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^59^ <;: ^/i^Mi^ gC^>-»4«4^CHâ- Â»>«4«4O>a+«K{4)ttâ- f0â- H5<f)CH'»f«+«>»K(+«^ * » I THE STEWARD'S SON •f »4-CH«^3?H^CH-)0H-«4»^^»H-«-f »-H>>-O+0-f«-f j:< r«-H«-H*f«<f»<faH CHAI'TKU XIU: Becca, luokiii{r round swiftly, topH the watch from his poifcct mirt'Iook- ed at it. It was a hamlsomo one, with a nionoj^ram which puz/.leid her shall lir in tho glnde where I painted ('ii.sj)cT. and say that I beg her to nu'L-t nio there to-morrow ot Jive o'clock." Ho put his hand in his pookot and and which few persons could JI%vjffl^^^9Vncl half-a-crown and gave it to her disontangled. She put tho \v;a4jMi £o (an^^'pcta's hrown little paw closed her ear. turned tho keyâ€" Cyril won- over' it eagerly. "I'll he careful and tell her the Vei^V words," she said, "and now 111 gey 'and get something for you from tho lodge!" ' ' •â- \o, no!" said Cyril. "I will wait <lored the next day what on earth had conio to hl.s nr.st-clans lever! â€" and then put it hack in i>9 place. As she did so slio caught siRht o( an envelope in the breast pock^ of his. Coat. She put her hand in und took iiiiother minute till my head fools lesjs it out, and, looking rouncj again lendy. You run home, Ht!Cca." warily, road it by the ligl^t of the! "I'U stay till you're all right. Ypu moon. There was not much In. it>o niight faint again." satisfy hoi* burning ^urjosity^ I Guildford Hertoii :waltofl only till "Dear Cyril," it ron, "I (oaUnd on I ho had heard the niossage givtn, 'tbAi getting to towirtlittt your picture, jhe glided on (piickly anfl still in tho 'Tho Kcapers,' was making a stir. I shadow of tiie lo<lge. As he did so always told you that it was just I'ad (the door oj)ened and .Jobson, the and tricky enough to catch tho i>ul)- j lodge keeper, (jarne out. He was in lie taste. Mo.ses. the picturo dpalcr, j hfs .shirtsleeves, and was smoking a has offered £80 for it, and I've made long cloy jjipe, with which he touch- bold to ask £100, and will take that jod his forehead as he recc>gnizcd Mr. sum if I con .screw him yp to it. j Herton. Have you recovere<l from yottr mad- ' "(iood evening, sir," ho said. "I ness, or is tho ilogstnr still burning? I thought I heard voices and just sMp- I don't a.sk yQu what you are doing, ! pod out to .see who it was. Them for I know. You uro just loafing darnnd tramps l)o about a sight about, smoking, dreapiing. ni^ion .Ittloiy." •ncf, anything but working. Oh, the ' .\n in.spiratlon flashed into Bcrton's brief madness which men call love!: mind. with an intense repug- said Ber- Adieti, insane youth. Jack. He stole up to the man and, lay- Of course, Hecca could not vmder- ! ing a hand on his .-iiiirt sleeve, drew stand the- latter jiart of the bote, but him forward. the earlier made her prick up hor | "Hush!" hf> said, with nn amused .ears. Tlie handsoim- gentleman was smile, "yo;i did hear voices, hut it -not only amusing himself by painting : isn't tramps," and he pointed to the â- pictures, but getting a hundred ! two figures seated on the bank. pounds for one! I "Why, who is it?" ho said in a sub- Sh<! looked for more letters, but i dued voice to match fJuildford Der- could not find any; in fact, there was 'ton's. "Ah, it's that young Decca â€" nothing else to reward her search but | "Yes, it's pn^ty little «ecca and a faded and dusty rose, which sho her sweetheart, I suppo.sc," was the found between his waistcoat and his ' answer, good-naturedly shirt, lying upon his heart, indeed. |".Just tho night for lovers Who looked at this with a puz/led son?" frown <m her warm, classical brow, | "Ay, sir," he assented then with a little smile put it back, 'what a flirt that girl be! In doing so sho touched his arm, ! turned the heads of all tho young and tho pain caused him to come to. 'fellows in the village, and there'll His eyes opened and his lips mov- : !)e mischief among 'em presently, I spoken, eh, Job- "Lor", She have cd, and Ilec'ca, bending down her head, heard him murmur a name: "Norah!" Hor eyes lighted and her face flush- ed. Sho had discovered something, at any rate. This handsome .voung stranger was in lovo with her beauti- ful mistress. .She raised his head and fanned him with her hat, and presently he camo round completely and eycxl her at first with a passionate look which changed to one of siirpri.se. "Why, you are not " he said. "I thought it wa.s It's Dccca South, isn't it?" "Yes. sir," said Becca. "Where am I?" ho asked confusedly. "In tho Court drive, sir." she re- plied. "I found you lying hero, just as you are. Have you been ill?" "I don't know. Oh, yes, I do," ho said, wincing as ho felt his arm. "Ves, I must have luinled, like a woman,"- he addeil, with disgust. "I've hurt my arm, Hecca." Ho struggled to his feet and leaned against her arm slighll.v, sighing a little; for you s<« ho had been half dreaming that Norah stood beside him, and tho disappointment was keen. "l,or", sir," said Ilocca, "how did Jl happen?" "Too long a story, Decca. But I'm all right now." "That you're not, sir; you're all of a tremble." "Vcs, and my head feels like lead. Decca, you need not tell any one that you found inu likn this," he went on; "tlie.v niight think that I'll been tak- ing too much to drink." "I'or certain and sure they would. do think. 'J'hafs tho worst of pretty girl, Mr. Uerton." "She appears to ho able to tura a Irfindon head as well as a country one," said Cuildford Herton, with al- most a i)aternal smile. "The young fellow who is with her is tho arti.st, Mr. Uurne, who is stopping at the inn." "You don't soy so!" exclaimed Jobson, under his breath. "Why, he's a gentleman, lican't he, sir?" "Oh, well, gentlemen admire pretty gills, you know, Jobson. Wo won't disturb them; we've all been young once, oh?" "You're young yet, sir. But that Ileccu's a llirt, she ho!" "tJood night," said Guildford Ber- ton. "(Iood night, llccca!" said tlio old man. slyly, as sho flitted past, a moment later. She reliiniiHl his greeting in a voice of tho sweetest innocence and sped on; but Jobson waited, and present- ly ("yril walked past. .lobson was too respectful to ad- dress him, but took a gootl look at him as he passed, then went down unil locked tho gate. (iuildford llerton had drawn bark into the shadow of the trees hesido tho horso pond and waited until Cyril camo slowl.y up to bim, then ho ste|>|)ed into tho light. "Oh, it's you." "Yes," was the quiet answer. "I thought you would paHS and I waited to ask you whether you wore hurt." Cyril looked rather surprised nt tho friendly tone of tho speech. 'ITio man had maintnincd a sombre silonco at 'Lor', sir, how sorry my mistress tho hall door. would bo to hear of It! "Your mistress?" "Yes, tho Ijidy Norah." "l.ady Norah your mistress?" ho said. "Wait a minute," and he sank down on the bank again. Mecca, perfectly conti-nt t,o remain for numy minutes if she could glean any further information, sealed her- self beside him. As she did so a stealthy footstep came over tho grn.is behind them nnd Guildford llerton approarhe<l. There wa.i no particular roa.son why ho Kh<ndd chooBo the grass of tho path, but it was his habit to move about as nuisoleHsl,y as possililo and OS ho walked with his head hung low and in deep thought, ho did not see them until ho was close upon them. Then ho pulled up and stopped be- hind a tree. "Yes. sir, J.,ady Norah has took mo to bo tt kind of ctmipanion," said Jlccca, with a touch of priilo. "I 8(H>. Well, Lady Norah will have a vor.v prott.y companion," ho said mechanically. He was thinking whether ho could trust this girl with a message for Norah. Ho must soe her againâ€" must la.v his heart baro to her. "Do you think jou can tuko a mcssngo to Lady Norah for mo, llccca?" ho said. "You trust me, sir," she said, con- clsol.v. "Yes," said Cyril, "T think I will. Will you toll i,ady Norah that I How did .you pass me? I camo down tho drive." ".And I was tempted b.y tho lino- ness of tho night to walk round by tho bridh? path," said Cuildford Uer- ton. "But you haven't answered my question. Are you hurt? Can I help you?" "Well, I don't know," said Cyril Wearily. He was Worn out with the pain and excitement. "I've done something to my arm," and ho touched it. "I thought you looked rather palo nnd done up," said rSuildfDrd Bit- ton. "You'd Ix'tter como to my place and let mo see what's tho mat- ter with it. I'm a hit of a doctor, >ou know," "Ah, yes, so .vou said. Very well. It's very kind of you." (Iuildford Berton led the way down tho gloomy lane and uidocked tlio door In tho wall and motioned Cyril to enter. A lantern stood behind tho <loor and ho lit it, and holding it above his head unlocked the door of tho house. If It had seemed cold and dark and grim to Cyril on his first visit, it appeared doubly so now, nnd a faint shudder ran through him as he thought If he over wonted a Krone for a murder this cheerful residence woidd supply It in all its details. His host lit tho lamp an«l motion- ed ('.vril info t hi- chaii-. As ho sat down he nuticr-d agnin the faint .smell of (.heniiculs, and it struck upon his jaded senses nance. "Now, then, stand up,' toii. >-^ • Cyril 'did so and tho amateur doc- tor tqok the injure<l arm. Cyril drew a sharp breath and a gleam of malignant enjo.vmont glowed in Guildford lierton's eyes. /'"Take yottr, coat off," he said. '^ "You mighty as well ask me to •t*ko off the f'lof of the house." '"Vhon I ttKLst cut it," he .said, and he took a k/tlfe from his pocket and ofxmed a long, .sharp blade. He held it for a nj^iiii'iit, his eyes downcast anrt^^ia Hpa twitching, and if Cyril could have read tho thought that llaHheU ^rough his com|>anioii's mind ho would have .seized the knife and forced tho Weaj)on from its owner's grip. But, after a moment's pause, Guild- ford Herton cut out decterously the sleeve of tho coat and rolled up the shirt sleeve. "You've put .vour arm out!" ho said, and Cyril almost fancied that a note of ^tisfaction sounded in the tone. ' " "" "I'bBt's not &.,bad, is it?" he said cheerfully. 'No. It might have Tjoiii-^ worse," re.s|)()Tuled Guildford llerton,' as he eye<l tptje wel Wormed limb, "but it will bepalnfu'l to get bacTc. I'll try, if you like." "Of course!" said Cyril, holding out his arm. Guildford Uerton took hold of It and performed the opcratiort, which, siraiilo. as it looks, retiuircs a skillful hand and some nerve. His hand was skillful, and as to his nerve, he would have inflicted any amount of pain upon a follow-croaturo â€" especially up- on Cyril IJurnoâ€" OS cooll.> as ho would have worked a pump handle. Cyril set his t(ieth, but a groan e.s- cape<l him nnd bo sat down upon the table. '"i'hank you, thank you," ho said. "By Jove! .you ought to have been a surgeon!" Ho i)ut his hand to his forehead; it was wet with perspiration. _ "Faint?" said Guildford. "Walt, I'll give you something." Ho went to tho cupboard and un- locked it. and his hand went to one of the hot ties containing sal volatile; then ho pausud, and, casting a quick glance, full of hate, over his should- er at the weary figure cm tho table, his hand we-it gliding to tho small bottle hiddi n in his breast pocket. His fingers clo.sod round tho vial like so mai<y serpents, and his heart beat quickly. Ho had drawn it almost out of its hiding place when Cyril suddenly stood upright. Don't trouble, Mr. Berton," ho said with a laugh. "I'm as right as ninepenco now, and I've got all a child's horror of medicine." Tho fingers unclosfod from round tho bottle, and allowed it to slip to its place, and locking tho cupboard swiftly Guildford Borton came back to tho table. "V'ery well," ho said. "Oh, yes, you are ail right now." His face was so pale, so white, in- deed, and there was so su<lden nnd strange a hoarseness in his vjice. that Cyril looked at him with sur- prise "Hallo!" ho said. "Do you fool queer?" "No, no," replied Guildford. ' The â€"the ]>utting your arm in its pl.-\coâ€" it's rather a ticklish operation, and It upset my norvos a little, tii.tt's nil." Cyril looked at him with a fo3!in;i rather akin to remorse. After u!l, this sullen-browed individual, with the strange repelling manner, must be a better sort of fellow than ho, Cyril, had thought him. "I've all the more reason to be grateful to you," ho sold. "And I am. Good-night. I'll como over and report jirngress to-morrow; hut, nuy- how, you ought to have been a doc- tor, you know." Herton forced a smile, and taking a lantern, lighted his patient to x'.w ge.te, and with another good-night and repeated thanks Cyril steppc<l outsido Tho gate dropped to with a dull clang, and Guildford Berton fell against tho wall, and, shaking ut-d shuddering, wiped tho thick drops if cold sweat from his brow. "Heaven, It â€" it was a temptation:" ho muttered brokenly. "Anoth.-r mo- ment und I should havt! done it'" Ho raised his hand as if it were heavy as lead, and shook his clinch- »><l fist after his guest. "Curse you!" ho muttered. "Take carc!â€" take care!" (To bo Continued.) â- â- â- **#-.'- FORT ERIE inOiNUMENT TO THE DEAD OF 1812. ESCAPE FROM PORTLAND MOST DHEADED OF ENGLISH PRISONS. TTnsuccessiul Attempts to Get Away From. This Penal Institution. "Escape from Portland! Y'ou could as easily llog back tho flood- ing tide." The old, .graybearded ex-warder shrugged his still broad shoulders contemptuously. "The man who IMITATION OP A SMOCK. Creeping cautiously down the road, ho came acro.ss a couple of milk cans, which he pronqitly comuian- deored. With these he proceeded boldly on his wa.v, passing score.s of people, who had not the faintest notion of his idiutity. "Ho did not long enjoy his liljer- t.v, however. A superintendent of police was driving along tho Dor- chester road when ho caught a glimp.sc of a white smocked man I run?. ing rapidly out of sight. He idrew the attention of the constable !who accompanied him to the cir- can get clear away from Portland l^^j^gj^^^.p jj^^ together they gave hasn:t .vet been born," ho added chase. The i.ssue was never m And so it woald seem to the most | j^^j^j ^ho tired, hungry, footsore unobserving visitors, says tho Lon- convict was relak.-n and sullered so- AMnriTOUS CHINAMEN. Upon tho roll of a business college for tho fall term are tho names of two ambitious young Chinamen wh i intend to take a course in illustra- tivo drawing, sa.vs the Wiimipeg Tel- ogram. Chong Yuen is the name to which one of tho Chinamen answered, while tho other celestial is known as Sam Won. (!h^ng Y'uen is a recent ai rival in Wionijieg. though ho has IxHMi in this cowntry for some time and speaks good Knglish. Chong is apparently (juite weallh.v. Ho has adopted tho Western style, dresses in the most up-to-date manner, and has oven discarded his queue, his hair be- ing cut short. Sam conducts iw:} restutnnnts in tho city. Chong Yuen ill addition is very an;<ioU9 to take a course in drill and military instnic- tii>n, with the intention of returning to his native land nnd drillini!; the Chinese soldiers He would like to join the 901 h Hegiment or the Iloyal (^nimilinn Moimted Bil'es. Mo has mastered honseback ridieg and would piefer to take a coursu with the Mountod Uilles. don Kxpre.ss. There is no point of vantage upon which a warder, with gun loaded und cocked, is not sta- tioned; there is no single prisoner upon whom is not centred the stool- hucd glitter of a score of jealous, untiring official e.ves. The favored convict who is privileged to enter an ofTicer's house, there to execute some necessary repairs in masonry or woodwork, carries out his task with an armed warder standing at his el- bow. Should a prisoner, vearied t'> d-.'S- pcration by the unending roun-J of unwilling service and longing to break the silence to which he is con- demned, make o bid for freedom, the black flag is hauled mast high and tho boom of cannon rolls down from the heights t<i tho town below. ITio connections between tho Verne Bar- racks anil the prison â€" telegraphic and telephonicâ€" are utilized so that a cordon of soldiers is at once drawn around tho island; Warders, soldiers, town.stolk are at once on tho alert, and Iho chase, in which tho wretched human quarry has no ghost of u chance, begins, and is sustained until the too daring con- vict is again WITHIN PRISON WALLS. "It is the wholesome dread of punishment that accounts tor tho tew attempts that aro made to said the ex-warder alread.v verely for his tomeiity." The latest recorded attempt oc- curred on Jan. Ifi of the present year. Two men â€" John Wilkinson and George Vincentâ€" burst through the ceilings of their cells, crawled along the corridor, and b.y means of a length of rope which had been deftly smuggled, gained tho exercise yard. Thenco they broke through "four gates, all fitted with patent locks. They made tho attempt sea- ward at a spot which was pointed out to ine by a courteous officer. Vincent, while trying to descend a precipitous wall face, fell and broke his ankle. Both were then captur- ed. How fares tho prisoner at Port- land? Does the system in vogue make a better man of hira; is it re- formative as well an penal? I suppose these questions will ho asked and a.skcd again with tiresome reiteration. My friend the ex-war- der had responses, aa ready as em- phatic. "Look here," he .said, "criminals don't come hero to have their pal- ates tickled with dainty viands, their bodies rested upon beds of down, their ears regaled with racy go.ssip. They come hero for punish- ment. "Thoy aro not badly treated, and I .say this in spite of your opinion. Fellows sodden and debased have escape. referred pull tho culprit out of his trouble. "Lighter diet is one of tho i>enal- tles of his offense, and that la no mean thing in this appetite reviving locality. Then the convict must don a liver.v of bright canary yellow and wear ten. pound Irons day and night. These ir«ms are fastened to tho ankles, while choins pass up his legs and aro linked to a belt around tho waist. "He may be flogged, too. It is probable that ho will bo. Thirty- six la.shes laid on by a muscular ex- marino are no joke." Tho ex-warden Is proud of .Ma pri- son. He exults in its ahsolutn se- curity. "Whatever people may sa.v, tharo novel' has been an escape from I'ortland," said my old friend, who has over a .score of years of service to his credit. "There is a ruii^ that a French- man onco crept away in a thick haze clambered down the clilTs to a wait- ing boat and thenco siH'd over th- Channel to his native land. But there is nothing of this in the of- ficial records. .\nother story tolls how a i>risoner made a <la.sh for lib- ert.y, broke into a chaplain's hou.so nnd stole a suit of broadcloth, which ho .sent back six nionihs lat-r. Personnll.v 1 doubt the tiuth of it. "Tlien- Was one fellow who man- aged to gain the Dorchester road. Wevmouth- seven miles awnv. That i'lour of liheiatioii comes, it it ever was In IHT.'l. His name was Heeu- i'l"-'* come, crowds throng the little mont, and he was reallv one of the I '"'"• railway station to witness most daredevil men ever consigned i *'"'''" dejiartiire. And this spveranco to Portland. i ''' ""* without Its sadness to the "When he first got nwav he man- j l"''"""^ '' aged to conceal himself in a church, i -f- There lie stole a surplice, which he i Happy is tho man who ia too busy Bomuhow rigged into a rospectwblo " [16 flnd'fault. to. No legal quibble can quitted Portland with more than some .sparks of manliness in them. Besides, 1 have had the .same mea through my hands TWO OR THHF.E TIMRS over, which doesn't speak ba'dly for the treatment they've n>colved here," he added with unconscious humor. On tho other hand, whatever my friend the ex-warder ma.v say, it 'can- not but be admitted that the coiv- victs are insufflcientl.v fed. oppre.ssed by tho InsulTerablo law of perpt-tual silence, and used as beasts ot bur- den oven on the public highway. "Don't send mo ba'.-U to penal servi- tude," was the piteous wail of a wrongdoer to the Judge on whose mercy his punishment depended the other da.v. "The lifo is one I wouldn't give to a dog." Portlnnil. ot course, has hehl most of tho prominent convicts of this and preceding decades. Jabez Bal- four; the murderer Uiulditord. whom thoy decided not to hang owing to a malftiriiitttion of the throat; La'o of Habbacombo notoriety, Burge and (Joudie are all known thei-o. Burgo nnd Goudie are still there. Porilind is as proud of its notor- ious prisoners as it is of its famous prisoners. From the convenient height of ono of the ho.stelries which face the- ijuarries men infamous in history ere pointed out. When their â- ^.. \