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/ i»so99« â€" 9» f> '*^ riaz»9mt M«fl' There is no dang- STRONGER THAN DEATH <^ A RANSOMED LIFE e o« » »â€" » •â- â- â€¢â€¢a««« M B>»»««i1 CHAPTER X. 'I'lt'i'or Was first into thn nursery iu the iivcy dawn or the morniag. He started back amazed at the ?ight that met his c.vi'B. In the cushioned thai* jobbing fretfully, like a three- year-old child, sat Vivian Ardcl, while the child in the cot close be- side gazed out at him with wide-op- en, wistful eyes, which closed softly as Trevor came into the room. Vivian Ardel sprang from his chair to meet him, babbling meaninglessly, like a frightened baby. The cry of horror had scarce passed from Tre- vor's lips when Eva stole into the room behind. Ardel turned at once tp her \i-ith a half-articulato mutter- ing of delight, and fondled her like a dog, all ,tho intellect gone out of his face. Still the child in the cot slept on. breathing quickly. ••My God!" Elva cried out, as -she looked and heard. •'His reason has snapped under the double strain. He has saved us both, John, but at what a cost! Better my boy and I were lying dead together than this should be." She threw herself, weeping piteous- ly, into her husband's arms, and still the strong man babbled and the child slept. There was the sound of quick wheels on the gravel sweep, as pun- ctual Br. Hartley drove to the door. Dr. Hartley was never surprised at anything. He was not now. ibody^ so far, seomfl uha(Iected, hut this cannot last long. It's a "with- ering at the top," Mrs. Trevor, as I -Swift finely put it â€" 'a withering at j the top.' "You have nothing to reproach yourself, my d<.'ar ludy," he went on soothingly, "in liringing him down here. A little irregular, perhaps, from the professional point of view; but then ho was, I understand, an old friend. So far as poor Ardel himself is concerned, the attack was inevitableâ€" absolutel.v inevitable. It was the result of long-continued sof- tening of the brain. "That child seems still to be a little uneasy; I think T will give it a soothing draught. As I was .saying,' poor Ardel's collapse could not be long postponed. It was fortunate the stroke took hiui here amongst his friends, whein; he can,, he carefully tended to the end. Candidly, Mrs. Trevor, I do not think the end can bo long deferred. I will see him again, of course â€" a most interesting case. But there is nothing . that I can do, nothing that, any one can do, to help him. ITis reason is irre- trievably gone, and I fear his life will not. long he spared." The specialists on brain disease who were called in during the next few days were not quite so glid and confident as Ur. Hartley. Th^ case puzKled them a little, they confessed; sunirised ' '•'''"''' '""-'''e some s.ymptouis quite ort of thcj coirmioiir but, on tlie whole. "Boy much better." he said. "Justh^'^-^ agreed with their confident col- as I expected. I had great confi- r/'^euc^ "Keason would flicker down iJence in the last draught which I '^^ jjreacribed. You will remember, Mrs. Trevor, that I set my face against all those new-fangled opera- tions from the first." No one told him that his last draught had not been tasted. No to a spark and go out. There, was no hope, absolutely no hope." The result belied their gloomy pro- phesies. Even within a week a dis- tinct improvement was visible. Dr. Ardcl (if his body without his soul may be called by that name) was at tor says, Harry er now." Hut the child persisted piteWisly, i "Not yet; not yet." I "Don't laugh at the poor little fel- low, >lolin," Kva interposed. "He does not sooni to ni« the same child since his illness. Don't worry your poor little head, Harry. Father and Doctor know what is bust. Won't you be glad to have .len back to pla.v with, and Au'nt Lucy?" "I would, but; " , "Don't say 'but' to me, pot." This with a pretty assumption of the stern mother. "Run away now with your story-book to the nursery, or, or," for he wont very slowly, "yoti can go to Dr. Ardel's room, if you prefer it." Lucy and .Toanncttn • returned next day, both dre.s.sod in black. Lucy dreaded sorely tlics meeting with Dr. Ardel, for Kva had written her the sad story, and the pity of it giippcd her heart with a grief too ten.se for tears. Trembling violently, she walked with Eva . from the nursery to the little sitting-room or study which had always been reserved for Ardel's special use at Lavclla, and which was still his room. , A gush of pitying tears half blind- ed her as she looked into the room. Dr.: Ardel was on his knees on the llo<»r, intent on the latest toy that Hai-ry had lent him. It was an ingenious mechanical contrivance worked by springs and clockwork. The sight and sound chilled Lucy's heart with the vague, half-grotesque horror of a bad dreiun. A book that she carried dropped from her stillening fingers and came down with u bang on the floor. Ar- del heard and tm-ned his head. Then ho leaped to his feet, the toy forgot- ten, and sprang towards her, shout- ing joyously, â€" "Lucy! Lucy! welcome home, Aunt Lucy! You will make me quite Well again, wont .you"?" "But you are not ill'.'" To her own Hurpri.se, she found herself for a moment talking to him quite natur- ally, as she would to a little child. "Oh, no; it's not that. Don't you see, I am not your own little Har- ry any more? I'm grown up alt of a sudden, just like Dr. Ardel. But you will steal the bad fairy's wand and change me back again. Oh, Lucy, I'm very tired of being, so big. " Then, with childhood's sud- den change of mood, the strong man burst out crying. "I want to bo my own self again, Lucy," he whispered through his tears. "Oh, with all ni.v heart I wis-h you were your own self again," she said very earnestly, the tears of pity streaming down her cheeks as she spoke. "But wishing won't help you." She sat beside him on a sofa and talked to him soothingly, as to a child. Presently ho surprised her by asking for a story that was a speci- al favorite with little Harry Trevor, and before she was half-way through the tale he was again full of excite- ment about the princess and the â- ^vicked dwarf, quite forgietful of his grievance of having suddenly grov.-n up like Dr. Ardel. "Wo must make him as happv as We can. Eva, and kee|) on hoping for the bOKt," she whi.-spercd, as they left the room together. A week had not jjassed when Lucy herself began to droop and pine a little. Curiously enough, little Har- r.y Tre\or was the (irst to notice it. One morning he \valk<>d straight into the parlor, whore husband and wife were alone together, still puzzling and grieving over the awful blow that had stricken down the mind of their dearest friend. The child broke in abruptly upon their talk. '"Luc.y is ill," he said, very ill, I think she has got dip- tei-a. " At this dread word Eva turned ghastly pale, and would have fallen, but her hu.sbund's strong hand was around her in a moment. "Evn! Eva!" he cried; "don't be a coward without cau.se! It's only the silly nonsense of the child, who has picked the word up like a parrot. lUin awa.v to the nurser.v. Hairy. Don't you see you have frightened the life out of .your mother? " Itut thi' boy stood his ground a little doggedly as it seemed. 'It's true, it's true." he persisted. "Ask her if she hasn't got a soro throat. She will die if you don't lake cure." "Oh. John! " Eva suddenly inter- posed, ""the child is right. I know Many of the cures brough about by 1 •"I'iiia:iy 1 oovu.cd to use Vr. ""'' f*'<^' ''- '« .true. Lucy has been Vr. Chase's Ointmciit are so much I Chsusc's Ointment, and lo my siu"- j '"°*''"R pale for the last day or like miracles that people can .scarcely prise she began to Improve imnted- '^'°- ^^'-' should never have brought belieyo thoni. When Hub.v Millar be- ialel.v, and after regular treatment i''"'" ^"'' >'eanette here so soon. Tf came a. victiiti of.4'C7.enia her parents for a trnio the disease of so Icuig- «i? ''O'J ^>"^ taken the child's advice! did ev(^",Vthing that could be done I stu'ilding coiiqiletely disappeared. AsT'"''""^ '*' wi.sdoin in I lii' mouths of to get., her cured. Thr(>e doctors I that was four .venr's ago. and not ajhabin, wo are told. Uut there Is no tritKl all the means in tlieir power, j syinptoni of this distressing alinient iusc thinking of that now. We must success, ami then all | ha.s ever shown Itself since, the cure 'have the doctor sent for at once. " one. j "Let us see Luc.y first, ni.v dear," were I the prnctiial Queen's counsel quietly one told him of the miracle by which ^"'^^ frightened and petulant, as it the child's life was saved. some sudden change had come upon Eva would scarce give him time to ! ^'"^ which he could but dimly rea- glance at the child's cot. "Oh! yes, | ''''*^- ^^^ wimpered and moped all he is quite safe now," she said;, and j '^^y- ^° °"^ ''"*• ''*'•''-' Harry Trt- the careless confidence of her voice ' ^'"' could coa.x him out of these dis- Jarred on him. He had seen her so;!â„¢"' moods. The child's toys delight- heart-brokenâ€" now the child seemed j ^^ *>iâ„¢- ^^ '^'^^ indeed something nothing to her. pitiable to .see the big man on his "You know Dr. Ardel?" she asked I ''â- "'^^^' plaj'i°g ''"ith tin soldiers and abruptly. "Dr. Vivian Ardel?" cannon, and quite forgetting his "Of course, my dear lady," he an- swered, with bland composure; "not to know him argues myself unknown. I have inet him frequcntlv in consul- trouble in his childish excite- vague ment. Meanwhite LiacjS'.aoMi »Jeiinnct1,(ji, had come back from their visit to the tation. He has mndi; diphtheria a]s°"'^'i °f France. They were in Lon- spccial study. I should, perhaps l<lui. and the qiuestion arose, if it j Would yet be quite safe to have them have advised you to call him in this case of ours, but I knew ho was abroad." "He is returned!" she cried excit- edly; "he Is here^here in this house! But not the Vivian Ardel whom yt u and all the world knew and wondered at. His reason has been stricken down in the night: he is as helpless, mindless, as the child in that cot." Even Dr. Bartle.v's composure was not proof against this. He saw Vivian Ardel at once. He found the case "sa.rf; very sad. but quite Simple." ""Paralysis of the brain. Long-contimied and active elTort hud Worn out a once magnificent organ.. The s.vmptoms were unmistakable. down to Lavella. It chanced that; little HiV'r.v Trfcvbr was in the par- lour whin this question was discuss- ed bet" ffcen his father and mother and r,-. Hartley. Now while the three discussed the return of the wanderers his eyes left his book and he listened eagerly. Dr. Bartle.v laughed at the father's and motlier's fears, a.ssuring theiii that all danger of infection was long passed. "â- ': » "Then,' said Trevor, convinced^, "i. will wire Lucy to come on to-mor- row, and ha\o the broughman to meet her at the middu.v train. Bet- tor still, 1 will go up to liondon atttti ""We almost always find this total 'bring them hack with me.' lapse of memoi'v," he went on, ""this premature turning to second child- hood. You observe his delii.sion, mj dear Mrs. Trevor. He fancies him- self .your child Harr.v. His mind, you tell me, was on a strain about All of a suddi'ti the l^Ulfe boy drop- ped bis .picture-book ailS ran be- tween thrill, his face flushed and his eyes brigh* with excjtteinent. â- â€¢i."'Dor>i'*, idoh'f^"" he^ried. so hnstiV that' his words tripped each fther the child. That would entirely ac- up, ""don't bring them home yet . 'The count folv- the form his delusion has danger is not over: thoy will die as assumed. No, I'm afraid there i.s Willie died." absolutely no hope. We must rather r John Trevor smilingly took the look for deterioration than improve- boy on his knee and s<rothed and jjet- ment. as the disease progresses until ted him. "You hear what the doc- the mind completely fades away. The I otherwise with little Thejjoor child mop- It was quite Harry Trevor. ed about the house, broken-hearted, with dumb, tuucliiug sorrow lu his eyes. All that medical science could do was done, without avail. To a fam- ous specialist from London Eva (k-- sciibed Ardel's treatmeikt and its result. "Ah," he said, kindl.y but hopeless- ly, "Dr. Ardel was a wonderful man. It is such a pity, such a pity. Hut there are no Dr. Ardels left amongst us. The serum he u.sed was of his own discovery. Indeed, ho told me when wo last met that he had just found a sovoi'eign specific for diph- theria, which ho meant to reveal to the profession. Now that beneficent secret is lost to the world for ever." "Is there, then, no hope, doctor?" Eva interposed faint l.y. "Well, I would not go quite .so far as that, Mrs. Trevor. Whilr there is life there is hope, you know. There is no accounting for the vag- aries of Nature. But it is one of the most virulent cases I have known in m,v practice. No, no, you nmst not give way like that, my dear lady. 'Vou arc overstrung by watch- ing and nursing night and day. I must have to forbid you in the sick-room altogether if you don't take better care of .your-self." (To be continued.) BOYS OF TO-EAI WILL BE THE MEN JFOTUHE. 07' TB3k A A Cas^ .ozema After Three Years of T<»rrl5ale JJufferlng Lilt'e Mary Millar Wa3 Par.Tfiansntly Cured by DR. CHASE'S OtNTMENT. but without success, ami then sorts of .reuiudies were used, with j must cprtninly he a pcrnia'npiit the vain ho|ie that soniething would,. \t the Unic of this cure wo bring ro^f from the disease that iiyi,ng In 'Coinwall, Ont., and scenied^to' he burning uji the living doctors there feared that if she flesh. â-º It wat* 1iot until Dr nicnt \lJas used that relief and cuiej Mr. S. Hicliard.'io" i, jun., Suporin- tho was I not cured of eczema she- wouldv , m> Chase's Oint-' Into n dectine." t "T came. â-  .- I'his case is certified to by a prominent Suiulny school superin- tendent of .'"'I. Cathniii)c(>. Mrs. Wni. Millar, 3t'.* CntharineA, Ont., Viites : â€" "'.My daughter. Wary. tendent Christ's Church Sunday School, SI. Catharines, Out . writes: "1 uiir»M:<iuainted with Ti^r. and Mrs. Wm. MiHui' and belf^ e they would not make any statenici-.t kiiowiii); it • hen blx laoiilhs old contracted ec- j to be in aliy way uiislcndiiig or un a) iiMerpo.sed. "I tiust there is no, ground for fcai"." But there was ground for feai". Day by day and night by night Eva Watched b.v Luc.y s bedside. HiJttcreBt mockery of hope, crown- ing agOn.v of it nil. in the next i room w-as Hr. Ardel, who had beat- 'en boL-k the diBcfkM so easily. now ipuworless as a little child to help or j save. ' I Evii, in her despair, mad^ one trial NEW OPriCE RULES. Few Hints For Some People Who will Not see the Point. 1 .â-  Gentlemen entering this ollico will please leave the doorvvide open. •2. Those having no .business will please call often, remain as long as" possible, take a chair, and make themselves comfortable. 3. Grentleinen are roquestpd to smoke, especially during oflice hours; Havanas and newspapers supplied. Expectorate on the floor, as the spittoons are onlv for ornament.' 4. The money in this office is not intended for business purposes â€" by no means â€" it is solely to lend. Please note this. 5. Talk loud and whistle, especial- ly when wo are engaged: if this has not the desired ellect, sing. 6. Put your feet on the tallies or lean on the desks; it» will be of great as.sistance to those writing upon them. 7. Oentleinen w"all please e.xaniine our letters, and jot down the names and addresses of our customers, par- ticularly if they are in the same pro- fession. 8. As we are always glad to see old friends, it wiil be particularly refreshing to receive a visit and a renewal of orders fiom any loriiier cu.stoiner who has jmssed through the Bankruptcy Court and paid us not more tliaii ten cents in the dol- lar. A warm welconie may be re- lied on. 9. Having no occupation for our ofilce-bo.v, he is entirely at the sor- Wce of callers. 10. The following are kept at this ollice for public convenience : A stock of umbrellas (silk), all the local newsiiapers, time-tables, and all other guides aiwl directories; also a supply of notepaper, envelopes, and .stamps. N.B. â€" I'rivate notepaper for private letters may also be had if dorired. H. Should you find our principals engaged, do not hesitate to inter- rupt them. No business can jiossi- bly be of greater importance than your!^. 12. If you have the opportunity of overhearing any conversation, do not he.'^itate to listen. You iiin.v gain information Which may be ust"- tul in the event of disputes arising. J ;i. in case you wish to insjiect otir promises kindly do so during wet weather. and" carrv your umbrella with .you; we admire tlie effect on the floor, it gives an air of comfort to the establishtiu'iit . (The umbrella- stand is only for ornaiiionti wad on no account to bo u.sed.) DR.A.VI. CHASrS CATARRH CUBE... .1 5c is sent direct .o tb« dlseas«« prt. br ih« Improred Blower. Heals (he ulcers, r.Iofcrs thi all passages, slops droppijigs in tb» lliroat and permniiunlly curei fre«. All djalcra. or far. A. W. Cbaw -karficlQ. C*, TotoDU» a^id Bulfchr They Should be B.ugged aai Sturdy, Full of Life and H-eadj for Work, Play or Studyâ€" Keej Them Healthy. Growing boys should always b( healthy and rugged. Heady for play, ready for study, and ready at auj time for a hearty meal. This condi- tion denotes good health, but' iher* are entirely too man.v who do not come up to this standard, "They take no part in the manly guines all healthy boys indulge in; tluy are sloop-shouldered, dull and listlose; they complain of frequent headaches, and their apiietite is variable. .Some- j times parents say, "*Oh, they II out- 'grow it." But the.y won'tâ€" its the blood that's out ot condii,ion. aad instead- of getting better tliev g>eti worse. AVhat boys of this class ro- quiiB to make them bright, active and strong, is a tonic, something that will build up the blood and make the nerves strong. There is no medicine that can do this as quickly and as efltictivel.y as Dr.- Williams' Pink Pills. Mrs! Mary Coiiipton, of Merriton, Ont., tolls what these pillS- did for her sixteen year old son. She says: 'About two .vears ago my son Samuel began to decline in health. He grew very pnle and thin and" at times experienced ^ serious weak spells, coupled wiu^ a tired, worn out feeling, and arf^he weeks went by he grew worite. This alarmed me, for my husband had died of what the doctors called pernicious anaemia, and I feared my son was going the same way. I liad often read that Dr. Williams" Pink Pills would cure anaemia, and decided that ho should try them. A couplo of boxes made a decided improve- ment in his condition, and by tho time he had taken a half do'^eh liox- es his health was bettor than it had been 'for some .vears jirevious. Ilia weight had increased, his listlessnesa had disappeared, and he was lilessed with, a good appetite. 1 may add that other members , of my famil.v have been" benefitted by ihc iifo of Dr. Williams" Pink Pills and I con- sider tlicse pills the best of all medi- ciner..'" Poor and wutnry blood is the cause, of nearl.v all diseases, and it' Is l>c- causo Dr. Williams' Pink Pills act di- rectl.v upon the blood, .both eiiricli- ing it and increiising the qunntit.v. that they cure such (roubles as anae- mia, rheumatism, indigestion, neu- ralgia, heart trouliles, iiicipii-nl con- sumption and the various ailments that a/llict so man.v women. Those pills may be had from any dealer in medicine or will bo sent post paid at 50c. a box or si.x boxes for §2. .50 by .writing to tho Ilr. Williams' Medi- cine Co., Brock villo, Ont, If ,vou value your health never allow a deal- er to persuade you to take some- thing else, • â- â™¦ • yX â-  i^yp:ii ROYAL DI'^SSEUT SKHVICR. The famous Sevres dessert Service, which is kept in cabinets in the groen drawing-roonr at Windsor, and in whitli President Loiibot was most in- terostedi is prohnbl.v worth about ?400,()()0, Tho iiervice was puiTha.s- ed by George !.\'.. when Prince of Wales, for quite a small sum. It passed on his death in accordance with his- will to William IV,, who generously made it over ti> the Crown instead of keeping it as his own jirivato iiroperty, which ho could have done if so d-ispo.sod. TH'B EARTIf.S MKASHUEM1!;NT. After nearl.v thirty .voar.s of con- stant elTort and the expenrtitiire of nearly $-500.0110. .scientists lia\e ruc- ceetled in accuratelv imasiirittg tlio earth. Thoy have lonriied that its diameter through the Equator iii 7,- 92<5 miles: its lioight frein I'ole to Pole 7,8!li» miles. Tho earth, thpre- foro, is llaltoned at the Polis; ami while tliis fact has long boon assort- ed, tho actual niousuroiiient has re- moved the <iueslion 'I'oni the ilini.iiiii of douht. MAKE BABY PEEL GOuJ.. for an fruit I of hjn power.<i. sick. I K'.nii and for throe years this dis- true." ease bafllfd all treatment. Her case j Dr. Oinac's Ointment, . 60 eent^i was i-urt^of th<< worn that over cnnie box, at all dealorfs, or Ediuanson ; .,. i i k- .u * i lo nn wo'.ice, and she sHffoied what I Bates & Company, Toronto, To t.ro- I ^''* ',"'" , ,, , .^ '^"f ., Bo lou kail eve- describe. I had her'tuct vou against linitntioi,.s the por- ''''"'' ***'"« ?' diphtheria, and beggea nJace.nt ,- p.n ircatortbv th«o diftoroht doctors, | Iralt and siBiiaturo of Dr. A XV l***" ^J''" ''°'" "*"" moment he wept splonrtWIy,:!!! but nllto no imrpose whatever, and ('hase, the famous receipt bflpk au-l<Ji|'''"^'''-^ '•"â-  "'PO'"' Lticy. " but the ' --- ^â-  All Rorts of b^BB, soaps and-Iotlr.ni). thai^iiMHl # V%>-^Wl<^Ml> M»f#' l*' "was absorbed in .hiX delight •ere irk-d Tlth M beiienrial results, dies. 1'" a f** '^^S. l^k-d TABLE FHIJIT TRKI-iS. !.,;,,•. ' , , ,* I A VA ly s toiypor depends upon how To eat fruit fresh from the trees he" fex'(s(«>" If ailing lie wiu be cross. at a banqueting table is one of the j ^ot . v tie mother and. ailnov ovory- latosl, luxuries of Knglish epicures, j („j,iy in tho bout., if fi>elii.g wed- ho Certain fruiterers in the We.st-ond of will be bright, active and happv. It London aJ« now iiuikin^ i)re|iarations,| j^ easy to keep vour bnbv feeling abundant '.supply of dwarf;.) g„o,i by profit ing by the experience tr^a ladi-ii with cherries, j of motiiera who give their lit lie ones peaches. iKars, and ap|>les for oriiu- Uafevs Own Tablets. Ono of these ment and dessert at the dinners o(- lij,„t'hois, Mrs. C. W. Shore, Castle- thc coming sen.son. The tiny fruit Won. Ont., says;â€" 'Our child, eight tn-us. which, although four or fivtt -j^onlhs old, has always been tiouhl- .voors ohi, afo only soniQ 3 feet high, jad with indigi-stiim. Wo liud iju'd-- iiot only make n delightful table de-lcftlp from two doctors and tried corMion, Ihfft. produce a delicious , ot hor roinedios without benefit. t; dessejt. "*. â-  .. thi-n .sent for n ho.\ of BalJ.v's Own" ' ' â-  â- â™¦ j Tablets and' found them iust what LIONS IN A BALLOON. (was roquired. The rhitd i.i now all .Probably the most remarkable ! right and is doing well." balloon n.scent evor made took plnco ' Indigestion. roli", cnnptipniion, 9t Rotibnix recently. Tho a'lthor (,f ' diarrhoea, simi>le fevers, in fact nil Ujis singular exploit was a ("nptnin i t-h'" minor aihiK'iits. of little ones are Henri, a ngieBa«;eric proi^iriofor. who !Ci"'«'' '',v "abv's Own Tablets, They wont up ill,* cug.'-boat attached to [a'^^^ys <lo^ gpod and cannot possibly a balloon. > with two lions in Uie;''*' ^nrm. and may be given l(^ th.- cage WHtb hbr. nntf ' two" aeronauV MM. WelletPind Jlu<ha(aau«^ An Mt% top. of the^tHi;,. The lusc«>lh< topk and tfK> balloon »n!W> _^ l're.S(-iito O^ h groa,^ cr(*Wd. -twHipft n r»«»se lioi«i ♦: -llio Belginn fr<>»ii,.!-. d.-M ,.;n,i;;.j, accident al â- Wtuiinhbtire n' ' 'yonngesi -nrnftt with i)erf<H-t safety ^Id by druggists or diract Jf inai at V.'ic a box, b.v nddrossl'ig Wt-Hiiinis .Mo4fieino Co., H: t'l :^>o-",-v<: -iS^CHO "J^ '.if. m:- t * I 5i n.