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' tas'1 it" V always: believed 5 in` __H01'aCe.A And7:a_s'prof':o`f*'his' faith 11. .;ha_(l%tA.-'.;;:1`amed; guardian 7 of his Nothingf vco1iid 'hav'e `,~ .m,orefconveni:nt1y- -for Horace than _the} death h of his,.;bro~ther and sister- 1n_-_law for he was just at the end of has resource,s.t ' He lopt no time in establishing himself at Harcourt Ha 1L_-ltnd`Editha, to whom he was Dracucally a. stranger, began-by lik- "mg him. But ere long a~fee1ing of mistrust crept into her mingl, "and -(`attain-nor` 3-*` ' ' rm: %NoRA#TH:1~:RN% Anvmcn Ila , uuu a so11:1te wag uugut UC given 1'0 l'lC_!'.' " on bad no bag `with you, Elsie answered. . _ ` .Yes, indeed Iihad---a Ihandbag with. morfey. and my jewellery and my r_u`ght-clothes, _It was -all I .brought with me. _ ` ` But-Elsie shook her head. ` .It - _11st"'have `been Ast'olen, A she I said. _.ut'e_s; s then she said: V Th"e"gi_rl`h,'d?19i_n' still few mi}:- =,I-Iovy'_:,g o9_<'iV `you, are ! V `You donit know 2inyth:z':g`; nip) ` " ` \ - `t' lrqqn-so".-5 I-I-`A-5? " .'.-.. "'._- '-.'..s..'-.. 2|` `I)-_A.~ l\ll`y\V 'd}.lytIlIHs~ IIEC. A 1 Ikx_19w th_a;f,- '01: `are bers. Is-`no one I can Y011- 4: ' A . .' ' .No-A-no--no! % Oh; Iv _. `-4- L_4.. ';`.I. K `-l`V'J"%1l\)""lI\.I3` ,\.lllg 1. UC5 _y\_1u.u:I. me st here with ` you. I ..am at peace" __ere. Andi-- and `it will not be [for long," ' ` ` ' V ` . `TA manhunt` nu-Jun L.-. .111... In.;- 4....-.'-_ IO! xongg `It seemed cruel to deny hr prziyi.- `-'er,'for it was `only? mo evi_derIt1thaf:' span A of life was nearing-~'1 ifs c1o1s`e; so,1-eluctantly, *E1sief andrher "an' ~sett1.d-" to "let ivmgttcxfqi ;L --_ _..-...- IICIIIVC` I`-|\4LIn| they were. f\..-- ._.1. Lucy WCIC. ` ' .' '-7? M Once, when Dr; -W_arde .ha'd;::gone,\ `the sick girl asked Elsie, .-Isha your. vl'ov!'3-- ` ,4 ,-_j-.~ . ' . , ~ n ` VA_i1d~~VElsie,- ..wxth* Ipink heeks ;_an ihfanoyr j-.eyeS;...::`a+n.s.Wered V f`.Y`S '~ J; 2"? 1 -L:` }H%avsA%%y9u.`b' %lhmz*? :ns., 53 , %T`?0h >3*.'~`.8- 9=i18Y%4`% sash IIID _ 1 UU1. * Wouldn t it be betterto write,to her people, `my dear? he remarked `to his daughter. _ `A WeAcan t nd out who her people are,`was Elsis response. You should ask her about them. . "I ,have,but_ she implores me not to speak of them, and `becomes so excited I am afraid to continue the subject. "`1\/1-..`. .._-4_--`_1S,. , \ auuJcLL. ' - ` ` it Most extraordinary, `most extra- ordinary! murmured the Rev. Paul. `Well my` `dear, I must leave `you and _Percy to settlethe matter. I am Just now preparing a reply to Professor Stewart's `article in the `Present `Day Review, and am an- xious 'to get it `nished. So you t-wo `can talk it` over and see whatis best to be done. And, "thus relieving his mind of. all sense of responsibil- ity, the Rev. `Paul shufed from the room-.- . _ 0 But what `was. best to be done? c `There was no` clue to-the identity of tlie gi_rl. -Mllhen-, she had` recover- ed consciousness she asked that`; her bag might be vgiveh tio `her.- ".Vnu hilt` uni; `oo:CIg i-.4\h- ,7` D1:-:n 151115 In: aL.auL_y gIC_y Hall". he was a Akind-`hearted man. when it occurred to him to consider his fe1low-beings, but his thoughts were` principally _oc_ with abstruse studies,` and had it not been for! Elsie his parochial work would have I suffered sadly from his absent-mind- edness. Though she had `given an account of the meeting with Editha, he had paid 1-ittle heed to her story, and hhd almost, forgotten`. that Editha was even then living under his._roof. [J \x7..._1.1..u :. I. 1, -uu-5.. uaa5uLqa1a U1 ucr CUIIUIIIOH. ' "Yes; mere is no chance of recov- ery for_ her, I fear, he said, com- mxseratxngly. Av curl Anna` 1` . . A u __ _- 1' nuv1::\;Aa|.uA5l_y. A | A sad case`-, 21 very sad" case, murmured the Reverend Paul, ruf- ing his scanty grey hair. I-{(5117-.1 : n Lvinr1'I-ya..-`--4 ........_ __`L-,. lt was a few days after the advent` of the stranger, and Dr. Warde` had had opportunity of nialging a thor- ough dmgnosis of her conditions I '`\/o:- um-.. - an .a`.. ..L..--..- _A' --- uu |-IIC ukiu U1 IHC UIIC Spare I'OOvI'l 1. _ And thus did Editha Harcourt be`-1 come a member`of the househlold of the Reverend Paul Turner, curate of [St John s, North Kensington. Chapter -IV. _"And ou really think she will dxe, exclaimed Elsie, .in shocked ac- cents. uulclvva Auc CU U115 glrl. When prgsently the cab stopped, it was before a small house in a sub'urbanx\street, and Doctor W'arde carried the girl--a .pitifully light jburdin--upstairs, and depositd herl on`t e bed in the one spare room.; ` Anrl Mme .1:,1 17,1-:41... u..-----_L L-. - You would have just the same feeling towards any other creature in _distress, he said with a fond smile. ~ ' Elsie shook Her head. , "No, I `should not, I should be Fsorry for them, of course,'but th e is some strange attraction whic draws me to this"girl. ` Whnn nu-aet.\n+1.. LL. .-..1- -1---- - " gayu LLIC aycdncl 5 50112 HPS. ,' J V 1 '.A ': H3011: bu an idiot!" he c5i1aimd:"{ T V . ' ' . o c ' ; ' "-\ .. V th erg frail m constztungn..;;,i(1lg;,,f/13,? m heal`. is 11eeesarv Elf :' w"ld 5'` attended" 5 ` P. S_ m V he':l y giving you infor1ix;igLiogI;-.5 `mow 1" 2ul slowly: As min ' the Door girl's healthj=`11`7?ra} fL s. 9 "1" What we cOu1d'~ wigu. T died of consumption,,-an_`*fjVV!fY" The" 9'? t _a u:uu1a.1_y prUCCUlIlg'." ' , _Perhaps it is. All the same, I can t 1etAthe"poor thing go to _a hos- pital. The girl .,pa sed, then con- tinu_e_d,- gravely, I--- ` have a strange feeling about her. What sort of a! feeling? V `fl can t explain it c1ea{.rly,-but I feel that I must look after her, that '.I`n1ust care for he`i'. . `h- \xr-,-.1 , L ; Auual. Ld.lC IUY I161". Dr. .Warde bent his head and kis- sed the speake'r s soft lips. V011 urnniri Indira :11;-6 A-LA an--- pal! 1!-Illa] ncu. l.llt'.'_. latter.` ' I` Yo1_1 father- s callmg, E1- s1e sald, gently. And, besides, she added, smi1ing,\ you know he. always lets m-e do What I like-. Trt1e, but .this is rather an extra- ordmary proceeding. " pprha1\a :4 In A11 41.- _._..-- T nu? llbl UCLWCCIL UICIII. ' `I wonder what your father wiil say, remarked the. latterf` ` Van `ln.....,.;. ..4.L-_)... -_n- 99 yrs And at that Percy Warde had" no more to `urge. ` ' ` . ,A foux-whe.e1`ed cab was fetched and `the 'unonscious girl placed ..in it, with Elsie and `her lover supporti ing her between them. _- `I urlnnf 1`i('|I1!I ;nl>1nao- "11 tone. ` A .. __A nun 1:.1a1.c, IILUVCU Dy SOUIC. Inex- pl'1ca_b1e feeling, crie_d, No; she must not go to a hospztal. "She shall come to our house. _ 1 .`l'\- \xr'._...1- 1_-L,7 1 1' ' - vu ucl xucuuty. ` - - I expect that woman who: got out appropriated any luggage she had with her, said the stationin- spector. ,She 11 have to go to a Ihqsyital for_ the present, anyway. lheh FISIP rnnxrn kn annna -Au vvuu.uv15"l,U._Uul. Iv -ex 1'.` ' -There Dr. `Ward; V Iiiade Vfercdzirn-d ination, and pronounced the`,1ady to on':Ther identity. be`veryv ill and in a. state; of iextrefne exhaustion`. L . Who was: "she? :Wher `had she come from? were the questions ropounded, apd to them no ans- glers were forthcoming. . ' The carriage in 'Whi_ch she _ had travelled was searched, `but nothing! was found which could throw. light! nvnans 51...; ..-.......... '_.L- . Yes? responaed gwme; lady. ,W must get her `out. . "H2-hxrmm okgmt +1.... 131...: 4. : :1 k`-. ct WE1}'?" `I 5 I K L 3: EL; .I'G\lJo _VVC\`.lllL`l3I gct 1161' OI1t.":. ,g v- " .B et`w_s'een them`. they lifted the`:'_ iy sen,sjb1e- form and conveyed it to the, waitmg-room, '~. .. j '. 4' - i '1`)-.5-.. `IN... .\X7..._.I_ ..-_J, U-`-vyual Lur tut: pI'b'CI1I, anyway." _Then Elsie, moved by some. inex- In-ah)- :.,..I:..... ,...:...x um, _1__ -:_-,_. v_ery ill. `But writeto for" ` beg yo_i_1. lt I\l l.aJll\v\lIll 3 {I'll} L lVl\.Iu ` A` few houi's*1ater" a gentleman bailed, askiqg for Miss Turner. :'-`D.'n suntan :11 T , `nu- L.- CF15 Ipl/\vI True to her` udertaking, immedi- ately after the sufferer had breathed, her` laistf E_1`sie, ,p'osteLd the,/letter. which," she. noticed, "was `addressed to }.incoIn s" Inn Fields. ' I.@_. `L...`_.! 1..;-...' ..-._LI -..._.. l.ll\JII6llI. FBI] GIIU ll.Il\ _I1.|l\.I papul. .,'It was a loiig _letter_ the invalid wrote, and evidently it cost her a- great effort to complete it. But it _was,, nished atplast, and, putting it into an envelope, she slipped _it _un- der her pillow. I6 :5 $4-\ an `Anna no I to post it yourselt-(11rectIy, please!" Elsie gave the `desired assyrance, and. the .. pat,ien't `nestled down among her pillows like one happily content. I C`I,_.IS,,_,I , L_,, f-,.a,-',I,.`I_, ` nine _.rihY,011';:rc aware that Editha .is% -his son poddcd` with a sIt1I_r9_ uh expression of countenance-,-'.l if Wrhp you `are not aiwage thyt. ml WOW _marr1ed andshbuld .d)e; "Ur. nmkmg :1` will Her husband: would 1n}-`C,-it evcrything M . -' ., 1 i `c LCGOO LON. you don't mean--2--" "Hard could not nish th's'e3'lf?- me` His jaw dropped and `his,-"1595! Hgraw ash C" . I A, - V -' { She `lived a bare fortnight longer, and durin that time she spoke. little, but ofte `her handvwandered under the p`il1ow, -as though to assure her- self of the safety of her preciotfs epistle. _ V ' . u-oqI`4:nI-n`.r:aI- UCI IICX PIIIUW. * , It is to remain there as long_ asI live, she whispered to Elsie, and directly I am (lead will you promise to post it yourself:di_reetly, please? `EH4; rvnvvn OLA ' w '?Lead.ing'. ` `and - Co." jco1n: s j Inn `4 Fields.` Lguncu, fCl\ll:l` IUJ uxuaa 1.u1u_c1. " gmame.-.is` Leading, he said, by] ay. `of introduction, .".of the firm of s,olicit'o1_'s, of }a'n- uv--_~~1-. -_-...;_.1 _ 1...1._ .. `____,- 4.3-] 9 9! L1!'ll_ p '.lI1.II 1` IcIU3o Yes; I posted a letter -to you" this -morni_ng=.* Irejoined ' Elsie. Were;yo u~ aware of its- cbntrits, ...o'...".,.u.l:'59_" `. .. . '"':.V F`..~.'r,-Hr. , .. ` ` , No , bu` .I' pr_om1se.d to post It 'directly"j " % ~ '.cru:....-..1.'.. '4-I.-. .....:L.... _..... .:.v. .'..s .u7`cIb)`;rct1y the.' wrifr was dad. `KG 1.1! I2` uct u\..vv'u1auc_ uuauauu LU `MCI upa. "_Thank you,T she said, and her srmle was radiant. Then she sought for Elsie s hand `also, and joined _the two together. . van vvv: `and-1-u 1nnt`1\annL4soI|pI A...` s vvu Luscuncn . You. will both; understand one day--soon, she said, simply. There was no pthex-'way." And now Lpvant tonwrite a .let,t_er. *` -A -1. II _ _4-A_ _l' ,,,X_,1 u; vvuu: :1 Lcucn. Pefcy, still in a state of ruled discomfort, went off, and Elsie brought pen and ink and papcfr. 1.6 vurnn II `nbnn `tun uo.Il|`:r' t\3l._l_D >ll|L_V' `V:-_{_Il II6 III Llllo. lick`, $\}l|` ;;i;;urt;5tt;actzng- frQm_h1s pocket . fmlft had wgittgg VVIJ UGU. 51 EC- It was a strange and tragic cere- mony, the bride making her responc ses in a voice almost inaudible from weakness, the. bridegroom going thr`ough the ceremony with uncon-1 cealed reluctance, `his countenance _sombre and glowering. L`l.:..g....... ........ ....1.. .1... 1).... 13...: A lull ll.\vI,. I19 '7 ll\J\vI UNI llI\.I \o\}IlILlUC\lo When the servxce came .to an end Editha lifted `the unwilling hand of her new-made husband to `her lips. CIR!` (`L2 luQ" L41 Luxus, 'nC u\-\.La1Cu, GLULFIJDL auucuiy. Yet be invalid entrgtated again [and again, pleading, beseching, with piteous pertinacity, so that at length] he yielded compliance, though with: very bad grace. T6 turns 4` nbunoaa-an '4.-.l-I L_....:.. A`... _DUlll.U{C auu sxuwcsulg. | Elsxe was very pale, the_ Rev. Paul TTume-r,.bewi1dere.d and confused. `V 1lL_,_ `L- .-. -.__-,_ I |.uaL Ill Luc cuu. auc gave way. You have often said that dying people have strange fancies, she remarked `to Percy._ I expect this lisone; and it can do no harm to, humour her._ , K i But despite thisplea he remained obdurate. ` ` I It is unheard-of to alisk such a, 'thing,Y`he declared, almpst su11en1_y.I vhf C414: :1-\\7n1:r` At10b.nar1 cits-nu.-5 IL JUN G33 1111]]. sun E sie demrred, still the oth-! er pleaded, and with such urgency that in the end she gave way. I vrni 140174: ngfnn cn:r` blunt. A..:...... ; ILD 111., out W,d.llCU. I sh, hush! 'We will discuss it another time, responded Elsie, soothingly stroking herbead. The sick girl caught her ngers} lbetween her Qw'n`hot palms. `"I`11n1-o rnnuy `\a:L'\r\ .-.4-L,\.. 4.3....` -._i u:`I;vvc\'.u ucr tgwll `HUI. palms. There may -be no other txme for me. And I must have peace at the ,last. Oh, I shall never rest if you won t persuade him. He will do it if you ask him. e } can El..v:- A ...... -1 _.:n `L A E felt is 21 verystrange thing to ask,! zsaad Elsie. T ` Yes, yes, I know. But I am dy- ing, and people generally do what! those who afe dying ask them to do. n _Oh, I can t die peacefully if `he den-`V xes me,e she wailed. aLn..-1.. 1_....1..I nr, ,,-n 1- -. .nA\; uua |u\Jl/Ll _yuu. Wdldt 1. Wdlll. H1111 to; do? wasthe invalid s eager ques- tion when Elsie next presented her- self in the sick-room. Yes. V . "And you were surprised. `I Yes, certainly I Was. . ; AOh, but persuade him to do it. I_ beg you, implore you, persuade 1 hrrnf. . - ' II to Linus LHUJC am: IIELU I0 say. _` nd you declined to- to dq what she asked? . _` ` ; `Why, of course I did. I Yes, of. course you did, repeated! Elsie, and putting up her ha.n.ds she drew his head down and kissed him. He has told you what I want him `frv tin? urn.-`+1-... $..--..1f,l!.. .._,A,, by IIJI-IlJ.' ' . ,7 l It .15 so ,extrao1_'dmary what she.` 1v.1t_s.ShI ha,1;d1y like to tell you. She, yes, v'vhat? ` ` Sh n ` - e wa.nts,me- to marry her. l`1j[`he curate s_ daughter s_ta1-cg at er daughter mcredulously. OH irnnncciialo clan .-....l ..n.... - us`: uauglucr mcreaumusly. `Oh, 1mpo_ss1b1e, she sand, aft;er a moment s sxlent amazement; `you must have made a mistake. `LL. .L....1. 1..:.. 1.--: -77: 1' `?But it may be less, -Yes, I und-` ers,1a`nd," she responded, with the` faintest zpossible quiver of.., her; lips. Later she` 'said_tolElsie: -. 0" `?'When_ -Dr. .Warde is here to-mor-_ row I want .t\o be left .alone with him, to` say something to"`him. You won t mind, will you? ' And Elsie replied: Certainly not. ' Chapter V. The following day after Perdty had paid his visit vto the sick-room he sought Elsie, evidently greatly-T dis- turbed in mind. ,-. o \ What is it? she queried, anx- iously. ' ' ` T1. 1. -- ---L-A - - " ` ".Ei qunpt IUI a__1uu5- WHIIC. The "next time Dr. .VV arde `cam she. 'said'.to him : Q , `*,Dr.- Warde, will you tell me `how much longer, _I have to live? I mean, donyou thile it is a matter of imonths or weeks or days? Lqh 111:9`! rune-`ant Anon-`---._- ,_-,,';*,-...r`:z V 3'7. _,... :7; _.r `V .. ". . . ;St1);mQth`er a nd~ skvrall step-gigters ;ar;d Brothfs' `to kfp; `arid 'his`pi'a.c- 'ti:e` is not" 3. very good _ one-`,'-at }least, "not -a ;r emune r-ativev one. `Andoyou--you have` no fortune? Elsie shook her head sadly. LR` ~.~No, 1` `have no forfqne. ' _ J `.- The invalid, tu"r'ned ` away `and lay }quiet for fa. long while. I Tho -n|\rl- 4-3-an.` h- `IT - ., J . SE Y Cl`. JUN I ask? r , ` r '. - 1 atiq -_ ` `MANUFACTURER or _ V Bnggis, Cu-ringcs. Wagons ASli.gha_ and Cutters. ` '??;`..f::,$.g ~Hrsshoing. Il.IG\.I\- llill-I] IIIJIIIC ?I, EIIC JJGII. ,' A happy home It IS, too, a_nd th old. rooms resound to the v_o1cesA of healthy, merry children. The eldest is a` girl. and hr parents have`na.m-__ `ed her Editha_. - -Horace Barton blustered and .thi'eatened,` but fmallyiagreed to the offer `made at the___instigation of his niecefs heirs, that he sh ' ld accept a Ayearlyincome conditi ally on his living out of England. His so.n is c{oupie.r. at -`one of the Continental 9913.... L41`-u`4\:I But had she no relatives? She `had relatives, yes. Her uncle was her guardian, and a more thorough scamp and scoundrel does not walk the earth. It was against my` advice--very much against it-- that her father appointed him to the position ofwtrust. It was to escape from him and his equally villainous son" this poor girl came to London. Another time you shall hear a fuller account of her reasons. Now I want to_,consult with Dr. Warde as` to the necessary arrangements. "Edi_tha was .taken back to Har- court and buried among her-- own people, and, fullling her wish. Elsie "and "her lover have married and made their home at the Hall. .- 1__`__,_ |_-_.- 9. 2 1 .1 . 1 vupauj at ' UH g minig tables. MIC CIUC fort he ceedcd : adv cjca a: gut uawycl wcut. uu. "By herVfather s will, if she mar- ried and died without children, or without making a will, her husband inherited `her property, on the con- dition of. his assuming the name of Harcourt-a very simple condition, crnsideng the "advantages attach- e . u11., 1 1.- an D l_. WIIU LUIILIIIUCU . IJLCIRC 1 She asks me to explain this wish `to you. It was the only way, she says, in which she `could give ex- pression to her gratitude to you both for your great goodness to her, for the peace and love with {which you had surrounded her as gshe was dying. I Tone-n pa..- ...ncL.-...2...... 1.. I?1...'.. .-. b DIl\p VVQD vllllso [ Tears were gathering in E1sie s `eyes as `the lawyer went on. ` "12.. x......`:..+1.'...-!.. ....'n :1: -1..- ......- uA_ye . l Elsie bent her head. I And you and Dr. \Varde, for the sake of giving her peace, after some persuasion, assented to this wish. ,And the result was that she went ;through the form of marriage with * him. ' That is so. By thus humouring the fancy of ,a dying girl your ance has become la very rich man. \ Elsie stared, speechless, at _.the 1 speaker," who continued : 1 C1... ..,.1... ....- ..,. ..--..1..:-_ ..L:- __-_'-1. `my? I m i7:isic's heart began to beat thick- ly, but she managed to answer the wawyer. Ct... .\u.u....`.--AJ .. .....-`.1. .___A...__.__._l l Clo She expressed a most extraord- inary wish :1 week or so before she ;died, did she not--at least a wish fwhich you and Dr. '\\/arde must lhave regarded as most extraordin- = ......'w Avsad story, a very sad story, but it reflects great credit on your hu- imanity, Mis-s Turner. Allow me to thank you for all you did for my un- happy client. She was on her way to me when~she was taken ill in the gtrai_n, and you and--he consulted 1the lctter--Dr. `V\'arde succoured lher. l (X7 1 . - .-... . --' ` ll!?`l`. I . V : . yes, but 1t was httle-'we could (10. 1:3--. .. . ... Don't let. your clothes wear you out. Wea.1-Progress Brand." 8., Tailored and Guaranteed by Fl. Vinebet-g'& Co. Limited, Montreal Sold with a Guarantee by "J`""15\A IIILRUIUU dull DIIUHICU. I "You don't realise all the lbenets` Ellhe marriage? then observed"l`s. s' l CT, I 1 `Ar . ll "Progress Brand %%mmg Keep f Young VC 1? ,. OP, osnt: can * ' %nass?i%'is-i .<. A Ill-tting, badly . `made clothes not only make one look old and decrepit, I.__L a A keep a. man `young becanise it makes him look young and feel yeung. premature decay. Think ofamanbeing welded in badly \ tting clothes for two-thirds ofhis life. E "I" "i'"i?"i'i is R 'ca.us'a iuauc as tnougn to rise. "Whit!" commanded Y1is_ father,` and he .~:zmk back in his chair. `_`W;e' haven't nished our discussion yet. to Oh ycs we have! I tell.yoa,._oncc for ail, I w marry Editha! "Ami I tell you, once for all, that you shall marry Editha! ' i 'lhe..ycungcr ickered and shamed. The eyes of the two met" T._hei'.e' was obstinate determination -in oovthi Rlanccs. ,But ere long the 'gzi_zc of V1.11 Jan"; ....-13- ""'c ' VIIL \J\.ku.`l'.J.|, BELIU feeble attempt at dignity.` And he made as though to rise. \Mn.'ol" ..,....-..,..._- ,1-_1 1:- f_;I_-, , I muul. Hufu` I:1urmn Iezmt btck in-his chair and .~.iur\'cycL`l his companion,` and tltcrc was that in his glance which 1nzadc Lennard quail like 21 C111` beneath the whip. * .- You're :1 poor sort of a. being- very poor sort," remarked the `elder man, prc.~;cntIy. J "I've hczml enough o7"y0ut' talk for one occu.~i0:1," said Lennard, with a fmp uftunwnv no r`l2n.-nJ+n- A.-..I La. `W`J' - "Oh! mp your confounded con- u11d.rums and say out what you mezm." . . I] !\ 1 n . . .. lI1\\4 J>4\IKlIII.ll M `V I I The other .I:mghe(l--a contemptu- ous laugh wlnch brought a. dull ush; to the y man's pallid cheek, -'..\`..1`. nu, :,,1.,.::: A .1- I [lldAl\.'- U1 u. Iuutuuu. . I 1 ""Ch;mcc of :1 lifetime, indeed!` Why, what d'ye think I m made of to stzmd being tied for life to -a fright like Ii(i1tl1z1? /1 TL.` ,..11...- 1-M...-hall I\ ......4......;.;.-_ mung, vw*' . ,, . ~ 4 "gm th2tt.sctt1es 1t, mterruptedt Lmnayd,\'1c1ousJy. _, - = "And your cred1tors-wl1_at of thank` W215 the cquaple 1nqu1ry.. .. The young man w11}c_ed. . . "Surely you can squeeze enough. out 01 the estate to pacify them'." ~ -g\Yo,`l`c:m't; and ifl could I woutuuti snurlctl Horace Barton, `his face all of EL sudden losing its b'e- ! mguny and `ms tones their gentle- ness. "lvc (tum: with you! V "Oh conlc, I say, don t be hard on} afmw.-., prttcstcd Lennard. I Hard on L1 fellow? echoed his`! father. Why, I`m giving `you the, cha:1cv: of Lt 11_tctimc. . ' ||."`L .. ._ . 1 1.`:..:....- -:,_,a, u I .0mea rub 1a`Lu\.1. . 1--wny, shc_s a hunchback!_ .___ 1 "Shes shghtly crooked, upqpr bin but . t-~;Ig.:+ thnf settles 1t. lnferrllnfnrl. I "Shes >+.ia:`Y "'d"--~'~P lW" EM,o99o'vOf___< T ' Chapter I. * { IfIhd%q .grelish the jo1b`,bIl tell 7. , _p N 'nded1__ 's_e Veen.-e\_revn-passg Ay~goo_- .;\VI:ary LQ`t3!BaIrtOn in1 an8.ry1look1ng`.I; cpul_d..put .up w1th' henj; but zen , i . ,t: u- on `you see ta t a s an`1'dY0 be `L fool If you don " 1:? 5l_1_st where the `!%:1van_.tage comes in? joinednl1iS5]?T:1f;' hunchback! W No,-I Vdon ,t was the jshort a.ns-` -'w 3'. ` . ` * =' - ' d1``He r life_ Hangs on: so` slender .a. ghing. . ead ._that_ even t1_1;e_ mostm dgyotgd but that gcttles it, interrupted Lennard, \1.,1<)U _ d' h t Of -. -?ur are 1tors--w a _ ...-y..\~) vh , . .. .un-In hln snrn-no-u here was a dangerous gl`eam` in| ~`]dr n'1;m s eyes, but by an .f- [ (`(lHYr`I|11l\rl k:Q-ncn1` ALA d\III|..' uu.\.y "Eon see its -. V.--u utIClL{C|l | auqlt. Barrie Brancvltav Points;f{A.GLN.4%VMi|ler.: `Books and Statementsgdf 3"} The V a strictly.inepe;ig1nt% a_t1`ci;it;_ 3 - A AL _'f_`-X..L\_.. n1V('--1.*c 1H orace laughcd T1'3f5 1:1;` mam sa.ooo.ooo*f Head O{_ficeV%;:Z;.A General 'sep`:. 4. '15. :r n'1;m's but by .6!-` controlled himself vai1_d P??? ~.-1.,` 3 One dollar . pf?"S 3 acb nu. .. . %'and`-v ; GENERAL smms%% SAVINGS V a Acafln V1 Anna-... drawbacks, muttr9;(l` mi66 a Poshffsjn % * (By E. A. Groenj.) or into" actual deformity. ~Doctors ;.zm.c1. . suteon, at 119, .9 and abroad /were consulted, but 3:111 and V scisrzw. .,yv.sr.s:`.~, 4!$!.; remedy ne defct. V {eacs3A`..%hege:s<% f 11:15` i t b gar! A. .. inf8Cy, GCVCIOPCU 35 auc=5u.av s_.uu.r. p9vz9r1.s.% 9 'I-t ,wa's;~ v*Iif,;fel`i!ib1 . rif h13.gpar?*- _ M . 99n1d`hard- ly baa : '16? oo'k`upon' her, `but her; moj~~' hsr. ..:.10v,inz sotsx 1aV1sh..edV: _d`t"_in, bjs"V:*~;g;ct1on -o;1' the aiicted` en. ma. inst` omoleted hat "'six;-. girl." " , ` . V Sync had just` qompleted her. six- t`esjth year when her I father died, arid 'bare-lym tweflve; m_o,n.ths.;flater hqjr X Aothwcr ~:.fo11o_vyTed. 'lj1;I1j `go the grave. .. . ~ `"3 '5u_ard1an"_appo1nt6d by` _h.e`r` `.:." ' (his half-brOt.her,. pose to new It would ,_be ,a wise, thing to do. Ther e .s/ danger in` delay, ' bear in mind. - " _ T V ~ f`.Oh, I must get used to the idea rst. . . . , ` . You can get- used to /it in an hour. . , V . Lennard gave his (`head a 1ug`ubri- ous shake.. : '- _ . . ~ , .No, I'can t.. Look here, give/me. dtill tomorrow. I ll do,` it, to;mor- row; I.sw.ear...I will. _ Very well;A..To-morrow be 1t.. ~ 1.1- T . Editha Harcourt hadbeem b,o'1-`n to -great".'~w_e_al`th.` Harcourtl-la_ll was a ne v'plaee,~and she had; besides; v an in'com'e-eb_fv some -ten. thousand a. year. "lUnfortunately~' Bile` was. a delicate` .child,;"' and a " slight ` citrvature. of the spine, uhardly-gnotieuv.ble dyrirg her infancy, developed as .she gre -f*old+; __ :....... ........-.1 .:h-Fm-mitv. lDoctors'- Luuxc '16 u_V V."" Well, If VI..mI1Sts , . _pose. ! And H-us hnnnnr `I. puns: . Aug, the soongr Lbetter. T 0o'[J---;......I -.A'4' ` Jr I DQUCCT. < .,"Heaven9! yo`u d9n r "men-m t'n;u_--- "that I'm"to go.stra1ghtwa.y and pro- toihet?" ` _' , an ..mn1A ha annse thmxz to do. 1. ball IQLIILIIII VIY/IIQL II: IU- "`Don t~ attempt a feat beyond your powers, then , And. now revenons a nos moutons,.you agree to woo the heiressi` - . > `'It s deuced hard 1u:k. _ x Ll Consider `the _ _fw.-1.'c, when _ you w1ll be free and rxch. i an. .u.~.._-!-';.l... .............c an` R4 .-u-go `Will UC LICK; GNU 113.11. ` But then-e s'theT present 1 \through rst. C_an t you : some other way? . A T- There is `no other way. `II7_1` If ' ..-.45` 1 cumin`: s.....c cuiu.yUUl' aevlusn plans! Necessity sharpens one s .wits, and` desperate ills re'quire desperate ircxgiedies, was ,1;h e urbane rejoinder. : `Yes,Abut----.- '. /., I T `Have done with your buts! -broke out Horace in a are of pas- ision. It's but this and but that- always some infernal objection! .I `tell you this is our only chance! It s such a risk, responded Len- nard, still complaining. - ._`Oh; V011 "fh1.f(-*-\7Prnr` Anni!"--13 ' , "`You do not compgehendgglre na- ture of parental ffecnon, .s:n.c} 1-Io`r= Face`, Iofnly. A I 1 KT. .1 Ana 6- V.-... on r\`r.-.-ln,- r. 1a\.:;_, Auxsuj. :1 No '1 don t. VY0:1r-e ;deep game, I know,vb1_1t iii 1 can` fathom what It .l'\-..h. ..4.4..'......L .. 44.; `I- ucuu, auu uuxuplauung. -."Oh, you "White-livered~ cowzznll What cursed fate gave me such a son! Th'ere s no risk whatever. ;l.tS all gain, I tell you.. An.d pr;=".cntl\\ lyou l1 be able tohavel your own rac- ing stud and your yacht if gnu. choose, and` an)` other little` lu.~;)uy ou ma select. ly A-.-..ly...l........ A- -.,... ........- .--- - ~rl lanuulu IHSC l..U ISHUW. - `_ .Tha.t_--wxth a. gesture _o: digni --we.w11l speak of later. -~.\4y pt`?-s {sent anxiety is for your well-`being. ` (W14 Arse-no I noisy O`1n`-,5 O-,-xi, co-nu. --u `a\,'.u|, a:uucL_y 13 Au: _yuLu wt.:u'-uL'.|u_5. Oh come` I say, that s mg mud: to swallow! (6\7.___ .1- ..:.-.4. A A g . ....I......I .1..- --.- _yuu xuay 'aClC\.'L. ' * ` 1 ; ,A_nd .where'do you come :11. II `should lxke to know? n, _ .97 -,,-.1, *' "3-\ l I xuuucu-.. Oh ye you are`-with-your bland ,S11}`i1e and; your devilish plans! ` Ne(YFlfv chm-`nan. ,...._9- '___:A._ Lllll o ' V 66 _ oWh.t a Villain you ar! tegd. _ - " R My `dear son, my dear ! monstrated" his Vt'at'her,` in n %fended.. - ' Hm`, i "Her hangs o_n so` .a thread that even the most~.devoted attention` would hardly prolong it. Excitement is eminently bad for her. And differences of ' opinion between husband .and wife naturally and. in- evitably arise, Such diffei-ences--we ineed not dignifythem by the name I of =quarre,ls--Would naturally shorten her precarious hold on A life. So: would a damp climate, or even so lslight a negligence as. an open win- id Twgn at chil1y_even1ng.. l luvvv-Q1] 4 1 L_enhard Vchaxr. 66\lYi %l'le s;e % e~p.M $9,490,000` . 7`":Halifx. vN$S.- Office,`. -` `Toronto. 4 .5u5uu.c'a.5` an open w1n-' ch1lly evemngf , ' _ moved uneasily on hzs villain you arlf he. mut- ' anriuall)? .s;ibmifted tb, dif : 3? ideci' half yearly. .--_- o---v;.\.u\.VD"' C fy`them Juld on even, _so| P11:-A as an A-A * A it"s -Lsettied the ` way- 1 _must, I SUP`/I pla;.'In,: a I'm llzungul 1! ' u no to be got think of Il\ ruuoq`L l\ son, re- r+';_ _m7`yIl:{e.;v "l--`(.iarl_1'i"g, I $;. t11:.'so~Ag1ad to ' se'e' you.f .'virhxsp_e_red',`.,t*he young man ' fagihey` .Tsto0d`~1`og gthe1`. 4. T - .: A cues: - chad-1v - -A ...`...I V to becoming his wife. EIGVUC `_`:1:h" vile, hellish plot" was. clear to her mental view. How was` she to baulk. it? She was so feeble, so weak. And they were so strlpng. and `vigorous. She might refuse _to merry Lennard,` but they would cer- tamly _nd A way of coercing her in- vuvna 11561:-`...' '..:.'..JI-__ "'``| V (I5 INC D$.UV\l )L\lCI.llC'lo ." _ - _ .-"She smxled up into_'th and '`was` gabout '_to say something in re- ~s'ponse when a} woman` hastily `des- cendgd_ Vfron} the next compartment \tb the one 1n"which,shc,ha.d tra_v?e1-" "led.`and.'93`d = V J. .5 }`A? /l`h er g s. `someon il1,w.in.. ghere, fqshxng past, :wa`sI- .1os_t~ in` J the rcfojw ,. ".4 " . - _ 1 x-:;` '>.~j_, D1-,%f Wm-de= s- professaonal instinct %-%on.=fm;,`a1ert` dirdlm `%i*dT" h' let 80 5.f.;v.i- 1_iiS:% `T l'*?nl5*?`1i511. .8' . ` Wid `Jun aw%'#hi=:~*>rn%`%Td6s;% In .th ` Iuwun .uu.u_aucuu,- bU 1uucn' strain `was to be put upon it and then- vhen collapse came, the uncomely thing was to be hidden away in an ear] rave. . '!`{1g..:I..- :....n:.:_ ._1_. T , - Lu u\.\..uuuu5 ula WHC. `She ,was utterly `ft-iendless. The `old `retainers had `been. "replaced by` new servants. `Shou_ld'she `se`ek aid from them, conde m them, she di- lvineld her uncle w'oulcl smilinglly ex- lplain" that she was hysterical, and suffexfedl from delusions and hallu- cin`at;ons_. ` ` ` ' AAI, , `.1 1-18` u. `.At` length with diFculty.she tfais-l ed:.herse1f tdher knees and prayed`1 that-~~her Heavenly Father would i1 - luminate the way which now `seem- ed `sd _dark, that `He would aid and succour one in Tsorei distress.___ l 1 .cIgap;*er In. 4 I , - The` 4.40 _exp.r.ess from the .West was ve .mmut.es "overdue It Pad- dington, and Dr`. Warde, who was awaiting " its arrival, _ ' was bcoming arixious. H . . \ At. length the L renewed . acvtivity of the porters heralded its -imminent arrival`, and in axgother moment. he was eagerly scahning each compa.rt.-' men: as it swept along. Then his ,glar_|c `ya A calfght; ,by.:'a.-.~hand!rg-wav-_. -'ing- "t .a_n`d`a3 in; a11',in stargt He was across. the ~a'pla;t"f'o'rnt;`* 1 W"ad .OP!ied `a. scarriage door, and,.wa_.s Ahe1pin_g- the :owner_of the.han,d`.to alight. ` C`|..u-mm. 5...-.~m'.x.'s. 4.I'. ..a .`..,7?.\`L'.`&|u.. ._:._'1 .IJVVll\vl U1 I-IIC rlIGll_\I~ LU Gllslllo She` not =e_xagt1y- 9; pygmy gm, but he_I.`.7 f_ae 4 ;(e`1"y'T=`sw'eet dislposltion. ' " F ? ` `I I Dish; "1-in-n`:uu'nn 1 sign. '1-:.~ ...I-.l L- .carved balustnade, mounted the wide. \JL only IIHIILCU KIKJLYYII lllC~ 111 to the hall, and then, clinging to the shallow stairs,'and- so at length. gained. her room. ' -Such `a pretty room,- too, replete with comfort, bright with owers, and overlooking a wide terrace, beautiful ` gardens,` 3. well-timbered park. , p , And the. poor little owner of house and gardens and park threw herself prone on the oor with a moan of heart-broken despair. What availed. land and money? They were, in fact, temptations to 'the unscrupul- ous. Her puny .f1-lame , was _ merely an obstacle `that rnusf be got rid of as quickly as `possible. It would not bear much i strain; 50. muchi strain urn: fn H}: 11:14 n\r\n- .----I ALA ' JUL auppurl. 'Bhus she heard the ensuing eon- versation.- Sometimes "a word or sentence was inaudible, but most of the cold, brutal suggestions` reached her. Now and again a long shudder wentthrough her, now and again faintness. threatened her. But she stilled `her quaking esh? she con- quered the numbness of brain. For all her fragility she possessed co-n- siderable powers of resolution and pertinacious endurance. 'I`i.... -,......I A: W v I ' g 0 ~ . pcrtxnacious endurance. The soundvofa `chair being push- ed back at length startled her, and with all the speed she. wasfcapable `of she hurried down the. passage in- Zlnfl fhlbli kt`l;9`\rr1u-nrv `A `LA uuu. -taapulg. _. - She stood _transxed, quite incap- able of moving `away. it-Ier limbs and body shook to such an extent `she was obliged to -lean against the wall for support. 'f?.'nuo cl... I........-1 L'-A , ' ' "She shivered a little zasshe walk- e_d-slowly towards th house. Mio- tion was"-al"vvaysi an e_xertion toher, and to-_day she felt strangely `depres- \ Sed, as though some impending .cal- amity had cast its'shadow over her. She entered the house through a side passage, Just within' this pas- sage wasthe door` of a room which her.uncle had appropriated for his private use, It was a spacious apartment, with another door open- ing iuto the big entrance hall. Editha paused to take breath _when she reached the passage, and at this moment her cousin"s horried ex- `clamation of Mary Editha! 1! No, lindeed, fell upon her ears. ` Qt The doovg had not been -quite clos-| ed, and Lennard s voice was high and -rasping. of-An,` L.-----cV----` A uuaucu mossorns,aDout her.`. - I -uuyIuu5- }r.1en(lS,0I` ner own age; `,On his sumnyer day, ,when Hm- Vace "and his "son `were so` ebolly dis- cussing her,.she had betaken herself to the rosegarden, and there sat basking in the sunshine. , Warmth was life_ to her, `for she` was - like some fragile blossom thatwithers at the first "touch of cold. V , .' `By-and-bye the lengthening shad- ,.0_ws_ warned her _it would b_e well to gofin, and,the warning was emphas- ised byla t_i A hrecfze that, springing up, swayedii and fro .the heavy- headed blossoms _about her. Sh`! eh`.`,QI'AA .. 1::.;.l_ -- -L " avillg Lennard, after a while, tooknp his ,ab_0 at fhe "Hall also. She did not partieulary `care for him, deeming him boorish and rather stupid.` Still she "tolerated him i . ` `In spite of her rich possessions she was an objectworthy of pity: For, save t ese two men, she was without kith roar `kin, while her -poor health-had prevented her from at- tending Lyouthful gatherings, and so making riendsof her age." f]'|;c cunn--n- l"--- "` ' 2 a Y --.......,.a,. crept mto {net 1 tspeeqlxly " developed mto fear. ` - .,