o ""We11," said Clare, 1estioa\?1Yo.': YOU have come to say som9th`3?,3". 156 "How do you know?v.aSk_`-'d`iH' beat. in his sweet, low - . swtly. . _ V ' - 1: _ --_--`---_- -.'--you-3-wwv One dollar opens an accou& itetest is added quartejx`-1_ y. acsusnu BANKING BUSINESS TRANSIBIEIJ. SAVINGS LLPERARTMENT . rie KL ur.- cove crumbs, t, and namon-._ e dish rumbs. : f milk, .: butter; - ha an Serve Clara's Recompense K, MARCH :2, o uvtu navy \II wants :9 Vvudu UV GU lll\uGD' I dislike with ` ` ought in * ` smiled again,- ` thinking ` So = con- ` she persisted. ` `Why will think going I you beg of Mrs. ,` insist hearing `confessions And Clare knew, if she had} 'not known before, that Herbertt Gresham had engaged himself to Miss Vane. I It is a shame! Aperfect shame! she declared to herself, as she went 1 slowly across the- lawn, while Her- I bert shook hands with the others of E the party. But she had said her last words to him except one more good- bye, shouted laughingly as theyall stood and watched him go his way. But Herbert turned back. Daisy! Where 15 Daisy? he cried. Mrs. `Meredith raised her pretty-, white hand and pointed down the `avenue of tall elms that ledto the lodge, ouside which a dogcart was waiting to convey him to, the station. Daisy, coming with her nurse, had just discovered him and was rushing to meet him. `He took the child in his arms and kissed the rosy mouth and white lidded blue eyes over and over again. The pretty, frolicksome little girl was his great pet. Going away? exlcaimed Daisy. But you mustn t. You re my Mr. Gresham, you know, you said so, and you ought to stay with me, if I want you to. ' `.1 `,1- 1* ....1.199 ..... ....-..A Man J \J|.I L`-In "I wish Ikcould, answered 31 gentleman, giving her one more car- `ess; and set her down and unfastegr 4\l` |.:.. 1,-mbno (am hi: watch-Chain CSS; 21110 SCI. CI UUVVIL auu Lgannuuuuaa ed has locket from 1115 watch-cham iand fastened it upon the slender lthread of gold that hung about her } neck: ' 1 f"I,4_ 4__1__`. Naughty child! said -Clare, when yDaisy ran up to her, eagerly display- ling the new. treasure. You should have run away and not taken the locket. We must give, it back to Mr. `Gresham when we see him again. urn: ,. _--.. ..L..1I can I-m a(72'lfl_ ' that she understood "him as thor- G5aAu. . Then we shall see him again, :mamma? I m glad of that. "He look- led so sad, I thought he was never - coming back. And yet he ought to 'look glad-- i a newly-engaged man! What a shame for him to _throw himself . away so; Clare said, under her l breath; but she kept his secret, even when her sister-in-law, Lady Ches- sington, andiothers among. the vis- itors speculated as to whether ,Het bert Gresham had been so foolish as to engage himself to Bella Vane. And as Miss Vane left Chessington Manor for her home a few days af- ter Herbert s departure, no one but Clare Meredith felt quite sure of how matters stood between the two. There are some persons who know and understand each'_other as soon las they meet; and this sense of km- ship burst into full blossom between. Clare and Herbert Gresham almost at the first moment of their meeting. - He seemed to know Mrs.\Meredith Ibetter in two or three days than _he `had ever known `Bella Vane-,l with _ whom he had played all through his rchildhood; and he was conscious oughly, and exerted over him ~a- strange inuence; -' Certaiiily Clare comprehended how he-straight from _ M..- ..i..'.l.-ma where he had entirely E-E inuence.` pcuauu, p-....- from a tour abroad, where entirely -avoided ladies society--thrown into {' constant associationrwith a girllike Miss Vane, an unscrupulous irt and adept actress, with a, managing mamma_ at her right hand, with his peculiar sensitive ` temperament and niceness of honour, had. been entrap- ped "into an `engagement ' against ' ' ' ' A -` "--A 4-nnncnnrij -and , .--_._ mamma her right hand, Wltn ma niceness honour, had entrap- iped into an `against which he had bee counselled,"-and to which he had de'clared his aversion. And, so, could she misunderstand his passionate avowal-I-`beg -of you, Mrs. Meredith, do not insist upon hearing any confessionsfrom lme; I value your good opinion` so lmuch that I would never haveyou learn the truth v -1-andV his confes-, ,}s`ion, `ItAwa?s weak of_ me ; to stay. `, ere so long % ` - . 7 ` l ' . I. I59 -`. __. 4 Av `_ - It was Setember whe her husband and child tool parture from `Chessingtox `and it was the Easter; rec wafny of them again saw Gresham. ~ ' 1 ` --- -` `|,_`A.' t `At one e n`d` e." we whim s Clare and` band took their "de,- `Chessington `Manor ; was recess* before` T them? again. _saw ._fHerhert, :h!i+99F1- ` e_:,1dKofA af lo c git ' bl_jva_r~.. ' tojl ,sto_od`.ga1ly`chatting with `some fnends. The band, struck up Tou- jours ou Jamais. 7 `0f\L ! n:np`aA1I T -.l-- rnnnn:orno6r\vI J\I_H'I "3 JIIII3 "Oh! sighed Lady. Chessington, I prpmised that `waltz to Colonel- %Dampm. I do wish he would hurry. ilt is `one of my favourites! . A 7! ---- vv-3-- ~v .v`vv--vw -- Laura, Elare, see "Laurence and I have found and brought here captive! `V ' "AIu1",i1s{'u;2I1 :'ii}{y' game in through the opened window.- iust behind hiiii, arm in arm with -Mr. `Meredith, wasf Herbert Gresham. V ` ` _ '- f`I ant s_o to-`see-. you ail, he aid, in his quiet, `earnest way, It is a most delightful surprise. "But I beg that you will excuse iy appear ance. _{Mr.. .Meredith: insisted j upon dragging me in here. ` u/so ' I ,,,E.. ..!_L;. 9! Iniinaaucaa ._--v -- -pv- "Of course; and quite .'-r.i,ght,. ?.lau`ghed`. Clare; .But it .is a shame ;ca.'re` to try it? to `m iss_ this wa1tz.r Don t you re- cognxsent?--`Fver or never? `Do you n 1 ,_;S,_ -_1__ 1--.. `BGIC Lu uy u.a _ A 9 Hrbert *l6oked depr.ecatingly_ from his travelling suit to Clare s hand- some ball-dress, T ' 1 Don t be, o\}er-fasfidi6us,- miled ` Clare s husband, and the two whirled away. ' " \ unn- It seems an age since 1 say. you last, said `Herbert, when` they had ;taken several` turns without speakmg._I UBIIIVDI Uwvwsug yuan.-no --- Q Yes. `And "yet 1i11'ig`}"Lt'-p'\ha.\;e seen us at any txme. I know. 9 V . Well, then---but you did not come. You never even gave me -a chanceto` congratulate your . ,,--_ 4.. ..A.n But I did not want you to con- gratulate ine.. - ' A ' Is is ndt the correct thing to'do when one s friends engage themsel- ,_5!) . i ;` I ives? `Vvvu `.Yes, ofdinarily, I suppqse; hurts me torhear you say It. J nuns: III`: av A-vun JV- _ J __. -Because you-. know that I did not apggove of it. `But as long as it was- to - e---why- _ fart it. issall over5Mrs. Meredith. ` hat. 0 soon. Yes; and I wish you would keep ;1}1_y secret. How-how did you ever . 1; 5 III: DJVGI \ 1 discover `\IIQ%\IV%l au- 5 `I m sure I cannot tell. -It was a knowledge that come to me by in- ;stinct. Where is Miss Vane "now? `I-{ow comes it that you broke with . . . . .... 5 .l.l.UVV \.U|u\.a :1. her` so soon ? `I-Q] \I h3\I\-Ill ; It is rather a long story-t}1at is, I'm not sure I can explam _1t _all ;now, . answered Herbert, hes1tatmg- l W-M. In 1' I ,_,_,I-,_ T .13.` ...,\4. IJI ` Oh! I beg pardon. I did not +mean to be over-curious or rude. You were not. Are you _staying here?_ May I call on you In the morning? I go away In the after- noon. . So soon? Yes, come to~morrow. 11' 1 uvvnon as v-, vv_-__ _- And so in the morning, Herbert VGresham made his way to Clare s iabode. He found her at home. 121 GUUUV. vssu Lvu--so a-v. -- .--- "Lady Chessington and the chil- dren have gone to the beach, she said. '1 thought you might like to walk down there.. The day is so Icool and perfect. I have been wait- ing for you.' And Daisy? Yes, she has gone there, too; by the way, I must return you your locket. What could you have been thinking of to give it to the child? Herbert smiled. Suposing I should tell you I was thinking at that time, that I wished Daisy was of marriageable age? I L. LA--- -._-....l u-I\II J.IuauJ vv u. V. ---.......c_._,., , 9 That she might have saved you ?from Miss Vanes wi1es?- laughing; Und then they fell to talking of ella. - Ll They had reached the beach, and lDaisy was perched upon". Herbert s knee before -he nished his story. And so she really released you, at last? -Well, that is better of her than I expected. _ _.-_11_- ......:..... GA Ulllalll J. vlirvevwu-v L And were you really going to marry her, Mr. Gresham? broke /in Daisy, with her big blue eyes opened wide. `You said you were my Mr. Gresham! reproachfully. -D II! , 1 ;1_- _ . A . ...... \lI\r\JlIIannou vr-vvv-v-_-.,,-' _ And I am! repiled the young 1man, suddenly. _I never mean to `ask, another lady to marry me until 7! you are grown; and then-- I ll marry you! Will you, Daisy? _-Is it a bargain, Mrs. Meredith? I will try to prove worthy. `=When she is old enough may I pay my addresses to her? Yes, said Clare, with _a laugh. I cannot_ say that she will. marry you, and it is a long time to wait; ,but--you may win her if you can. Then let her keep the locket, _I will send her my picture to put in it, that she may not forget me. i ` cut I i W3`- i UH-CB. ` "And that day Herbert Gresham A went away, and that night Mr. Mere- | dith_ did not come home. -- up _It was June again; .the days were ..so _go1denly perfect, so lled with sweet sunshine, warm breezes, fra- 9grant smells, and hum of happy in- !.,..-..+.; And in London` this June uunuara nu V`-nu tdown td`~ se"the gentleman--to_ _s%e'e -;-`Herbert Gresham, ` ` ` -vM"rsA. .j;Mredith P m aurvau IUI I.ll\. ynuu "I cannot say when I shall be 'rm.: NORTHERN ADVANCE but it [that `her slend`er. gure was draped `in black-e-al1" black, save fo; the owers at her waist. What does this `mean? he_asks, softly. V - DQn t-don t-you k.now?e Is it possible that Daisy_is'dead?" 1 ` `.`Yes, you see death gave_you the release that I_ must othe_rw1se have gtven you, w1tht still, wh1te face. j_,__;-._J __--- `I > 10:. -\n --v - V. -- V- Then, you did not know-you haveld not oheard--'that Daisy s father was=-a- - 9! forger," and .a suicide, and,-- `her breath had sunk to a whisper,- great i waves of , painful `colour rolled across her--face and her slender throat, only her eyes were cold and deant. ` Herbert interrupted her. ' V ' .I had heard nothing. It could` have made no `difference, though, to me. Daisy was your child, as well. For ve years he had struggled with a great passion and kept every evi- dence of it out of manner, and voice, and eyes. Now, in the presence of this cruelly suering woman, there was a cadence in his tone that gave his words an inection he had not meant them to take. And-Clare understood him. ` She stoad looking straight into_ his L eyes a moment. Herbert s sensitxve . I" face` ushed. ,,___A__| 06' C u.vn- J vvu, _I' do not understand you._ iwxshed no release. vvuvou -----, .._-_-- _.._,, I . `A IEGCC uuauvu. Folfgive me, would not--_ he commenced. K`! wuunu nut. Is it `true? `Clare said, quietly interrupting him, with a. little smile gathering about her lips. u :1, '. A_-_-: 51...; T `nun qynu? Au` 5aLucu'u5 Gvvuv an... ..r... `Is it t_rue? --that I lpve you? Ay! ;And it W111 be true until I die. But ` God knows that I am sinless-that I never meant you to know! _ There isno harm in my know- mg, she answered, gently. _ My- husband shot himself the mght I saw you last. - Clare! - , Herbert folded her in his arms and made all his confessions--at last. . 1, Jlt ,__.__LL_- I5` cvl\II auu uxauc , But I was not half worthy `in those days, love, he said, I was an idle trier, without an aim i but to pass away time agreeably. I would have been well mated with. Vane but for my love for you--that raised me above her and helped me to free myself. Yet I dared not an lulu w v n - . V _ _ . . . -_ meet you, for fear I should prove myself unworthy even your regard by betraying my love. And--now- my plans are all changed; but Clare, I am rich and--- I am poor, and the widow of-- Darling! Never let mephear that sentence nished. Rather, let me nish mine. I am rich and can sur- round you with every luxury; and I place my life, henceforth, at your disposal. I know you will never be contented to have an idler for your husband; so you have to choose what you wish your hus- ' band to be, and that-for your sake ` -he will strive to be. I I Only, since I have loved you long already, say that there need be no delay in the commencing. of our new life. Why may it not commence at once? ' you 1 n life` ; i And as Clare had but her own`. heart to consult, that same month of June saw Herbert Gresham win his `I\II13 J love. '9 - . 6N 39ooooooooooooooooooooooo1 A } Love's Conqu'ests An idle boat, with.._id1e oars, oat- ing idly down with the current of a ;calm, smooth lake, on whose. placid abreast the moombeams played at` IJI \.u will. u VV All Such the picture, had one been mere spectator to the mimic scene; `but to the two actors, surroundings `were lost sight of--they thought only of themselves. ` ---- --__- -.-L.... \ll.IlJ \JJ suns...--. . v-. Mocking the moon-rays, when they glanced upward, they could see 3on the bank above them the twink- ling of lights` of~Riverdene, and hear the merry voices and gay laughter of the group from which they had es- caped. -1 ,, 1,- ,1 -__-....I I.;..L--.-..... :4-a 8810' ;_ `,2 H1 5.: