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:«+«+»>»>):H-«-f«H-tti<H-«>«+«4«'HK+«+«+« â- â™¦â€¢Â«>»>«>-«+«> G THE STEWARD'S SON § CHAPTEH III. For a momoiit or two Norah felt giddy und nlniost fuint. Surely no girl "had ever before been placed in Bu extraordinary and trying a situa- tion. Opposite her sat the father she hud never Heon before; the guest.s Were all Htrnngers to her. 'J'ho mag- nlllront room, with lis air of mingled grandeur and relincnicnt, would have been alone Hiidlcient to overawe a yoUMK girl accustomed hitherto to the small and .simple rooms of a Co>intry cottage. Uut Norah possessed a spirit not oa.sily cowed. Somehow or other she divined that the stately, patrician old man facing her ot the bottom of th ; table exin-cted her to display some confusion and shyness, and .sho lesolved that he should beâ€" well, di.s- »p|)oiiited. So, though the room seemed to spin round and she saw the faces n( the guests and the footmen through a kind of haze, she made no sign of the emotions that swept ocross hur young heart. 'I'he gentlomon, with true delicacy, carefully avoided looking at her for some minutes, und talked together with the kind of vivacity which is so pall)al)ly forced; and it was evident that thiiugh they talked of the com- ing hay harvest und of current poli- tics, they were one ond all thinking of the girl who had been introdure<l thus suddenly and strangely to her fother und her home. The footman brought hor some soup, the butler niled her glass with witie, with countenances as oxpres- sii-nlcss as it they had been in the ' habit of waiting on hi;r for the last \ twenty years, and Norah got through her soup and sippud the costly wine In silence She knew that they were all think- ing of her and sho felt the keen gray eyes at the end of the table glanro toward her now and again; but though her heart beat tumultuously and her face was pale, hur hands di t not tremlilo nor her lips quiver. An Indian at the stake could uot have liehave<l better. l'ri'.sc>ntly I.or<l Ferndale, who sat next to her, turned to her: "1 hope you had a pleasant jour- ney, Lady Norah." "Ves, thank you. It seumcd rather long, but it was pleasant." "Let mo see," he said, as ho thought, "A lovely young creature, with a sweet voice!" â€" "you camo from â€" " "Norton, in Devonshire," said Norah. ".\h, yes; a very pretty place. I hope you will like Santloigh. I sup- pose 1 ought not to say that it is as pretty, but of course I think so. My wife will be so pleased to show you all our lions." "Thank you," said Norah simply. "I nin one of your father's oldest friends,'' he went on, "und I am sure you and I^ady Kerndale will got on tog<'ther." Only onr" person had not spoken to herâ€" (Juildford Ucrton, and she chanced to glance at him. The dark, penetiuting eyes happened to bo fixed on her arid their ga/e mot. In that moment a strange feeling took possession of Norah, a feeling (11111- cult to describe. It was not I'xaitly repul.sliin, but a singular sensation, as if she felt that he was trying to read all that Was passing In hi>r mind, anil she must at all costs thwart him. Hhe ought, l)y all or<linary rules, to have boon attracted by the young man's handsome fare, but there was Bomi'thing in it which Jarred upon her. though she could not have told what it was. l"'or a space in which one could have r<iunte<l twenty they looked in- to each other's eyes; then (Juildfiird IJorlon withdrew his ga/e and re- turned to his platu witiioul uttering a word. The ilinnnr proci-odod. To Norah the courses seemed endless. She had gene to one or two srimll dinners at till! clergyman's at Norton, but the magnilicence of this, her lirst meal in her father's hou.se, as far surpas.sod them as a corporation feast sur- passes a two-and-pixponny ordinary. iiut through it all she made no mis- take. If thu earl had expected to see her eat with her kiiifo or commit some similar vulgarity ho was dis- appointed â€" or relieved. If sho had presided at the lordly table for years, instead of for tho first time, her manner qould not have been more purfect. Kvery now and then I,ord Fern- dale or tho rector spoke to her and her sweet, low voice made instant reply. The costly des.scrt appeared and I,ord Kerndale helped hor to some hothouse strawberries, and, after she had eaten them, she know that sho could nmko her escape. Tho butler entered, carrying a cob- W('t)by bottle in a wicker cradle and Norah rose. Instantly all the gen- tlemen rose also and Guildford Uor- tori went and opened the door for hor. He raised his eyes for a second mmi llxod them on her as sho paS'tod, then drol>i)e(l them to the ground again, still without a word. A foolnmn stepped noiselessly be- fore hor and threw open the door of the drawing room, nn<l Norah went and stood by the window and looked out at the fur-stretching lawns and flower gardens, and for the (irst time â€" now that she was ulouu â€" her eyes grew tlim with tears. The dining room hud scarcely clos- ed on her lluin Lord Kerndale ex- claimed in u low and fervent voice: "What a lovely young creature, Arrowdalc!" "I am grateful for your approval, Kerndale." "Approval! Admiration, say. I think sho is most exqtiisite. I know Jeanne" â€" that was Lady Kerndale â€" "will bo in love with her at first sight. I congratulate you on the po.sse.ssion of such a daughter." "Thanks, thanks. I think â€" I am not sure â€" that this wine is losing its color. Shall wo have another bot- tle?" "No, no! Tho wine's all right," said tho squire blulTy. "I must say I agree with Kerndale. Lady Norah is most â€" most cliuruiing. d'ad, she reminds nio of" â€" ho looked round as if trying to find some comparison â€" "of a iiiclure." "I thought you were going to say that she reminded you of one of the family, scpiire, and I was curious to hear whom you thought she resem- bled." lie looked round at some family portraits which hung round the room. "I must confess that I See no likeness to any of them." "Kor my part, 1 don't see one of themâ€" begging your pardon, Arrow- doli' â€" half so lieuutiful us your daugh- ter," excluimi'd Lord Ferndale. "No?'" "There isn't one with such beauti- ful hair," remarked the squire. "Nor such eyes," said the rector. "'I'hoy are very lovely and so full of expression." "None of tho ArrowUales have bad hair of that shade." ".\ broii/e gold," inurmurod the rector. "Not one," repeated tho carl slow- ly. "We are, generally speaking, a dark race. No, she has not the Ar- roivdalo face." "I'erhnps Laily Norah takes after her mother," said tho rector. The remark hud slipped out un- awares, and as tho remenilirunco of the separation Hushed across him ho reddened to the roots of his hair. llut the earl turned to him with a perfectly sereiio and plucid smile, though his thin, clean-cut lips wore slightly compre.s.sed. ".\ very niitiiral suggestion," ho suiil smoothly, "but Laily Norah is quite uiiliko her mother." "Well," suiil Ijord Kerndule, "at any rate, your family possesses a new type, of which it should bo proud, Arrowdale." "Vou nil niako mo very happy. I hud feared " Ho stopped. Lord Kernilale pushed his glass away with a movement half impa- tient, half Iniligiiant. "(Jud!" ho said, "we must all try and make her happy. I'm sure sho deserves to lio. Sho" must feel strange andâ€" lonely." He, too, slopped, feel- ing that he had gone far enough in rebuking the earl for his coldness. "She'll make your life worth living, Arrowdale," he wound up with. "My life has always Ne<^med to mo worth living, Kerndale." "I»id you go to the Swallow Farm to-day, (iuilcKord?" he asked, and there was u peculiar tone in his voice. "Yes, sir, nnd saw Farmer GooU- mau. Tho roof is out ot repair, as he says, but 1 arranged that ho should puy oiie-lhir<l of the co.st." "'I'hunk you. It was Very good of you to take so mucii trouble and on so hot II dayâ€" Very good; and it is an excellent arrangement, far better than I should have been able to make." "I'm glad you approvo of It, sir. Uoing in the neighborhood, I rode on to I'arkhaiu about tho timber. Ho has ccmio to luyâ€" 1 should suy ourâ€" terms." "Say yours, for they wore yours, ond very good ones. Thank you again. Will you pU-aso help yourself und pass the wine? No wine, Forn- dalo? Will none of you take ony wine? Ah, I see you arc longing for your cigars!" "We'll smoke on the terrace. It is a lovoly night." "Very well. Mr. Vethrick, who, like myself, alas! has not acquired tho art of smoking, will take another glass with ino while you uro gone." Ho rose and courteously opened the French windows for them, saying: "(iuildford, you know where to find tho cigaiH." Then ho gently pushed the doors to, and returning to tho tabU re- seated hiniHftlf and relllling his glass held It in his white, dotlcato hand and looked at the old lawyer with a keen scrutiny. "You are waiting for mo fo say Hint I am surprised, Jlr. I'etherick," sail! the earl, with a half sarcastic smile. • ' "I am sure you are not disappoint- ed, my lord." "Yes," said the earl thoughtfully. "1 um surprised. I had expected â€" " Ho stopped. "You found her living in a cottage? With no companions but the woman of the house? Whore did sho get that manner and tone?" IIo asked this qttestion rather of him- self than of tho lawyer. "Allow mo to remind you that she is your daughter, 'the daughter of a hundred earls," as the poet says.'" "She is not like me in tho very least." Is sheâ€" ed'icated?" ho asketl, almost abruptly for him. "That is evident, my lord. I should say that Lady Norah was not only educated, but accomplished." "May I usk how you know?" was tho courteous retort. "Well, I saw a copy of ^Irowning on the tabic; I saw drawings signed by her and I have spent some hours in her company, my lord." "True. And sho knows nothing of "" The earl paused. ".Sho had never hoard your name, my lord â€" was in complete ignorance that her father was living. It is evi- dent that â€" that '" "My wife, her mother, did not at- tempt to prejudice her against me. Did not poison hor mind. In fact,'" said the earl. "Is that what jou mean?" "Well â€" yes, my lord," assented Mr. Petherick nervously. "It is as well she did not; it will bo diflicult enough for us to live to- gether as it is. And tho woman, the nur.se, Catherine Hayes, is doad, quite dead, and buried?"' "I saw hor grave, my lord." Tho earl was silent for a moment or two, then he fingered his glass and, without looking at the old law- yer, said: "i wish to sjieak to you about that â€" that other matter upon which I instructed you." » "Your nephew, my lord?" said Mr. Petherick. A flush of anger rose to the oarl's face and ho pushed the wine glass from him. 'Call him tho vLscount, if you please," he said. "I dislike being reminded of our relationship. Vou saw him?"' "No, my lord; he declined an In- terview." "Characteristic insolence," he said smoothly. "Well?" "I wrote him at some length, set- ting forth your Ior(l8hip"8 views. I explained to him thul it ho would consent to cut off tho entail you would moot his views in the matter of money â€" that, in fact, you would be willing to pay him a largo sum.'" "Yes,"" murmured tho carl, "I would be willing to pay him a large, a very largo sum if he would give up his right to the estate, which must otherwise bo his when â€" when I die. You made it plain to him? He must want money. Ho is a spendthrift, has always been one. A large sum of ready money should tempt him! To free the estate from any claim he has upon it, to be able to do with it as I pleased, to leave it to whom I chose, 1 would bo willing to sacrifice a fortune!" "I made that clear to him, I think, mv lord." "Well?'" "I am sorry to say that ho de- clined your lordship's proposal." The earl's thin lips came together .sharply, as if they had checked an ooth. "Oh, ho declined," he said dryly. "Yes, my lord. IIo remarked in his letter that lie would rathor starve than barter his birthright." "His birthright ! The prolligato! He omits upon my dying shortly, 1 presume!". "I â€" 1 think profligate rather too harsh a term my lord, 'llie \iscount has been wild, it is true, nnd â€" nnd, yes, extravagant; but of luto he seems to have changed â€" reformed, as one may say."" "indeed! And how Is ho llviuij? I ask from mere idle curiosity." "I don't' know, my lord. 1 made in(|Uiries, but 1 could not llnd out. Indeed, no one seems to know any- thing of his recent movements. ex- cepting that he is not moving in the circles which he u.sed to frequent."- "In hiding from tho Jews nnd money lenders. We will give 'lim a little more rope, I'etherii-k." "1 Venture to think that tho vis- count's decision is final, my lori. I have his letter here," he drew out his pocketbook, but tho carl put forth his hand with a shako of tho head. "Thanks, but, pardon me, I would rather not see it. I have never seen the writer and have no dosiro to make acquaintance oven with his handwriting." "It â€" it is a pity, my lord, a l>Ity that there should boâ€" ahem â€" Ijail blooil between your lordship and tho viscount, especially ns ho will inher- it, must inherit, this vast estate â€" " "Vou forget that I might marry again." "You are right. I should i»it marry, even to spite myâ€" tho \is- count. llut wo are all mortal," lie went on, in the softest of voices, "and, after all, he might die before me." "He might, but " "It is not likely! Beall.v, your candor is rlininiiiig, I'etl'orick! Oh, pray don't apologize." ns tho old lawyer grew rod n^i«l stommi-riig. "Let us linish our wine in pence." (To bo Continued.) FROM BONNIE SCOTLAND NOTES OP INTKP.EST FROM HEK BANKS AVD BRAES. What Is Going on in tho High- lauds and Lowlands of Auld ?c >tia. The now sculpture gallery at Abjr- deen has been opened. Licenses in Glasgow havo been re- duced from 16-17 to 1035 at tho Ilurgh Licensing Court. Scottish subscriptions to the Na- tional I,iloboat Institution during iy04 show a substantial increase. Mrs. Mary Munro or Scott has just died in the village of Craigrothie, near Cupnr, in hor lOand year. Mr. David Smith, Wester Bal- raanna, Murykirk, one of tho best known farmers in tho Mcarns, has died at tho age of 85 years. Lieut.-tlonurtl Kir l''roderick Wil- liam Traill Burroughs, of Konsuy, Orkney, a "Thin Hed Line" and In- dian Mutijiy hero, is dead at tho oge ot 74. Dr. David Steele Moon, one of the host known medical practitioners in Dundee, died at his residence in that city recently. Ho had been laid aside from tho active pursuits of his professional dutie.s nearly a year Over 0000000000000000000004 YOUNQ I FOLKS I t>ooooooooooooooooooooo FOLLOWINCi THE BROOK. Constance and Tommy were visit* ing CJrandmother Oilman. Orand- mother lived in a white house near tho mill-pond, and she had often told Constance and Tommy about tho brook which ran umler the big beoch- troes and across tho pasture. The water from the pond turned tho wheels of the mill, and emptied into Jlill Brook. There .was a big, solid gate to keep the water in the pond. When the miller wanted to grind corn into yellow meal tho gate would be hoisted, the water would rush out, tho wheel would begin to turn; aud then the brook, which usually (lowed so quietly over tho rock."i, among tho alders and under the bridge would become a fierce, rushing stream. When this happeneil. Tommy woukl call out, "Constance, Con- stance, tho mill is going!" and both tho children would run across the pasture, and watch tho water come leaping down over the rocks. t\t the bottom of the pasture whore forty persons were seized the beechtrees grew, at the edge of WONDF.U HOW SHE KNKW. She â€" Harry, I am ngieeahly di.-.-xp- pointed in you. I am the only girl ,V(iu ever loved. He â€" It's (rue, darling, but how do you know it? Sl»e â€" You kissed mo so awkwardly. witli illness, accompanied by violent vomiting in Dumbarton through fol- lowing tho Scotch custom of eating curds und cream in May week. Duncan Macdonald, pensioner, died at his house in Bishopmill, Klgin, in his 80th year. Macdonald was for 21 yi-ars in the 9;lrd Highlanders, and wont with his regiment through tho Crimean campaign, being pre- sent at the battles of Sebastopol, Balaclava, and tho Alma. IIo was thus a survivor of tho famous "Thin Red Lino."' An alarming explosion occurred at Glasgow t^entral Station. An ac- cumulation of gas underneath No. 9 platform blew up just before three o'clock, and carried away sixty feet of tho platform, besides shattering a number of windows in warehouses overlooking the station. Four men wcro injured, none seriously. 10<liiiburgh, through its 'I'own Coun- cil, desires to havo tho National tial- lery placed on the Calton hill. Tho existing rooms on tho Mound are now inadequate for tho demands on tho wall space, and tho (Jovernment havo apparently leaned towards tho acquisition of tho High school, which occupies tho south base of the hill. Col. Samuel Edward Wood, lato of the y;ird Highlanders, Colin Camp- bell's "Thin lied Lino," died recent- ly at Dumfries. He was a daring officer In tho Indian Mutiny, and saved tho life of I'rivalo C.reon, who was cut off from his regiment by natives before Lucknow by charging among thoiii. (Jreen was afterwards promoted sergeant, und now a one- armed veteran, was tho gallant col- onel's close friend. In tho course of operations in con- nection with the renovation of Kelso Town Hall tho workmen the other day di.scovpred an underground cel- lar. lOxploring this collar they camo upon tho ancient stocks in a fair state, of preservation. Tho woodon fraRips are .seven feet in length, und there are foot tioles for four people. 'ITio Dowager l,aily Koulis, whoso death has been announced, was one of the few surviving links with Sir Walter Kcott. Her father, Hobort Cadell, ot Uatho. was a partner in tho publishing house ot Constable & Co., and after the failure of tho lirm ho became the sole publisher of Sir Walter's works. There has just died at his resi- dence, Oarneck I'luce, Kilbirnie, one who attained the lOlst year of his age, in the person of John Kerr, a native of Coleraine. He was 11 years of ago when Waterloo was fought, ami reinemhered quite vivid- ly the news of that event reaching his native place. Mr. Werr appears to havo come of a long-lived stock, as he said his father was 10,"> when ho died. Ho was tho oldest member of the Masonic Lodge, "Hoyal Blues." No. Hi)'.). Kilbirnie, nnd per- haps the oldest Mason in the world. -♦ NOT DISPOSF.D TO CAVIL. Acquaintance â€" That old farmer is tolling everybody that when ho camo out at you with a gun you ran awa.v. Hallway Surveyorâ€" Well, he's part- ly right. I ran a way right through his land. AND THKN SOMK. "They have arreslod him, havo they? What is tho amount of tho de- falcation?" "No one knows, hut it must be enormous. He can re.niember whore $10,000 ot it wont.'" CAUfHIT WITH THE GOODS. Tho Croom (at tho first hotel)â€" "It"M no use, Clara; wo can't hide it from the people that wo aro newly married."" The Brideâ€" "What makes you think so, Hoorge. dear?"' 'Hio ('.room (dejectedly)â€" "Why, tho waiter has brought us rice pudding." nKVI\KS MKMOUY. •'Thero"s ;>ne good point about al- cohol as a medicine," said old Doc Sprig-gins. "I never yet had a pa- tient for whoni I prescriho<l it who forgot when it was time to take a doKe."" Little .lamesâ€" "I'other, what aro follie.s?"" Kathor â€" "Amusements that wc havo grown tired ot, my son." tho brook, was a suuuy little cove, and hero tho children played at run- ning a mill. Tommy would take th» little wooden pail grandma had given him, and bring a pailful of pebbles for corn, nnd tlonstunce would play that she was the miller, and turn tho pebbles out and till the pail with nice ;ine sand for .neal. "I wish I could follow tho brook," Constance would sa.v, as thoy played near tho big rocks, where the stream turned and flowml under tho alders, across a gruen field, under the high wooden bridge, and then wandered among big rocks, until it emptied into tho ba.y. "Some day, when tho mill isn't going, we will,"" answered Tommy, boldly. One warm summer day, when Tom- my was tired of sailing boats in tho little cove, he said, "Oomo on, let's follow the brook."' "Way down to the bridge?" asked Constance. "Yes," answered Tommy. "I'll take the pail, because we'll go homo by tho road, and I'll take o big stick and go ahead, and find places for you to step." Constance hold her clean gingham ilre.ss up so that it would not get splashed, and they started out. Ono or two frogs hopped up on a big flat rock and croaked a little, but tha children did not hear them. "I guess our grandmother will bo s'prised when we get home and tell her all tho way wo'vo been," said Constance, as they waded round tho big rocks nnd "scooched" down to escape tho overhanging branches. "S'pose tho mill should start up!"'- said Tommy suddenly. "O Tommy, what would we do?"' said (Constance; for to the little girl the rush of the water down the quiet stream was a dangerous and fuurful thing. "I only said 's'pose." "' replioil Tommy, "Do you think anybody ever waded down this brook before, Constance?'' "Let's hurry. Tommy," said Con- stance. J ust then there came a rushing sound from dress. l{oun<l tho curve in tho stream, out from unilor tha aiders, and there was tho green Held and the .sloping shore; right ahead was ll.c big wooden bridge. "Hurry, Constance!" called Tommy for right bel.iiid came the rushing water, and Constance hurrieu; but her foot slipped, and sho sat solidly down in a shallow pool. Tommy pulled her to her foot, and kept close hold of her hand. Tho brook began to swell in little tides • about their feet; but now there was a chanco to sl amble ashore, and as they reached the bank the water came swiftly down with little white flulTs ot foam upon its torrent. "My!" gasped grandma, when tho two drabbled figures came into hor clean kitchen. "We've been following tho brook," said Constance. Then grandmother smiled. "Why,", sho said, "that's just what your mother used to do when she was a littlo girl, and your grandmother, too,'" sho added. BUUIED TIIKASUUK. There is plenty of buried treasuro within tho conllnes of the HritlshKm- piro besides that which a noble lord has failed to locate. Kor nearly fifty years people have been searching tor tho ill-gotten hoard of Captain MoJ- ville, a famous Australian hu.sh- rangor, who robbed hundrod.s of gold- diggers between .^felbourue and Bal- larat, and is suppo.sod to have ac- cumulated a pile of $250,000, which ho so carefully, (nmcealed that no- bod.v has so far been able to find it. lie died in Melbourne jail. At tho time of his arrest a curious map was found upon bin:, but even with its aid the most skilful detectives hav« failed to localize tha spot. BKHT (iEHM.VNS IN STATF.9. Professor Haeckel, of .Icna. tht great Cerman Dorwinian, declares hilt tho best (lernians havo heoo (1 iven to tho United States, and that th.y have left behind a race of weaker men and women, whoso off- spring have proved incapable of giv- ing the fatherland that mental and physical vitalit.v which Gorniany con- tribuleil to the building of the mighty American liepublic.