CHAPTER XV. (Contiuued.)
Every nerve ia Pauline's body was vi
brating, and- a sense of suffocation came
over her. Had this man at last seen
the advertisement or been told of It?
Perhaps, too, he had been to those dread
ful people, Daws & Raven, and obtain
ed from them the Information that would
tuin her. She turned to Jack eagerly.
"Don't see them, Jack!'1 she said,
pleadingly. "They will keep you all the
afternoon, and we are so comfortable." '
Jack felt that his position was hardly
pleasant. If they had .asked for him
he ought to go to-them.-.: But still he
admitted that Pauline's objection was
quite natural. He could understand her
wish that he should not meet Ethel more
than was -necessary. .
. "Very well," he acquiesced. ."Not at
home, Babette."
The Frenchwoman retraced her steps
down the long gallery, with' a look of
deep disappointment on her face. She
had expected so much from the appear
ance of these people. She had built, on
the abrupt termination of this hateful
engagement through them, and now the
chance was lost, utterly lost, just be
cause she could not bring about the de
sired interview.
This disappointment, coming after her
morning's failure at Daws' office, broke
down her spirit altogether, and for the
first time she began to believe that she
must resign herself to the inevitable
that the marriage could not be prevent
ed, and she must be satisfied with the
poor revenge of depriving Pauline of
her unlawful possessions. She clinched
her teeth with defeated rage as she en
tered the boudoir.
"No, hiadame has not yet returned,"
she said, and held the door for them to
pass out into the gallery.
But in that moment of her utter de
spair the tide turned and carried her
on to speedy victory. She preceded Mr.
and Miss Mallett until they reached the
central hall, and then handed them over
to the footman. She stood watching
them as they re-entered the hired car
riage. As they drove off some one
plucked' at her from behind. She turned
round in surprise to meet Mrs. Perkins,
whom she had passed in the corridor,
outside the boudoir, superintending the
arranging of fresh flowers In the window
stand. The housekeeper's usually florid
face was quite pale, and she jerked out
her words in a curious, breathless way:
"Who are those people you have just
shown out?"
"Mr. and Miss Mallett"
"They are nothing of the kind! The
gentleman is Sir Geoffrey Mailing, Baro
net, brother of Sir Paul and uncle to
our present mistress, and the young lady
Is like enough to the family to be his
daughter."
The Frenchwoman stood looking at
her with a gigantic triumph in her face
as she muttered:
"At last at last!"
CHAPTER XVI.
"Will Mr. Mallett call on Messrs.
Daws & Raven, at their offices, 16 Le
man street, E. C, between 2 and 3
o'clock' to-day? They have private In
formation of the greatest value to Im
part to him."
Ethel leaned over her father's shoul
der and read the telegram.
"What can It mean, papa? It's very
mysterious. Shall you go? I wish you
would take me with you. I shall be in
such a state of excitement until you
come back."
"I could not think of taking you to a
place I know nothing of, my dear. It
might be Inconvenient to have you with
me."
"Why, papa, I believe you are excited
and curious! It is the first time I ever
'saw you so interested."
"Yes, I Am curious. It strikes me as
odd that, after living an uneventful life
for the last twenty years, I should one
day break my vow as to never revisiting
Mallingford Park unless as Its owner,
'and the next day receive this curious
message. I dare say it is only a coinci
dence; but still it is strange and I can't
help connecting the one event with the
other."
Surely there was some strangely ex
hilarating quality in the atmosphere this
morning, for Ethel went about her busi
ness In a brisker manner than she had
lately. Her nerves were a little bit un
strung, too, for, when about 8 o'clock
there came a very decided rat-a-tat-tat
at the door, she was worked up to such
a state of extreme expectation that she
almost shrieked aloud. She ran to her
usual post of observation, the stair head,
and was surprised, pleased, sorry, dis
turbed, all in a moment, at the sight of
Captain Pelllng.
She was almost tempted to send him a
message to the effect that she could not
see him just then; but slie had a horror
of deception, and indeed she was really
glad to see him again. A few seconds
later she was shaking hands with him,
and her shyness had completely van
ished.
After the question as to sport there
was an awkward little pause, and Ethel
felt her heart quicken with dread. Shak
ing herself free from this feeling, she
turned to her visitor.
"You have not asked why papa Is not
at home," she remarked, with a deter
mination to avoid personal topics.
"To be sure! It Is Saturday! I had
forgotten! And why is he not at home?"
"I will show you why;" and she
HPc 7i7e's Secret,
OR A BITTER RECKONING
By CHARLOTTE At. BRAEMB
fetched the telegram and gave It to him.
"How mysterious! Quite like an
event In a novel! Has Mr. Mallett any
Idea as to what it means?"
"Not a bit! I'm expecting him home
soon, and then we shall hear all about
it"
"In which case I had better be off.
It may be private family business, you
know." , , ,
"I don't think papa would mind your
knowing. He looks upon you as a sin
cere friend. You are the only one he
has cultivated within .my Memory."
Poor Ethel!' She'" hid 'unwittingly
brought down an avalanche upon her
self. - ,'. '. ' '
"You see, he has a ', treasure beyond
price in his keeping, and he guards It
jealously." '.'' T- - V- t ,
For a mohient the-drift of his remark'
did not strike her; she concluded he was
alluding to the secret of her father's
birth, which she had thought was
known, only to Lor.d Summers. She was
surprised ', that" 'he should 'know the se
cret; but she said 'nothing,-and quietly
awaited an explanation. ''"
Pelling was slightly disconcerted' by
her unexpected sijence and her inquiring
gaze. He felt that he ,had committed
himself In some way, and honestly re
gretted that he had been so' indiscreet,
but he felt that he had gone too far to
recede, and therefore went on reckless
ly' . . .".
"Mr. Mallett is well aware that if a
man meets you often he must learn to
love you."
He stopped abruptly after this, and
noticed the, quick flush that overspread
her face: then, impelled by an irresisti
ble impulse, he continued:
"I know I ought not to . say this to
you without 'first speaking to Mr. Mal
lett; but he has been so kind to me that
I have allowed myself to hope he would
not object , to me as a' son-in-law, be
yond the one great objection that ap
plies to every one I should rob him1 of
you. Yet I would not even do that en
tirely. He should, have his own rooms
in our home, and he could be with us as
often and as long as he liked. I would
make both so happy, if you would let
me! ' I would cherish you so tenderly
and take such care of you that an anx
ious thought should never come near
you, and the trouble in your face which
I cannot help seeing sometimes should
die from sheer Inanition."
He paused, while Ethel sat quite still,
her hands pressed closely together ' in ;
her lap, the flush still burning in her
cheek. He yearned to take her into his
arms and hold her there; but, reading
distress In her burning cheeks and avert
ed eyes, he determined not to press for
an answer to-day. '
- "I'm afraid I've worried and dis
tressed you. I'm very sorry. I won't
trouble you. about It any more just now.
Try to think the, best you can of what
I have said, and let us go oh for a time
as we have been, good friends." He
rose from his seat, and held out his
hand to her.
Ethel was touched more than she
thought was possible by the unselfish
ness of his words. He had made no
allusion to his own feelings or suffer
ings, yet she knew the suspense he
would undergo if matters were left as
they stood then. She resolved to tell
him everything, and let him decide.
"Don't go for a few minutes, please,
she besought him, nervously. "I have
something I ought to tell you. I have
loved some one else very dearly."
He looked gravely and pityingly at the
pretty flushed face; but there were no
signs of surprise as he answered:
'I guessed as much. You must for
give me for having played the spy; but
I loved you so dearly from the first mo
ment I saw you that I could not help
watching you, and I found it out I
know that whoever is to blame for the
breaking off of this previous engage
ment, it Is not you; and, in spite of the
fact of yur having promised in the
past to be the wife of another, I am
longing to hear you repeat that promise
to me. If you can bring yourself to do
it, I will try my best to deserve my great
happiness by my devotion to you."
Again the thought rose in Ethel s
heart, "If I had only known this man
before I knew Jack!" All that she could
find words to say was: "How good you
are!"
"Nay, I am afraid there Is no great
goodness in me; but I would try to be
all goodness to you. Will you let me
try?"
Should she confess that she still suf
fered from the pangs or. Blighted love?
There was a short struggle in her mind
between pride and honesty. . The latter
prevailed, and she rose from her seat,
and crossed to the fireplace. She held
the mantelboard firmly by one hand, and
then, regarding him steadily, she said,
without a pause or tremor:
"You do not understand what It Is I
want you to know. It is only very late
ly that my engagement with some one
else was broken off so lately, indeed
that I have not recovered from It. I
wish you to bear Ahis In mind that I
am still sorry about it. At the same
time I know you have done me a great
honor, for I think you are true and hon
orable, and I believe that if I had time
to leave this sad memory behind me I
could honestly accept you, and bring not
only my gratitude, but my love to our
horns; as things are just now I -eel It
would not b right to say simply I would
wire without lotting you know
how It is with mo.
Poor Ethel! Her heart was laid bare
now, and she trembled violently. Polling
came over to her and warmly took both
her hands In his.
"My peari among women!" he ex
claimed "My pure, truthful, little love!"
tier hands trembled In his firm clasp,
as he led her to her father's armchair
and went down upon his knees, still hold
ing her hands tightly. '
iow, listen to me, my darling, and
when I say anything of which you dis
approve, stop me. I shall Bee your fath
er and explain everything to him; I
shall claim the privilege of doing what
I can to make your life a little brighter
and pleasanter in the present. I shall
u-i Wik of love .to you In any way;
but I shall let you see a good deal of
me In one shape or another. I will a-ive
you plenty of time to get over your pres
ent sorrow, and I shall not look upon
you as my afllaneed In the meantime;
Dut one day, a few mouths hence, I shall
come- again and ask the same question
that I have asked to-dny, and you shall
answer me ns truthfully as you have
done to-dny, and then the matter shall
be settled one way. or the other."
' Ethel, blushing, made no reply; and
the captain, leaning forward, his' f,ce
all aglow , with feeling, kissed her with
a .gentle, lingering 'kiss. '. .9. . ,
- "Heaven bless and keep you, my' dar-'
ling!" . :.'
'With these words rincing in' her ears,.
Ethel watched the captain as he hasten-,
ed from the room. ,
CHAPTER XVII. ,
Mr. Mallett, in evident Impatience,
walked Up and down the confined "siMc'e"
between Daws' office .table and' th''(ioo.
Daws had refused to say ''anything i in
the absence of the lady for whom he
was acting, tnd whom he expected mo
mentarily. The door opened behind him; and,
turning round, he saw Babette breath
less and flushed, uneeremonlpusly enter
the room. He recognized her at once as
the maid he had seen at Mallingford
Park on the previous day, and he turned
a dusky red as the thought that he had
been entrapped Into some backstair in
trigue against his niece passed through
his mind.
"But I am fortunate to find you here
still! I feared you would depart before
my arrival."
Mr. Mallett bowed slightly, and wait
ed for her to go on.
"Ah, I see!" cried the woman "you
are of the Mailing family" he winced
"and you have amazement in your
heart, that I,' a mean domestie.j should
dare to make an appointment with you!
But you will . have more amazement
when I tell you ,why I do this. f'Do you
know your niece, Miss Mating, very
well?"
Mr. Mallett drew himself up proudly.
"I came here to receive information,
not to answer questions. If you have
brought me here thinking that I should
help in any scheme against my niece,
you are mistaken. . If you have any
news to impart which concerns me, . I
will listen; if not, I will wish you good
afternoon."
He took his hat from the table and
turned to the door.
"But one moment! I have news to tell
you news that concerns yourself very
dearly. What would you do if I were
to tell you that this woman who calls
herself your niece is no niece at all, that
the whole estate is of right yours, that
your niece is dead and buried?" '
She watched him keenly; but beyond
putting his hand suddenly on the back
of a chair, near him, he gave no sign of
surprise.
"I should say that you labored under
a nistake."
"I am going to show you something
that will put you right on to the straight
track leading to this woman's downfall
and your restoration to what has been
yours ever since your brother's death
Mallingford Park."
Mr.. Mallett drew a deep breath, and
then asked, laconically:
"And your price?"
Babette felt that there was a gleam
in the eyes watching her from behind
the table, and, she looked at Daws in
stinctively. He mistook the look to
mean, "You name the price," and he
said, immediately:
"One year's rent, roll."
"In other words, between eleven and
twelve thousand pounds?" Interrogated
Mr. Mallett.
Daws nodded his head affirmatively.
"The affair, so far as I am concerned,
Is ended."
Babette glared for an instant at the
lawyer and muttered, "You vampire!"
Then turning to Mr. Mallett, she said,
In her best manner, "He is mistaken,
monsieur; the price arranged between us
was five thousand pounds on the day
you take possession."
"To be conferred by deed of gift con
ditionally beforehand," put in the law
yer. "Very good. I accept those terms on
the understanding that the lady in ques
tion is proved to be an utter stranger
by blood." ' '
"You will sign .the undertaking before
you see onr proof," Daws said, raising
the lid of his desk as he spoke, and
producing , a ready-prepared document.
"We must, have a disinterested witness
to the signature, If you please. Joe
Blake, come here!"
A wretched lad sneaked from the
outer office into the room, watched Mr.
Mallett sign, put his own name to the
paper, and then shuffled out again.
"Now we can proceed to business,'
chuckled Daws. "The next move is
yours, Ma'mselle Lestrange. It is plain
to be seen that the whole thing is dis
tasteful to Mr. Mallett. He is a man of
refinement, and this companionship on
an equality with people so Immeasurably
his inferiors grates most disagreeably
on his sense of the fitness of things."
(To be continued.)
SORES
Whenever a sore or ulcer does not heal, 110 matter on what part of the
body it may be, it ia because of a poisoned condition of the blood. This
poison may be the remains of some constitutional trouble ; the effect of a
long spell of sickness, which has left this vital stream polluted and weak,
or because the natural refuse matter of the body, which should pass off
through the channels of nature, has been left in the system and absorbed
into the circulation. It does not matter how the poison became Intrenched
in the blood, the fact that the sore is there and does not heal is evidence of
a deep, underlying cause. There is nothing that causes more discomfort,
worry and anxiety than a festering, discharging old sore that resists treat
ment. The very sight of it is abhorrent and suggests pollution and disease ;
besides the time and attention required to keep it clean and free from other
infection. As it lingers, slowly eating deeper into the surrounding flesh, the
sufferer grows morbidly anxious, fearing it may be cancerous. Some
of those afflicted with an old sore or t . . , , , , ,, ,,
.,l-- 1.--. .1. 1 !i . y I have had a orlppled foot all tny life.
Ulcer know how useless it IS to ex- whioh compelled me to uo a braoe. Bjr
pect a cure from Salve8, powders- lo- ome t-aoopunt,le means this brao
finn. o,l n,.. ..t 1 i . caused a bad Uloer on my leg-, about six
uons and other external treatment, years aro. I had good medical atten-
Through the use nf flips thnv hav
BPMi tl?A !-,-, f t,i j
" " f W(,1U fc 11EIU C&Illi OIULT
over, and were congratulating them
selves that they would soon be rid of
the detestable thing, when a fresh
supply of poison from the blood
would cause the Inflammation and old discharge to return and the sore would
be as bad or worse than before. Sores that do not heal are not due to out
side causes ; if they were, external treatment would cure them,; They are
kept open because the blood i3 steeped in poison, which finds an jputltjt
through these places. While young people, and even children, sometimes
suffer with non-healing sores, those most usually afflicted are persons past
middle life. Often, with them, a wart or mole 011 the face inflames and be
gins -9 ulcerate from, a little rough handling ; or a-.deep, offensive ulcer de
velops from a slight cut or bruise.. Their vital energies and powers of re
sistance have grown less, and circtilntiqn weaker, 'and perhaps some taint in
fte blood, which was, held in check by ' their' stronger constitutions of early
fz sv mz
B?:'BS
rUnLLT "tut I M D LIl.i sores.and uTcers, and that is to get every
particle of the' poison out of the blood. ' For tbis purpose nothing equals
S. S. S. It goes down to the very bottom of the trouble, cleanses the blood
and makes a permanent cure. S. S. S. enriches and freshens the circulation
60 that it carries new, strong blood to the diseased parts and allows the place
to heal naturally. When this is done the discharge ceases, the sore scabs
over and fills in with healthy flesh, and the skin regains its natural color.
IJook on Sores and ulcers and any medical advice desired will be furnished
without charge. THE SWIFT SPECIFIC CO.. ATLANTA. GAm
Lawyers.
I have seen something of legnl prac
tice on both sides of the Atlantic, and
my opinion ia that our professitm
would gain lmnteiieiy by combining
Jthe two branches pretty much as they
are combined In the United States and
Canada, says a writer in the London
Saturday Ueview. It is obvious that
the solicitors would profit by.. such an
agreement. They would have the right,
of audience in ait courts and the op
portunity to qualify themselves . for
promotion to the bench.
In America the young lawyer goes
Into an office, where he makes bis
merit known by steady attention to
business. There will always be two
kinds of lawyers those who stay In
their offices, dealing directly with cli
ents and attending to matters of rou
tine, and those who' advise on points
of law and argue cases in court
These two orders of men are clearly
distlgulshed In America, but they
work together as partners to the great
advantage of the client
Never Smiled Again.
"How do you manage to write all
those funny things?" asked the inquis
itive female of the Jokesmlth. ,
"With a typewriter; madam," an
swered the so-much-per-yard grin pro
ducer. "Indeed!" exclaimed the I. f. "Don't
you know, I Imagined you used some
sort of copying apparatus."
Infrequent Occasion.
"You must try to love your papa as
much as he loves you," said the vis
itor. "Oh, I love him more," replied Tom
my. "Indeed? Doesn't your papa love
you very much?"
"Not much. He says he only loves
me when I'm good." Philadelphia
Press.
Mystery of the Pug Dog;.
It's awfully hard to understand how
pug dogs can like the sort of people that
like them. Cleveland Leader.
Help!Help!
I'm Falling
Thus cried the hair. And a
kind neighbor came to the res
cue with a bottiV of Ayer's
Hair Vigor. ' The hair was
saved ! In gratitude, it grew
long and heavy, and with all
the deep, rich color of early
life. Sold in all parts of the
world for sixty years.
" About one year ago I lot nearly all of my
hair following an attack of measles. I was
advised by a friend to use Ayer's Hair Vigor.
I did so, and as a remit I now have abeautlftil
head of hair." MK8. W. J. UuoWM, Meuow
onee Falls, Wis.
A
Had by J. 0. Ayef Co., Lowell, Uaaa.
Also manufacturers at
7. SARSAPAKILLA.
tiers
PILLS.
CHERRY PECTCSAL.
THAT DO
NOT HEAL
tlon. but the TJloor sot worse. I was In
duoed to try S. 8. 8., and am ffla
ad to say
that It saved my leg- for me. I have,
therefore, grant faith in S. 8. 8. and
gladly recommend It to all needing' a,
reliable blood medloine.
Bristol, Va.-Tenn. W. J. CATE.
H .i ..life, shows ltst-ir. it is well to be sus
. . (..pieious of airy sore that does not heal
readily; because the same germ that
.- produces Cancer is back of every old
. fspre .arid otjjy nced3 to be left in the
circtiloiion tp produce this fatal disease.
A NOVEL ADVERTISEMENT.
It Appeared In a Iterent Ismie of a
London Newn paper.
A HOPELESSLY INCOMPETENT FOOL,
with no quulltlralloiiH, social or Intellee
tunl, totally devoid of knowledge 011 nay
caiiiwIvNlile subject, thoroughly Indolent
and untruBt worthy, Is desirous of olitnln
lng a remunerative iost In any capacity.
Address I. F. 3, Mai-Use roud, West Keu
slngtou. The sublime candor of the above
advertisement which appeared in a
recent Issue of the London Times has
caused some amusement and attracted
a great deal of attention among busi
ness men, says the London Express.
Many declared that "I. V." was fl
practical joker; others that .le had a
definite object In view when he made
himself out to be a fool.
That this latter solution was the cor
rect one an Express repreHeutatlvd
learned yesterday from "I. F." him
self. Ills object, he said, was to at
tract the attention of employers .by
going out of the beaten track.
"I. F.," who Is. about 27 years old,
Is rather more alert and Intelligent
than the average man with an ordi-'
nary public school education, and his
face is a particularly honest one.
"I thought If I said exactly the op
posite to what most people In search
of a billet Insert In the' newspapers,"
he said, "I might stand a good chance
of hearing from employers tired of
superlative virtues, and I have not
been disappointed.
"I have this morning received two
genuine offers and appointments frr
Interviews from the heads o"! good
firms and a large number of letters
and post cards from practical jokeis.
It was Inevitable, of course, that thre
or four of the writers should have
advised me to apply at once to the
war office, 'where I would be sure of
a billet.'
"I have been schoolmasterlng seven
years, and although I have a small
Dlllet now, I wish to better myself."
Not llullt For Two.
When Michael Burke Joined his
brother James In this , country, the
money he brought over, added to
Tame's savings, enabled them to go
nto the Ice business. In course of
time their custom increased, and it
became necessary for them to have an
)fllce. In this James soon installed a
ilee roll-top desk.
"The one desk will do for the two
f us," he explained, tne day It was
jet us. "And here are two keys; one
for you, ' Micky, and one for me."
Michael accepted the key, but seemed
io be studying the desk.
".That's all rlghC he said. "But
nrhere Is my keyhole?"
Art Note.'
Mrs. Syllle My husband takes a
deep Interest In art.
Mrs. Older You surprise me.
Mrs. Syllle Well, it was a surprise
to me. But I heard him .telling Jack
Rownder last night that it was a good
thing to study your hand before you
draw. Cleveland Leader.
CURES WHERE ALL EISI line
Best Cough Syrup, Tastes Good. Use
in lime, poiq py druggNts.
..iJMiiJj-idr.Tiir
1