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rte WW free I She said 60 I She wished him to go ! "EilMn," be said, and his voice sounU- n* thick and strained, "do you mean what you sayT That you do not care siifliciently tor me to " "I did not say that," she intemiplcd. "But, all the same, I do say that I am tfrod of this Sunbeam ; that either you an. mine or not mine. You choose now between me and that girl. II you go t.-> Munton, you leave Brackley in every *ens»â€" you go free â€" free to offer your heart to a lhit;( r \ peal o{ laughter porteti her pale lips, .^he nung back the hair from her fore- head with an angry gesture. "You must choose between us, must discard one of us; which is it to be? Me, as you know me, or this girt of whom you really know nothing." "Hush 1" he Interrupted, his gyes full cf pain. "Forgive me, Eileen, >iut I can- not leave that child alone nor " "Fudge ! Y'ou love her. You have cl'iosen. ujid I admire your taste. I am jiUed for her â€" a village lass with a con- vict father. Can I hold up my head again, think you?" "Eiloen, my child, you are unkind to youreelf. Be serious and " "Kiss and be friends, perhaps T No, Duncan. I must say I have tried my best U) keep you from Sunbeam, but now I see it ia uaetesaâ€" 1 throw down the glove. Rut ior all that you won't get her yet. She is in prison. I>jve cannot unlock \^tc prison gateâ€" I will see that the case t: carried through." He smiled faintly. "She is innocent." he said. "So you say !â€" Well, go to her. Re- member you are free. Hemember also I nrr. her enemy still. I give you up be- cause I wish to prevent your giving me up That is all. I save my amour- pwipre." "But at what a cost, my GoJ !" cried out her heart, ns. with bowed head, he passed her on his way to Sunbeam. CHAITER XXV. CHAPTER XXIV.-{Contlnued). "What else could I do r etclaimed the ,L"l P^s^onate tones, her heart filling Willi d^air tts she read Duncan's stem WW. Your pearls weca misiingâ€" they l;ad to be recovered " "'^ouW rather have thrown them to llje tiotlom of the sea than reo)v«r them b ttei^f'' * *'^'' ' '"'â- ^P*'**^ ^^'^y <^ruse "Bui I did not know that ! I thought 't my duty to defend ray visitors' pro- perty. The only suspicious chai-acter was Sunbeam. They took her half an hour ago." "Where to ?" "To Munton," replied Eileen, naming t»ie county town Ave miles off. She kK)ked up at hitn rvs she spol;o, a world Cf appeal in her eyes; but he turned aside with an angry murmur, and moved over to the open window through whKh Lady Cruse had already passed in search of her hustMnd. "Adete, do you think me wrong?" im- ptored Eileen, turning a pleading faoo to Lady Larkin. "Not quite, dear," replied Adele, sooth- ingly. "But perhaps hasty. I can hardly believ« Sunbeam ouuid do such a thing. If only you hod waited until we re- turned ! If only " "Ah, but in a case like this you must be prompt. Lady Cruse will realize that when her pearls are found. Now, of course, she thinks more of Sunbeam. And yet all atong I guessed the girl was a sneak. You all believed in her too iquickly." She swept from the room as she spoke. She felt luat the anger and dis- appoinlnient struggling within her would betray her if she remained with her guests any longer. For, although «hc had dreaded Duncan's l)ehav)Our on hearing of Sunbeam's arrest, she had eN pec ted more open support than she had received. "And that is all the thanks I got tor st.vlng their things at my own disconi- tort 1" she stonn<xi as she pushed open the library door. Half-way across the room slve stopped. Foi at one of the writing tables sat Dun- can, his face wtiile and stem, his eyes Intent on the work before him. "Duncan," she said, almost unoon- £ciousIy, "I did not know you were here, I " He raised his head and kwked at l>er. She shivered. His eyes were so cold, thoy cut like steel. "1 am going now," he replied stiflly. "I have been writing to Sir George Cade, In cose I cannot soo him, and " "Sir George Cade !" she e.xclaim^, with a thrill of anger. "Yes. He is, as you know, a magis- trate. I am glad you came in now, Eileen. I wanted to speak to you atone, Ic tell you that I am going this evening to Munuon. The Cruses and I have de- ckled to put up at tlie bold." The cotor ebbed from her face, and her eyes widened with anger. "Y'ou are leaving Brackley?" she ask- ed Her voice sounded weak and tow above the tumult in her brain. "Yes. You see we feel thai some one oi-ghl to be near Sunbeamâ€" you have been very crtiel to herâ€" she must see that we three, at all events, believe in her." "But youâ€" you, you are nothing to her, why stKiuld you go?" she deuland^xl Qiiavcringly, her slight Hture swaying to and fro with tl»e vtolenoe of the mo- tion that shook her. "Besides, what else ociild I do? 1 dW what 1 ought to have done in any case," she ended vehe- n.cntly. "You might have waited, or "And let the chances of getting back the pearls grow less. Of course, she gave them lo an aocompltoeâ€" if she has- n i hidden themâ€" and we have discovered that no one entcrca the hou.sc. Oh, you may stick up for her, but shf is guilty. Sho has deceived you all, but 1 saw through her from the flrsU Toll her that when you see her, if you like.. And gti â€" 1 don't care." She laughed hoarsely, and turned her hiTHing face from his. For, despite her tone of bravado, her eyes woi<e wet with unshod tears. Now, if ever, she knew ho a-l not tovc her, and that all the ptot- Img in the world would not make him tove any but Sunbeam. A storm of passion swept through her. If she could have killed Sunbeam now, how gladly would she have done it I "Of course you don't approve of what 1 have done, you never do !" she jerked out as his silence remained unbroken. "No. 1 am sorry that 1 cannot approve of thus act of yours, and " "And yet you profess to tovo me, "Lov« docs not always sec pertectton in " ., "Ah, but yo~,i nevor have loved me r sh*. cxclnimed, flashing around upon him ; "I know that all the lime you have l«cn caring for this girl, thLo burglar's Child, this thiefâ€" Woll then, )X)U are wel- come So hcr-Go. I want you no tongcr. 1 will be spcond to no one. I will not Inko unwilling tove from any." DiLUcan .sloadioii himself against the labM t'ov the sudden shock of her words made bini rool a» though strucK When Lady Cruse's maid Iwd burst into Sunt)eani's room, loltowed by Kileen and tlw village [wlicenian, and dtmonded the mi«8ing pearls, Sunbeam realized that after 8:1 her father had suc- ceeded in uis guest to some extent, and that the task she had set hei^self was to te hai'der than she had imagined. Her horror and distress wei* mistaken at once tor fearlul guilt as she listened in silence to the servant's excited accusa- tton, unable to defend herself in any way, and determined more than evei- to shield tier father. But she did not expect such sudden measures to be taken, and drew back with a cry as the policeman explained hh. intention of taking her away at onoe. Then, reading hostility in Eileen's v/hile fa<oe, she realized that her friends wero aljsent and that resistance would l-e in vain. So she al'iowed him lo take her away without a murmur, and passird through the hall lined with whispering, shocked servants, Uke a young queen walking to the scaffold, her head erect, her lips set in proud resignalton. "As bold as brass," was the murmur that awcpl towards her. But as she entered the ctosed carriage, the tears she had struggled so hard to keep back gushed forth, and she wept unrestrain- edly, in spite of the constables presence. "Cryin' ain't a bit of good," he mut- teIx^d. "You tork out thoin pearls, or s.'\y what you've done with them, and p'raps they'll let you off lightly as it's- your flrat offence." The words had the effect of restoring hei self-control, and. rememt)erinfi that it waa wiser to keep silcpl, she turned hci face to the window, checking the eager words she longed to utter. "Your first oftoncc," the man had said In what he meant to be a concilia- ttry tone, his eyes resting admiringly on her troubled face. She shivered as she recalled them. Woukl every one say that? Knowing wlio and what she was, would not the whole world con- I«ss that she had merely done what every one expected, and that she would probably oxmmiit the like again very slvortly ? VVIial would Lady Cruse say ? And Mr. Sinclair? . . U was impos- sible that they shouki agree with a lot cf unkind ignorant people . • . they at least would act difftrenlly 1 But how sht witJieti the pearls had not gone ! If only Ivor father had taken soriwthing else uuslead. something betonging to un- olher, to Eileen even. . . . She wos sulflcicntly human and resentful to wish that. • But the niore she rellecletl the more dimcult she fclt it would be to prove her liinoccnce, even to tht^se two. without betraying Bill, so that by llie time they reached tlio county gaol she had Itally grasped the horror and grimness of her f<csitii>n. She might ne\'er be cleared of suspicion, everybody must believe her gi.ilty lo some extent. Every hope with- i'. her died a sudden death. She passed Into the sombre building with a heavy heart. This was the place she had l>een brm to, tlH» place her father knew as well as home. Therefore, how could she iii<«gine Ute world would smile upon her. Even her staunchest friend must doubt her word. She shivered again. It hurt her to see Duncan's eyes, with th<y shadow of suspicion within them . . . and they tooked at her from every oomer of the cell she had been taken to. It seemed as though she had l)een there for hours, watching the shadows deepen on the walls, recalling old raem- crios with all tlieir bitter sweetness, praying lor strength to bear her trouble and scroen her father, when ttie key rattled in the tock, a tMlt was shot, the dcor opened, and Lady Cruse entered hurriedly with a little cry of pain. "Sunbeam, my poor child T she ex- claimed, holding out her arms. Sunbeam, who had risen and stood Ijesltating. her knees trembling beneath her, sprang towards her. "Oh, Lady Cruse, then you don't be- lieve ilf she faltered "Of course not i Am not I your friend 1 My poor girl I What can 1 do 'xj make up for this T "You already do so by not doubting me. If you and one or two others be- lieve in mc, I do not miK:h mind about the rest. Mias Riviere has never liked me." "She has behaved shamefully," replied Lady Cruse, indignantly, her arm aix)und the girl. "But 1 have come for you, dear. I am going to lake you away." Sunbeam .started. Sudden joy Itooded hei lieart. She was then free, no tonger suspecled I But her friend's next words damped her delight. The tong lane of trouble had no turning yet. "We have done all we can do, my chlM, for the present. You are altowcd out on bail. My husband has forlunately nialfaged IhaU^he and Mr. Sinclair." .Again Sunbeam started, and the hot blood rushed to the roots of her hair. Mr Sinclair still believed in her! "Do they then believe that I am not guilty?' she stammcrefl. her eyes seek- ing her friend's with tonging wlstlul- ness. "Of course, my child, ftow could they tliink otherwise T" "Oh, but you forget I It . . . dishon- esty ... Is in my btood. You forget that . . . " "I forget nothing. You are not dis- honest, my chiW, and " "But your pearl.s. Lady Crxisel Oh. if only ihey could be found ! It is good o' you. after losing, them, to say I am Innocent. For. of course, things kwk very bad for me. Miss Hiviere found rx-! In " "1 know. Of course j-ou have some ex- planatton of that. We all know that you must have some mystery to tell us later. Not now, though, in this place. Come, let us leave It and go back." But Sunbeam stood still wtth a world ')' fear in her face. How could she go back to Brackley? "Oh, I can't," she moaned, wringing lior Ivands, nen'ously. "Please don't ask nw to go there. I would ratlier stay here. Those last minutes at Brackley were so terrible Ihot I dare not return with suspwion Hlill yipon me. I " "Nor dio we ask you to, dear. Wv; are slt:ying at tlie hold, and will remain lUer» until this U H«»te cleercd up. That i* where I mean to take you now, tor wo do not intend returning to Brackley. Gc.nie. I liave a carriage waiting. No one at the hotel need know anything about il." She led tlio way into the dark oold pa-vsage, and Sunbeam foltowed her with a feeling of relief. The thought of vo- turning lo Brackley, and facing Eileen's scornful eyes, had been too terrible, but new, tlwugh still suspected, the burden would not b«> so hard to bear; with only those wtio loved her with her. "If only 1 o^Jld llnd the pearls," she mused, wishing that Bill had given lier ; he address he had promised, and which new she felt she would never gel. "If only I could tell them all ! Bui how can I. in spite of all their goodness?" She felt a llllle nervous when, after her arrival at the hotel, she entered the slttinc-TOom Lady Ciuse had en^nge.! II nd came face to face with l>ord Cruse. â- I'hough he had alway-s lieen kind to her .she s'ill tell shy with him. and wonder- c^l if his devotton to hus wife would make him. despite him.<ielf, really believe her IjinocenL For it wiw commonly said Ihat Ixird CriKe believed, and did every- thing, that his wife wished. But a-«i he took Sunbeam's hand and smile.! into her face with his eyes full o' kiiKl sympathy, she knew that in his heart of hearts he did not doubl her, and gained courage from Uio fact. "Poor Sunb'.Mini, to y<m have been made the scapi-goal, have you ? " lie said gently. "Well, we'll stand by you and help you throughâ€" every ctoud has a sil- ver lining, you know, and even sun- l)cani.s gel overctoudod sometinios, don't Ihev ?" "Then you also believe in mc !" she exclaimed, her lips quivering with crao- U n. "Of course 1 do I We all doâ€" my wife. n\yseU and Sinclair." Again her heart thumped with joy. But ho was at Brackley. Eileen might .n lime make him think otiierwisc. For 111- loved Kileen. "It was very knd of you to trouble about ine," she continued, l-xiking up grulefiilly. "Lady Crn.ip Uild mc what vou didâ€" had it not Iven for that I slvould have romainod there all night." She gave a little shudder as she spoke. He laughed. "You must llinnk Sinclair. He did a1' the work; I was only a (Igure heiid liscles.1 ponexins like myself arc occa- jitonally In requisition. We performct^ n feat. Ihey into:;n >ksâ€" Sinclair, Iww ever, is tlieo ne y<^iu must hank." "And vovi also." replied Sunhcan) '•For 1 understand then thai wilhoui y«> 1 should not be here. I suppose II wn.-; unusual to " "Thank Sinclair." he interrupted, turn- ing aside. She knit her brow*. "I cannot, for he is at Rrnrkley. .so o' course I mu.sl Ihnnk thf" one ii'xin tin spot," she «vclaij:ued with a little laugh. replied, he had "Sinclair Is h«re also," he peeping at her over the book opened. The hot color fkx)ded her face, a took o' astonishment filled her eyes. "Has Mr. Sinclah" left Brackley T" she asked in wondering tones. "Yos. He is staying here also. You see. Sunbeam, your friends oould not tonsake you, and " "But tlien, she. Miss Riviere, had me arrested, and she is " The word died in her throat. A sud- den hope had sb-angled 'I. Could it be possible that Sinclair no tonger cared foi Eileen? That he had left her for- ever ? But why slwuld lie do Uiat ? As h" had found her and nrolected her he evidently felt it his duty to see her through this dreary trouble. Perhaps he had quarrelled wi'h Eileen about it â€" but anything else was impossible. Had not t ady Larkin said he loved Eileen, and had always done so? I>overs' quarrels were soon made up. Later, when the suspicion had been cteared away, he would return to Brackley and lo his love. Yes. Anything else was impois.- sible. She kinged to ask what really hap- pened on the return of the house parly, and what Sinclair had done to procure hoi lil)eriy »o quickly, but ahyness be unci lier tongue. She felt more alraid than ever of n:'wlioning Ute name sha toved. Presently Lady Cnise came in. "You must try to took happy. Sun- beam," she said, laying l>er haitd on the girl's shining hsiir. as she passed behind her. "And presently, after dinner, we will put all our heods together and see what we can do to catch the real cul- prit and prove your innocence." .Sunbeam sighed. "I cannot tell you anyUiing," she mur- mured. "I wish I could? I would give much to be able to do so. I would give the workl to find your pearls again, and I wish with all my heart that " She stopped suddenly, and glanced at Lady Cruse wilii startled eyes. "I know, my chikl, that you will do your utmost to help nao to And ihem. And I think we shall succeed. But wlwi distresses me mosl at present is your position. And though you are fi-oe, Miss f'ivicpc has not withdrawn Xmr accusa- tion." Sunbeam looked serious. ".And she will never do that cither," she replied emphatically. "Why ? What have you done lo roiL^e her dislikd?" asked Lady Cruse, though she guessed pretty well what was the cai'se. "Nothing ! She hated me from the P.rst. But to-day I tluiught things were to be so different, until " She paused, recalling Eileen's offer of friendship and its subsequent withdraw- al. What was the go-sd of repealing it all? "She has never liked nic," she added. ".\o one has ever t)een so good to me p.. you are. And yet â€" if you knew â€" how " .Sunbeam bowed her head to hide the tfars in her eyes. How c«>uld she be loyal to her fattier at the expense of such a friend ? "IX only I oould find your pearls ?" she whispered in a broken voice. "But 1 can t'o iK4l\ingâ€" nothingâ€" to show my grati- tude foi all yoii have done for nie, not even that !" Lady Cruse smiled as she drew the girl lo her. "You are a loyal little soul. Sunbeam. And ncAT l»ero'.s dinner â€" and Cruse, and Duncan. Smile, and forgot l!»e storm." Raising her head Sunt)eam tooked sliyly ai Duncan. His smile wamiod her 1,1 the heart. Trust and affectton shone m hK eves. How ronli! she have pic- tured them full of doubl? (To be oouluiucd). ON 11 m SHREDDED FODDER. A correspondent of "Hoards Dairy- man," speaking fri-'iu personal e.xper'- i'noe, says: "Men grumble at the small inix>me from the fai'in and neglect to n«oUoc that no other business couKl be so wasteful and not utterly fail. .Shred- •Img fodder is one way of making a valuable feed out of that which is too often left in the flelds to "waste its sweetness on the desert air." The experiment stations tell us thai IX tons of good shredded fodder 's qual lo a ton of the best limolhy hay. .Also that corn which produces tiO bush- â- Ls an acre will make said ton and a half of fodder. My own experience cads me to b«?lievo that Ihcso are oon- â- scTvalive statements. This fall we cul 28 acres of fodder io feed during Ihe winter and save our limolhy ha.'r--to sell next spring. Or- dinarily It isn't considered good farin- mg to sell hay. but at prevailing prices wi! beltovc we ore jiislilled in so doing. I'art of the money Ihe hay brink's wi'l !v: u.-*od to buy bran and ollmeal, which :an be combined with the fotkler and corn .so a.s to produce a balanced ra- tion for cattle and hor.se.*. Fodder should be cut when thi-- ^^ars have all lx>gun lo dent and gla/o. Then '! will make a feed which is pnlalable "â- nd iMiti'il-ous. In this vicinity hvo- Miirds of Iht'' f.npiners li»t tlicir fodder '-et so ripe "wfore thoy cul it. thai nAffh 'â- f its feeding value is lost. Oeneral- 'y It will be perfectly -safe lo shiNxl •ifler the corn has bcf.n cut ,si\ wcek.s. ^^imotiir"!"! il v.ill (to .sciiu^r. dencnding "»n the weather and the riuones-s of the -. â- rn when ei;l. We have never had •1 Miiil-r'e '>f fo Id'^r lo moM and spo'h On the contrary It con.es out of the mows looking so fresh and green and appetizing that we think it w^rlh two- thirds as much as the same amount of either timothy or ctover hay. If it hasn't been standing in tiM shock tong enough to be thoroughly curod at the lime you shred, be very careful lo manage the btower so the fodder will t)t kept level all over the mow. If al- towed to form a big pile in tlie middle, that part will settle down so solid thai I! will spolL Several times when Ihe machine was lato gelling round lo our firm, we have put a man In the mow Ic level it off and tramp it down, thus economizing space, ftowever, this Is risky business unless it has stood ia the shock se\cn or eight weeks. We like to have all feed and stock under shelter during winter, and I can think of nothing that would sooner cauM5 me to leave the farm than to be c-'m'-elk-sl to go to the Held on a snowy, biu-^tering morning and gel fodder for the cattle. "Wilful waste makes woe- ful want." Shr<>dding fodder is one method of Incnjoslng the fertility and stock carrying capacity of our farms. TOP DRESSING WINTER WHEAT. A correspondent says; "II is the cus- tf3tii uii.ong tihjsl funiiers to plow un- der the uia:iuro liaaled UtXia wheat ground in uxie and early autumn rathor uian to \:ae it a^ a top dnesaing. As MKJdt of the ground pK>weJ uiiuei' at Ibis Umc Ls to be soeded tlic next spring. :i ij a qucatwn of lertiUzing of mUi the whoal and the CiOter crops. .As to llie ckivcr, there can te no qucslion but tiial llie luanuro will best aid Iho growth of the litUo plants U put on the top of Ihe 9C4l either betoro sowing the wheat or during the wintor. Thore is nothing like fine stable ma- nure applied as a lop dressing to in- sure a good catch of ciovcr. One can usually toll just where it- has been plaocd by the Appearance of the clover llie next settson. A.S 'ot wheat, Uierc may be some quesUun as to whether the manure would be ft nKJre value if ptowed under or put on the surface, but the oxptu-ience of most farmers lias convinced them that top dressing is l)est for wheal, and so.tic are oven practising it f-ur corn and all creps. It is certain that top dressing will give quiclccr rcsuHs. for the young plant get* the nourishment sooner and it appears to be of greaier t>^nefll lo tho crop. If Ihfl manure is rather coarse it can 1» applied after the wheat Ls sown, or even during the winter, if it must be spread, but if put on with a inanuro spreader il can be spread at any ligjjr, even before the wheal is sown if not spread too thickly. The on'y ohjeclKin is the heavy draft ot the spr-^adcr on plowed ground. On soft or low ground it might be belter to le:'.ve the manure unlil the grounJ K frown before applying 11 with th« spreader. Top dressing is being practiced mor«» and more by farmers as the theory tong aedvocoted by scicniists. The manure when put on top leaches through the surface soil during rains, but If |-tow- ei! under much of it lea -hos downward lx:yond the reach of young plants, and if the soil l« iMchy it may go beyond the reach of roots allogeihor. The sci- entist te!ls ivs that one to.id of manure snread evenly on the surface is worth 'wo plowed umler for irnisl crons, and I Ihink expcriuiico leaches llio same tos- son.' MinraN chops. Give the sheep all the clover or mixed liay llioy will cat up clean. If the ewes are not in fine condilion, Ihey slwuld have a grain ration of wheat bnin, ground oals and peas. .\lout one half jwund of grain to each sheep will he a piolllable ration. The doors should bo wide open so thai the sheep wdl not bo injured by passing lh:eugh them. Do no! neglect to provi.'e- plenty cf puro, clean walcr. 11 is necessary for Ihe health of the Ikick. 11 ^)ts not pay li tot sheep cat snow to satisfy their thirst. Lack ot cxcposo In ewes diiring win- ter means weak Iambs at yarding time. Sometimes the feeder nuisl compel the ewes to exercise by feeding them at a distance from the barn. Conllnement in close yards always means u'.ore or less h: work and dead lambs. Feed Ihem well so Ihey will make a good growth. Tho.se intended tor the butcher th'iuld be falU'n»Hl au-l sold before the you-ig lambs come. Sometimes ne may gel ewes lo own their ~1ainbs by feeding them by hand till the dr.nis have a u<^m\ supply of milk. To ha.sle.n this liire. give llw ewes plenlv of nourishing food. Bo sure Ihe .sheen bnrns are well ven- tilated. One night's overh?aling in • close stable will cau£<^ colds. MIGHT BF. USEFUL. Covem-ir <'f Prisonâ€" "Well, b.-rc Is your di.'schargc, and you ow n- w a freo n.an. Here aro two dollars For you. Your conduct !if.:s Iven ex"--i;ent. and I hope yiMi will. f!)r the fu!uri\ ilevolo yourself to an honorable calling." - Burgtor- "I certainly will try lo do so." Gov.-Tpor of Prls -nâ€" "Well, von can go. Is there anything you wiml?" Bin'gl.n!-~"P'ea*\ sir. 1 sh<Mil.l iil.e lo eel my <W jemmy. The ro!i-c Iook il from me, and I want it ha;k. It might come in uscfuL"