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The Power of Pepsuasion i c* â- â- Â».*- Or Lady Caraven'5 Labor of Love. CHAPTER XIV. Liidy Caraven was pleasoil as she rii-o.s.scd for dinner. She recalled the happy faces, the grateful words that «he had seen and heard but a few hours before at liromhill; it was Worth living for, this power of do- ing good. She had seen something in her husband's face that day whicl; had .surprised lierâ€" something that drove away the indolent, easy ex- pression. Wn-s the sleeping lion roused at last? Had her passionate Words, her keen indignation moved him? Had he grown asluuned of his inJolence? Had he tired of his pleasures? Nitting opposite to him at the dinner table, she looked at him at- tentively. Certainly there wag a change in his face. It was bright- er, keener, more on the alert; the eyes were full of light; he seemed in- terested in what was going on. Once during dinner she met Sir Ilaoul's glance, and it was full of pleased surprise. •Now is my time," though Hil- drcd; "now I may secure what I want." When the gentlemen came into the drawing room she made herself most fascinating and charming. She sang. she talked; the whole party thought ner exceeaingiy enLeriaininj;. ii- .t^u*. when her husband was looking most pleased, and lis-tening to her with real interest, that she went up to liim. "I have a little favor to ask of you." .she said. "Will you give me five minutes of your time this even- ing?" ni.s look was oTie of pleased, bright expectation. "Assuredly, Hildred â€" as long as you like. I am beginning to think that my interviews with you are welcome ones." So when most of the visitors had gone to their respective homes, the earl lingered. It was something novel to him^ this appointment with hi.s own wife â€" something piquant. He Waited for her in the drawing room, where the blinds were still undrawn, and through the windows of which a lovely moon was shedding floods of silvery light. He sat down thoughtfully, looking at the sky; he could hear the faint click of the billiard balls: he knew that many a merry jest was passing in the smoking room. But in some vague fashion â€" he could hardly un- derstand why â€" he felt tired of all such pastime. His wife's earne.st faco rose up before him; again he Seemed to hear her pleading, pas- sionate words. Her own expression haunted him â€" "a wasted life." Was his life indeed wa.sted? Young, handsome, talented, did he live in vain? He sighed uneasdly. Ho had led a very pleasant life. Getting through a large fortune had been a pleasant occupation. He had enjo.v- ed his gaming, his betting, his rac- ing, his indolence. But now some- thing else was stirring within him. Could it be regret or remorse, or was it simply that he was tired and out of spirits? Presently the door opened and his wife came in. She had removed the jewoKs from her hair and her breast. Her lovely face shone with a new light; her rich dross, her dark hair, made her a most attractive picture. She went up to him. "I have come to ask a favor of you." said the young countessâ€" "a favor on which the whole of my life depends. In granting it you will make me happy; if you refuse it I ehall be miserable." "That sliall not hapi>cn if I can prevent it," ho answered. His wife continued: "My time hangs heavily on my hands. I have nothing to doâ€" no occupation. O, Lord CaraNvn! be patient with mo! I want to ask vrou for something that will give me Interest â€" that will occupy meâ€" that will stand to me in the place »f happiness and love." "I will help you to it, if I can," ^o replied. I She looked so fair, standing be- 'ore him pleading her own cause. I Uhe drew a little nearer to him. as 1 though her confidence in him were in- I creasing. I "This Is what I want .you to do for me. Lord Caraven." she said. • "I am not ignorant of such matters; you might sneer at me. and say my I talent is hereditary; but you will not do that. I have some little experi- ence, and I should improve dav by day." ! iie looked at her half wondering, half amused. "What is it, Hildred?" he asked. "1 do not in the least understand." "It is this. I want you to let me bo your steward â€" 1 mean, let me have charge of your estate. I could do the duties far better than Mr. i Dlantyre." I "I give him a large salai-y," said Lord Caraven, halt laughing; "he ought to do them well." I "But you have seen for yourself I that he does not," she returned; "he is not a ju.st steward." I "No." was the grave admission, I "he is not just. It is that which grieves me. He has abused my trust. I shall never believe in him [ again." j "Then let me take his place," she rtiiic^l, ccxgrsrly. "I do xiot. liieUU lii ; the mere keeping of accounts â€" you â- ; will always want some one for that â€" nor even in the lo(>kirig attei little I details; but let me be your head ! steward. Lord Caraven, and the wel- ; f are of your tenants and dependents, the well-being of your estate, the care of your property, shall be my one interest in life. I will be con- tent to work early and late, to live without pleasure, if you will only grant my prayer. "But .you are a lady, Hildred. How could you find time for it?" In her eagerness she forgot her re- serve â€" she laid her hand upon his arm, and looked into his face. "I am not a fine lady; I am a law- yer's daughter. It may even be that i inherit my father's liUing^for busi- ness. I shall find time, believe me, if you will give your consent." "What would you do, Hildred. supposing I givo my consent?" be asked. "Say rather what would I not do. I would reform all abu.ses. I would make Ravensmere a model es- tateâ€" prople should point to it as a pattern. I would make your labor- ers men; they are now only soulless drudges. I would pull down those wretched cottages wnere squalor and disease run riot, and build in their places houses such as even the poor could love. I would educate the children. What a question it is you ask me! What would I not do?" The carl rose from his chair; he bent his head w,th chivalrous grace before her. "My wife," he said, "you shame me." "No," she cried; "you must not say that to me." "X repeat it â€" you shame me." he went on. "Yes, I give my consentâ€" my free, full, hearty consent. You will make a better mistress of Kav- cnsmere than I do a master. You shall be the queen-regent: I will be your prime minister. .1 place and leave all authority in your hands, and I promise you most faithfully that I will never interfere; you shall pull down and build ui>â€" you shall do just as you willâ€" I will never inter- fere." She was so overjoyed with his promises, with the change in his manner, with the earnestness on his face that she forgot all about her re- straint and indifTcrence. and she ki.sswl the hand that held her own. She saw her husband's face flush crimson, and she drew back sudden- ly. "I beg your pardon." she said; "I am \'ery sori'y. 1 did not think of what I was doing, I was so ovcr- jo.ved." He took no notice of the involun- tary caress. nor of the apology, though both had struck him. "I am glad that you are pleased, Hildred," he said. "Jn placing my interests in your hands 1 feel 1 have done to-day the wisest action of my life. We will send for Dlantyre, and you shall confront him." Then he smiled to himself, thinking that in these strange da.vs it was impossible to understand anything, and that it was within tlie bounds of possibility that Hildred inherited her father's talents for business. The earl rung for his footman. "When Mr. 151art.yi-e comes, show him into my study," he said; and then he went over to his wife. "You do not feel nervous at the task you have undertaken?" he <iuestionod. "No," she replied, calmly, "but I fancy that Mr. Dlantyre will feel nervous before wo have done with him." The earl smiled. If this trusted servant of his had deceived him, the sooner he Wiis unmasked and punish- ed the better. "I think," said Lady Caraven, "it would he quite as well if we looked over that balance sheet before Mr. Blant.yre conies â€" it will shorten the interview." Ho ac(|Uiesced at once, and follow- ed his wife to the study. The as- pect of that room was somewhat changed. The photograplis, the love tokens that had displeased Lady Car- aven, the portraits of popular ac- tresses and of well-known danseuses, had all disappeared; the room look- ed more like a stud.v, for the tables wore covered with books and papers. If the young countess felt any sur- prise at this changed aspect, she did not evince it. though she f«It the compliment. She proved herself a wi.sc woman by saying little; if she had uttered but one word too much, i she might have imperiled all her hardly-won influence. i Gravely, proudly, without a flrord. she went to the table, and took her sent. Her husband stoorf »* cok.o ! little distance from her. !;iij»mtly ' she bent her head over the papers. ; "You have seldom, I suppose, looked over one of these balance sheets?" she said to the earl. "No," he replied, "I do not re- member that I have ever examined one." "Then I will look over them." she said, quietly. Before long she add- ed, "Will you look at this. Lord Caraven? All this is .quite wrong â€" several entries arc incorrect, and the reckoning is falsified." The earl was slightly embarras.sed. "I do not think to tell you the truth, Hildred, that 1 am very clev- er at accounts," ho stammered. "But surely you can see whether this is correct? Believe me, a child could see it." They were interrupted by the en- trance of the agent himself â€" the man whom, from his face. Lady Caraven suspected from the lii-st of being dis- honest. John Blantyre was a tall, gentle- manly looking man of specious man- ner and good address. A rogue from liking, as much as anything else, he would not have care<l to be honest if he could. He had con- trived to ingratiate himself into the I favor of Lord Caraven, from the conviction that he could do as he liked with the easy, indolent, pleas- ure-loving nobleman. He had done so. Ho had pandered to all the young earl's weaknesses: to the cry of "Money, money," he had respond- ed by wringing more and more from the tenants, by raising rents, refus- ing repairs, by all the mean and un- derhand tricks he could play. He answered the earl's purpose well, be- cause he could, from some source or other, alwa.vs find him money. The young nobleman was too careless, too indolent to stop to think that while he was thus impoverishing the estate the unjust stewar<l vv-as enrich- ing himself. Balance sheets were brought to him that he never even glanced at; bankers' books, bills, re- ceipts were passed over in similar fashion. He never troubled to look at any of them. The result was ir- retrievable confusion. John Blan- t.vre had laid aside a fair fortune for himself. The .voung countess' e.\cs were rais- ed to the bland face of the agent; tho.v .'x.-enicd to burn him. The earl left the discussion to her. ns he had said he would. Words could not have expressed the proud, cold con- tempt of her face as she spoke to him: "You are well aware. Mr. Blan- tyre, that this balance sheet is worth nothing? The accounts are all fal- sified." "I am not aware of an.vthing of I (he kind, your iadyship. There may Wasting Brain an In UeeUss Fretting and Worry brings on Nervous Dissases and Shortens Life- â€" Th3 Greatest of Nerve Restoratives. -Dr. Chase's Kerve Focd In this age of excessive competition men are wasting their nervo force and mental power at a tremondoui; rate. Overwork, excessive mental effort, robbing one's self of proper nourishment, rest and sleep, whiiJ^iing up the tired and jaded faculties whci: they falter from siieer exhau-stionâ€" these are the causes of nervous prostration and collapse, of the weaknosa and helplessness which frequently affect mind azd body. Little wonder that men and womou grow old before their time, and (hid their health capital wasted away. Little wonder that men find their efJorts crowned with failure, and women fall victims to the ills that are |)«(ullar to their sex. Little wcndw that gloom and despor-dency tami t many to put an end to their bm-- deiied life. Pr. Chase's Nerve food has wrought hop© and confidence to many a faltering, wornout man. It has cheered the heart of many a nerve-wrecked, suffering woman. Thisi food cure is different to any medicine you ever uaed. Uo!it medicines tear down the tissues, but Dr. Chase's Nerve Food builds up new ones. Host medicines are weakening to the system, but Dr. Chaae's Nei've Food adds strength with every djse. If you read the testimonials which appear m the newspapers from day to day on behalf of this great system builder you can form .some slight idea of the enormoua good t^is preparation is doing to the weak and exhausted. Put this treatment to the test by ' loighing yourself each we«k while using it. and you will be surprised with ihr results By enriching the bio »d It forms new ttaaues, rounds out the angular form and permanently heneftte the system. Br, CiaMa'a Nerve Feod. 50 c<al(v a box. at all dealers, or Kduuuu>on, Baiea 4 Co.( Toronto. bo a few mistakes â€" it was hurriedly made out. May I ask permission to "You may nsk nothing, sir," she replied, curtly. "Tell Lord Cara- ven if it be correct that you have taken a bribe from some one who wants Bromhill Farm â€" a bribe to turn out the old tenunl.s and bring in a new one." "Lord Caraven knows that he â€" " But the countess interrupted him: "Did vou take the bribe? 'Yes' or â- No?' "' "Yes." he replied, sullenly. "Mr. Blantyre," said the .voung countess, ".vou are a detected tliief. You have robbed your employer, you have falsified your accounts, you have ground down the poor, you have oppressed the helpless, you have made lay husband's name hated and loathed, you have betraycHl your trust, you have drawn down upon your own head the curses of those people whom ill-luck has brought you into contact with." "Stay, my lad.v. You accuse me, and give me no chance to defend my- self." "You cannot defend yourself," she replied. -T hold innumerable proofs of what I assert." John Dlantyre cowered before the bright indignation of the fearless eyes, and, turning to the earl, said: "My lord. I have been a faithful servant of yours; have you nothing to sa.v for me?" "Upon my word. Blantyre. I be- lieve you ha\e been a most consum- mate rogue." answered the earl. "I have placed all my authority in the hands of Lady Caraven. She is to do as she will." The bland smile on the agent's faco changed to an ugly sneer. The young countess rose from her seat, and. extending lier arm. pointed with her linger to the door. He made as though he would speak. She still kept her hanH ou<.ott-<rtclii-il to the door; her eyes overmastered him. He turned to quit the room. When he reached the door, rage overcame prudence. He looked back at the noble figure of the young wife. "I thank you, Lady Caraven." he said. "I owe this to you." She made no sign that .<?he heard him. "To .vou," he continued, with a sneer: "and we all know that you are here only on sufferance. Take care tha.t your own turn does not come." ThoL-e was no answer. Not even a ([uiver of the white eyelids showed that she heard. His rage increased. "Good-day. Countess of Cara- ven," he said. "You have called mo a thief, you have, after a fashion, ruined me. I will bo revenged â€" I swear it. Even should years pa.ss before I can carr.v out my purpo.se, I will be revenged." And with thos^ words he quitted the study. Long after ho had left the room she stood wondering if J(5hn Blan- t.vre would keep his oath, and if he did, what manner of vengeance he would take. Not even a dream of the terrible realit.v came to her. (To Be ContinuetJ). WHAT IT MIGHT BE. One hot afternoon in July a trav- eler stopped at a farm house and asked for a drink. A country girl, bare footed and sun-bonneted, pass- ed him out a dipper and said: "Thei'e's tlie well." He was evidently inclined to in- dulge in a little rural Uirtation, and after making all the known varieties of "sheep's eyes" at her over the edge of the dipper ho miido bold to infiuire: "\yhat might your name be, mi.ss?" "Well," she said, in a malter-of- fact tone, "ef I can convince young Smilcr that it's about time to come down to business, it m'iglit be Mrs. Jlary Jane Smilcr before next win- ter. At present it ain't notliing but Mary Jane Simpkins." AFTER THREE YEARS. MR. JOSEPH EOCHETTE EE. LEASED FROM EHEUMATISJ«. Suffered Muck Agony, His App» tite Failed, and His Strengtl Left Him â€" Hope for Similai Sufferers. Only those who have suffered frod the pangs of rheumatism know ho» much agony the .'9uflcrer has at time* to endure. The symptoms oftei varj'. but among them will be fount acute pains in the muscles an* joint.s, the latter sometimes muci Kwollen. At times the patient is ui> Hble to dross himself, and the slight rat jarring sound a.ggravato» thi pain. Liniments and outward ap plications cannot iio.^sibly cure rheu matisni; it must be treated througl the blood, and for this pm-poiw then is no mjHiioiiie yet discovered cat equal Dr. Willia,ius' Pink Pills. Whei given a fair trial, these pills nevei fail to cure oven the most stubbon cases of rheumatism. Mr. Jos Kochette, a well-known resident o( Kt. Jerome, Que , in an interview with a reporter of L'Avenir di iVord. offers a strong proof of tli( Value of Dr. Williams' Pink Pills ii cases of this kind. Mr. P.ochett4 i;ays:. "For nearly three years '. was a gi-eat sufferer from rheuma/ tism. The pains seemed at timei to afToct every joint, and the agonj I endured was terrible. Sometiinei I could scarcely move about. an* was unfitted for work. The trcubh aiTectod my appetjie, and in this waj my weakness increased and my condi- tion became more deplorable. ! tried a number of remedres, bui liothiug helped me until 1 was ad- ti.sod to take Dr. Williams' Pint Pill.^, and then relief ramc. Gradu. illy the pains left me, my appetit* Improved and I brcame groatlj Strengthened. Be/ore I had taken a Bozeu bo.xes my hen 1th and vigor woa tuch that I felt better than I did be- lore the trouble began. I have not '.â- ince had- an ache or pain, and I feel tonvinced that Dr Williains' Pinl) trills are the best medicine in th« World for rheumatism." Ur. Williams' Pink Pills are sold in tvery civilizi'd land, and their enor< Bious sale is due entirely to their (rroat merit as a medicine. They cur* hll such troubles- aa rheumati.sin. sci- atica, locomotor atjixia. partial par- tlysis. nervous headache, kidney ail- ments, neuralgia and the weaknesses that afflict so many women. Do no( let any dealer persuade you to trj Komething e!.se which ho may say ii "just as good." See that the full name "Dr. Williams' Pink Piils foi Palo People ' is on the wrappei around every bo.x. If in doubt, seni direct to The Dr. Williams' Medicini Co., Brockville. Ont.. and the pilV tvill be mailed. post paid, at 50* per bo.x, or si.x boxes for $2.50. A NGCESS.\RY urALII'TCATIOJ>; A school inspector in England ask ed a child in a priumr.v schooi t tell him as nearly as possible wha he under.^-tood a pilgrim to be. "A pilgrim is a man who goc about a. good deal," was the â- â- Â«pl> This se>?med not quites atisfactor to the inspector, and he said, "I 'gi about a good deal,' but I am not ; pilgrim." "Please, sir. I mean a good man.' was the eager addition. i' J .». .^ X" "^"^ •» »^ '•'>'»'> Dn qSaK^ CliMss Olntnxine iBar.-ertaio irSJ^ and abrcrlute euro tor caeb bloodlEKnHd irotrn.ilntfpilr.ii, •^a Tnannfactarem havo Kn-iniDtoea It. See t«*. umonlali !n tho iIMt I-raga .Tnd .-ivlc yoiirnoish- acm what Oict t!3lak oMt. Von can u.io it and ji-t your laooQT book if not ciir&l. ftjeabox at .'1 deoIoM ur i.DM-iNS0N,3ATir3 & Co., Toronto, '5r» ©hass's ©25-^t«i©nt APPKOPRIATE. "IIi.9 music reminds me of that phrase "Sweetness long drawn out.' " "Indeed?" "Yes, he plays an accordion." QUITE TllUJE. "Can't always have what you want in this world." "No, but that doesn't prevent you from wanting what you haven't got." FICKLE. Tommy â€" "Lil Greenup, you told nic last week you liked me belter'n you did any other boy, and now you're lettin' Dick Trotter shine up to you!" Lilâ€" "I did like you best last week, hut I've changed my mind. Hoes your papa. keep a candy store?" Tomm.v â€" "No." Lilâ€" "Well, Dick's papa docs." In the whole world there are about 8,000 yachts, of which the United Kingdom owns half. The boa and python have the larg- est number of ribs of any animals, the number being .320 pairs. Most of our swallows winter as Tar sotith as Sierra Leone. Swal- loXvs arrive in Natal in November and leave early in &Iarch. DID NOT WONDER THAT HE SHOT. An old Scotch wonian had iinbiboi so thoroughly the ancient doctrin that musdc in the church was sinfu that when she came to this counts- she refused to fall in with the gen oral sentiment in fav-or of choir .sin;' ing. One day in church the choir wa singing a very elaborate anthct which was new to her. She scowlec and turning to her neighbor, cojh plained of the evil of modern way which permit a newfangled piecii u concert music in the sacred walls o a church. "But," protested her neighboi "that anthem is \x'ry old and ver sacred. Whv, David sang it befor Saul!" "Weel. weel," answered the ol' lad.v. "I un'erstand noo why .Sau throw a .lavelin at David when th lad sang for him!"' MISEEABLE NIGHTS, What to Do When Baby Is Fretiu and Sleepless. It is wrong to take up a wakofu baby from the cradle and walk it u| and down the lloor all night. It do moralizes tJie infant and enslaves tin parents. Baby does not cry for th fun of the thing; it cries bccau.sc ii is not well â€" generally because iti stomach is sour, its little boweli congested, its .'ikin hot and feverish Relieve it and it will sleep all night every night growing stronger In pro portion. Just what mothers need il told in a letter from Mrs. E. J Flanders, Marblcton, Ciuc., who siiys "l cannot say too much in favor o Baby's Own Tablets. They hav\ worked like a charm with my baby who was very restless at night, bul Baby's Own Tablets soon brougb quiet sleep and rest. 1 shall nevo» be without a box while I have i baby." Baby's Own Tablets cun nil minor ailmoats of little ones and arc g^arantr«d to contain ni opiate *r harmful drug. They ar sold at 25 cents a box by all deal er"», or ycu can get them by mail posJt paid, by writing direct to thi Dr. Wliliams' Medicine Co.. Brocll ville. Cat., or Sfcia-Kectady, K, :J»