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Bm SBC BI by Couritess Bargynskd Author of 'ROSE O' THE SEA" CHAPTER XIV--Continued . Virginie took in-the profusion of flowers, he room was gay with them. They stood in vases and bowls on 'the tables, on the mantel- piece, on the window-gills' --- cheap flowers, and, to her taste, far too many, They made her think of an overgrown rustic garden, "No, but I arrange them all my- self," was the reply, made with pride. "I have bought thtm for ¢ surprise for Merveen, He do so much for me, and all night .long 1, have think about it so much that my heart become bigger and bigger, with gratitude, In the morning, there fore, I rise and go buy flowers ir the market garden where they are so plentiful and fresh. 1 'ad.three shil- lings only, but a kind man gave me all that my arms would hold because I tell him that I wish to buy for 2 love-gift. Also I have hrought some cabbages with good 'earts, because one cannot purchase the like in the shops. Feel for yourself, madame, 'ow firm and 'ow fresh!" Bhe dived underneath her and produced her cabhages. Virginia Grew bvack. The vege- tables disgusted her. She resented thelr introduction into a daintly fur- nished; expensively carpeted draw- ing-room, even though it was not hers. It was more than an anomaly; it 'was a gross indignity. "Mr, Carter will be horrified at your bringing vegetables in here. It is perfectly outrageous of you to lay them on an-antique Persian earpet worth hundreds of pounds!" "It is very likely," admitted Jack- je.. The price of the carpet seemed to 'her an extraneous matter. She did not reproach herself with depos- iting the cabbages upon it. The cabbages were quite clean. What harm could they possibly do to a carpet? She could not understand the strange lady's objection. "My m'sieur has great wealth," she ad- ded in order to reassure her, but on- ly succeeded im instilling Virgima with the belief that she had a pos- sessive interest in both, "I am the little friend of M'sieur Merveen," she proceeded blandly. "I do not think he would be angry at what I do. Certainly he will not have anger because I have made him a small present of flowers and cab: bages." She regarded Virginia thoughtfully. "I do not think that vou can know him very well. Per- haps you do not love him so much as I do." Virginia feit that she had heard quite emough of that obsolete and unnecessary word "love" to-day. Irene had used it. Even Marlbury had referred to it. Now here on this French girl's lips. It annoyed her exceedingly. "Kt is most unbecoming of a girl of your age to talk about love," she said severely. "As it happens I have knewn Mr. Carter all my life." The admission aroused Jackie's interest. It did nét yet occur to her that this elegant lady might be a re- lation of her m'sieur's. She could de- * tect mo resemblance to him. But there was a better reason; the want of a link of sympathy between her- self and the other. Had there been one she would have seized on it. She 'would have revered any lifelon: friend of his: she would have been ready to lavish love on his most dis- tant relative; it would have been induced by her adoration for him. However, she was quite ready tc talk about him by the hour if neces- sary, to extol his virtues and to hear them extolled. She was neither old enough nor experienced encugh to want to hide her hero worship, "And L" she returned, "have on- ly know him for three days. He is to me what we say in French, a great bienfaiteur. He makes me many benefices -- much more than I would wish to take. He will have Audagna, the great ballet-master, to teach. me dancing. [Is not that mag- nificent?* "Perfectly idiotic," was Virginia's A chair mward reply. Mervyn must be fatuated with the girl. you not still dancing-to an organ?" she enquired in a chilly voice. At this Jackie looked slightly sur prised. '""Has Merveen spoke to you me, then?" she asked in turn. "Oh, dear, no! Not at all!" Vir. ginia had no intention of letting her think that she was of sufficient im. portance in Mervyn's eyes to merit discussion with a third person, her. self least of any, To suppress the truth was therefore hoth . necessary :nd politic. "I. asked becanse 1 saw you dancing outside my house the other day." "I think I see you at the window ilso. You do not look as if youn en- fay it. But per'aps you 'ave not the zay disposition. Tl y a des gens guel- 1uefois qni manquent ca." The tone » commiseration incensed Virginia. Jackie folded her, hands with divine :ontentment. "But praise to the Saints and Merveen 1 shall not he o! >bliged to dance any more in the streets for penmies!" Virginia tried to think of some- 'hing very cutting. The appropriate words wonld not come. She was too upset. All this while she had been standing and Jackie sitting. It put her at a disadvantage. Al she found herself able to say was: "You seem a very scheming young person." "What is that word -- skeem ing?" Jackie demanded. : Virginia gave vent to an irasecible ejaculation. "I think you under- stand it well enough! You intend to get on by the help of other people." Jackie turned the unfriendly words over in an impartial way. "But yes, it may be. I wish my- self to help others continually, why should not others desire to help me?" "Would you help Mr. Carter?" "Ah, more tham all!" the reply for Virginia to doubt it. "Shall I tell you how you ean help him best?" "Oh" -- Jackie leant forward -- "but if you would have the good- ness!" "Not by giving him said Virginia slowly. "Rather taking something away." way. "I mean, by giving taking yourself away. pear to understand. must explain. It's very How old are you?" "Sixteen -- seventeen. I am mol sure." "Then you ought to understand if you were -- gentil -- a lady, that 5 -- "But surely I am feminine!" "Of course you're feminine[™ ried Virginia impatiently. "But it's not the same thing. Quite different. in faet." "And you? Yom are a lady, but not Ho HE 7 id Jackie's tone was that of anxious for information. "Of course I am. I mean, I'm both." Vigginia felt her face get- ting hot. tieman. He has a position te keep up. He has wealth and education. He moves in the highest society. Now I've told you that, surely you have sense enough to see you are compromising him and that his friends and relations will be irrevoc- ably alienated -- "Ah! Qu'estce gre cela signifie --oes mots la?" In Ler incompre- hension of the strange words Jackie od joy know she was speaking "Estranged--set against him. They will have nothing more to do with him if he associates--is mixed up with---a girl like yourself" "Is that the truth you speak, Ma- dame?" "The absolute truth" Jackie looked her up and down-- dowm and up. A few minutes ago her feelings towands the stramge lady had mot beem unfriendly. She asd been so eager to learn from this "elegante" how she could v her attachment, her love, watitude to her ill her instinets told rounsel she was giving had its 'mn some venom whose metice sould pot fathom. It was all against the dictates of love and fri and it was wrong--all wrong. nation seethed within her, m up. By 'ou don't ap- I suppose I irritating a person a 3 - =& iF : | ; the m she kept the lid rising y wrath. : i Spars foe would tell jure him my friendship?" & enquired. "Am 1 cd it sounded like a challenge. Vir- ginia had not the tion, : u | 1 ) . i H | i ; i : i i ; i g in- She mut | put a stop to that if she could. "Are 80 | There was too much sincerity im; anything." by Jackie's eyes widened in a puzzled | "And Mr. Carter is a gen-| ~~ - , . 1] OSHAWA, ONTARIO, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1922 er ---- igh you, madame. I do mot now elisve that you are a friend f my Mefveen. Iw Say you are an enemy. \I would say you are a bad woman with the tongue to sting. a 11? a * The tirade, so unexpected, took Vigginia's breath away. Such yeh- gence and Gallic ire overwhelmed her. "You are an atrociously rude girl" she exclaimed when she could Speak. 'Are you aware that you are speaking to the Countess of Marl. bury?" 'aie This statement has as little effect on Jackle as the name and value of Maryyn's earpet. Moreover, itstruck her as an exhibition of snobbery, To indicate how little she thought of it her shoulders made an attempt to rogeh the ceiling. N "1 care nothing for countesses, mol!" she, eried derisively. "It is Sully usable I may hecome a coun- | tess myself one day. Will you have the goodness to leave me to wait for Merveen or it is likely that 1 shall forget myself and throw these cah- bages at you." By the look of her, Virginia thought it extremely likely. She be- gan a discreet retirement. "I do not intend remaining," she sald haughtily. 'I have bee nsufi- ciently insulted in my brother's hose already." She turned to go. The color, that had flamed into Jackie's cheeks faded out of them. "Your brother! 1s it possible that you are the sister of Merveen? Oh, madame, I ask pardon! For- give me! She sprang aeross the room, and before Virginia could guess her in- tention she had flung her arms round her arid kissed her effusively on hoth checks. Physically as well as men- tally Virginia was staggered by the affectionate onslaught. Far from being placated by it she felt outrag- 'yourself away od, Bhe retreated to the door with her hand out to ward oft any pos- sible repetition of such odious at- tentions. "You herrd creature! How dare you kiss me!" she-cried. "The fact 'that Mr, Carter is my brother is the very reason why I deplore his asse- clation with a person like yourself. It has been a dreadful experience to encounter youat all. It shall not ocenr again, 1 assure yon!" Jackit watehed her go. Her hos om was heaving, her breath coming at a great rate, She felt bursting with emotion, near to a tempest of tears. She was in an agony of re- 'morse at having heen rude to her m'gieur"s own sijter. She could think of nothing but that, Her con- duct was inexcusable. She over- looked the mitigati cireumstanece of Virginia's slightifg attitude to- wards herself, Virginia's words came back to hbr. It was almost as though she heard-them spoken: » "By giving him ' his friends and relations will become estranged set against him " That meant she disgraced him. She was filled with humility and dire regret. Of course it was the truth . . . . Who was she to he the little friend of this dear, wonderful m'sieur, this gentleman of position? She might talk of her star, have faith in her future, but after all madame la eomtesse was right. She was a person of no distinction or significance--a gutter-snipe-- une gavroche! She caught sight of herself in a full-length mirror at the far end of the room. It reflected the bheauti- ful furniture, the pictures, the many adjuncts of splendor and comfort. And it reflected hersélf, in her own eyes, the one jarring note within the four walls, Big tears welled into her eyes. A great sob shook her. A frenzy to up---by taking | Bhe despised herself for her ignor- o efface herself, took hold of abl, ne rushed to the door, trip. ping over a cabbage on her way (ah. bages for her Merveen! NOW ghp could see the well-meant but incon- | gruous gift with Virginia's eyes! a em me ere mm-------- bur & Feed | Some lines of Feeds are getting scarce. Just at present we offer pure Corn Chop and also pure Corn and Oat Chop at $30.00 per ton. These are made from choice American Corn and Western Oats, Let us know your requirements. Potatoes and Sugar are both lower in price today. We guarantee the quality and make quick delivery, * Use crushed Rock Salt on the icy walk and avoid accidents. Phowe your order to us. F lour and Cereals are clso specialties with us, . Try our ines. 2 ' : AR . She must have been loquec gu cabbages to her King. she picked them up, and regardless of pagsers-hy. dropped them out of the window, The flowers could remain as 'a slient expression of the adora- tion she was not worthy to lavish upon him--=he whose friendship wonld deprive him of his friends and relatiops! She would starve Jather than do that! "C'eny fini done," she said to her. self miserably. The conviction that this Meant good-bye, a voluntary renunclatio of the being whom she revered highly, was almost teo much for her, How could she go without a word It was inp- of farewell, of thanks? ble! Pe sat down at the writing table, found pe mand paper, and wrote through a blinding mist of tears: | Merveen, | 1 call yon this no more. | say! adien, Do mot I emtreat yon oo: to see me because | cannot hear ih;t on account of myself your friends shall be deprive. From your sister you will hear how [ have make the | terrible fault and insult her. Pardon me Merveen that I have done this | It trouble me. Not :n any way bave | I deserve the great kindness that! I have receive from you. My heart | ie full of sadness. It was a mis take for you that we should rep. | counter again. -- Je vous remercie mille fois A | tonps plaisir et de la voie de vous avoir|,. ig connn, et- meme guand je seraf | vielle, prierai a Dien de vous benir. hv Mon etoil e brille plus. Jackie A huge™blot combined of ink and | TRELLIS COOPER-SNTH Company Phone 8 ' 16 Celine St. Just South of Post Office E ne R goupleted the letter. Wd ! TRUE AT THAT aside the pen, and, wi the Father--Why is it that you are nearcst approah " €6° a "bredking | a1wavs at the hottom of the elags? ['beart that volatile youth can know, i , : | etiaced herself--as she firmly be Johnny--It doesn t make any dif- [lieved and intended---for ever. ference, father. They teach the same | . things at both ends.--Harper"s Mag- TO BE CONTINUED | azine. ' { | | \ | |] i | | I | | | | i | { | i | { . - { | | | 7 cooking more water may be added. $ | Pure Rich Milk--with Part of te Water Removed | THAT'S Carnation Milk. Simply pure, fresh milk evapo A and STERILIZED. Nothing is added. No preservatives are usei. Only part of the water is removed. For creaming tea, coffee or cereals--or for whipping, Carnation Mili is delicious as it comes from the con- tainer. 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