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A Thrilling Story of Romance and Adventure. CHAPTER VII. A Gnosr or 'riir. PAST. "\Vith you, if I may,” he answered l promptly. “()h Zyes. indeed you mayâ€"I am going ‘I‘I‘thr‘ ‘r"‘-"l.ljjnl~7 Velma“ “If” "xl’ll‘xl‘l‘cil to the florist's and then to a sweet little shop 1 3r " .‘h‘ i a ' l. i ‘ ' ‘. i i v > i , r L " ‘ m C ‘ '"mmn' ' " 9° "r‘m “I, n where they have odds and-ends, to make my Lon which explains nolhizw. nlarly good one and Major Dennis set about having it well cleaned auddccorated at once. , “Mv wife has a fancy to live in cainp,’ he explained to Jack, “and as we shall be' here for nearly two years, we may as wel have it made as comfortable as possible. “'e'vc had furnished houses before, but there don‘t seem to be any decent ones in- Uhcrtscy and I detest living in an hotelâ€"- one never knows how one may be annoyed or who is staying in the house." “ ()h, its much more comfortable in camp, Sir,” said Jack, who llutl not been long enough in the service to hate 3. barrackâ€" “ it's so much handler in every Way; and the Major’s lint is such .an exceptionally good one, and the garden quite a little pain- dise. Major Lawrence took infinite pains with it.” ’ ~ ' ' “ Yes, and my wife is very fond of a bit of garden,” Major Dennis replied. I “So I am having the place papered and painted and made as comfortable as possible, and you must help my wife to'gct‘ settled. I’m told you’re a great band at anything-of that sort.” . “ Well, Sir, I do try to make myself nse~ ful sometimes,” returned Jack modestlyâ€" “ I’ve been helping Mrs. Strattonâ€" ” “Oh, yes. She showed us bet-furniture,” said the major taking the words out ofJack’s mouth... “and though Mrs. .I)clllllS_\\'Oll’ty exactly want you to do that. sort of Illlllg,;I (larcsay she’ll be very pleaset if you’ll ad- visc her about one or two little things, her her pictures and plants and so on.” “ I shall he only too delighted, Sir,” said Jack in all good faith. ' “I am really out of all that sort of thing," the Major continued with an air of great rcod humor â€"â€"“and when I get into any 'ind of a. shop, except it’s aiaddler’sor a. boot-shop, I always feel like the proverbial bullaiuong the china. I darcsay I look like it tooâ€"ha. ha.” He walked away laughing heartin and Jack Trevor stood looking curiously after him. “Well, you are. little friend, Ethel Mordannt ! soul, no wonder she looks so miserable every now and then and talks about Blankhamp- ton and the Cliil'e, as if the old days were paradise. ” Then he, too, turned on hisheel and went about his own business, which at that limin- ent happened to be something concerning one of his horses. While he was talking to the groom, Monty Carlton passed the door you’re a queer fish, upon my word And to think you married my Poor little they lookcdl at the sleek satin-cdatcd horses together. ' “ You’ve heard the news,” said Carlton, as they walked towards the Mess together. “ Noâ€"l’vc heard nothing except that the Denniscs are going tolivc in camp,” Jack an- swercd. “ Oh, I’ve heard that, too. You knew her when she vas a child, didn’t you ‘3” “ Yes.” “ \Vhat did she marry him for '3" “ Oh ! I don’t fancy she had much choice about it,” Jack said carelessly. “Her mother was the sort of woman who does not give anyone within her range too much rope. As a little girl, Mrs. Dennis was let to go hex-j own way pretty much, but as a young lady l I believe she had the devil’s own time. I on see the title weighed a good deal with her.” “\Vith the mother, Isuppose.” “Of course.” > “ll’m ! \Vhat an odd thingr it is that titles do weigh so heavily with women as they do. I should have thought that all the titles under the sun would never have gilded a blatant brute like that, let alone it's being only a title in prospective.” "Yes. It's rough on her anyway,” said Jack with a. sigh. “lly the bye, what was your news 2'" "Oh !»â€"â€"Craddock is going to he marriet .” “Craddockâ€"you don’t say so 1 And who is he going to iuarry ‘3” “Angela Druminond.”said Carlton, look- ing straight in front of him. “ :\ll-â€"â€"g0lfl.â€"-Dllllllâ€"â€"lllOll(l l Nonsense,” cried «lack. , , "Nonsense or no nonsense. It's true,’ ('arltou asserted positively. “I had it from Craddock himself this morning.” ' "And what did you say to him?" “I said he was an nayâ€"or something like it. And then. of course, I had to apologise and say that [didn‘t mean anything personal, only that I thought it a iity that soldiers should marry at all till i cy“re out of the Service." ' "And old (“rudder-k. what did he say ‘3" “Oh. he. l.iughedâ€"-saidI was a jolly old cock that had gone wrong altogether and would never be better till I'd fallen in love myself. In love “ME! Ughâ€"just think of it." he ended in ineii'ablc disgust. .lack laughed aloud. “My dear chap, I can't think of it-â€"l can't inmgineany woman ever giving you the chance of knowing her well enough to be in love with her," “'l‘hey'd give me the chance fast enough, no fear," said Carlton grimly. “Yes. I darcsay they would. But, Monty. old chap," laughed J tick-w“ you may take. my word for thisâ€"~yon'll go on for a time well enough, and then one of these line days you'll get bitten before you know where. you are : and oh i by Jove, won't you have it bad, no mistake almut it.’ “Yes, my friend." returned Carlton as they reached the door of the mess-room, “when I do have it, I shall have it badly. You are quite right about that -â€"quitc right." Well, about two hours after this, Jack Trevor was walking briskly along the nar- mw High Street in which the principal shops .nl L'iu-r'iscy may be found, when be literally nu against .\ll‘$.l)\'lllll$ who came out ufl n shop attended only by the majestic Crnnuulcs. “My dear Ethel. Iask a thousand pardons hccried. I had no idea that you or anyone else was coming out of that shopsâ€"I didn't hurt you, did I "Na 3 bit. dank," she said laughing. “And if yoi had it wouldn’t lmve been vour faulL “he-m are you going t” ' - .- ,_ .i . 'l'hc but which had been occupied by,””“"‘5 mm“ ‘00” 3I"iur Lawrence h'i icned to hem artic-t . i ‘ ' i m ‘ p ' be tremendously grand in your new quart- ers," Jack said as they walked along to- ge.her. ' “ , i has alum. the kiiid )efore-:lizt‘s”al\vaysiii’sisted on hav- let : but Cosmo world not hear of it. He‘says full advantage: of; the" Mixjor’sf permission l and seeing him came in, and as men d" awayâ€"then Mrs. was, I saw â€"‘â€"I saw something that-turned me pretty.” _ “The Major tells me that you are gomg to “Gail don’t think 'soâ€"I have chosen very cheap simple furnitureâ€"and we'are 1 obliged to have the hut papcrcd and painted. . I cannot think," she went on wonderiugly, “Why Cosmoavanted to live in camp. fie scbhis face against anythingéof ing a furnished house.” . “But he could not get one in 'hertsey." “Oh ! vesâ€"therc is a nice little house to‘ I shall enjoy camp-lifeâ€"and so I daresay 1' shall,”,she'faddcd smiling; “ " "’ “‘1' “1 think it will be glorious tofiiiave you it! ” camp,” Jack" declared. “And do you know, Ethel, I do think it is so awfully good of the Major to be so open and jolly about our old friendship. Some men - in his place might have said,‘ Oh lI’lll not goingto have any old .1)layfellows.hanging around’ and that would have made just 511 tch IIIIIéI‘BlICC in our friendship, wouldn’t it '3” r -’ ~ “Yesâ€"that is so,” Mrs. Dennis assented. It must be owned that Jack Trevor took that he should make himself 5 useful to Mrs." Dennis ; he went- with her that afternoon from one shop to another, helped her in the" choice 'of various things; carriedher smaller parcels, those at least that she wished totalk-e - ’with her, andfinally escorted her back to the hotel and gracefully accepted her offer of a cup often. » ' ‘ ‘ ‘ _ And over that cup of tea and a‘ plate of ’ hot buttered mufiins, they had a delight .nl half -honr’s chatbcfore anyone came to disturb themâ€"a half-hour during which Crummles sat on the sofa. beside his‘mistress and Jack took charge of the tea-t 'ay and ministered to her comfort. They went back to old times, of course, and Ethel took off her sailor hat and flung it down on the bank of the river which ran at- the bottom of the Clifl'c gardens. But no time, however delightful, lasts for everâ€"the half hour came to an end and visitors were shown iiiâ€"Mr. and Mrs. Stratton. Mrs. Dennisjumped up, upsetting Crummles in her haste, and Jack got on .to his feet likewise, and than there followed a. few minutes of somewhat formal conversa- tiou which in turn was interrupted by the entrance of Major Dennis himself. He gave the Sti‘altons a. very loud welcome with that kind of manner which had made Carlton describe him as blatant, andAJack Trevor somehow became impressed with an idea that he was annoyed to findanyone there and was wishing them all at perdition. His words, however, contradicted this. “ It’s so good of you: to come and see my vifc,” he said to Mr . Stratton. “ Ethel, have you no tea?” ' “ I have ordered some‘fresh tea, 'what we had here. was almost cold,” she answered, then looked at him in an anxious wa_ , and presently Jack heard her whisper, “Is any- thing the matter? Are you not well ‘1” “Oh !yesâ€"yes,” he replied impatiently, “ don’t worry me. I’m all right.” Yet presently, when Jack carried him a cup of tea, he noticed that" his hand 'was trembling and that he set’it on the corner of the chimney-shelf where he left it untastcd. He kept on talking ho vevcr, ‘fast and loud until the Strattons had .betaken themselves Dennis’s ~‘anx‘icty would be rosiraincd no, longer. , _ “ Cosine, I am sure something is the mat- ter,” she said. ' , “ Not at all,” he answered, “ but the fact completely over-~that was all.” " An accident?” she asked; ‘- “ Noun ghost!" he answered. “ Cosmo?" she cried. ’ Major Dennis began to laugh noisily. “ There, I didn’t quite mean thatâ€"but I did see a woman so like a. woman I knew years ago, thatâ€"well, it- give me a turn.” .“ And was she dead 2'" V â€" , . :1" ‘ i “The woman I saw in the street just now was alive enoughâ€"lth‘at is to all out\ and ap- pearances. The woman I knew years agoâ€"â€" 1 don’t know whether she is‘alive or dent .” “ Perhaps it was the same woman.” “Perhaps, but I think not. Iâ€"â€"â€"â€"â€"" and then a violent shiver tobk possession of him- and the sentence remained unfinished. “Cosmo, you are ill,” M'rs. Dennis cried. “ I am sure of it.” “ ()h ! noMbut ” “ Have a strong“ brandyw and soda, Sir," suggested Jack. who had jinn ,ed at once to the conclusmn that the Major ad unexpect- edly fallen in with an old love, whose pre- seuce might prove to be exceedingly awk- ward forhim. “ Yes, ring the bell, will you please,” said the Major, with an air of relief, then turned round to his wife, “ I hope I didn’t frighten you, Ethel, but I was reminded suddenly of a most horrible episode in my life ainl «and it turned me over a bit.” lIis tone brought something very like tears into Mrs. Dennis's eyes._ “ “hat was it ‘3" she asked in a shaking voicé.’ “\Vell, I was spending a long leave abroad-«on the Rivicra to be particular. It was a deuce of a while ago. I was only about two-nud-twcnty in fact. And one day I was with some people when the conversation turned on fortune-telling. I happened to say I didn’t believe in it- -â€"I (lit n'twâ€"l don‘t now, it's all the most utter rot imaginable. However, a 'oung lady of the party Asked me to show icr my hand and said that she would tell me my fortune, and that whether I lwlieved it hr not it would come true all the same." “ .-\nd'what did she tell you 2" Ethel ask~ ed. ' " That I had the devil‘s own temper for one thing," he answered shortly, “ which was true enough." " llut there's nothing verv wonderful in her telling you that." criedâ€" his wife won dcringly. thinking that a woman who couldn't sc-c that would indeed be a poor hand at for. tune-telling. “She told me alot more. and the last thing “fits that I should die bv the hand of a woman before I was fifty." ' "Cosmo ‘." Ethel cried. that woman to day ‘3" “Or some one very much like her," “And you saw l ! ._...._.__.- ..- "I. - .. Major replied. “ And silly as it may seem, I would rather hive seen the Devil himâ€" self." He tossed off the brandy and soda which the waiter brought him and declared himself better, “ I feel like an ass now. I wish I .had not told you,” he said with a glance at his wife's Scared face. “ I daresay it wasn’t the woman at all, only some one a bit like her. I’ll trust you, Trevor, not to say a word about it.” CHAPTER. VIII. .\ I'LATO.\' to summismr. “ The road of love is that which has no begin- ningn'or end':‘take' heed to thyself. mun. ere thou place foot on it." . _ l N “ Jack," said Carlton a few days after- wards, ' ‘ come and sit by me. I've got some~ thing to tell you." . ' ‘1. .. , . The officers were all streaming into the 111085110911) for luncheon, and J aek Trevor took his seat beside Carlton smiling already inhiiticipation of so ,iethin 'r ;goԤd”to-' come. “ \Vhat iii-It, Monty '3': lie-itslteg. .‘ ; .T “ Dennis said to Jervis \ esterday,"~ naming the two majorsâ€"‘ “Jervis you're an ass.’ _ . “ ‘ Dennis,‘ said Jervis, ‘ you’re drunk.’ .’ “ ‘ Yes, I kilow‘I am,’ answered Dennis, ,‘ but, I “sliaij'tvbe drunk ,to-morrow, and vou‘ll'alwfayslfja fdol, J ei‘yis.' "Ver 3 . , Trevor {burst “out; laughjngn; “(Did you hear that yourself?” A “Yes, 1 heardit from Quin.” . “But- you' didn‘t' hear. Dennis and Jervis?" ’ ' " ' ‘ ' _. “\‘i'ell no, ,I didn’t,” Carlton..admitted, ,F‘blit it}-i lias‘ aj great ,‘air "of probability about it.” “Oh ! it’sa good'story, I‘ll allow,”Trevor returned with a laugh. f‘By the bye,” said Carlton, “I’m going over tor nightlight ‘toiday, toffs’é'cé a mare Hutton hasi‘fo’r sale. ’V‘VViIl .you go :avith me?” ; . t .. . "‘IVhy does'Hutton' want to ‘Sell“licr?” Jack asked.- .- ‘“ ".5' . ‘i .b ‘; 1‘ -~. “Not quite to his: weight,” Carlton answered carelessly, .“he has put‘ on flesh awfully the‘lasit six months, but he Says the mareis just‘ as clever asdaylight-anchas handsomcas paint.” ' ' " l ' ' “T lic'usual thing,” Jack laughcd.‘ _ “\Vcll I am 'going to have a look at her anyway,” said Carlton decidedly. “Will on 0 or not ‘2” -” ' .‘his afternoon?” ' - . “ Yesâ€"I’m going Over directly after lunch.” . , , “\Vcll, I’m awfully sorry, old chap. I should have liked to go immensely but I can’t to-day.” A . “ Why not 1'” ' “ Because I’ve promised to go somewhere else,” said Jack mildly. “ Ugh ‘." granted Carlton in disgust. “ “'here ‘3” returned Didn’t “I’m going to Mrs. Den‘nis’s,” Jack. “She’s got an afternoon on. she ask you 3” “ Oh, yes, she asked me right enough,” sense than to go to what is ciiplioniously called ‘ an afternoon" in a, stuffy but with tif teen women all wantingr tea and only two drivelling idiots of men to give’it to’em.” “\Vhat an old lJCaI' you' are,” cried Jack with a, gay laugh. , ‘ « 7 “Yes, I know ~ but I’d rather be a bear thana cat’s-pawnny day,” the other growl- ed. “You look’out what you’re doing my friend. I’vc‘sccn a good many of these tre- mendous friendships between snbaltcrns and field ollicers’ wives before,but I never knew one that didn’t come to a. bad end sooner or later.” “Oh, poohâ€"Monty, old man. you’re sane enough on some points but you’re as mad as a March“ hare on certain others, and on wo- men youare maddest of all.” y . ‘.‘ You mark my words,” Carlton per- sisted-â€"“ and-when anything happens, don’t forget that Lwarucd you.” “All right,” carelessly. “Only I wish I was as sure of the command of the Fifteenth as I am that nothing of that sort will hap~ pen at all. \Vhy [man alive, Mrs. Dennis and I were children together, babicsahnost. I’ve known her all my li c ; we couldn’t get. up an ‘ail'air’ if we tried, and I’m sure we shall not try.” : . . “I‘I’mâ€"of course notâ€"of course notâ€"â€" they never (Ioâ€"I’ve seen plenty of that sort of'thing,” returned Carlton gloomily, Jack Trevor, however, beluga young man I :T'_ ‘~ ri- 3-2. r said Carlton crossly, “but I’ve got more . ,._.,._.. _ iin an exceedingly light suit, a white hat, I them for th second tune. I sup- tlower in his button-bole and a jauaty air of 1 p030 all soldiers have the most wooden enjoyment about his whole bearinggoacross ill the open space between the ot‘ficexs‘quarteis and the married otficers' huts and open the l little gate which led into Mrs. Dennis’s tin’y garden. Then after a. few minutes he saw them come out together and go happily oil in the directiui of the gates. l Carlton followed them with disgusted [eyes until they turned the cornerot the 'mcss-hut and were out of sight. “Pretty llil‘lSIllC‘sS brewing." he muttered. I :‘lhe m, u, a fresh townwwhy' yo“ are a Perfect 5 Mill"? Oil 10 T‘m'u'4'v‘m'05 his Wife l‘Ql‘lll‘l” detrimental, to be reckoned out of the run- ' Trevor consoles her. old friend, hud all that Hing MWays' Them; no“. she is looking in humbug. Ugh ! lit-1H} they W‘j-ft “'3‘” “W that window. She wants us to pass her to condole with any of’ci‘n, “matever lmp- lagninj! ’ r , « , ' pens :aud something will lull)qu bt‘l‘ll'c long "Then let us look in this window until mark my words. I suppose he's telling 1191‘ she is Mandingo on~slic can't stand look- this moment that he‘d never go to LHXHIO“ ing in a window for long.” if 'and leave her in - Chertsey chinan by .her “Xeiuwr cm, we," V' . i little self. Ugh ‘. it’s disgusting, disenstnw. i at least so Cosmo always tells me.” “Don‘t know, I'm sum,” returned Jack rather shortlv “some fellows may, but. I never had an'atl'air of any kind in my life. I never saw the woman beforevqmd it isn't a bit of good her starting anything romantic with me. I'm no good at that sort. of thing." Mrs. Dennis laughed merrily. “What a disappointment you must be whenever you 1.. longer time than she canâ€"much longer," be" answercd. , . . Already they had stopped before the win- (low of a very old-fashioned shop filled with And to think-it should be poor.._old”l‘revo:~. , of all others, that’s never given ti‘wonmn a ‘ second thought since he’s beenlin the regi~ incur. Bah, it's simply sickening." .l'Iowevcr, as it happened, )Jack Trevor was saying nothing of the kind to Mrs. Den~ ‘ nis. At that precise moment he was say: lcx-‘smuliwng npparémjy: deeply interested ix:gaâ€"f‘mulhowdsinmugolmniqseldom?" in what. siiegmvthere. . y , j 3111*- Dmmls blushed “' ml'lé- CUCOS‘l‘m ' 1 “Oh ‘. there is such a lovel“ old plateâ€"I doesn't care for ’l'ankhanifitgp, and since should so like it" Inthcl criil't , “don’t you Lord Frothiugham married he does not get 300‘ 11,0 01,1 Lowcsmn -1 must, 1m“) {hullâ€".1 on so well with my mother as he did. And ymny nmstf’ ' ’ really. as l tellshér, Indetitildn'g help his “Then Cglllp‘lll andaget it,” Jack 1.0 med. ‘uncle.inarryin" again and having children “It will give our mysteriousjfriemlhail 'l'liel-‘Iilarl: lady andall'tliat.”p” " . z t g r “ Of course not; Then why don't- you go by yourself?" _. I Mrs. Dennis shook her head. “Noâ€"any mother and'I get on very well when we are apart, .but-«butâ€"well, I don’t care to go home tnncltâ€"â€"â€"I am best here.” ‘ He understood from her tone ytliat the Clill‘e was home, in then propcr_ sense. of the word, for her- no longer. He. did not know that "in his .old play- fellow’s 'licart at that moment, a w ld tumult was raging, a vild memory of a day a few weeks before her wedding; when’sbc ha:l wept and prayed and bagged and im- plored to be set free from her engagementâ€" whcn she had gore down on -her knees be- side her motlicr and had pbured out all her troubled child’s heart to that unyielding car which would only hear music in the clinking of gold and the sound of a title, and was in- exorably deaf and cold to the cry of yearning for love and sympathy. “ Mother, I don’t care for Major Dennis,” . _ ~ ' . _.she had waned in her despair_“ I never those miniatures which are in the window?" shall care for him, never could care. It is the ls‘uly replied. wicked to marry a man you loatheâ€"._” “ Lcrtainly, Madamâ€"pray, take a seat," “ Ethel,”â€"cricd Mrs. Mordauntâ€"“ you answered the mistress of the shop. are really quite iiidclicatc. I caulistcn to Mrs. Dennis and Jack looked at ‘one no more of this ravingâ€"yon are nervous, another involuntarily. It was a refined hysterical, unstrung, but I should not be VPICGy'ClCM‘ “WIS‘VCCI, and “low Was a for- dning my’dmy as your mother, ii I allowed eign ring about itâ€" not a markedly foreign you to say any mom'- If you felt, like this accentdjut scarcely more than‘thatresonance about Captain Dennis, you were very wrong of the Iv which .marks the Innghsh spoken indeed to accept hiiuwindeedddonbtunder- M'Qm‘ 0W“ Loux't. _ . stand your doing so. As it is, gym-ya,ng l_here were five immatures upon the. tray has gone mo fur to dmw buck nowâ€"‘the which the little woman took out of the Mordauuts never break, faitlim and your Window, and she set it down on the. glass father would 1,0 the first to blame you if counter in front of the stranger. “\\'ill you you disgraced him like that, Pray, let me :look at lllSSC, Madam, whilst I attend to hear no more of thisâ€"Von had better go to 111}? lady 1’ she said. your room and try to forget that such Words 11!? Stranger l‘vcnt 1101‘ bead, and began to have ever passed your lips.” examine the little portraits carefully. Mrs. Ethel got, up {mm hm- knees without, a Dennis held up a plate as its owner returned word, with no more than one long rcproach- t0 “013 h . ful look at her mother, a look which saw all “ I Will have this oneâ€"1nd those two‘â€" too plainly throu rh her assumption of sham {mil I ll‘l’l’l'k Will 0H0: a150- HOW much will indignation. And in that moment all her lllfbilw‘ _ . H girlhood seemed to shrivcl up and die, all ' l-WCHW'fiVG shillings, Madam. Um her love of home seemed m fade into notp. little woman,answeredm“ I will send them this evening. ini'r in the o ) )rcssivc nuwnitude of her dc- V _ ' a 11 D “ .\o, do them up in paper aml I Will take spair. ~ _ n ~ . How well she remembered lirflll thatbright “19]”. M Dennis returned. 31ml m u tone which admitted oi no further argument. .innner afternoon as she and Jack Trevor ' V I ‘ _ lhcy went away in less than five. minutes, valkcd down to the Recreation (lronnd to- ‘ y ‘ ' ‘ gcther. She and Jack, just as they had beer. 3-1ch h‘cVOl‘ carrying the parcel by 1...: string. used to go down to the river’sbank at home, , m there to sit watching for fish that they scl- " D" you know Who “"1" lady ‘3 3 “Skml doni caught the best of fricii‘ds;.thc most- ill? stranger- , . n and entertaining of companions- l‘ Oh i 3'05, “ml ‘5 Ml‘f’“ “film‘s. ’ Irm. cvcrmhp “Dennis! ()h 3 She is very pretty. Is that her husband?" . p “()h ! no, that is one of the. officers-*â€" I don’t know his name. No, Major Dennis is much older-«very much older. " “Ah ! M:ij01'l)uiiiiiii ! Il'm ! \\'cll-â€"-now tell me the price of thcseniiniatures. What are they?" “They are all twenty-five shillings ouch. Madam, except-that one which is “(who well also.” i a They went in to the shhp :in was soon lost in admiration ovcr lialffidosen old plates which were qiiickl‘y‘ubroiight’. out for her inspection. Jack was interested too, not in the old plates for he had no eye for such things except as they hung on the dainty walls of Mrs. Dcnnis‘s little drawing-room, but in l‘l'llt‘l herself, who was ,wildly enthu- sizisiic over all manner of quaint things and was then softly feeling . the old plates with the tips of her delicate fingers very much as a blind man pas‘Ses his fingers over the face of a person whose lineaments he wishes to be familiar with. And just then the lit tlc bell abovetlic old~fashioncdj (IOOI‘NW'jHlt tinklc- tinklo and ‘ tire-two“ looked up, at tlid‘,.s:ii'uo' moment to see the' darkromplcxionod lady enter the shop. “What is your pleasure, Madam ‘3" asked the littlewoman who ruled over this quaint domain of antiquities. _ x “ Will you be so obliging as to show me somethingâ€"it vas more than something to her, indeed although she hardly owned it:- much to herself, it was nevertheless true, that their friendship was almost everything to her. ‘ Howevcr,'as she reminded herself bittcri y, it was no use thinking; about that nowâ€"â€"â€"thc past-‘ii'as past and what was done could not ~ ‘~" d iris. Den‘i‘i‘is ' be undone. After all, her life might have been more uncndurablc than it was, her hus- band let her go her own way pretty much, ifhcncglected her and led her in some senses a dog's life, treating her as amincident. a chatth to ornament his house, feeding her and clotliingher, leaving Del" behind when he of decided views, not to say exceedingly strong-willed, was not to be growled out of his friendship with the Major’s wife. In-: deed if it had effect of any kind, Carlton‘s opposition only‘ anned the flame and i made him- the more determined to see as much of his old playfellow as the circumstances of painted, I can let you have that for twclv shillings.” “I thank you, no. I willhavc these two," picking out the two best on the tray. “I see you understand miniatures,” said the little curio-dcaler with a smile. , “I understand many things,” said the their lives permitted. And it must- be admitted from the verv beginning that the circumstances of their lives allowed of a good deal of intercourse. Jack very soon found that Major Dennis did iiot'in the smallestdcgrec permitthc fact of his wife’s existence to hamper his move nients. Within the-boundaries of her own but Mrs. Dcnpis‘wasgapparently supremeâ€" that isto say. she asked whom she chose there, she went out Whenshe liked, and came in to suit her win pleasure. She had her own carriages, a neat single brougham and a very smart Victoria, and very seldom in- deed was Major Dennis to be seen in either of them. But outside their hut Major Dennis seemed to consider that his wife had no claim upon him whateverâ€"he frequently went up to London, but beyond tclegraphing his ad- dress to the orderly-room, he did not often trouble to communicate with his wife during his absences. “ The Major gone to London again," re- marked Jack Trevor one day, in accents of involuntary surprise “ butflâ€"but how is it you are no: going, Ethel? Don’t you like London ’:" “ Yesâ€"I am very fond of London,” she replied, “ but Cosmo did not suggest my griing~aii<l«â€"»aiiilâ€"~I like Clicrtsey very much." “ \Vell, I dare say London is nbit hot and dusty at this time of year,” Jack rejoined feeling that he had troddcn on what must be painful ground to her. “ And after all, Cuertsey isn't half bad, is it? Supposing3 we go down to the Recreation (lround ant watch the people-the band is playing, you know." “ 0h! I‘should like it immensely." sh cried, brightening up in a moment. “ Shel we walk down “dust as you like. I'll go and get mil. o.- my paint and come bad: for you. 1h?" “chsâ€"tbat will I v unite chariziing.” Therefore, about half an: iron ‘ afterwards, Mr Montagu t'ar‘;t<~:: who was smoking a last pipe before going out somewhere, ind the gmtilimtion of seeing his great friend pal? the and chum, Jack Trevor, faultlessly arrayed . \Vcll, well, it was all gone by I after all, they were friends stillâ€"that was. ‘ A stranger quietly. did not want her with him, intiinating that she might go with him when her presence would net actually annoy himâ€"at all events he did not trouble her with jealousy, and she was, on the whole, free to take her amuse- incnt'liow and when she liked. ‘ So she decided in "her own mind that she would make the best of her life and enjoy herself as well as she could, and since Jack Trevor was now in the same regimcnt'and Major Dennis did not seem to mind her fi icndship with him, why life might not be i so dull a business, after all. . ‘ For a long time they sat upon a garden ('ro HE CON'I‘lNl’lll).) Raising P llets for Eggs. If you want good laying hens; in the win- ter, writes a correspondent, keep an cyl- on your early hatched chickens, and select the best developed and healthy looking pallets for furnishing you with eggs next winter. For several weeks after hatching the young chicks should be fed a little live or six times a day. After they are half grown, thim: or four times a ay ----- not to fatten them, but to make. them grow. I would give but very little grain,aud that should be mostly wheat, cats or rye, some buck-wheat, and very rare- ly a little cracked corn. 'l‘wo rations out ol every three should be soft food made of. wheat bran, short-i, numbed potatoes and h little Corn meal, all Well stirred up together. If mixed up “'illl milk instead of water it will be greatly improved. (live the scraps from the table through the day along with their rations. Sec to it that they have green food of some descrip- tion and plenty of fresh water. Green clover and cabbage leaves will be cxnvllcnt; also a seat under the shade of a group of big trees in the Recreation (lround, listening to the music, watching the people and chatting on all manner of subjects. “I wonder who that strange-looking woman with the dark eyes is," she said at. last, as a. middle-sized dark-complexioncd woman passed them for the third time. “ I don’t knowâ€"I scarecly know a soul in ,Cliertsey,".lack re lied. ’ “And you have DOC“ hereâ€"â€"â€"â€"»-':" “ Oh i not two months before you came-â€" ' and I never make calls. except \‘cry mea- sionally on our own ladies; and as I don't go about much, of counsel don't get to know “up: 1mm: mm] in “Mr mm“. and gmml I’ml’l" "‘“IV' "“Wl' ""lmr' In‘lo“ l {‘1’1‘33' ‘ shou‘d always be within their mach. ’v “ml llld-v Remus” w the Plucc' forcing llu: best pnllcts in this way you will H l,‘ by; , g , be quite sure to set thv-m in laying in the whecansv: I \‘C been watching her all the {an “mij if pmwrh. hump” and {up “my 3 time we‘ve been here and I havn't sen-n her “.ijmnm,. mmhgj,’ [11,, “hm,” “1",,” if WIN-“k t“ u 5m” 30’“ 1 “MW” “’0” an)" left in :lezfi Iul' theorem and nuke a slow ml”: “k” “I Hi ha" m h" either". and scanty giowth Ulilll coll weather, they “Thu: 1 II.II'L‘:-fl_\' die isa stranger, or per. ' m a“ um" liaps the wife of someone on the staff and only just 0 mm here-willie o :rselves, in fact. ' “Very likely-«oh, very likely," but all the some, Jack did not think that she looked inn-h like an officer's wife and \vas no; ,mrry wne’i Ethel Dennis rose declaring are not likely, to my next sprin". He Was Ou‘y Rebeca-sing. Daughter --"l‘.ipa, don't you know it in bad inaiuizeis to put your hands in your , . pockets . .th-t '1'. mm; iinu: fur them to go home. ; Mixing-dy enough, the dark-eyed lady l'npa "No, my dear;l was only prac- ling».~ leaving the (hound jest as they were tilting." ar-l twice they pound and rep-ls t. r-aeh Daughter "Practicing what '.‘ other during tlm time they were the. (rating the It'ngtll of High Street. for l shall have to keep them {little all the ; “She seems \‘( ry much interested in you, time after you have married that dude you jdack," Ethel whispered imp, when the are tllb’agml to." l’apaâ€" <“'l‘o put my hands in my pockets, ly romantic affairs every now and then(’ .. Pal “No. but we can talk and put my; much A. ... ,L . old pictures, cliiuay'and other curiosities. 'aS" lookji’igmt 1K3 jewel- ' ‘~ p I h mace“ a?" = 4 Eof coming iunfter us to“ 105k at. old china;