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, \\Y .xuni r THE STEWARD'S SON CHAPTER XI. I the shawl round her as if the night __ , , ,_ , w ui ! iu 'had suddenly become cold. The footman having brought *n the , ,^.,^^ ^^^^.^ ^^,, ^.^^^^.^^.^ ^^^, tea equippnge. had retired and ^^^ ^^^ ^^.j, ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^.^ ^^ though the room was as .superbly de- ^^^ ^^^^,^ ^;^,^_ ^^^ ^j,^ ^^„^ (u-rward corat«d and furnished as Uie draw- j ^^ ,^^j^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^.^.^,^ xng-room at the Court, it sfecmed al- ^ [her ladyship home," he added, ro- ^ luclantly. "It is not Very far to the Court. I will .see Lady Norah safely home." "Thank you, sir." "Well, then," said C.yril, for the two men still seemed .shaken and con- fused, "if you are sure you and thi> footman are uninjured, you had bet- ter lead the horses to the village and leave him hero Ijy the carriage un^ you can help to get it all away." "Yes, sir," he said; "but I'd better take the horses back to Ferndalo us soon as possible. My mistress will be terrible anxious if we're late, and fancy an accident has happeni..'d â€" which it has." Cyril nodded, and taking an enve- lope from his pocket, wrote on the said. "Why, the shock alone waa'face, and she saw that he had gO!io enough to drive everything out of â-  deathly pale, and that ho had caught your head. I think you have bebav«:his under lip in his teeth, ed wonderfully." I Hhe stood for a moment, her face "How strange that you should I going from re<i to white, then the have been there!" she said. "You! red fled, and the white alone rc- saw it all â€" or ciidn't you? I mean maincd. the horses first took fright?" | "You are hurt," she brfathed. and â- â€¢Yes, I was watching the owl, and ^ there seemed to be almost a sob in saw it go swooping across the road , the simple words. In front of them. 1 thought tl.oy would be startled. It" â€" the color (lashed into his face for a moment â€" "it wa.s rather strange my being there." He could not tell her that he had returned to the spot where ho had seen her in the afternoon, I that he niiijht dream of her in the' (To be Continued), V ». NAVY DEESS ESrOHat. Sailors Will no Longer Hake Their Own Clothes. Cyril Curne had been sitting, when she saw something white flit from a most as homely and simple as the little parlor at Cliff Cottage. : ^^^^. ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^e road. It was an Listening to Lord Fcrn<l.-ilc s cheer- ,^^, ^^^ .^^ screech startled her a ful. unaffected talk, ^orah thought | ^^j^, wi-stfully how much nicer it would bo ^^ " ^^^^^ to have startled the If her father were a little less stately L^j.^^^ ^ ^^.^.^^^ ^j^j^j (^^ she felt the and formal. carriage swerve, come to a stancislill "You refused to sing for ua thii | ,.^j. ^ second, then rush forward so other night. Lady Norah." | sharplv as to jerk her on to the front But I will sing now. . I. seat. With a smile she picked herself He was troing to follow her and | [^^^ ^j^^ ^^^^^g vanished and a open the piano for her, but Lady j ^.^^.y,. ^,^,.j^ j^„ ^^p^^ ^er as she Feriidale motioned to him to remain ^^^^ ^^^ hedges and trees Uyiiig past where he was, and Norah, without a trace of self-consciousness, and only the desire to please those two loving sonis who had made so much of her, 'accident progresses to the final catas [icr 1 * i_ -« the window at racing pace. Has any one ever yet been able to describe all the phases by which an sat down and sang the lirat thing that came into her heail. It is not at all probable that Norah would have made a fortune on the operatic stage, but she had a sweet voice that, though it had been carefully trained, was as natural as a bird's, and as it filled the room, softly lighted by the rose-sha'letl candles. Lord Ferndalo looked at his wife with a mi.xture of surprisu and admiration. "What a dear, clever girl it is," murmured I^ady Ferndale. "A rose in .lunel" quoted Lord Ferndale, in a low voice. "If any- thing can molt she will!" It is understood in British naval gloaming, and perhaps got a glimpse circles that Admiral Sir John Fisher of her on her way back to the is about to introtluce a reform in Court. "I'm rather fond of moon- i the matter of clothing that is pro- ing about in the evening. I am bo ibably o.ily the preliminary step to- glad I happened to bo there." j ward the abolition of what has long "So am I^so were v.e all," she , been one of Jack's most burdensoma corrected herself. "What made the grievances, says the London Chron- horses stop?" she asked, iimocently. icie. "The carriage caught in the trunk i So far the men's clothing have been of a tree and the near horse fell," provided almost entirely at their ho replied, simply. "The coachman ! own cost upon a plan that was ax- was not to blame; no one could have plained the other day by an official held them from the box." at the marine and naval clothing "Poor men." sho said. "You wiII;store department, Pepford, for us. but you haven't 'be able to tell Lady Ferndale how j "To begin with," he said, "the you risked your own life â-  't "" happened, and that they wore • proposc>d reform will aprly only to blank side in rather shaky charactu-rs for there was a funny feeling in his arm: "Lady Norah is quite safe and un- hurt, and will have reached the Court before you get this. The coachman was not in any way in fault. Cyril Burne." Ho read this to the men, and they touched their hats gratefully. "Thank you, sir," said the coach- man. "It's very good of you to speak up said that trophe? Norah knew and realized nothing more until she experienced a jar, as if the wheels had caught upon some- thing and felt the carriage sway and fall over; but as f-he fell with it she was conscious of hearing, amid the stamping and snorting of the fright- ' eiied horses and the voiie of the | , coachman, the sound ol another I j voice. I j If .she fainted, it must have been ' only for a inonient or so, (or ; without any appreciable interval sho .saw the uppermost door of the ovor- I turned carriage wrenched open and Arrowdalo's heart, ifi-lt a man's strong arm round her. I The next moment .she was in the stopping " j not to blame?" j trouaeis. Under the present regula- "Never mind that," .said Cyril.' "Ves, it will be an excuro for call-'tions. whenever necessary, the cloth "There is no need to mention that;|i"G on Lady i'"erndale." | i.s issued to the men. who have either I'm all right. Here, let us drag some | **''^'*;, y": y°" "''" ^^^^ '•'"^ *" j to make it up themselves or pay an- of the wreck further out of the much." [other man for the work. Thf.t in road," and ho went to help them,! "You have spent a h.ippv evening?' j itself, of course, is hard o-.oigh, but ho stopped suddenly, and his! ho asked, and his voice was subdued , When one remembers that the army face grow momentarily pale. 1 by sympathy; the touch of her hand. | ja clotlied at tlio expen.se of the na- "Nover mind." he said; "the foot- 'the sound of her voice was thrilling-^ tion, ii seems rather ridiculous that man will see that no one runs into through him. Her very nearness to the cost of naval clothing should it" jhim was casting a glamor over him. Ho took the one carriage lamp that! so that it seemed almost iinpo.-siblo was still burning and examined the '» speak any words than -I love, horses with a practised eye. jy""' ^ '"^"^ you!" ] "Not much damage d.me, wonderful "^^'i. y^s," said Norah; thero never to say." he said, cheerfully, "but the «-0''e such lovable people, uovor! At sooner vou and ihov are home, thc;'"nst," .she sighed soilly, "1 better. Good-night." j '"^t so few people, and never Then he went back to Norah. She^^^o were so kind to mi.'." had obeyed him so implicitly that ' "Kind to you! How could she seemed to have been motionless. â-  ""^IP ''•'? She looked up as ho approached her' 'I'^c warmth, and .something more ^ _ with a question on her lips, for bhe I than warmth, the subdued passion m I ..t„j,.^.- sj^piy f^r the sako of have to be dcductud from the men's pay. "But that is not the worst of It. Although there is a regulation Dat- tern, such a detail as the w^idth of the "bell" of a man's trousers la '*^'' I entirely a matter dupeniling upon tha a"y taste of the individual captains. One oUlcer ma.v prefer that the trousors should I;o narrow. The result is that a man tran.sfen-cd to that vessel may have to supply himself with now they his tone sent the blood to her face, moniont; i faddy officer. And the s.vstem ro- "\'ou sing very beautifully. Lady road, the arms still encircling her, Norah," he said. "You must give and, looking up. she met Cyril us on« or two more; remember, it is|]iuriie's eyes looking into hers with a treat to us." j alarm and anxiet.vâ€" and something I else that even in that moment i brought the blood munlling to her had heard nothing of the coiivorsa tion between him and the men; but and she was silent for a the simple "Well?" would not come. ; then suddenly sho stopp.Hl. ^ | ^.y„ remember that even \Slo\y ^yorm<. sW ^^^^^ „,av have to be chSnged per- lish ^-agenios-s. nnd^^^ ^^^.^ ^^ ^,,,.^^ ^j,,,^^. j,^ ^ ^„„t^ suits in still greater hiHXiship whoa ame rib- "I will sing as long ns you like." eaid Norah. simply, and sho sang again. Then Lady Ferndalu found a duet, and discovered, with delight, that their two voices blended to- gether perfectly. "Oh, my dear, if you only bel««g- ed to uiol" slie exclaimed invelMn- tarily, with a sigh, as she stooped to kiss her â- It is all right, •• he said, answer- | "Look, there is a glow worm! sh ing the look. "Neither of them is e«laiâ„¢"J "''th girli«h eagenios.s. ana ^ ^^p, hurt, and the horses seem very little;'" a low voice, as jf she feared 'o â€"transfers are .som>aimes as frequent the wor.se, barring the fright. It has'^tartle it. | â€" ^ .serious matter, considering that been a wonderful escape. And you?" |,.."^':"»' . ^i' said at once; would .vou [ His eyes wandered over her anxious cheek I "Arc â€" are you hurt?" I "No â€" no, I think not!" "Are you sure? Ah, you â- tell!" hu exclaimed. I "I'm not hurt, I'm sure." I "Pon't movel" he implored I "Please, please don't iiune:" »»..«. , , .u r » i â-  â-  „ i.i., i »- _. . u- . 1 1 u - „ 1 of tho footman and bring some kind Norah s his strong arm wound round her, and ; , ^ ^,. ,, •» â-  can t her. And ly. I have come off better even than the horses," she said, "for I am not even frightened." ".\nd you can walk?" ho asked. "t)h. yes." "I am afraid you will have to Walk to the Court." ho said, reluc- tantly, "unless I leave you in charge Was it no wonder that ^<uicuis m.-t ^.ciuuk «hii» wuliuu h^^.h., ..m , mn. , ^ »u n •» eyes grew moist with tears of happi- ' sei-med unconsciously to 1 iff her olf j °' '-â- '^";:''y^"«':."'°'" ^^^ """"Be: '^ ncum and gratitude or that when tho her feet, so completely did it sup-'"" ^<^'y tar- fip«t«iitin announced that the carriuja port her. was waiting sho should start with I "I don't think I have broken any- dismay? | thing," sho said, her color coiuing Lord Ferndalo wont out of the and going. "No, I am sure I have room, and leturueil, bearing in his ' not! Oh, please, don't mind me; the own hand a decanter of wine, and p.jor horses!" insisted upon Norah's drinking a "XoVor mind tho horses!" he said, i apace, and the carl might hear o'j<jurelv the most charming gesture he gla.ss. almost curtly. "Hold on to my aim } the accident^, and be alarmed on ' - ' "Better obey, dear," said Lady [and walk just three steps; no more IS "Oh. no. no.", sho said, quickly. "I I can walk home ciuite easil.v, and I Would not give you so much trouble for the world." I "It would not give mc trouble," I he said, quietly. "But ill news Hies liko to have it? I will get it for : you," and ho went forward and care- ; fully picked it up. "There it is," | ho said, holding it in the palm of' his hand. "It is not so pretty as its light, and even that vanishes in any other. Sec," and he held it in; the full rays of the moon. j She bent forward, so near that the I red-brown hair almost touched hisi lips. His breath cauie fast, and he stood still as a stoneâ€" but. ah! how unlike a stone with that fast boat- ing heart!â€" and Norah, entirely ab- sorbed in the curious insect, touched it with her torormger. "I don't quite like it," sho said,! drawing back her linger and looking up at him with a smile and a little j feminine shudder which he thought Fermlale smilingly, "he is a dreadful niind!" tyrant, and fearfully obstinate." | "I haven't even broken ni.v leg." When Norah had got her things cm ' she said, forcing a laugh. ".\nd I and Lady Ferndalo had wrapped tho ' don't see how I could have done! I soft shawl round her, "making me ' am not in tho least hurt â€" and do. Into a parcel post bundle." as Norah laughingly declared, a maid came for- ward in her bonnet and cloak. "I'll send her with you, dear," please, not to think of me! Tho horses " Ho paid not the slightest regard until he had assured hini.self that she I your account "Yes, yes." she assented at once, "I will walk, plea.se." "Y'ou must take my arm." ho said. Sho put her hand on his arm, then drew back with a sudden color, and her eyes dropped ns she said: "But â€" but I need not trouble you said Lady Ferndale, but Norah show- ' could walk without pain, then sho cd that she could be as obstinate as ^ heard him draw a breath and inur Lord Ferndale, and point-blank re- ; inur, "Thank God! fused the escort. 1 solemnity. ...,â- . u f â€" . 4 there is only one other way I with fervent ' i .u i i I stav bv the carriage and send Why, what could happen to me in ! "Sit down and rest; quite still. â-  i a close carriage between hero and the : please Court, dear l4»dy Fermlale?" she said. "Please don't send her! I shall not like to come again if 1 give you so much trouble! You wouldn't send her if â€" if I were your daugh- ter," sho added shyly. "Norah's right!" e.xclnimed Lady Ferndale. "But. mind, wo take you at your word, and you are just to come to us as if you were our daugh- ter. That's a bargain, my child." "I'm witness to it," said Lord Ferndale. Thoy both went to tho carriage and Lad.v Ferndale si-emeil. an sho held her in her arms and kissed her. as if she could .scarcely bring herself to part with her. and the last Norah he said 'Yes." obe<liently. She looked up for a second and met his e.ves. still full of the deepest an.xiety. then lowered hers suddenl.v. and watchoil him under her long lashes as ho hurried to the side of the coachman. One horse was standing quiverin.g in ever limb, but the other was still lying in tho road, aijparentl.v inex- tricabl.v juuihled up with the harness. She noticed that he seemed to take in all thu details of tho situation with instant promptitude, and sho j "You cannot go alone," ho said. 'If you will not let me go with you, ' will the footman with you. I She caught her lip in her teeth, and stood irresolute for a space : while one could count ten, then she 'looked up at him. I "If yo'i will be so kind," she said. He thought that she meant him j to send the footman, and turned, a little sigh escaping him, but Norah I sai<l quite iiinoceiitl.y; "Will you tell him. plen.se. that I will semi him any help if he wants I it?" I "Yes. yes," ho said, and he gave I tho nie.s.sage to the footman and was back ill an instant. had ever imagined. "No, 1 urn sure 1 don't like it." and she laughed. "Then good-bye. glowworm." he said. "Poor thing. I pity you!" he added, Inaudibly, as he laiil it on the grass; "to be disliked by her!" "I dare sa.v he is immensely re- lieved," said Norah. ".\h, he didn't know when he was well olT," he said each ribbon costs 10 pence, though tho man might buy it in the .shops at Portsmouth for -i, pence. "I don't know that under Admiral Fisher's scheme thero will be any radical change in the uniforms. Tha trousers will be all the s.<»nie width, aiul transfer to another ship will therefore involve no alteration." -Nothing has been heard of the pro- posed change in any oi the army clothing dcparlmonts, and it is th..'rfore believed that the work will be placed in the hands of contract- ors. As the matter stands at present, tho men will still have to pay for their uniforms. But the new rejiula- tions will undoubleilly be a grout saving to the men. The uniform is also to be designed on more 'handy' lines, and will therefore bo tiioro tight lilting than the style at pre.sent in vogue. Norah moved forward, and instinc- j ..|.^,,.ause," answeretl the beach, tively lai.l her hand on his arm'},.,^.y ,„„ i„ lun back on when HEARD AT THK SpASIDE. "As a high roller." remarked tho wave, boastiullv. "you are not in it with me." "For which you should bo thankful," rejoined the beach. ' IVH-aiise why?" ciuerieil the w.-vve. "you you . . , , . ,.,, , , ,.• 1 ... I I 'You must take my arm." he said, watched h.m, still under hall-lowoivd | ^,_,j ^„„„^,,^ ,,^, ^,..^f, ^^ ^p^^^ .^^ ^ lids, ns he took out a claspknii'e and matter-of-fact voice, there was a sus- cut the trace, and gently, but iTn.ly , ,^. . ^^^^u ; ^^ got the struggling, panting horse on r .. .' . . . saw of them they were stniuling ami- ^^^ ^^-^^ ^^^^ \ in-arm on tho steps waving their j .|.,,^. coachman and footman stood hands at her. | (,„. ^ second eyeing the wreck and Norah looked out at tho night â€" the wiping their perspiring foreheads; moon was rising, a great yellow orb, [the footman's hat was gone and his above the hilltopsâ€" her whole being ! coat torn. thrilling like some sensitive musical j "Are you hint in any way?" de- instrument, her heart melting undor uianded Cyril linrne. the induenec of the lovable couple Bhe had jiist left. For a time s!ie leaned back in the luxurious car- riage and recalled their kiiulncss to her and forgot all else; but suddenly, almost with a shock, sho found that her thoughts had strayed and that the.v wandered to some ono else, and she found herself thinking of Cyril Burne! It seemed ungrateful to bo'^tow a singlo thought upon any One but these two, and sho tried to drive him from her mind, but looking out 'speak o( the window she saw that the.v j wreck were ascending the hill on tho other one! And it would have been a doal Bide of which Lady Ferndale had I worse," ho added with respectful stopped to speak to him, and bock leartiiessncss, "if i', hadn't been for he came again. I.vou. sir. catching them as you did. Would he accept l.aily Feindale's , It's a mercy yo'i wa.sn't got down invitation and leave Saiitleigh? How | under 'em nr.d kicked to bits." quickly Lady Ferndale had taken to j "Never mind that. Let us see what hini? Yes. ho was i gentleman. : damage is done." and ho went and though he might only be i\ii artist. ! examined tho carriage, poor and unknown. It ho loft Sant-| "The wheel's broke, sir," announc- lei.nh sho would, perhaps, never see ed tho footman. 1 it:\ again! 'Pho thouj^ht seemed to: "And tho pole's gone like inatch- «^i\e all the happiness out of her ,wo<)d." sai<l the coachman, dolefully. beiti'. and sho leaned back and drew 'I'm af'aid it's iinnossihie to takn "No. sir; thank you. But her lady- ship?" "I thinkâ€" I hopeâ€" she is all right." replied Cyril. "Thank Cod for that, sir!" ".Vmen!" responded Cyril, almost inaudibly. "Yes. sir. I don't know what my master and mistress would have done if anything had happened to her." His voice shook. "I've bei'n in his lordshii>'s .service for twenty yo;u-8. sir. and this is my lirst accidentâ€" to of; but," ho looked at the with dismay, "it's an awful Norah would have doclinod, but it sccme<i to her that it would only emphasize the situation, and once more she put her hand upon his arm. Sho did not notice that he had given her the right one. instead of the left. For a minute or two they were sil- ent as the.v made th<ii- wa.v along tho lane filli-d with the perfume of a BUmmer's night. Above them the moon slowly sailed upward, a thru.sh sang sleepily somewhere In tho hedge, and the bats whirled through tho silver light. Norah was still trembling a little, but, as sho had said, sho was not frightened- It was 'not fear that caused her heart to beat so fast that it almost seemed to her as if ho must hear It. 'I'ho sileiicg at last grow tangible, almost enibarrnssing, and suddenly Norah nlnnisl stoppoO, "I-ady I''erndalel" she said, In a tono of remorse, "Sho will think that it Is worse than It is, and I forgot to send her a lUiS.SHgo," "Thai's all right," he said, "I wrote a lino or two saying y<.;u w^'fe safe, and sent it by the coachnun." "You seem to have lhot:ght of cver.vthlng." "That was not much to tidii'.t Lady Norah," ••.\iid yet I forgot It," r'.!e ' cil. v.'lih self-reproach. "Oh. don't bliinio .voui>.e'.f. of, iu;h- again. She had crossed round to the other side of him while she had been examining the glowworm, and it was his left arm that .she now touched, and lightly as sho touched it. sho felt a faint shudder run through him. Jler hand Hew from his arm. and sho stopped and looked at him. go broke." ClUCl MSTANTIAL EVIDKNCB. Tommy â€" ".Vint yer goiii' ter can» me ter-da.v. teacher? Teacher-^'No. Why should 1?" Toiiim.vâ€" "Becau.se if 1 go home and show no signs of bein" caned, father The moon was shining full upon his ^U tbixA l.^e be»:rt yra.^ in" truant i;i;."-:--'.iA CN Till; ANxiors SE.VT.