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Mm Ly! thought Bélturbet, of it. "Very 2". he y tell you when the date is:fized and it understood you will. come?' Dulcie nodded and smiled. . 1 be the shabbiest sople | "We shall there," she declared, and looked y at him, evidently 'expecting & compliment, but Belturbet m no effort to produce one. "What ao clothes matter?" he eaid, "I am infinitely happier in old clothes than new. "I'm not!" retorted Dulcie. "I love new and pretty things, and--" , "Duloie, we ought to be going home," in- sister. ! Rather unwillingly Dulcie rose from the ground and eaid good-bye to Belturbet, "Thank you so much for saying we may come here," said Primrose, a8 her eyes arain met Belturbet's for a little longer than wae absolutely 'necessary, 2 curious idea struck her. "1 don't believe he approves of us," she thought. "Perhaps he looks upon our pre- sence here ae a breach of the proprieties, and thinks we ought to know better." "8he is going to play her game very earefully--quietly, but in deadly earnest," reflected Belturbet. 'Look: out, Arthur, my boy! If you had not known what you know, you should have eworn the gray- eyed young woman was the least design- ing of her sex." He walked back to Old House somewhat depressed. Duloie wae in the highést epirits and alked rapidly as they hurried back to lue Posts. Tea was at five o'clock, and if they were late, the remarks of Mr. Oarwardine would not be pleasant to hear, "What do you think of him?" she ask ed. "Of course, he is not the least bit good-looking. but then he is very tall ir] he does stoop." "He is very tall," agreed Primrose thoughtfully, but she did not give her opinion as to Arthur Belturbet's lookd, and Dulcie was too excited to notice her sister's silence, S "He is not a bit my ideal in appear- ance," she went on, "but I would marry him if he were as ugly as--as father!" "Oh, Dulcie!" exclaimed Primrose, laughing. "Do wait and eee if he is going to ask youl" "He will aek me. all right. All'lI want you to do is to keep quiét and just back me up' when occasion requires." "But suppose you don't see him again." "I tell you he will be in the woods to- morrow," replied Dulcle. He was, and the following afternoon, as the sisters were meandering idly along the moesgrown path, they came face to face with him, ' 'The garden-party ie fixed for to-day month," he said ~romptly. "Really?" asked Dulcie eagerly. "Really and truly on the twenty-eighth of July," he answered." "Will you do me the honor of being present?" He looked at the sisters in turn. We will!" said Dulcie unhesitatingly. "Do tell us all about it, and who 'will be there!" ; "Shall we eit down?' he suggested. They 'seated themselves on: the trunk of an old tree, Duicie sitting next to Bel: turbet, with Primrose farthest away. "It will be a sort of omnium gatherum. In other words, 1 have invited everybody for miles 'around, and as I really don't mind in the least if they come or not, 1 shall not be elated at the acceptance or hurt at the refusals. I have sent an in. vitation to Mr. Carwardine, by the way." ase will refuse," Dulcie declared cheer: ully. "Phere will be tennis, croquet, and arehs ery," went on the young man. "It won't be very exciting, I'm afraid." "For us it will be intensely exciting," said Dulcie. Belturbet glanced at Primrose. Miss Gray-Eyes wae certainly not very talka- tive, but, no doubt, like the owl in tale, she thought the more, and under cloak of silence, heaven alone knew what webs she was. trying to weave! Primrose's meditations, however, were not at all what he imagined. "Perhaps he will fall in love with Dul. cie," ehe thought. "He seems to like lis- tening to her, and he certainly does. not seem anxious to talk to me. I will do as Dulcie suggested, and just keep quiet. It would, of course, be splendid if he did fall {n love with her." A curious little pain distressed her for which she could not account. As Dulcie and -Belturbet chatted gaily, she listen. sd, her gray eyes Jooking straight before her; until the man, piqued by her silence, r er. "Do you play tennis, Miss Carwardine?" he asked. "Yes," replied Primrose simply. "Then we muet arrange some sets," sald Belturbet. "My friend, Jim Herriolt, and his sister who is going to act as hostess for me, are coming to-morrow, aid they are both very keen players. Ap there are only three of us, I hope you and Mies Duicie will' be kind enough to help use make up eome gets." "We shall like it!" said Dulcie, "sha'n't we, Primrose?" "Yes, it. will be very nice," assented]. Primrose. evenly. "Does not want to eeem in the. least eager,' decided Belturbet. "I must admit ou are opening the game very cautious. y, my lady, and I am beginning to feel interested as to what your next move will While he talked to Dulce, who sparkled and laughed in the most artléss manner possible, he kept, as it were, an. inner eye on Primrose, n a man has the firm belief that a certain lady means to en- trap him, and her preliminary operations leave him in doubt:ae to the course by which 'she proposes to achieve the deair- od end, he would not be human if he did not, feel slightly curious. oo TR and sure ie her motto," he re flected, and at that moment he looked at aan rate. e e turn el 0! you do if I did?" asked Jie ana. "You couldn't' kill . t i to 4 most 1 ts. 1 must give her credit for not. he the Tair. She has Sertainly nob me more than twice since I made her acquaintance.' Primrose's gaze met hie undisturbed. | "I believe," ghe said, "it 18 going 10 As she spoke a few drops beg an to fall, and lets ave a Tittle scream: 4 # I do!" she cried, the is over, "Quick, before the rain is on us!" - The tree trunk on which they eat was in a clearing of the wood, so they hurried. I Sot w , ran to a etl oak, and hud- against its rank By standing very close J] the violence of the sudden rose com est i compass, stood at PrimEooes side, tall and protect. ve » x go and fetch an umbrella for © you, said. "Pleage don't!" begged Dulcie, who did | th not want to lose a minute of his company, "The rain is too violent to last very long, and then. Primrose and I 'can run e. Our clothes are so old that nothing can hurt them." "But the hat?" he asked, looking at the little white etraw hat around wh Dul- cie had wound a wreath of forget-me-nots. "I oan tie my handkerchief over it, and then it won't be oT "Don't you wear a hat, Miss Carwar- dine," inquired Belturbet, hie eyes on the |W girl's bright hair. Primrose shrugged her shoulders. . "Tt is such a waste of time," shé replied. "In tho summer in the woods one does not need a hat." "You certainly bave an excellent ex- duee," he said. ° . : "Is that a compliment?' asked Prim. rose, 'with a low sweet laugh, Belturbet laughed, too, and changed the subject. . "Ag my friends, the Herriotte, are com- ing to-morrow," hé eaid, "why waste time in conventionalities? May I bring them here to make your acquaintance?' "If yon care to risk it," answered Prim- rose, "But perhaps Mies Herriott will not be anxious to know us"when you tell her who we are, and how you met us." "Mise Herriott will be delighted to meet you," eaid Belturbet. "She is an artist-- Bohemian at heart, and laughs at the proprieties." "That gounds delightful," eaid Dulcie, anxious 'to keep the conversation in her own hands. "I should loge to know her.' "Then you shall,' he said turning to the piquant. smiling face that gazed at him with euch friendliness. 'I shall bring them here the day after to-morrow in the afternoon, and perhape if it is fine we might have a picnic tea." 4 "1 adore pienice!" declared Dulcie. "S80 do I," responded Belturbet., "The rain has stopped," eaid Primrose prosaically. 'Dulcie, . we must hurry home before there is another storm." She looked anxiously at the lowering sky with its maeees of dark clouds. Belturbet accompanied them to the edge of the wood and, watched their slender, hurrying figures until. they were out of eight. When they reached a bend in the path, Dulcie 'turned and waved a good: bye to him, and he waved his cap in re- turn; "A nies little thing," he thought, "and exceedingly pretty; but Miss Gray-Eyes interests me the most. When I have raeped her plan of campaign, then the un will bein. But who would have thought a quiet, rather ehy little girl'-- both Primrose and Dulcie, in epite of her five feet six inches, seemed little to him-- "would have formed such a desperate plot against my peace of mind. I suppose it is a case of 'still waters run deep.' Ah, well, 1 shall not. be bored down hete, for a time, and tramped home through the dripping weode with a contented ex- pression on his face. Duloie and Primrose hurried along as fast as they could. "Jen't it splendid?" said Dulcie glee: fully. "Everything promises well. Prim, you will see fie the mistress of Old House yet!" £3 J "You are very foolish," replied Pritarose, without any eneouragement in her tone. "1 am quite sure Mr. Belturbet only lpoks apo ue ae a couple of nonentities, out of whom perhaps as he knowe no one the place, he iy get a little amusement." "Oh, nonsense! You know quite well, that we are @ bi good he--only he has money and we what his friende will be like. TI do hope it will be fine for the picnic." As they entered the garden gate at Blue Poste, fr hich the front door was vis. under reath: she murmured. "Now 'we are in for "1 'don't care!" said Dulcie defiantly. She hastened her pace until she reach- ed the front door, on the threshold of which stood an elderly man, short, white- haired, ¢lean-shaven, with cold blue eyes and very thin lips ! "Where have yon been?' he asked, bar- ring the way. ¢ + "For a walk along the Btalstead road, where we were caught in the rain, an. gwered Dulcie untruthfully. 'Please let me paes, father. I am wet and 'must © e my olothes." ri "Wipe your shoes firet," Mr. Carwardine ordered. 'You will have no more shoes from me this year, 80 you had better take care of those you have.' A "T dare say I can make a pair of san- dale," replied Dulcie. "Some of the leath- er covers. of thoge old books in-the library would do_ spl for the soles. Her father tu pale. d oun touch one of my books," he said, regret it--pain (5 ab. Duigle 15 wo 9 ie This i ourselves, T ; aTFy Arthur and get away from hateful Her tone was passionate, and . shook as she tossed aside her d drees, and put on an old serge 8 white blouse, § £1 x ae 43 @ome pale blue ribbon - for belt. Are.you sure we haven't Trim P There 18.3 Jom . Jove) fey eepence 4 n the v. ne "I haven't a farthing in the world," wae e reply. ER "I have a very great mind to také some those old books that are in the attic and sell them," said Duleie. =~ "Oh, please don't do anything kind!" oried Primrose, with ala father missed any of his books, our lives | gd here would be. unendurable." | Dulcie made no rejoinder. JAX Me occurred to her, and ae it on 'réquired some 'thinking out, her was etill while her brain was ork. CHAPTER TIL : Arthur. Belturbet and the Herriotth sa on the terrace Old House wait! for ihe sound of the gong to summon them luncheon. as "You are a lucky beggar, Art Te marked Jim Herriott. "Bix months ago you were penniless and worklees, like me, and now you are rolling, literally rolling, in wealth, and the world is 'all bi you Where to choose, as somebody or other said." 1 Herriott laughed. He was as tall as Belturbet, but carried himself better, Hie hair was decidedly red, hig shrewd eyes were brown, and a'reddish-brown mous. tache hid a firm-lipped but generally smil- ing mouth. : "Luck is. an odd thing," said Beltur- bet. "I meyer for. one moment imagined that 1 should ever own all this. Even now I cannot realiee that I have as much money ae I can spend, Honestly, 1 do not feel a bit happier." "I should {i were in your riott declared, with a chuckle. body or other would die and leave ] pa and me a fortune, we should feel traordinarily happy, shouldn't wel He looked at his eister, who rel a lounge chair. a ehould," was her decided reply. "But no one ie likely to do that, so we ghall have to continue to be as happy as possible in our little flat at Kensington.' Philippa Herriott smiled at her brother 8 friend as she spoke, and her emile was very honeyed. Like' her brother, he wae tal. 'She had hair of brightest chestnut, and her features were large and regular, and beneath well-marked "eyebrows two big brown eyes looked appraisingly at the world, Chestnut hair, brown eyes, a white 4 gkin, very red 1ips, and a fine figure Philippa Herriott noticeable wherever she went. - She ore a drees of palest 'pink linen, madé" hy herself, very simply and plainly, yet cut in the correct fashion of the moment. Both men were aware that Philippa's dresses, hats, and shoes were of the Jind, yor by women of fashion, and also that she and trimmed the hate herself. Philippa was olever, She was an artist, and al though no genius, always managed to have plenty of work to do, and by it earns ed a respectable income. Her brother, aleo, wag clever. He was to be an engineer, and spent | moet of his time in a workshop at the back of his offices. He was responsible for various inventions, some of which he ut the majority of which had limbo. He managed to main- i all flat at Kensington, where the brother and eister lived. They were friends, selgomn + at Srass-purposes, un. derstanding each other well. Herriot Aa known = Arthur Belturbet for many years, and wae the firet to hear of his good fortune. When Belturbet wrote to him, and begged him to bring his sister to House, and help with a gar den-party, the invitation 'was with delight. de ee. because he liked Belturbet, [-- 4d Philippa because she had nothing to hoop her to on' in July, and was feels ing a little 2 " Mt wae twenty-six and his sister two years his junior. She did not know 'Bel: turbet very ;- because sho had encouraged any 'of Jim's friends to come to the flat, having an' em: jently practical mind; but 'the owner Old Houee was a very different pers ity from a penniless Datvieter, 2nd o pa. meant to 'turn hie friendabip i to the best possible account. ; She had. listened with interest whilg he related now he had met the two Oarwar: dine girls, and had proféssed to be charm: ed at the idea of making: their acquaint ange. Wh like?" inquired Herriot. Belturbet labored hard to describe He, but utterly failed to seatiefy his frie Py _--but 80 cheap that everyone can afford it. 'That is why "MONTREAL " BENSON'S PREPARED CORN is so popular. It's a food for all seasons; excellent for warm weather because it is . not over-heating. : BENSON'S PREPARED CORN The housewife who keeps a package of BENSON'S PRE- PARED CORN in her pantry is never at a loss for a dainty dessert--one that can be quickly prepared in half a hundred different ways. . : Delicious with any flavoring, fresh fruit or extract. Can be served in so. many different ways that it is always new _ and refreshing. Send a postcard for a dainty little receipt book that fells how to make the many table delicacies that owe their goodness to BEN- _SON'S PREPARED CORN. ~~ + CANADA : STARCH - COMPANY = Makers of the Famous Edwardsburg Brands = CARDINAL. ~ = BRANTFORD Forage Crops For Swine. ; / Owing to 'the high prices of [sults for swine feeding. An acré|large quantity of eithoaooas potinds of ive | 1 rule is-bo. number of cows in _ eo ain to cause the hogs | ture land will to. make a daily. gain. oe 1 | fourths of a pound for ea pounds live weight, wh Where alfalfa can be grown suc-|out the summer month cessfully, there is probably no for-|ing them with both gr We. consider that th ( are kept in excellent shape th age orop that will give better re-| rations will not do > grains, the production of pork with |of alfalfa will pasture, during the | would if fed on a single rati 'grain alone is not nearly so profit-| grazing season, from ten to twenty i : ? e portant point to be. "What are the two oodland nymphy| able as it once was, It takes five [shoats. or six pounds of corn in dry lob feeding to make a pound of pork. With corn worth around 30 cents a vee, ho conclid:| bushel and hogs selling at five or med to mé to be very much remarked. Herriot, "yw six cents 3 Was gossbls to make 'money by feeding in dry lot, writes Mr. L. Wesdver: When corn i worth around 60 cents, however: i | feeding hogs ar {ally ima | 38 readily 'seen hat observed i Id the season in addition to the amount foraged off by the hogs. Red olover probably ranks alfalfa as af It will not o cuttings | and the fie) next