4CXXXXXX
r
CHAPTER XXI. (Continued.)
"So you have been a rich woman,
I'auline," he said, turning to her kind
ly. He did not know yet how far this
estrangement had been Intentional on
her part, and he would give her the
benefit of the doubt. "I, too, have fallen
on prosperous time. Now, what are you
going to do? Shall I see you home? Or
shall I call on you to-morrow, when you
will be quieter and calmer? Or will
you come and look at my little place
now?"
Then, for the first time, Pauline raised
her head; and again Jack saw the ex
pression of the carved tigers' heads as
she answered her husband.
"I will not accompany you anywhere;
I would sooner klil myself for I hate
you!"
The shocked clergyman would have
poken; but Pelling stopped him cour
teously but firmly.
"You must pardon me; but this Is my
affair, as you must acknowledge, and
mine only." Then turning to the raging
woman, he went on: "In those circum
stances further discussion would be use
less;" and only Jack, who was watch
ing him closely, guessed what wonderful
self-control he was exerting to keep him
self from exposing and upbraiding the
woman to whom he spoke. "I will give
you the address of my solicitor, and all
future communications must be made
through him." He wrote the address on
a leaf of his pocketbook, tore It out, and
placed It on the table beside her. "And
now, Mrs. Pelling, may I see you to your
cab?"
She rose and drew herself up defiantly,
and then swept from the vestry; and
Pelling followed her in polite attend
' nce. He returned in a few seconds.
"And now, Mr. Dornton," he said, "if
you will favor me with your company, I
shall be glad to give and receive explana
tions." After wishing the clergyman "Good
morning,"' the two men Jumped Into the
cab which brought Pelling from the sta
tion, and drove to a hotel. They talked
on Indifferent subjects until they were In
possession of a private room, and the
waiter had finally retired, after receiv
ing orders for luncheon In half an hour.
Then Pelling turned to Jack and be
gan: "It seems to me that you and I are
fated, to cross each other's paths, Mr.
Dornton. I have heard you spoken of
pretty often lately by a Mr. Mallett, a
particular friend of mine."
"Indeed?" said Jack, uncomfortably,
not relishing this sudden and Intentional
Introduction of the Malletts' name; for,
since his conversation with Lord Sum
mers, Jack felt less proud than ever
of his own share in the rupture with
Ethel. He thought, too, that Mr. Pell
ing would not have heard much to his
credit from that source.
"I see what you are thinking," Pell
ing observed; "but you are wrong. Mr.
Mallett has spoken of you to me only
as a promising man in your profession.
The other matter that Is in your mind I
took the liberty of finding out for my
self. Now, I have a proposition to make
to you."
CHAPTER XXII.
Pelling paused and looked attentively
at the young man. He knew there was
not much generosity in giving Ethel up,
as he could not marry her himself dur
ing the lifetime of his wife, and, hav
ing plenty of true manliness, he did not
mean to make any show of the misera
ble .pain that was gnawing at his heart;
nut he felt he should like to know what
sort of man this was whose path he
Intended to smooth for him as far as lay
in his power; and, while he thought of
this, the memory of Ethel's face, pained
and sorrowful as he saw It when she
made to him her confession of love for
this Dornton came suddenly before him,
and he knew that the greatest kindness
he could do her would be to restore her
lover. Presently he said, abruptly:
"You have nearly broken Ethel's
heart."
Jack flushed furiously, and half rose
from his chair. Pelling motioned to him
to keep calm.
"I asked you to be patient with me,"
lie reminded Jack. "My motive should
xcuse me to you. The pith of the whole
matter is this was the engagement be
tween yon and Ethel broken off In con
sequence of your Infatuation for my
wife, or had you ceased to care for her
before you met Pauline? As man to
man, I ask you for a truthful answer."
"I can't for the life of me understand
by what right," begnn Jack, hotly.
"For heaven's sake, don't waste time
In splitting straws when so much Is at
-stake!" Pelling said, impetuously. "You
can't understand my right to Interfere?
I will explain. I love Ethel Mallett as
I never loved, never shall love, never be
lieved it possible to love; and until this
morning I had the hope of making her
my wife some day, when she had had
time to forget you. I think my love for
her gives me the right to do what I can
to secure her happiness; and I believe her
"happiness rests with you. I can't have
her myself, or I do not think I could
be unselfish enough to give her up. I
might, but I don't think it Now to re
turn to our point was your Infatuation
for my wife the only cause of the
trangement between you two?"
Jack was greatly impressed, as he un
derstood now why Pelling spoke with so
much effort, and be felt touched by, his
The ife,s Secret,
OR A BITTER RECKONING
By CHARLOTTE M. BRAEMB
devotion. Added to this was the feel
ing of shame that had oppressed him
ever since his tnlk with Lord Summers.
"Come you needn't mind confessing
your weakness to me," Telling went on,
encouragingly. "Bless you, man I know
how Pauline can twist any man round
her finger if she likes to try I I sup
pose she was smitten with you, and
spread her nets to snare you, and you,
not seeing the snare, fouud yourself
enamored of her without knowing how
It happened. And I dare say, If the
truth were known, when the first mad
burst was over, and you thought out
things quietly, you would have given a
good deal never to have seen her at all,
and wished you had behaved differently
to Miss Mallett.
Jack jumped up, his face beaming,
and wrung Pelling's hand.
"I could not say It myself, but that
Is really just how It has been with me.
I am not good at expressing my feelings;
but I know you are behaving very well
to me much better than I deserve and
I thank you. And now what do you wish
me to do?"
"Go right away for a few months.
Write to me now and again, and I will
take care that Miss Mallett hears what
ever Is likely to be of use to you. Give
her time to forget the Indignity you have
put on her and her love. I shall be
on hand In the character of a benevolent
patriarch, and the moment I see signs
favorable to our plot I will bring about
a meeting. The rest will He with your
self." "How can I thank you?"
"You owe me no thanks. Relieve your
mind on that point. What I am doing
I do out of my sincere wish for Miss
Mallett's happiness. If you really think
you owe me anything pay It in kindness
to your wife after you are married. Here
is luncheon. We will talk by and by
of your Immediate plans."
When they had finished luncheon, and
Jack had left, Pelling laid down on the
hard horsehair sofa, with his hands under
his head, gazing steadfastly at the ceil
ing; and it was not until the evening,
when the waiter came to light the gas,
that he was roused from his deep rev
erie. He then pulled himself together,
called for his bill, and having settled it,
went out into the wretched night.
When Pauline left her husband at the
church door she knew that her schem
ing had been futile, and that she could
never again show her face at Mailing
ford; but It was not that which caused
her the agony of mind she was suffer
ing. She had lost Jack. The one pure, un
selfish cup of joy she had longed to taste
had been snatched from her lips at the
moment of raising. She was stunned
with despair.
She paced up and down the platform
at Charing Cross station, watching for
Babette and concocting plans for - ob
taining what ready money she could be
fore the grand denouement came. She
knew her jewels must be worth at least
five thousand pounds, and, though some
of them were heirlooms, and others had
been bought with money obtained by her
dishonesty, she would not scruple to ap
ply them to her personal use. Then she
would draw at once two thousand from
her bankers. She would go and do this
personally lest they might scruple to pay
so large a sum on a check. And so she
laid her miserable plans, refusing to
listen for one moment to the prompting
of her better nature, which would even
now suggest her return to the husband
whose only Bin had been his poverty. -
CHAPTER XXIII.
Notwithstanding all Pelling's efforts,
the story soon got Into the newspapers,
and, It being the dull season, was seized
upon with avidity by the gossip purvey
ors. It was "dished" and "reuished
day after day, with numberless distor
tions, exaggerations and additions. One
society journal had It that the beautiful
Miss M of M Park, In Exbrldge-
shire, had attempted to poison her hus
band, to whom she had been secretly
married only a month or two, In order to
become the wife of a celebrated R. A.,
with whom Bhe had fallen deeply In love;
while another declared that the husband
presented himself at the altar with pis
tols, and, dragging his would-be succes
sor outside the sacred edifice, insisted
upon a duel there and then, and wound
ed hi til dangerously In the shoulder, and
that the unforfuuate man now lay In a
most critical condition, while the hus
band had carried off his reluctant bride,
a veritable prisoner, on board his yacht,
for a twelvemonth's cruise In the Pa
cific. At last Pelling, annoyed beyond meas
ure at these absurd stories, decided to
lay bare the truth. With the assistance
of his lawyer, he drew up a concise state
ment of the real facts, giving his own
and Pauline's name in full, but suppress
ing Jack's. He carefully conveyed the
Idea that Pauline believed him to be
dead, and gave the circumstance to her.
change of name as sufficient to account
for his not having discovered her exist
ence since his return from Africa. This
he sent to two of the daily newspapers,
and, thus divested of all mystery, the
story lost Its charm, and no longer af
forded any Interest
Pelling sent one of these newspapers,
with bis own letter specially distinguish
ed, to Ethel by post, and the next morn
Ing lie called In Buckingham street to
make matters clearer.
Ethel's frank candor once more over
came the dllllculties of the situation; bIis
stood at the top of the stairs with hor
hands outstretched and her face bright
with friendly interest
"I have been longing to see you," she
began, warmly, as they entered the room;
"we have both so much that Is wonder
ful to tell each other!"
She looked at him steadfastly as he
stood in the light from the window, and
what she saw In his face quickened her
pulse with a sudden pity, but she would
not give way to the impulse that urged
her to console him. She went on, a lit
tle hurriedly at first:
"I can see that your pleasant news is
in some way mixed up with painful
thoughts; so, as mine is altogether pleas
ant, I shall speak first. To begin pupa
came home last nik'M, and he has brought
the most wonderful news; It Is like a
fairy tale! I don't suppose you know yet
that your wife is my cosiu?" Captain
Polling started at the words "I knew
you would be greatly pleased. My fath
er Is not really Mr. Mallett his true
name is Sir Geoffrey Mailing, and he Is
your wife's uncle. In some extraordinary
way, which papa will explain, the whole
of the Mallingford property conies to
him in the event of Pauline's marrying
under twenty-five without her guardian's
consent; so, you see, we are going to be
very great people. I believe my mother
was not so well burn as nana, and the
late baronet was so angry when he
heard of the marriage that he dislnherit-
eu papa, who at once changed his name
ana worked hard to keep his wife. I
hope you are not angry with us because
we are going to toke away your wife's
wealth. Of course that is only non-
suise! I know you are not angry; I've
neara you say often how glad you would
have been to share what vou have with
her."
Ethel paused. Telling did not SDeak.
and she felt a little anxious. She had
unintentionally stumbled unon the mih-
ject; but she knew it could not be
avoided between them, so she screwed
up her courage and went on:
I erhaps I should not say what I am
going to say; but no real harm can come
from straightforwardnes. We have been
such good friends in the past that we
need not stay to pick and choose our
woras to each other, need we? I wsnt
to congratulate you on the recovery of
your wife; but there is something in your
face that checks me. Wil! you tell me
all about It?"
"I can't tell you all about It," he sad!.
I only know that my wife refused to
have anything to do with me, and that
she is now in Paris."
If I were you I should tro tn Ph.
too."
"I suppose I oueht In fnnt T tn
I ought and I have tried to make up
my mind to go; but I cannot."
ror an instant he dronDed his heA
upon his hand, and a ereat rush nf nlt
set Ethel's heart beating oddly. He
punea nimseir together with an Impa
tient exclamation.
What a bore you must think mi"
ne said, quickly. "Let us dron the auk
ject If I ever find you can help me in
any way, I will come ao you at once. As
things are now, the less said the better.
And so you are to possess the wealth
which Pauline has forfeited? I am very
glad very, very glad on all accounts
hut' one."
"And that is?"
"It will make Dornton's task harder."
The blood rushed over Ethel's face in
a quick flush, and it left again as quick
ly. "I don't know what you mean." she
said.
"I mean that Dornton was beguiled by
my unhappy wife into doing as he did,
that he was not master of his own ac
tions, and that he would give a very
great deal to be assured of your entire
forgiveness. He has loved you all through
his mad folly. He told me so. himself
on the very day of the wedding, before
he could have known anything of the
change in your worldly affairs; so, when
you think of him in the future, you must
not believe he was governed by merce
nary considerations' . -
"Thank you for your kind defense of
him," she responded, rising as her fath
er entered the room. "I will remember
to do as you say;" and she turned gayly
to the door. "And now let me Intro
duce you to Sir Geoffrey Mailing of
Mallingford Park."
A few weeks later Ethel and her
father were settled at Mallingford. All
the necessary legal formalities had been
gone through, and the county families
had called upon Sir Geoffrey and his
daughter. Lord Summers had suggest
ed that the baronet should have a public
reception; but Sir Geoffrey had sternly
and emphatically opposed any such dem
onstration. So father and daughter had
come down and been met at the railway
station by the family carriage, and had
gone quietly to their respective rooms,
after shaking hands with a few of the old
servants whom Sir Geoffrey remembered
In his Brother's time, and had eaten their
first dinner at Mallingford as if they
had but just returned from a short visit.
(To u continued.) -
He Waited No Longer.
"You may refuse me now," said the
persistent suitor, "but I can wait. 'All
things come to him who waits.' "
"Yes," replied the dear girl, "and I
guess the first thing will be father; I
hear him on the stairs." Philadelphia
Ledger.
-Prmrrefi.
"How are you coming on with your
new system of weather prediction?'
"Well." Btiawpr'ud the nronhet cheer
lly; ."I can always get the kind of
weather all right, but I haven't quite
succeeded in hitting the dates exact
ly." Washington Star.
w
fifflfl BAKING It
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C!f jjWftlj is the wonderful raising powder of the
M ftaluniMlU Wjve Circle. Thousands of women are
t Milh DmP bril,in rM,cr 1,eallh and beUer ,ood W
VA ! LDV'I in, ,hclr homes by llsin' K C Bakina I l
II jQUpc- "rt c5" rwucr Costs just one-third what you I 11
I I Jk, JJS5 , Jj always ry. H you have never used it f Jr
I I H&'MJf vc-u don't know what you've missed, f S
LA SSM! Don't wait I All grocers. I f
25 ounces for 25 cents Jn
JAQUES MFG. CO.
V Chicago
"v. Tbesrtlnile" nook of r-rtwnli" MJI
SALE OF GOODS.
State Law Provides Protection for
the Creditor.
Portland The Portland Association
of Credit Men, one of the state's okleflt
and strongest commercial bodies, hns
taken up the matter of purchasing goods
without the buyer knowing whether or
not there ia any indebtedness against
the same. A law on the statute books
of Oregon, covering this question, fol
lows: SALE OF GOODS IN BULK.
It shall be the duty of any person
who shall purchase any stock of goods
in bulk, for cash or credit, to demand
and receive from the vendor, at least
five days before the consummation of
such purchase, and at least five days
before paying or delivering to the ven
dor, any part of the purchase price, a
written statement under oath, contain
ing the names and addresses of all of
the creditors of said vendor, with the
amount of indebtedness due and owing,
or to become due or owing to each of
such creditors, and if there be no such
creditors, a written statement under
oath to that effect; and it shall be the
duty of such vendor to furnish such
statement at least five days before such
sale. After receiving said written state
ment, the vendee shall at least five
days before the consummation of such
purchase, and at least five days before
paying any part of the purchase price,
in good faith notify personally or by
wire or by registered letter, each of the
creditors of the vendor named in said
statement, of the proposed purchase by
him of such stock of goods; and .when
ever any person shall purchase any
stock of goods in bulk, without having
first demanded and received from his
vendor, the statement herein provided
for, and without having also notified
all of the creditors of the vendor named
in such statement, Such purchase, sale
or transfer shall, as to any and all
creditors of the vendor, be conclusively
presumed fraudulent and void. Any
RHEUMATISM
CAN NOT BE DUBBED AWAY
When the joints are sore arid swollen, and the muscles thfobbintr with the
pain of Rheumatism, relief must be
affected parts witn liniments, oils, etc. This treatment does good in a way,
by temporarily relieving- the pain and reducing the inflammation, but has no
effect on the disease itself, because Rheumatism is more than skiri deep ; it
is in the blood and cannot be rubbed away. Rheumatism is brought on by
indigestion, weak kidneys, poor bowel action, stomach troubles and a gen
eral sluggish condition of the system. ' The refuse and waste matters - which
snouiu ue carrieu on uirougn me nai-
urai avenues ol bodily waste, are
left to sour and form uric acid and
other irritating poisons which are ab
sorbed by the blood, making it thin,
weak and acrid. Then instead of
nourishing the different nerves, mus
cles, joints and tissues it fills them
With poison to produce the aches,
pains and other disagreeable symp
toms of the disease. Rheumatism
is usually worse in Winter for the
reason that cold and dampness are
exciting causes. The nerves become
excited and sting with pain, the mus
cles are sore and drawn, the joints
swollen and stiff and the sufferer
lives in intense agony ; and if the
disease is not checked it often leaves
Its victims helpless cripples for life.
Rheumatism cannot be rubbed away
but it can be driven from the blood
by S. S. S. Being a perfect blood
purifier this great remedy soon pro
duces a complete chancre in the en
tire circulation ; the thin, acrid blood
through the body nourishes and soothes the irritated nerves. 'eases thP thrnh.
a. jVMfsaaw i
PURELY VEGETABLE. IJSffSTJ memers .fthebody
, .. . . , . . x. to the'r ""I duty so there is no cause
tor another attack. Do not waste time trying to rub Rheumatism away, but
get it out of the blood with S. S. S. so that the cold and dampness of Wintet
will not keep you in continual pain and agony. Special book onRheuma
tism and any medical advice will be given free.
THE SWIFT SPECIFIC CO.. ATiAMTAs CM,
vendor of a stock of goods in bulk, who
shall knowingly and wilfully make or
deliver, or cause to be made or deliver
ed, any false statement, or shall fail to
include the names of all of his creditors
in any such statement, shall be deemed
guilty of perjury. Any sale or transfer
of a stock of goods, wareB or merchan
dise out of the usual or ordinary course
of the business or trade of the vendor,
or whenever thereby substantially the
entire business or trade theretofore con
ducted bv the vendor shall be sold or
conveyed or attempted to be sold or
conveyed, shall be deemid a sale or
transfer in bulk, in contemplation of
this act; provided, that nothing con
tained in this act shall apply to sales
by executors, administrators, receivers,
or any public officer acting under judi
cial process.
The Russian zemstvos, or country ad
ministrative bodies, supply agricultural
implements to peasants on credit.
How's This?
We offer One Hundred Dollars Reward for
any case ol Catarrh that cannot be eured by
Hail's Catarrh Cure.
F. J. CHUNKY h CO., Props., Toledo, O.
We, the underslnned, have known K. J.
Cheney for the lil 16 years, and believe him
perfectly honorable in all business transao
lions and financially able to carry out any ob
ligations made by their Nrm.
Wkfir A Truai, Wholesale Druggists, Toledo, 0.
Waldino, K innak di Marvin, v holeaale Drug
gets. Toledo, O.
Hail's Catarrh Cure Is taken Internally, fat
ing directly upon the blood and mucous sur
faces of the system. Price 16c. per bollie.
Bold by all Druggists. Testimonials free.
U.lI.V.llu nilU.Mlhal.a.1
...Li cwuii ... n. u uv uv. i
The size of the lion's share depends
upon the size of the lion.
For forty rear's Plso's Cure for Con
Sumption has cured coughs and colds. At
druggists. Price 25 cents.
Back to Chicago.
Dearborn And did you shake ths
dust from' your feet when you left New
York?
Wabash Well, I don't know that I
shook it from my feet exactly, but I
know I got rid of all the dust I had, all
right
had at once, and it is natural to rub the
While at work for the F.'c. & P. R. K.
In .the swampy region, I contracted
Kneumatism and waa completely help
less for about four months and spent
over $150.00 with doctors, but grot worsa
every day. and finally quit them and be
gan S. S. 8. I took a few bottles and
was cured Bound and well. My health.
Is now splendid, and I weigh 175
pounds. There is a lady living near ma
who ia now taking S. S. S. for acuta
Rheumatism. For two months ahe oould
not turn herself in bed. but since begin
ning your medicine about three weeks
S? a improved rapidly, and is nowt
able to sit up. I can recommend 8. S. S,
to all suffering from Rheumutism.
Ulan, N. 0. B. 0. LAS3ITER. ,
I was severely troubled with Rheuma
tlsm. I had it in my knees, legs and
ankles, and any one who has ever had
Kheumatism knows how excruciating:
the pain is and how it Interferes with
one at work. I waa truly in bad shape
having been bothered with it for ten
years, off and on. A local physioian ad
vised me to use 8. 8. 8. I did so. After
taking two bottles I notioed the sore
ness and pain were greatly reduced. I
oontinued the medicine and wae thor
oughly cured; all pain, soreness and in
flammation gone. I reoommend 8. 8. S.
to all Rheumatio sufferers.
803 E. Greenbrier St. .' '
is made
oing muscles, and dissolves and carries
out of the system the irritating particles
in the joints which are keeping up the
pain and inflammation. S. S. S. cures
Rheumatism permanently, and in addi
tion tones ut the dirrestion And st-inui.
...