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A Girl's Cawtcc OK, THE RESULT OF A FANCY DRESS BALL CHAl'TKIl V. [for Kers coniiiijf. Tlu- hull-door has •Oh, Im not in the humor for i J''"'''' l'""" '' "j^'' "l^"' »"'' ,'Sv *'""" jokeB," Kujs Diaim languidly. | "'•™ "'•':-''"B«J ''7 '>•»'>â-  '""t ^^"^"^ â-  a ^ I „„ hearing his loolsU!]) on Uu! grav- '"JTint's a good thing, for I'm in solemn, .sober oarnost. Though I confess I'm perjuring myself. "S'ou know 1 loUl you I should not. ap- pear at luncheon to-day, and now I flhall': Though not as Hilary, as Bridget." "Put. it out of your head. It is i mad idea. 1 shan't even let you I """'r think of it." '^^ "Are you preiKirod to control my very thoughts then ',' 'Great is Dia- g his looiste]) on tne gi el outside is to |^o at once to tile door and greet him. "It will look Ho nice and friend- ly," said Hilary, when settling this ijuestion. Of course Hilary herself could hardlj' have done it, being on- gaged on the last touches to the luncheon table, and cook gone for and the children and their maid far away up in the wood with a little hasket of goodies all for them.selves, and Bridget, as we know na,' we all know but still I shall live miles away by this time. Diana think of this thing, in spite of you. 'sitting in thi! drawing-room, is, to ThiH stranger is coming. It is es- tell the truth, quaking. But now sential, considering all things (my ! she hears a step upon the gravel, future prospect.s principally)" with a | and as "courage mounteth with oc- little malicious grin at her sistei-, jcasion." so her spirit comes hack to "that you should put your best foot , her, and going to the open hall-door foremost, so us to make a first she receives Ker with a delight ful grand impression. But, unfortunate- smile, and leads him back to the ly your 'best foot' is deserting you room she had just quitted. .It is a for a. mere 'patter.' Bridget will pretty room, filled with sunlight and certainly go to it or else remain .sweet flowers, and a few other things here by your imperative orders, and besides, and with all the windows ly- ing wide open. "I am so sorry," says she at once. "My sister " .she falters. Really it is horrible of Hilary to place her in such a position. "Tired, no doubt â€" laid up? Not able to appear?" "Well," nervousl.v, "she hopes she may be able to appear " Diana, who has really meant only to temijorize, now seeing where her words have led her, controls with difTicully a mad desire to laugh. "Afterward'? After luncheon'? I hone so too," says Kor. "Of course I sulk and drop all the dishes. Now, I shall not sulk, aod I shall drop no dishes, and 1 have got my regi- mentals in my wardrobe upstairs." "Jim would never consent to it, and then there are cook and nurse to be considered. Do you wish to hav« your name all over the coun- try ?" "Ws for thatâ€" 1 shall send cook up to Oaklands to get us some eggs, once luncheon is nearly ready, and Ellon out with the children; "for the rest. I know I can manage it. Now, don't make a fuss, Di darling. I assure you it is belter to have me can quite understand how she feels for a parlormaid than nobody at all." "Ah, hero is Jim!" says Diana, rising and running to the window, and tapping vigorously. "Jim, come in. Come in her. I want to tell you something." She tolls him a great deal certain- ly, and Hilary tells him even more. It becomes plain to Jim that his wife is dying with fright about the wants of a parlormaid for this im- portant occasion, so naturally he throws his influence on the side of Hilaryâ€" almost unconsciously, how- ever. "He'll never know mc, Jim," cries Hilary. "My good child, that's a large .say- ing. He is going to stay in this part of the world for a month or so, Bo T o.xpect he'll get to know you one wa,v or another." "ilo won't know mc to-day, anj'- wa.v . ' ' ".Kxcept as the girl who swindled him out of two shillings last night." "tlh, Jim!" "Wellâ€" didn't .you?" "I think as you do," says Diana; "that he must meet her in a day or 80, ajid then! â€" what will happen then?" "The crack of Doom will be noth- ing to it," replies her husband sol- emnly. "I reall.v wish you would not jest about it," Kuj's his wife, who is now evidently on the verge of tears. "IJiit Diana," anxiously, from Hilary, "what are ,vou going to do at luncheon without a. .servant to at- tend table?" "I don't know," tearfully. "Well, as I told you before, J do. I know all about it. I've drilled enough parlormaids in my time to about all this. It is very good of her not to have refused me at once, even without a trial. It seems unfortu- nate that we cannot meet." Ho pau.ses. "Ves, yes," says noor Diana vag- uely. What on earth is she gohig lo sa,y next ? "The will was preposterous," says Ker. "There was something that suggested madness about it. But it appears it is all right." "You tried?" Diana tells herself she is absurd, but somehow a feeling of anger toward him rises now with- in her breast. He had tried to break the strange bond between luni and Hilary. Pray where would he lind an equal to Hilary? In her heat she has forgotten that as yet h:) has never seen Hilary. "Naturally. First tiling. When "> came back to England I went, straight to my lawyer. If the will could ho upset, â€" if the money could be divided between your sisiler and me â€" what a relief!" "To Hilary â€" certainl.v!" vci'y cokl- ly- "To both!" frankly. Ho is so entirely above-board that in spite of herself she cannot keep from smiling. He does seem honest. -And if so, and if heartwhole (ns ho had assured her last night), what a husband for Hilary ! .And now, with all her silly fooling, she will proba- bl.v destroy her one great chance. ".-Ml, you are honest ! I like that! " .says she earnestly. Then she reinemhcrs that she her- self is not very honest toward him, and her heart quails within her. "Jtr. Ker," says she suddenly, "I don't think you will be able to have any â€" any â€" talk with Hilary to-day. hut if vou will come and lunch with know how to hand round plates and ! „s again to-morrow " She tells things myself, and how to conduct j herself that wh;itevcr happens she my.self generally. 'ITie question is," j will compel Hilary to sea him severely, "will you two know how to niorrow . conduct yourselves?" '"I'his is ail open n.s|)crsion upon our manners," sa.vs Jim. "Diana, are you going to submit to it?" "Time is flying," says Hilary. "Am mji] j shan't he buck again I to attend table or not? I shan't 'Phursdav. " appear in any other character, so I may as well be of use lo you as not. And really, Ui 1 don't .sec how you are going to niunage things without Bridget. Jim, tell her 1 may do to- "You are very good," says Ker. "Hut the fact is, 1 must leave here to-morrow, for a week. 1 have some business in Dublin. I am af- until "The day of Mrs. Mclntyrc's fancy- hall?" "Yes, I hope J .shall meet your sis- tor there, at all events." "There, beyond doubt! But you it. I," laughing in a .suppressed „,,ist not bo so late as vou were la.st sort of fashion, "have sot my mind njjjht," savs Diana, trying to carry upon it. 1 want to see, " with a lit- j^ „(j „.ith a high hand and ignoring tie tilling of her nose, "what my fu-'his insiiiurtlioii. turo husband is like when he is off ! And your says "Oh. I shall be carlj- sister ?" "There is really no reason why you should nor' call her Hilary." says Mrs. ClilTord, with a faint smile, "she is youi- cousin, you know." Ker looks at her. "Yes, of course. But such n .strange cousin. A cousin who " , He stops and lughs involuntarily. his guard." "Oil! so that's your reason ClifTord. "I know .vou will forgot yourself, and call mo Diana," says her sister. "H,\'-thc-hye, what's your name to bo? " asks t'lifford, turning to Hil- ary. "Bridget, of course." "For mercy's soke, Jim, if this aw- j ..j know," .says Diann, laughing ful affair is lo be carried through, | ^^j^ iV'i.) ought l' 1 e- " don't forget that," .says Diana, who j --^y wife," Is still plainly aggrieved. j "it jg dreadful!" says Diana quick- "Nonsensc. Trie can't forgot Bnd- jy "Dreadful for both of you. But get." snys Hilary. |n, ,|| events neither of \ou are in ••'lYuc for vou. I wish to Heayon f^,), y^^ should both remember 1 could," sa.vs flilTord, who has suf- ^^^^^^ „.,,p„ ^„„ ^„^^^ j^ „ver." fcred many things nt the hands of i â- â- when wo do! " Ker liftg his brows the original liridgct, who certainly ! ^j, j, nmused "Yourâ€" I beg your docs iicft shine ns a parlormaid. Up- | p,jr,]„n_Hiiarv is, I nm afrnid, not on this ho so-c-tcrs out again inlo i anxious to talk it over. However, the gnrdcn. '* ,»ad his "Cork Con- jeven if she is too fatigued to come stitution." down lo-doy, you promise mo we • • • . • I shall nMHSt at the Mclntyrc*'?" Diana .hoving give^ in to the in- ! "Certainly she will be there," sa.\ h cvitable, rt..-t»gh with a listi grkicc Diana, bu* « littJo tai»itly. Who and many misgivings, now sits trem- could arranai. for Hilary ? She turns Wuii tn "the drawing-room, waiting , to him. "You have a ltm«; Joayo, 1 hear. I hope when your visit at the Dyson-Moores' is at an end you will come here for u little while. It would give you and Hilary an oppor- tunity of being better acciuainted â€" of " "Making up our minds?" The young man laughs light l.y. "Thank .vou very niucb. I shall lie delighted to give Miss lluiroughs the chance of .seeing how " "Yes," Ka.^ s Diana. She leans for- ward. 'How charming 1 am." At this tlie.v both laugh. Here, lo Diana's great relief, the door opens, ami ClilTord enteiR the room. He shakes hands cordially with Kor, and in a little informal fashion tells his wife that luncheon is lead.v. Hilary tent him in to break the ice. A moment later the gong sounds. Hilary has beaten a wild tattoo upon it and then rushed back to her place at the head of the table, where Diana will sit behind the cold roi\st beet ! CHAPTER VI. It is not until Ker has finished his salmon that, looking up suddenly, ho finds his e\os mot by those of the parlormaid. Her eyes are quickly withdrawn, slie is handing round the cold roast beef now. but his remain on herâ€" moving as she moves. Where on earth has he seen her before ? That he has soon her before lie is positive, but where ? He is also quite sure that when first he did see her, he did not realize that she was â€" was What is she? Beauti- ful ! Is beautiful the word? Ho is obliged to take his eyes off her now, as she has como round and ifj standing almost behind his hack. "Potato, sir?" Ker gives a lilllo start. Her voice so low, almost as beautiful us hor- .solf! "Thank you," snys ho. He feels as if ho is apologizing to lier for the trouble she is giving herself on his account. Then .suddenly he pulls him.self together and turns to Diana. ""I .see T am not to have the pleas- ure of M cing your sister," says he with a slight smile. "'No. 1 am so sorry," says Diana her eyes on her plate. "'I hope I haven't frightened her away," says Ker; he now addresses him.self to Clifford. "Vou couldn't!" says Clifford. ""Nobody could frighten her ! I've often tried â€" and failed; the mustard, Bridget. She's strong. Very strong." "Ah!" says Ker. Diana, casts an indignant glance at her husband, but ClilTord continues his repast with all the air of a saint. "I thought per- haps 1 was the cause of her slaying away from luncheon." ""She never stays awn.v from lunch- eon. She is at it now," says Clif- ford impcrturbubly. "â- Oh, I .see!" Kcr's tono. however, is a little vague. "She is fatigued no doubt after last night's dunce, and is still upstairs." "Is she, l)i? I'm not quilo sure. I (piite thought I saw her a moment "go-" Hilarj- is at this instant standing just behind him at the sidebouid. "The fact is," says Diana, turning her delighUul face that has now a VQvy pink Hush upon it to Ker. "that Hilary fcelS' â€" a little nervous about â€" about- â€" " she falters and bicuks down ignoniiniously. "I know, " sa.\ s Ker kindl.y. "I," laughing a little, "feel rather like that myself. And, of course, a girl It was a scandalous will. She hates to see me, and I â€" well, I don't hate to SCO her. of courseâ€" but 1 am afraid it seems iiuite impossible that wc should over "like oiio another." That touch of Clirtords about the "strength" of his future wile has modified still fui-ther his weak desire lo see the wife chosen for him by his dead aunt. "She is taking a little walk, 1 dare say?" "Just a stroll," says Clifford, gny- ly. ".A mere hint at a walk! About as far as round this table once or twice. She likes short walks. She pleasantly, "is an awfully ln/,y girl." Here there is a clatter of the spoons and fyirks on the sideboard. "I don't think Hilary lazy," .suys Diana (|uickl\-. What on earth does Jim moan by prejudicing this most <losirablo parti against Hihiiy ! Hoal- ly. one cnn carry n joke too far! ' "\'c!;?" says Ker. Ho lifts his brows politely. It is plain to Diana that ho ii; already extremely preju- diced against her sislorl "1 am so glad to hoar 1 have not intertored with her in any wa,\-. I was afraid that porhnpH .she was avoitling nieâ€" " "On the conlrarv. my dear fellow. I heard her o.xpress a (U-l enninatioii to .see you at once, at all hazariis. Nothing it seemed would " "Spinach, sir!" Rn.\s Hilary at his elbow, lit thin moment, in an awful tone. Ker looks up at her. Was that the .soft, low voice that had offered him potatoes? "No, tliunk you. Maria!" .says Clif- ford, genially. SensatioB '. Poor Diana's eyes once more seek her plate. Maria! Who is Maria 7 And ho had been so warned about that "Bridget"! As for llilarj-, she hns retreated to the sideboard, iind is standing there, her back turned to the room. Diana, glancing ner- vously toward her. is disgusted to noa that she is shaking with hnigh- ter. Ker is growing confused. He too hns heard the Inter appellation, hut. surelj-. Clifford had called this stnwi- gely "lovely maid Bridget only five minutes ago'.' He has hardly lime, however, to wonder at this thing. when the "'maid " hor.self is beside htm. I "Claret, sir?" I "Have a bottle of ale, Kor?" suys Clifford, hospitably. "Well, thank you." says Ker. who is so shortly home from India that he still inclines tiiward that kindly drink. "Some ale for Mr. Ker, Sarah," says ClilTord, with an iminovable countenance. Here Diana breaks into the wonder- ing silence; that threatoos to envelop them, with quite a rush of converea- tion. Has Mr. Ker lieoii here â€" or there? Hns he seen this, or that? AVo all know the conversations in tlio attempt at the betrayal of my drooa at the dance." "Betrayal ! He would never have bet rayed you I" "I Kuppo.sc not. But yet â€" hush! Are they coming? I must hurry away r.ntl see about afternoon tea. I mip- po.se he'll stay for that." "Poor darling, you must be tirod!" "Tired!" Hilary throws out her arms tragically. "When it is for â€" him!" "Oh. Hilary!" anxiously, "That reminds me. What do vou think I country where the guests are straii I gers. Ker answcis lier deliglitfuUy, j him? He is goodlooking, isn't hi I pleasantly, but all the time his mind I "Vou forget I saw him last nigh is on "Bridgetâ€" Alalia â€" Sarah." His i ""Well! But now in daylight! eyes are on her loo! In fact, ho can- j think one s-hould always judge a pi not keep thoni off her! Where has heison by daylight. And you-i â€" ?" seen her before? All at once he i '"I'hink he looks just the same as knows! ihe did at midnight." Slio is the girl who had given him j "But Hilary, dearest, you can't that glass of water last night at the I forget " ball! j "That he said ho should find it im- She is tr.^ iiig lo give him a glass Ipossible over to like me! No, I of ale now, but with ditriculty. She 'shan't forget that!" has got the corkscrew into the cork but crookedly â€" as girls always do- and con.setnient!y the cork refuses lo ctimo out. ClilTord is talking vigor- ously about nothing in the world, and sees nothing; but Ker, wlu- is watching Hilary, grows gradually frantic. All that trouble for him ! All thill straining of her back, all that flushing of her face. Why, con- found the boor! He half ri.ses from his seatâ€"he has, indeed, forgotten overytliing. (To be Continued.) â€" H %^ WRECKED LIFE ENIteD. â- 'Mad Mack,"' Bohemian Figure ol the Paris Boulevards. 'ITiere rocently died in his room in the Avenue Victor Hugo, Paris, says the London Daily Mail, an ec- centric Englishman, known to hia intimates by the nickname of "Mad If you will allow me." says ho. fMack." For the juisl seven years his tone as careful ixs though he were talking toâ€" a lady! If he only knew! "Oh! can't you draw it?" says (JlitTord, springing lo his feet. Ho had .seen Kor's gesture, and is now a little shocked at seeing Hilary's dilemma. "C.o on, I'll do il," says he, in a low lone. Ker hears him, There is soiiie- ihins so eonlideiitinl in the tone, so â€" beyond friendly, that, for a mom- ent, he stares. Then he looks at T)iana, hut Diana in breaking the lit- tle hit of bread beside her phile into small fragments with the most un- concerned air. And now Clifford lias como back to the table, and the lieautiful parlor- maid is pouring the sparkling ale into Ker's glass. "My wife tells nie," sajs Clifford, lightly, ""that you have promised to give us n litlle of your time once .vour visit at the Moorsc' is at an end." "I shall be very pleased indeed, thank you. I'm rather out of it, in the way of friends now. I've been so long in India. It's awfully kind of you to think of mc, and of course " He hesitates. ""Y'ou would like to see Hilary," puts in ClilTord. "1 can quite under- stand it. Most fellows would yearn to see Ihe girl their aunt had con- demned them to marry. Why can't you SCO her?" He slops liere. and both Diana and Hilary grow luile. To them il seems a reflection on Mr. ICor's sighl ! To Ker, providenliall.v. it seems only a reproach. Having given full time for the (explosion of his missile, Clif- ford goes on again ; "I llioiiglit Di, that Hilary was rather delorinined lo ajipear al luii- c'ncon. She certainly said something about il. About nttciiding. Do you renicinlK^r? She was great on the alien " Hero Hilary lays down a philo be- fore him witli o.xireme vigor, and Di- ana begins lo talk very fast. Ker. with dilliciilty lirawing his o\es from 11:o parlormaid of many iKinies, enler.s into the conversation with Diana, but presently ClilTord strikes into it too. ".-Vfter all you must have .seen Hil- ary," says he. "I^ast night I moan." "No. Not al all. Vou see I came so late." "But, my {lour follow, you must have seen her for all that. She was a most conspicuous figure." "Conspicuous?" "Yes. Her dress, you know. She There was a suddon niovemenl be- hind him. '"^'our napkin, sir," says the par- !(ii-iiiuid, handing it to him with angry eyes. "How was she dressed?" asks Ker. "W(;ll, you could hartily call it a he had aimlessly wandered about the streets of the capital, attracting attention by his odd dress and al>- pearance. Ho gave largely lo thosfl who knew how lo o.xidoit his readi- ness to helj) his needy compatriots. His real name was John Wha'lley, and he came from Bowden, a suburb of Manrhosler. In IHOV ho and his young bride arrived in I'aris on th4 evening of their «i\Uiii;ii: i\ay, bul the hoiieyiuooii wa.s rudely interrupt* ed l),v the sudden disaiipearaiico ol his 18-yoar-old wife a wcok after th* marriago with a former admirer. 9h< never came back to Paris, but sh< and the man she fled with wore Irac od to South .America some monUH later. When at last Ml-. Whalloy's rela-' lives were able to find his where" abouls his mind hail sulTored irreiiar- able injury from the !-;hock of hia mi.sforlune. The best English and French iihysicians were consulted, bul could do no good. To the day of his death his one hope was lo see his young wife return again, and his one droiid was lo come in contact with the niciiiliors of his family. No sooner did liis relatiws cr'oss the Channel than he would disappear until their departure, and lliey de- termined finally to leave him alone. Up to the last he occupied the bri- dal chamber from which his young wife had fled. His once erect figure had recently become bent, and his death was duo to decline, doubllosa owing lo his linbemian existiiiee. ^ Always neally hut peculiarly dressed, he was never soon without grey â-  Suede gloves four or five sizes too S^" large for him. "Mud Mack" was lH-lie\fd lo'^^.bo in receipt of an incouu' of at least $.*),- 000 a year, and il was alwa.^â- s a m.vstery where he took his nii'als. The only Ihiiigs he was ever seen lo eat were English buns, which he al- ways lioiight nt a well-known sliop in the Ki:e Cnmbon. -+ N^ CATS SPHEAD DISEASE. " : Fleas From Infected Animals Car- ried Diphtheria. London, I'-iiglaiid. iiie;iical officers of health have hei n invest igiiting the danger of disease which is .spread by domestic Jiols. This danger they re- gard as very serious, and an active I camiiaign ,iii the near luUir.: is re- garded as a pressing necessity. The wnndering cut is the greatest source of danger in London. Its evil work as a diseasiv-cnrrier has lioen uiado a subject of special stud,\ . and a few months ago Dr. A. W. Martin, the Medical Ofiicvr of Health for Gorton, an outlying district of Man- chester, laiblishes a paper on this question in Tniilic lloaltli^in which' he suggested that llie ei\:fl imreuHO of diplitl'.eiia in London was due to ihi' disease being conve.\ oil by fleas % magiiHireiil eostunie, bul certainly it, from infccled .iiiinials I was remnrkuble in its own way bo- I cause so out of the common. And jyef, " meditatively, "so in it. Vou I inighl see it here." u pau.so Ihat fills (his wife with anguish, "and there and (everywhere!" I "'.\ rather .•uiihiguoii.s description," ,' sn.vs Kor, laughing. "'What Ali.ss Burroughs droesed as?" Ilo .shows Hint pigi"otis and fowls sillTer from a form of diphthoria. and are infested with fleas. He furlhor shows (hat the cuts of the neighbor- hood ciingrogate wlioievi'r there is a [ligciui cote or fowl run. I'roni this bo deiiiices that (;ais was . luiiig the inferli'd fleas from the I birds into the bouses, and thus spread the di.'^ea.'^ lloni a plalo falls with a crash lo i An o.viioriment with a rut showed the ground. The iiarlorniiiid is|ibat in four nights it deposited 'J4S bending o\ in- Ihe fragments. Ifioafi' eggs on the spot where it lay "Accidents will ha|)pon." says (?lif-|in the hoiisi . ford, shrugging his shoulders aniia- 1 Tbcii Dr. Martin proceodK to show biy. ""Wo were talking of Hilar.v. how children aii' e.specially liable to were wo not? She has her litliu j contract diphtlicria in this way. faults, you s*h;." jvnder one year of aKc. the child i'B â- 'Chi'ese. sir?" .snys a voice at his nearlv alwavs in the arms or tho ought to have reduced IfenriettH ro- olbow thai j him to dust. "No, thnnk you, I turns he blnnhly. I After this!â€" ' Hiana rises haslily from tho lablo. land wiih n hurried smile; to Ker, I leaves tho room. She is quickly (ol- i lowed by Hilar.v. and meeting in the j safe foclusioii of Ihe drawing-room, ilhe.v fall into each other's arms and 'give way to wild mirth! "Oh! but it Was too bad of him," says Dinna. "He iniRht, have warn- ed us. giving us n hint , Hut to go on like that" Hilary, when he spoKe of y onr "atteuding," 1 felt ns though T should have, to got up and (to uw nv.' cradle; from one to two it is CTawl- ing on Ihe floor and the rug; and from that age until it goes lo school, it is playing with or nursing the cat. Thus, tho children Wironie infected, contract diseases, -nd, in turn, s|H"ead thoni. The anorinous incn-ase of rtiphlheria in recent years is put down to this theory,. FULLY SCPPLIFJV 'He snys hb-'has n« use for a„l)fti'- ber. •1 gii â-  hiin.'Wf roBB Hint is true. He shAtM and cuts him own hair, t»\ X told, has even goiUn irdo tV« '"•''I'het wasn't hn!f ns bad as his Iwliit*,'** t""'Je'^ ** ••'"»'"•"â-  « Mini '^'