" J-
""Ne
FETTERED BY FATE
A
BY ALEXANDER ROBERTSON
JohtfM rate." "Little Sweetmear;" " lottle. tae Sewing SlrW
-boldmaker of Ilsfcon." " We4te4 te Win." "DUnm
Taoroe," "Nora'a legacy." ttc.Ctc.
CHAPTER XIV. (Continued.)
Re had mentioned to the widow the
fact that the adventurer's hand had
been branded when he wa sent to Li
beria, so that he was now compelled
to always wear a glove, but this did not
goem so singular to the lady, for the fact
remained that every time sue nan
Bogor D:irrel he had gloves on; so she
did not think it worth while to mention
this part of the story to Carol, seem
that it confirmed the detective's ideas
rather than disputed taeui.
Though she had only seen Koger a
few times she had been wonderfully
Impressed by his manner and looks, and
she had made up her mind that if these
terrible charges against him proved true
she would never trust a man again.
Foor broken-hearted Carol wandered
out each day. waiting for that dread in
terview which was sure to come, and yet
which seemed unaccountably delayed.
At the very time when these ideas wore
passing in review through the wearied
and troubled brain of Carol Richmond,
the object of her thoughts, poor Roger
Darrel, was pacing his library like a
caged animal, groaning now and then
and showiug every evidence of distress
and dispair.
Try as he would, he found it impos
sible to think of Carol without allow
ing his mind to dwell on love, and he
was nearly frantic with the continued
tiirht he had gone through.
He had promised to be a friend to
the girl he loved, and though this was
easv to sav yet when it came to attempt
ins it he found he had before him the
most difficult task of his life.
The detective gained in strength so
rauldlv that in a few days more ne hoped
to leave those who had stood so nobly
by him, and syirt upon his trail of ven
ceance.
Thongh Roger Darrel had not yet made
his appearance since the time of his sep
aration from Carol, the widow knew
he would soon couie, and' hence she was
continually on the lookout for him. She
had promised her child not to say any
thing to him, leaving the whole matter
to her.
He came at last. The day was a lovely
one. with the birds sinking amoug the
trees, and all nature looked beautiful.
Up the forest aisle came Roger, head-
Ine straight for the old mill. His face
was pale and set, as though he had con
quered in his battle, and yet none knew
better than he how weak human nature
was when the boor of temptation came.
The little ladj saw him coming, and
while she spoke to him pleasantly her
eyes were watching his face. She saw
the traces of anguish there, guch as never
rested upon the countenance of guilt, and
when he had gone to seek Carol, after
her directions, she gave utterance to her
thoughts aloud:
"If that is the face of guilt, then my
ludement of character is at fault. Place
Roger Darrel before me and I should
have declared him the most honorable
of men, noble and generous. Yet how
the man belies his looks. If all is true,
then a greater villain never went un
hung. My Heaven give my dear girl
the strength to do what is right, no mat
ter what the pain may be."
She had no idea of what was in store
for her while thus thinking of her child,
nd yet a crisis in her own affairs was
rapidly approaching.
Although she could not comprehend in
full what the temptation would be, yet
she knew Carol must suffer, and her
heart went out to her poor child, upon
whom Heaven had apparently frowned so
early. Had it been possible, she would
have liked so much to have been with
Carol during this trial, but the girl
would not hear of it, and the little lady's
heart told ber also that it was best not
BO.
In the midst of her thoughts the lady
was startled by a loud, authorimtive rap
upon the door and, somewhat confused,
she hastily answered, the summons.
When she opened the door she uttered a
low, almost Inaudible cry, and would
have fallen but for the support her hold
afforded her.
The curtain of fifteen years had been
swept aside by the hand of fate, and
thorn; two who had loved and parted in
the past were now brought together over
the grave of their only child's hopes.
Face to face stood Lawrence Richmond
end the wife whom he had not ouco seen
since that bitter parting.
THE PASSINQ YEAR.
the Insane asylum of Tr. Grim, stood
upon tti lert iaua or tnt nver, auu t
to the descent by which the water could Aema th shadow of the night
h ...... h.-1 There (Him to uiy expectant ear
M rtacneu. ., .ir . The twelve il.i p note that Ml th flight
It was not a picturesque building. ut anoth,r vn,Hixtt y,r.
There was a something dark and forbid- Its limits reached, Ha work U dnw
to
CHATTER XV.
Something within seemed to tell Carol
that the meeting she had looked forward
to with such aversion, and yet lit the
same time a strange eagerness, us though
anxious to have it over with, wus about
to take place that day.
When she left the mill she wended
her way slowly through the forest to a
favorite spot of hers, and, reaching it,
aat down at the base of a huge elm tree.
It was the summit of quite an elevation
and the view on either hand was per
fectly grand, embracing, aa It did, so
many vistas where opening occurred
throuah which the eye ranged far away
to the river, and to a atill greater ele
vation.
Alone with her thought she was accus
tomed to seeking this spot, and it seemed
aa If her very surroundings gave her com
fort, yet nothing could ease the terrible
bain that tugged at her heart-strings.
Flie held a book In her hand, hut it did
not occupy her attention, for her gar.e
was far away, and her mind evidently
utioii the one subject nearest her heart.
Thus she sat when the eager eyes of an
approaching man fell upon her, and the
siiectaele brought mm to a auiiuen pause,
There waa that In her attitude that
brought most vividly to hla mind their
first meeting, when aha sat by the
brook, watching the garabola of the little
dog. and aa he gazed linger atinea
rroan of despair.
Wheo aha know that It waa Roger who
waa drawing near, Carol'a face whitened
until It resembled tb driven anow, while
ber pearly teeth seemed to penetrate the
carlet Una. and from her eyea thera
gleamed strong light, ancb aa may be
een la tha orba of a poor bunted deer,
brought to bay and turning upon hla hunt-
aarfl.
When Eoar had coma doaa to bar sb
turned her face and looked at him. He
could not help giving aa exclamation.
"Hood heaven! Carol, what Is the mat
ter with you? Your face la like death,
and your eyes shine aa with a fever.
There is that upon your features that re
proaches me, aye, stabs to the heart.
For heaveu s sake tell me what you in
tend to say, for something warns me the
worst has'not yet come. Are we not to
be friends, Carol?"
Then she laughed such a hollow mock
ery of a laugh. It was no more like the
ringing merriment of old than she was
like the artless girl whom Roger had met
that fateful day.
Y'ou come here and ask me that you,
of all men on earth? Does not your heart
reproach you, the heart to which human
misery appealed in vain? You tell me 1
look like death. ell, my heart is dead.
and to you belongs the blame. I live,
and jet do not live; I breathe the fresh,
pure air of heaven, but there is nothing
fair in my sight now. A blight rests
upon all the earth. When the eye is dis
torted all objects upon which It falls as
sume the same phase. So it is with me.
Need I say more, sir?"
He stood there, stricken dumb with
amazement, aye, with horror. What a
terrible crime he must have been guilty
of in her sight to call out this fnyu the
lips that had never spoken a cross word
before. It began to anger him. He had
suffered as man could hardly suffer twice
in a lifetime, and he counted it as naught.
Finally he found his voice, and. In spite
of his efforts, it trembled like a tightly
strung cord.
"Carol, we stand here face to face. The
post, with all its joys and sorrows, lies
behind us, the future before, but we live
only in the present. Since last we met
you have changed wonderfully. Tell
me why it is you look with aversion
where once you loved."
Something in his voice aroused all the
impetuosity of her nature. For the time
she forgot how she had loved, did love
even then, deep down in her heart, this
man who stood before her with bared
head, his arms folded across his chest,
and his frank eyes fastened upon her.
She only remembered how he had deceiv
ed her, and that beneath this proud ex
terior must beat a heart blacker than
sin.
"Where once I loved; You have said
it, Itoger Darrel. May heaven forgive
you for deceiving me as you did," he
cried.
"I deceive you, Carol?" he echoed.
"Those were my words, sir. I will put
them stronger if you wish basely deceiv
ed me. On the very night after you
saved me from that wicked wedding,
Nora Warner was dragged away by the
minions of that wretch of a mad-house
doctor, dragged off to misery and rack'
ing pain, and by your orders. Do not
attempt to deny it, air, for 1 can see the
assumed look of Innocent surprise on your
face, lou brought her to a living death
you ruined the life of the gypsy girl, Bar-
bara Merriles, and then, with your face
and aweet words, you tried to lure me
to destruction.
"What."'
The word burst from him like a pistol
shot. Aa if by magic the cloud was lift
ed, and he saw into what a terrible mis
take the young girl had fallen. His eyes
were opened to the truth, but it only
served to make his blood flow more rap
idly with indignation and anger.
"For whom do you take me?" he ask
ed coldly.
loo yourself declared that you were
Roger Darrel. and Roger Darrel' is the
man who sent his wife to the asylum to
be made mad. Surely the curse of ueav
en must follow that man forever; surely
the cries of his victims must ascend on
high and reach the great white throne.
For myself, I forgive you freely, because
I love have loved you In the past, but
in the name of those whom you have
wronged in the past I could almost fisk
heaven to crush you, broken-hearted as
I am."
"Save your pardon for those who ask
it. Miss Richmond. As for me, I do not
seek It. Looking back upon my past
life, I do not see an event for which 1
may have occasion to blush. As for
these things of which you accuse me, the
day will come when you will realize what
a terrible mistake you have made, and
u will cry out to heaven to cover your
head. I am a proud man, and from io
other lips than yours would 1 hear such
words. You have now gone too far.
Some day shortly I will seek you to show
you the proni or my innocence; seen
you to prove all that I ever claimed to be;
seek you to show that it was the taint on
my family name I feared, not because 1
had ever done aught that could bring dis
grace upon myself or the one I loved, anil
having done this, I will throw your love
from me like a tattered glove, for it was
false false.
She uttered a low, piteoua cry and held
out her ha mis for him to stop, but he
went on mercilessly, for she had rousvd
the lion.
"Once you told ma your love was aa
durable aa the rocks of the cliff; that
through good and evil report you would
trust In me until my lip aonnded your
death blow. How has it come out? At
the first breath of suspicion, your love
shudder and shrivel up, turning to
loathing. If that is your priceless love,
then heaven help the next man upon
whom you bestow it. I am going, Mis
Richmond. What! are you still dumb;
We shall meet once more, and when you
see me as the man I am, and not In the
guise of a villain who chance to belong
to my family and weara my name, then
perhaps you will deign to offer m your
forgiveness.
With these last bitter word, ha wheel
ed. One flash from bla eye and he bad
gone gone from ber In hot anger; gone
to collect the proof that wa to over
whelm her, while ah aat there, and bow
Ing ber head, wept bitter teara, for th
spell waa again upon ber, and ah would
bar believed him Innocent of those aw
ful alna tven abould th whole world ac
cus him.
ding about It exterior that aeemed
speak iu thunder tonea of the secret It
contained. A gloomy pile of masonry,
with small Iron-barred windows, and ur
rounded by a high wall there It stood, a
curse upon the face of nature.
In one of the little cell-like room wa
Nora Warner. They had brought her
back senseless, and "when she awoke to
life once more it was to find herself with-
lu the confines of the hated asylum where
It record sealed and sent on blub.
I'liknown to sll and seen ly none
tioept UoU' own all-aeeuig y.
Ah. me! those years, thoee vanished years,
' In memory, but beyond recall.
How nllvd with foolish doutit and fears,
Mow stained with sin and blotted alii
Wlmt ran w ask of thee but arac
To make these fsllutva of the past
The beacon lights by which to truce
j Our way to the. O Christ, at last!
Farewell, Old Year! There hat been day
l ....I III --. ..... ...... .1 .
.... . v. Kin- nil., in iv, ., ... i'nnh
she had already spent so many mouths J,m for them both we nlve (Sod praise,
of weary agony.
I'p to this time Doctor Grim had not
been very particular about inflicting any
of the tortures of the place upon her,
for his orders had principally been to h n
hold her a prisoner. If she went insane, I iiv,j our ken; we count the snn
overcome oy me norrors mar, aurruunuen
Though at the time nilstimlprstood.
Ills wisdom meiinures all our needs;
He knows the weakness of our frame;
HI love our highest thought exceeds;
He culls u by hi owu dour name.
her. well and good In fact, so much tho
better but so long as he received his pay
nd the Captain waa satisfied, the Doe-
or did not waste his time in dealing se-
erely with Nora Warner when he had
his hands full at any rate.
Every now and then new patients ar
rived at the asylum, which waa always
full, and It might be noticed that just
preceding each new arrival, a corpse was JJ
arrted out of the back door. There was
nothing secret about this matter of.p
burial, and the people living in the vl- f
ciuity had little idea of the hotbed of V
iniquity they were fostering In their I
midst.
It seems they had not given Nora War
ner credit for the sagacity she possessed.
She had escaped from the house and
fate had assisted to throw them off thoir
They come and go, we watch Slid wait
I'ntll our own set time shall come.
Qd of tha years, from out whoau hand,
With all our urectoua alfts. they come.
Give us the grace to tinderstnnd.
Aud make then) helps to lend ua hornet
Chrlstlau Work.
AN OLD MAN'S FIRST CHRISTMAS
Fi BY HOPE DARINQ, 0
ES, I will do It. Ifa the only way I
can be sure of making a fntr profit
next year. My workmen must under
stand that I run the mill to put money in
my own pocket.
There was an ugly frown on Gilbert
Bentley'a brow as he sat In hla shabby
guard by sending the poor girl with whom little study, communing with himself. He
Nora had exchanged her shawl and hat, I waa a small, stooping man of 05, with
to her death in the river.
The Doctor was enraged when he re
turned home, though he did not show it.
Indeed, the more furious his anger as a
general rule, the more smiling became his
face, but there was death iu that smile.
He realized that by the escape of Nora
Warner his institution had been placed
iu very great danger, for had she gone
to the proper authorities they would have
adjudged her perfectly sane and then be
lieved her story, which would have meant
ruin, financially, to him. He trembled
with fear and anger whenever he thought
of the narrow escape lie had had, and in-
1 1 .i. T i, .
wnruiy swore lutu u suouiu never occur
again.
Nora Warner was the first sane person
to escape from the walls of his-domain.
and she should be the last. Before a
month went by he would cause her to
lose her reason, and then if she should
manage to get out, her talk would be
an incoherent jumble of nonsense.
From the glowing description of the
mad-house doctor of the "princely home"
he provided for his poor patients, one
could imagine much that was pleasant,
from padded cells to elegant furniture
and Brussels carpet.
The cell of Nora Warner was a fair
sample of those in the institution, with
the exception of a few comfortable ones
that were occupied by those whose rela
tives really cared for them, and who hud
not suspected what a den they were
sending the poor unfortunates to.
With the exception of a small iron cot.
fastened to the floor, and a chair, secured
in the, same way, the cell was entirely
destitute of furniture. The walls were
damp and cold, and from the barred win
dow one could look down Into the grounds
of the asylum.
Beyond the great stone wall the pris
oner could see the waters of the Poto
mac glistening in the afternoon sun, as
she stood there one day, her white hands
crossed, and a strange look tipou her face.
(To be continued.)
Pac-ktne; a Picnic Dinner.
Whether the outing be for a day or a
month, the lunch la of the most Impor
tance, and the question Is, "How con It
be taken the easiest?" Into a basket
which must be brought back, or In
boxes, which of course can be thrown
away. Of course, the basket looks the
better, and It Is the proper thing If
some one la willing to shoulder the
burden, and for this purpose there are
the most nttractlve ones imaginable
for sale in the shops.
However, If It Is to be a railroad
lunch, the box Idea Is recommended
A big pasteboard one the kind one's
dresses come home In may be tilled
with Innumerable small boxes and jars
Tin cracker-boxes for all kinds of moist
things such as chicken, beef, or bam
cut In slices small (taking powder and
spice Ihfxcs-, or the little tin half-pound
Ikixob druggists use, may be used for
mayonnaise dressing, sandwich-fillings,
soft cheese mixtures, sweet pickles,
marmalades, and Jellies; even butter
Is letter carried In a box, to be sprea
with a silver knife when needed. Small
pasteboard boxes will do for bread niu
cake and even pie. Of course, all these
Ihxcs must lie lined with pnrallln pn
jht, their covers neatly tied on am
labeled, so that the unpiicker will not
serve (lessen um. woman a Home
Companion.
A Weak Kefena.
Mrs. Newed I baked some bread
this morning and placed It In tho win
dow to cool and a man snatched up a
loaf of It end started to run away, but
a policeman caught him.
Newed Was he taken to Jail?
Mrs. Newed No. The poor fellow
said he was starving, so I gave him
the bread and told the policeman to let
lil in go.
Newed You have been Imposed upon,
my dear. That man wasn t starving.
Mrs. Ncwed-How do you know?
Newed Because a slarvlng man
would never have the strength to run
away with a loaf of your bread.
Double.
"What'a the matter with Jones?"
"Why?"
"He goes along aa abstractedly aa
though be were drunk and were see
ing double."
'He Is. They bare twins at bla
home." ,
searching blue eyes, aud a cold, forbid
ding expression.
"I'll do It at once. One week from
to-morrow I'll announce a cut of ten per
annnd of footsteps and volcea In th hall.
Tha door of the study wa thrown open,
and a aweet vole cried:
"Grandpa, are you here 7"" J" ' '
Befor Mr. Bentley could apeak, Pimp-
son, hla old i;ngllli housekeeper, enter
ed. In one haud ah held akft a lighted
lanipr thus showing Gilbert Bentley his
unexpected visitor. Kha was a aleuder
girt of sixteen, dimpled, blond face
lighted by sunny blue eyea.
"Why, don't you know me? I am
Florence, and I am glad ao glad to bb
you!"
Sha waa at hla side, both arm round
his neck, and her lips uplifted for hla
kls. Aa In a dream ha listened as aha
told how she had grown tired of spend
ing her vacations at tha school.
You know, grniidpn, that It 1 dread
ful to have no one of your very own to
be glad with, and I've come to spend
Chrlstmna with you."
The girl waa so sure that her grand
father waa glad to oe her that he could
not tell her she was unwelcome. An hour
later they aat at dinner. Th old man
looked across to where tha girl' golden
head gleamed In tha lamp.
Kh chatted gayly. When they rose
from tha table aha went with hltn to th
study. Sitting on a stool, ah told him of
her school llf.
"I am happy thera. grandpa, but I will
b glad when school la finished. Than I
can keep house for you. It haa bean ao
kind In you to do without ni ao 1 could
be educated.
Ha made no response. They parted
without tha word being said that would
send Florence back to school, Mr. Bent
ley resolved to say them at breakfast tha
next morning. There ha found himself
confronted by that smiling fuce, and wa
obliged to hold hi peace.
Florence stayed. Simpson, the maid
aud the man all delighted to serve her,
A few simple changes were mail In the
dreary . old house. Mr. Bentley chose
soma new furniture. He ordered that
good tires should be kept up and bade
stood open, IT noted th rasa of ecar-
et carnations, ordered from the Cy. lu
th center of th table. Upon a qualut
obi sideboard waa a basket of oranges
and pule green grapea and a plate of the
nuta over which Florence loved to linger
while b drank hla colTea.
The old insti'a face softened. He aat
down before the fire. He wa ao eu
grossed in thought that he did uot bar
Florence enter.
You precious grandpa!" Again her
arma were round in nee. i iouuu
your gift, and I thank you a thousand
time. But grandpa, I want to ask you
for something more. It I a part In your
work I want you to give in. And I
want to give you my help myself. It
la a wonderful position you hold ao
much wealth anil o many people whom
you enn help. On thl best of all nlghte
the birth night of our dear Ha v lor, lt
Ui give ourselves anew to the work you
have been doing alone."
"Little girl, you don t understand. I
have not been what you thluk I have,
and "
Her dimpled haud closed hU Up. "You
ar not to malign my dear grandfather.
Wa will work together, will w not?"
"Yes. dear."
' In iUfum two word the old man re
nounced hla gred and aalfishnes. Oa
the morrow hla workmen should receive,
hot reduction of their wagea, but aa
aisurance of hi good will and Interest
In them. For thl child' aak he would
learn to know and do hi duty.
"It will be our first Chrlstma to
gether," Florence anld dreamily, bar
cheek pressed agnlnst his.
"Yes, Httl girl. It will really be my
first, my very first, Chrlstmaa." Home
Monthly. !
The Porto Ittoan hrlatniaa.
Christina In Porto Rico I a church
fesllval of much Importance and the cele
bration of It la made up chiefly of re
llgiotia ceremonies Intended to coiiimom
oriile the principal events lu the life of
WAITING FOR SANTA CLAUS.
s -Is: i
- ' ,1:
my. f -V , 4 J- :
'-jx' 'jv
VStfMffl
a. mT V t C H ..'
. j l
1 1
,ti
a
V:
7i
v
i
i
!!
' ; . ! ,
l-. . I. tiit .,
( i
stilLuitavfelji at mm-' ttf '
if !! V
t c
it
:,v:,;ar:' h,v:-v :',; ;
s
CIIAPTER XVI.
On th Fototnacl
, "The "princely home" provided for bla
oad wife by Captala Grant otherwise
cent on all wage. One week that will
be tb twenty-fifth. Why. that will b
Christina, and th men must have a
holiday. Christmas! As If that old super
stition made any difference with th
world to-day!"
The frown on hi brow deepened. He
leaned back, staring from a 4udow. II
could see the long, low building of th
Bentley Lumber Company. In th back
ground waa the leadens forest. I'll) aun
was setting and the sky, above the tret
tops, wa tinged with a rosy glow.
(iillx-rt Bentley hud Spent ten year
In that lumbering village. In that tlm
! hid double.! hi capital. Now, owing
to a genrl depression, 111 profit wer
small. To continue hla businena through
Ihe winter would mean very lift! profit.
but doubtlesa the spring would bring a
change. Wall, be would Dot wait for
spring.
Money bad alwaya been Gilbert llent
ley' god. II bad begun llf a poor boy
and had worked hi way npward, un
aided. Hi life had been too busy for
sentiment To be aiire h had married.
Hla wtf lived only a few ytsr. Thar
w a child. Harold bad grown up, high
spirited and proud, la arly mtnhned
be married against II father's wish.
KstransemtSt bad followed. Harold and
bis wlf died within a few month of
ach other, leaving a little daughter.
Pride prompted Mr. Bentley to pay the
The authorities at Mlnden, Germany,
have made a bacteriological examina
tion of school Inks. They have found
that most of them contain bacteria, girl's bills at a good school, bat he vr
which. If anlmsls are Inoculated with eaw bar.
them, often Drove fatal. I The ooer bell raag sod uere waa u
KiiiipKoii sea llnit tin) table was well
spread.
illicit Bentley was Miwcr!e. ! lor
enie would think the best of Mm. She
would think Hint he loved her and wns
glad to have lier there. Slio would be
lieve that be shared her own lov for hu
manity and her reverent tnmt In God.
Hhe went with him to the mill and
through the village. There her liiUtnken
Idea of M character showed In a strong
light. Many f hi workmen were living
In poverty. Kh knew be wn doing all
be could for them, but wn there not
roin way aha could help? Wlmt wa It
going to do for the mn and for tha
rhiirviir of the town for Oirlstihae?
Then they must remember th little chll
dreti.
t'hrlxtmna I've came. Mr. Bentley
had slinmefscedly ordered Hlinpwiii to
provide a "regulnr Chrlstmaa dinner."
He had never made a I hrlstmaa girt In
hla Ufa, but nnw well, Morance wool
persist In talking aa If ( hrintuiaa in lit
a murk to Idin aa it flia to Her.
lie waa thinking of thl a he walked
home that evening. It waa allowing, and
Ihe wind buffeted him sa he mounted th
lope. Tb ott day th mill must atud
Idle, hut en the following morning th
men abould be notified of th reduction
In their wtge. How angry they would
be! Gllbeat Bentley'a llpa closed In
firm, cruel line. He bad looked out for
himself; other most do the aame.
He rearhed the bouae. Aa be paaeed
tbretffa the ball the dining room door
he Hnvlor. Beginning with the celo-
rntinn of Mis birth at "Christmas time,
he feast day follow one another In
rapid succession. Indeed, It may Justly
ie n id Unit they do not really come te
nn end until Easter.
Mudden and Surprising.
"Whnt do you most desire for Christ
mas, Miss Mabel
"Oh, George, this Is so sudden!"
"Wh T.bt do you mean?"
"Why, of course, 1 want you!"
, Very I;asy.
Pat Whoy Is th' owld yar klke a
whet towel, Nora, darllnt?
Nora Whoy?
Fat Because they alwii ring It oai.
V
I