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~â€"-,___ ..._______..__.______..__._ . _._._._.__ i A Thrilling Story of Romance and Adventure. CIIAI’TEII XIII. “ I HAVE x0 Finn." l you! You can do nothing to help your hus~ band, and if you could he does not deserve ' that you should and probably Would not " Love «nan neither be bought not sold: itsotzly ; wish it either. You must leave him to man- price is love." ' age such a piece of business by himself.” “Yes. I suppose so." she replied.” She rested her hand wearin on the top of e paling and Trevor laid one of his large firm hands over her little cold one. “Dear,” “'hon flack Trevor went away from the Major's quarters that pleasant September v“, evening under a pretence of writing letters l-etorc dinner-tune, £1110 ‘lm‘l no? .the 3.0!”. he said in a very low voiceâ€"“I’m so glad we W k , . . . . :Illflllt...I. mturtxon o omg anyt mug of t u. _ “Tm am, “.3”; today." kmii‘ ‘ . fl . 1‘ . H “Yes,” she answered under her breath-â€" -. . . t _ - , , ., p _ but he \hthd t0 )‘3 fl‘lltt to n” n ‘ 1 ‘ but I can see notlungbut trouble to corticâ€" ovcr with a help of a pipeâ€"so he went into . . l 1 1_ nothing but trouble." . in" ."r‘r'ln. “ml mme'l ‘hc he} mi I!” 10"" j "Youare shivering, Ethelâ€"youhad better “Fink; mull-l. sum’ 3" 11‘“ 1mm 0 l H“ l "'3 ’ go in my dear little loveâ€"you must take care of being left alone. : a .quickly from the direction of the mom and pass along towards the gates followed by Jack Trevor who had just come out of the mess. He asked me if I saw herâ€"said he had surprised her watching through the windows and added at once that he had seen her swim-where and when I told him. ' I j reminded him that is of the Recreation (Around and the High Street, he said at once, “ She is Mademoiselle Valerie." “And he is right enoughâ€"“she is Madem- oiselle Valerie, said the Major gloomily. “And what is she to you ‘5 \Vhat has she been to you ?" Ethel asked, a certain stern dignity in her tones. "Nothingâ€"absolutely nothing," he an- . sweredâ€"“I swear to you, Ethel,that Valerie and never will be.” “But how ‘.‘â€"â€"why 2‘" “I can’t tell you all that now. I will some dayâ€"not tonight, I'm too knocked over and all to pieces." “And what does she hope to gainby track- ing you down in this way ‘2'" “I haven't an idea.” '4 . j t k . n t of yourself now. for my sake.‘, , A'l‘l “W” 1‘“ l’“'é““ m tm‘ "“H ‘ 0'. lie held her hand in aclosc pressure for an instant and watched her till she was safe- ly within doors. Then he walked back across the bit of open ground to the messdiut. Not; that he stayed there longâ€"in fact, he did little more than look in to see that. Major Dennis was excited and apparently enjoy- ing himself very much, and then he went off to his own quarters and got into bed, thankful that “the fellows" were all too much occupied with their own business to [trouble themselves, for one evening about think that at last he had spoken out all that was in his mind, and now Ethel knew that he loved her and would love her for all time. He had not meant to tell herâ€"he had fully made up his mind never to let her know all that was raging in his heart, but the sight of her dear little slender vrist blackened and bruised by the cruel grip of Dcnnis's drunken fingers, had been too much for him and now that the truth was out, he was not Sorry for it. Sorryâ€"why, he was glad~ clad '. He felt a sort of possessive right in her now, as if it was a dreadful mistake that lcgallv she belonged to another man, as ifâ€" if he only waited long enough and patiently enough, it would all come right by and byâ€" by and by. As yet, he hardly know whether he was disappointed at. the turn of events or not. llf course he loved her, loved her with all his heart and soul, and still he felt. a wild triumphant joy that she had been good enough and strong enouin to resist- lum and had refused to listen to 'his plan for amending the mistakes and misfortunes of her life. I think it was somewhat; remarkable that at this time, Jack Trevor only thought of the present and not of the future at all. He never thought of the footing on which it was likely their friendship would be, he only was filled with one thoughtâ€"“ she loves rueâ€"she loves me.” He got up suddenly and went pipe in hand across the little room to the fireplace over which there hung the port ‘aits of his nearest relations. Lady Gascoigne looked out from a neat oak frame, and his father’s handsome cycs seemed to see into his inmost soul. .lack ’l‘rcvor stood and looked at them for a long time. “ I wonder what; you would say to all this '1" he Said aloud at last, “you knew my dear little girl, Dadâ€"‘Darling lishop,’ she used to *all youâ€"I wonder what you’d say if you were here now and I could go and tell you all about it. How I wish I could, Dad, how I wish I could. I know what; you‘d say thougth patience, my lad. patience ’â€" wouldn’t that be about it‘.’ Somehow, I feel as if I wanted to tell somebody or other about it. and I’ve got nobodyâ€"nobody. Monty Carlton will only jibe and jccr at. me for a fool and an idiotâ€"Ibunny. will get a wrong impression of my dear little loveâ€"so what can I do '3 I must just come and tell you, Dad, when I can’t. keep quiet any longer." He was still standing there when his man came to dress him for dinnerâ€"he looked at his watch as he took it- off. “It‘s over so late,” he said. to hurry up.” And lmrry he did, and even then was but barely in time for messâ€"but as he slipped into the room at the tail of the file of men just passing from ante-room to mess-room, he noticed a good way on ahead of him. Major Dennis. There were several guests that evening and Trevor happened to find himself nearly opposite to the Major, who, refreshed by his long sleep during the afternoon, was in his best form that night. Now Major Dennis’s “I shall have best form was simply enough at any timeto I make Jack Trevor vogy ill, and that; even- ing. after an afternoon so tragic, he was less inclined than usual to take or seem to take any interest in the stale jokes and lumbering witticisms, with which Major Dennis loved to rcgalc the oflicers of the Fifteenth when he dined at mess. Therefore as soon as they left the table for the ante-room, he slipped out into the quite night; air and walked Across to the Major‘s quarters. And as he passed through the gate of the. mess-hut, he saw or thought he saw, a familiar figure turn and flit quickly away. “ ly Jove, I’ve seen that. woman some- where ‘the walk, height, carriage, every- thing â€" who is she? What's she doing here, I \vondcr '1" Already he was giving chase but the stranger was quick and light. of foot. She sped along drawing her long dark cloak L‘loscly around hcr as she went. “or way was past Dcnnis's quarters and as Jack :‘cachml the paling where the ivy and the ;\\'cct~pcus were growing he. saw Etllclin her ;oosc pale gown with a tleecy white shawl ibuut her shoulders, leaning over the rail. “Why, Jack," she said in surprise. He stopped short. “Did you see that woman he asked. “Why. yes.” “Did, you see her face? \Vould you know hcragain‘.‘ I was just following her up." "llut, .lack. surely you recognised her.- That was the dark woman who followed us ‘ in the High Street one day and then into the old china-shop. Don't you remem- her?" uni .-oursc 2" he gaspedâ€"“of-courscl And. Ethel. who is she ‘1" "liow should I know ‘.'" \vondcringly. "She is MademoiselleValerie." " .Izl'd‘.” She stood looking at him for a moment, I l l . 1 never was anything but my deadly enemy i "Why don't you see he ‘ and have it. out i with her?” answered promptly. “I dares-21y you wouldâ€"you‘re a dreadful coward at the best of times." i “A cowardâ€"I,” he cticd, blazing up again â€"“Ethelâ€"â€"" “I spoke quite plainly, didI not ‘?" she askedâ€"J‘ and 3011 know that it is true or it would not put you into a passion as it has done. “'01th any man with the strength of a Hercules, as you have, put out your great strength against such a thing as I have come his. ’About an hour later Major Dennis went homeâ€"the light was still burning in the little drawing-room and he found Ethel sitting there making a pretence of reading. “Hollo, aren't you gone to bed yet '2” he remarked. “Not yet,” laying down her paper and looking at him with her grave gray eyesâ€"~“I stayed up because I wanted to ask you some- ‘ thing. Cosmo." l snowflake of a hand against. his great red one â€"â€"“Look at your hand and mineâ€"and look at those, too.” ‘ ' She dragged her sleeve back and showed him where the soft white flesh was bruised and blackened. “Did I do that?” he asked in genuine surprise. . “All right.” He took out; his cigarettc- “you did ,, case and selected a cigarette. ' “Go on,” he said, as he struck a match. . - ~ “Cosmo,” she saidâ€"21ml she sat, forward in her chair looking at him earnestlyâ€"“Who is Mademoiselle Valerie and what is or was she to you '3” He flung the match and cigarette into the fire-place and sprang to his feetâ€"“\Yhat. l the devil do you mean ‘3” he cried'roughly. “I mean nothingâ€"I asked you a question, that was all,” she answered. It was the first. time in her life that she had seen him in a towering rage without, being ‘afraid of him. At that moment, however, \ilthog‘i his eyes were blazing and his face I l ‘ “Upon my word, Inthel, I’m awfully sorry,” he said after a moment‘s silence. “You see I’ve been so beside myself the last; few weeks I’ve hardly known what I was doing and I’ve drunk more than was good for me. But I’d no idea I’d been such a brute as that and I’m sorry. You know I never laid a finger on you except when I was half- drunkl Come, make friends with me, old womanâ€"~give me a kiss.” She held out; her hand to him and per- in his arms and held her close. me a real kiss, Ethel,” he cried. But Ethel put her head back and looked at him with such cold contempt in her lovely eyes that his arms relaxed their hold and he set; her free. The next- moment, hO‘. ever he tried to laugh the awkwardness of the situation awayâ€"“ 0h ! well, 'if it’s like that,” he said, with a would be jaunty air-â€"“ it’s no use asking you for it. All the same I’m very much in your debt, and the sharpness of your wit; is undoubted.” “No, give all a-flamc, she knew absolutely no fear what- ever. “Who is she, Cosmo ‘2” she asked again, in her anxiety rising and goin‘r, to- waids him. . ’ He turned upon her ina furyâ€"“How dare you ask me that?” he cried, catchinghcld of her by the arm. “Cosmr, you are hurting me,” she cried. “Hurting y0u~â€"I feel like killing you,” he thundercd-â€""\\'luit2 have you got; in your head? \Yhat are you trying to find out? Answer the instantly or I shall do something desperate.” In spite of the merciless grip on her arm, Ethel still was not in foar-â€"for one thing she knew that he had been drinking and was 3 not in his right mind, for another she knew {that what she had to tell him would prob- Iably bring him down to the practical side of the question without the delay of a. mo- ment. j “I want to find out nothing,” she said looking at him steadilyâ€"“did. I try to find out who gave you that embroidery? Not; I? I don’t careâ€"you are a free agent, so far as I am concernedâ€"I don’t even take any in- . (crest in your doings. But; I am your wife and I live with you, and when 1 see a great danger or a great annoyance coming upon you, am I not to tell you of it? Last year I wasafraid of you, (.‘osmo, but I am not j afraid of you nowâ€"I shall never be afraid of , you again, not even when you are drunk.” ' He stood staring at: her in amazement, i recognizing that some new element had jcome into her life; and in his surprise he ' tightened his grip upon her arm, until she could have shriekcd in the agony of her pain. “What do you mean?” he asked, l but. he spoke in a quieter tone than before l and his eyes were filled with a new fear. l “ That woman has been prowling round. here this evening,” Ethcl said. “ \Vhat woman?” “ The woman whose card you had the | other day-~Madcmoisellc Valerie.” A He started violently and let her arm go I freeâ€"“She has been here 3” he cried in- ‘ crcdulously. “Not in this houseâ€"no. But she has been watching your move neuts outside the mess‘lmt, for Jack ’l‘revor caught her." “ And how did he know who she was ‘3” suspiciously. ‘ “People are not all blind, Cosmoâ€"most of us see more of other folk‘s business than .is always palatable to them, and we have seen a good deal lately.” l “ And you have been talking the over lwith-â€"with that boy 1’" he demanded. He l was getting sober rapidly now. CH A RTE R XIV. \VAITI NG. “If thyhand be in the lion's mouth, get. it out; as fast; as thou catfish," I think if Major Dennis had been younger or if Ethel had been older,that circumstances at this time would have drawn them closer together than they had ever been before in all their lives. But the Major had had a fair chance of winning his wife’s love and had in his care- lessness and violence, lcstit for ever. Truth to tell, his admiration for her had never been so great as when she held herself back from the clasp of his arms and by a single look indicated that she did not mean to kiss him. “ ’I’on my soul,” he said to himself when she had gone to bed and he was smok- ing his last cigarettcâ€"â€"“ ’l’on my soul there’s more, far more in the little woman than I thought~and by Jove, how she rounded on incâ€"â€"what; a little spit-fire she lookedâ€"and how pretty. As for Valerieâ€"oh ! damna~ tion." The door opened again, and Ethel came iiiâ€"Major Dennis looked asideâ€"“what is it?” he asked. “ I left my purse hereâ€"that was all,” she answered. She crossed to the fire-place and took her purse from the chimney-shelf. “ Ethel,” he said holding out his hand â€"“ I say little womanâ€"â€"I"m real sorry I hurt your poor little wristâ€"you’ll forgive me, won’t you ‘3” “ 0h ! yesâ€"pray don’t say anything more about it.” “ But I can't help saying snmething about it becauseâ€"011 lhang it all, Ethel, I feel such a bruteâ€"~such a brute. Poor dear little wrist - ” and then he caught her hand in his and kissed the ugly black bruise just where 'l.‘revor"s lips had touched it a few hours be- fore. Shc wrenchcd her hand away with an ex- clamation ofâ€"«what ‘3 Annoyance â€"painâ€"â€" angerâ€"disgust? He did not know. “What have I done?” he asked. “ Not at all ! Sit down, Cosmo, and I “You hurt me.” she answered. , wrll tell you everything that] I know. You “I: is so 1,3,1 as that 3" know,” she went onâ€"“ when you went. to (t\'es__but please, Cosmo, don't speak of 10““ 1““ 3““ mm “‘3 PM Onltud Jdd‘ ‘0 it again. It was bad enough at the time but. lo‘zk “flel'f‘m'm‘d hefh‘l E'O- I knew that you did not. mean to do it. I i , , 'i‘ . . . 0h! 0‘ ‘0‘“5'“ “ 011 - don t want to think about it any more,”and “ \Vcll, we went down to the Recreation 5h” “ll‘llc‘l “my and “'35 ls'mle Ollt 0f the . Grounds oneaf‘tcrnoou to hear the band and mall“ hem“ he “(mm speak “8"”?- _ j then I saw that woman first. We noticed l _"1’." J0)?“ lmw I’r‘iuy She 13‘. he 3““ to : her because she was alone. quite alone. She l‘lmscu": 1" 'lfiuccdsmlhtf Prelim? “‘1‘” “"0? , is a handsome woman and not in the least 51‘“- “ils "‘ a“ ‘0‘ me ’C "‘0‘ E ‘ by Jove, but it's good of her not to let it stand between us and to say she didn‘t want to hear or think any more about it." If he had only known how much more insur- shculd not know a soul, not have a single l man salute her. “'hen we went home, she I left the (lroundsand she passed and rcpasscd us scvcraltiuu-s. At last we went into a shop, reallv that we might. lose sight of herâ€"- to see some miniatures that were in the ed in his wife's heart, how Trevor had taken . window and we at last got rid of her. \\'cll, the white neglected flower of his life and had tobe‘.’ Good Heavens,” holding out. her little - fl” 1““ I‘M‘ 1m :lloubrlnmm‘,moou‘agm' :I have seen her about. pretty often Since . , . , . ‘. . .. t . u ‘ i . 4“ U" “4"” “l” m 0’ "0“ l '“ hi“ , then, and toalav it has come back to me 13 Slll' ‘l‘m‘is' “Wei” 51‘“ “Shed scar“ “how that if." Imsscd ill) the High Street that 1 whisper. “I don‘t know~but I imagine she is following the Major up for some reason or other." “'l'racking him about, do you mean?" “Yes.” “Oh I -lack~-Jack," she cried, “I do see such trouble a-head. I've been thinking-- “linking Wright “ml 1 5°" “mhl‘l'c' bi“ ' been prowling round here tonight are the 5 his wife‘s feelings which generally character- trouble to come. look which way I will. \\'as evcr such \ husband and wife? Ifeel half-ume already." “But,” he said tenderly «“you are happi- er than vou were this morning, darling. I know ititnd surely that is something. M'hy should you worry yourselfalmui this woman 131‘ u li‘.‘.l.‘.éi, \t‘t at ever it is, i: not with ,day we went to Hughflight and the gray glmrsc bolted. I did not understand at. the itime why you cut at him with the whipâ€"â€"I think [do now. This af:crnoon I could not imagine why you should make such a fuss about a dressmakcr‘s cardâ€"but to- .niglzt I realized and so did Jack, that Made- lmoiselle Valerie and the woman who has same." “ But about to-night T" he asked anxious _ ly. “ To-night I was feeling tired and lonely â€"â€"my head ached a little and I wrapped a shawl round me and won: out for a few min- soldiering and I wanted to command a regi- ‘utes among the flowers as I often do. . meritâ€"but I can't br-ar being tracked down; \\ lulst l was there I saw tint wumn come I any longer. i re-planted it. in the soil of lovcand chivalrous devotion ! “'ell, it was as well that he did 1, not, for probably he would have fallen in love t l l l l ; l . l i i I happy arrangement. as \‘ou._, very [the Valerie, I darcsay. I met her ththo' and, just. uutsidc the gates. in an hour ago.“ _ “ Was she coming this way 3" “'hy don‘t you see her and scc if she “ No, she was going towards the town." would hear reas n and leave you in peace “' “ Ah lwtlztckâ€"do you know L‘osmo swear "N0. ,Tcu yea!" ago I migh' have tlulh‘. I that she is nothing to him,” But I‘m sick ofso.dieringâ€"â€"I'd rather be free ‘ “ Oh, yes, I darcxty." ' “ And that she never has been." now." "And you will gr) abroad f" ‘- ()l‘. ‘ it's quite likelv." of niyg'sc‘iises, and my senses, _ well know, never were much at the best of times.” . “But Cosmoâ€"could nothing he done? “Abroadâ€"9" duubtfullyâ€"“abrmd3 Ch 3 . “ I cannot make out. ivhy she haunts him â€"â€"do you care much about that 1" about so," "Soul hate the very idea of it. burâ€"oh ! l “ The reason is obvious" are you '1ffft'C decided on leaving the Soar-j “llut t‘osnm says nut~â€"aud really, I don't vice ‘1” I think he would mind telling me if~if it was “0h, quiteâ€"and I'm sick of it.” l onlv that she had been in love with him once. “ But where shall we live ‘t" her lips ’ than. he says that she always hated him asked--â€"“\\'heu shall I see Jack '3" her heart ‘ and be her." Nu", . ., , I “Then he must have a lively time of it on U “low 5 no pill“? h‘m L.("“1°"_I*I "e i the whole, for I’m sure the. ladv‘s exlorts to itlllmgm “ Sun“ bit about “.m‘d‘bv “TI 1 jget at. him are most persistent," remarked I’HIHIi a flat would be bestâ€"a lllL‘Ct‘tjlef‘lllt‘llt . Trev”, with Vm “mused “in “1 can-l think but where you would be quite safe if I want- 1m“. ,, is that She dues,” meet mm about ed to go shooting fo ‘a day ortwo, and where ; we mm, n we could make sure of not being at home up)“, (105nm um.” “ms mm “,0 10“." am) when we wanted to shake off certain peoâ€" ple. What d'you think A yctr before Ethel 5 heart would have “I’d rather face the devil in person," he jgonc down to zero at such a prospect--~nnw, however, it. struck her as likely to be a very " You‘ll keep J udgc ' she said abruptly. l mitted him just to touch the edge of her ly dowryâ€"“And what news have you 1’” Cheek- Major Dennis» llOWCVCI‘: CWng 1101' “I have news,” shcauswercd. “Cosmo has l l l 'I l | I y “Judgeâ€"oh I would you? I shall have to buy him off, if I do." dcrstands. your ways as he does,” she said, with conviction. “Perhaps not. By the bye, are. you going out ‘3" “NOâ€"it is my day," she answered. had stavcd in (how mi one day in the week 3 1‘. c\ or since they had be u in Chertscy.‘ “A‘i! yes, so it is. \\'ell, I have promis- cd to drive over 10 .Sabbon with Mooreâ€"so I’ll be off.” He had not btei gone very long before Mrs. Dennis’s that visitors came in, two ladies fromthc town, who made their first call that. day. And before they were gone Monty Carlton appeared with Trevor, and after ten minutes of the most ordinary com- mon-place conversation, he rose to take his leave. ' “Ta-'I‘a,” said Trevor in his friendliest voice. Carlton went away in disgust â€"aud as he passed the window Jack 'llrevor moved over to the low settce where Ethel sat. “I may Sit here ‘1" he tlS‘.(Ctl-â€";tll(l then he took her hand and began to smooth it gent- seut- in his papers.” ' “Never!” “Yes, it is true.” “And you are going abroad ‘2" “Oh! no, we are going to livein Londonâ€" wc are going to have a flat." _ “It is absolutely settled? He has actually done it 1"” “Oh! yes. And he says he is tired of sol- diering, so there's no chance of his changirg his mind now-” “And youâ€"how do you like it; ‘2” he asked. “I don‘t like it; a! all. lut then that does not: matter. And I think on the whole, it will be far better to be in London. I shall not see you so often, but. that. will be as well. People would soon have begun to talk and chatter if we had been seen much about together, while in London I don’t think one.” ‘ “ But you don’t like leaving the regiment? You don’t like going at 'ay so that you will only see me ltO\' and then, do you ‘3” he asked anxiously. . “ You know that I do not," she said in a .very low voice. They sat. for a long time talking over the prospect of the future, no visitors came to disturb Ichem, the Major did not return. At last Trevor got; up and moved restlessly about the room as if he had something to say and did not know how to‘ say it. Then he went back to the settee and sat down beside her again. “I want to say some- thing to you, dear,” he said at lastâ€"â€"“ and I don’t find it at; all easy to say. It is this. I want you to promise me that if ever the 'time comes, if it ever should come, that you feel you cannot hear your life any longer, that you will let me know at once! You won't; keep on trying to endure the unen- durablc from an idea that because I do not. ask you every time I see you to give up everything for me, that therefore I am not ready to give up everything for you? I cannotmakc your life a burden to you by continually pestering you to give up your good i'esolutionwbut you will remember, won‘t you, that I am ready if ever and when ever you want me “ And if you should inch somebody else â€"â€"somcbody youlikc better than me 1‘" she asked faintly. Trevor laughed aloud. “ Somebody I like betterâ€"Is that very likely? Still I promise you that if over anything so unlikely should ever come about, I will letyou know it. Not in wordwyou wouldn’t expect it, would you? llutl would give up coniing-â€"~an«l~~ and oh ! Ethel, my dear, mv dear, how silly we are to talk like this. that someone else " nybody bothch very much about \Vcll, I’ll think about it. ‘ i i 5 I . . l ! | l l She l 4 least not on foot." Etth cried. "I don't be- licvc. he has once been outside the gates on foot since the day we all went to Iligh~ flight." At this moment a loud knock at the front door remanded through the lint. “Visitors,” "iid Trevor, with a rcsigncd air and aban- Idoning his place on the scttce for an easy j u . ’ . . , . .cnan' at a little distance. “X on will never get another man who 1111- l ' "The. door of the room was open and they could hear distinctly every word uttered by the visitor and Judge-Abe soldierscrvant. “Major Dennisâ€"«is he at home?" the visit- or said : it was a lady‘s voice. “lie is not, Mum,"returned .ludgc stolid- “You are sure ‘3" “Quite sure, Munr-«thc Major went out. in‘the dog-cart an hour and a half ago." “Mrs. Dennisâ€"is she in '1" “ I'm not mighty sure, Mum. name?" \Vhat. “Never mind what name," the woman's voico replied. “I know she is in for I saw her just now. Show me the way." “(loâ€"4ndt ltlâ€"â€"IU your bedroom ;" whisp- crcd 'l‘revor-uâ€"“it is Valerie." As quick as thought Ethel flcd through the door-way which led in to her bedroom, leavinghim alone to face the insinlcnt visitor, . who entered the following moment. l l ' plosivc. Judge casta glance round the rocmm Trcvor got up front his chair. "I‘m afraid I can't wait any longer for your mistress, Judge," he said, looking at. his watch. “Very good, Sir." “You’d tell her that I came?" “I will, Sir.“ Then turnng tothe etrungc visitor, he s:titl_----~“.\li's. Dennis in not at. home, Mum." “1 will w zit until Major Dennis returns,“ answorcd the lady cm tly. Trevor went out «7.1 udgc followed. “Keep your eye on the silver, Judge," said Jack, “and don‘t let her know that Mrs. Dennis is in the houso.” “Very good, Sir,” answered Judge, with uni'utlled dcmcanour. Twenty minutes later the Major and Captain Moore drove in at the big gains. “Major,” said 'l‘rcvor stopping the trap by a gesture, “a lady is waiting to see you «at. your (piartors. “My (lod l" muttered the Major~-“it’s Valerie l” To in: corrrixi'ian.) _.___ _ 6... Smokeless Gunpowder. The experiments that have been made in the use of smokeless gunpowder in Europe have, in all cases, made it- evident that tho change is destined to require a complete rc- vision of tactical methods. Thclast reports come front I'luugary, where an army corps has been engaged in operations, during which mock battles have lwcncarricd on on- Lirely with the use of this new form of ex- It is said tliat‘ the soldiers and olliccrs were greatly bewildered; and it was almost impossible to locate the position of an enemy, for although the noise of the ex- plosions was heard, if they occurred simul- taneously, orncarly so, with firing in un- othcr direction, the attempt to judge of direction by sound became greatly confused. One advantage was experienced, and that is the field of battle was perfectly clear, as much so as if nocombat was going on. In his description of the defeat of the Athenians in their attempt to take Syracmtc, the his- torian (lrotc refers to the fact that the battle had dramatic character given to it that mod- crn encounters cannot have, because it was fought in the clear air without interference of smoke, which since the discovery of gun- powder, havc in warlike contests made a plain comprehension of the event almost im- possible. llut with the intrmluction of smokeless powder-A and its introduction will now be inevitable, for, if one nation uses it. another cannot afford to dispense with it -- the battlefields of the future will lose noth- ing of their dramatic effect in conseqm-nm of obscuration by smoke. lut one dillerence between ancient and modern warfare will remain, for, while the ancient battlw; were fought almosthand to hand, the tendency .As if I con/(l sec of modern times is to place great intervals of distance between the comba'ants, no that. “ lilll l Sllilll lllilltfl‘filall'l." ls‘llc Sill‘l- “ l‘. x, men will enter into a fight when they are is always best. to be prepat‘cdweven for the ; hardly Within sight of each other, worst, you know. ' “ There is something in that," he rejoined smiling at her and softly stroking her hand still. “ And tell me, dear, when you are go- big?" “I go on 'l'hursday. “'0 are going to fake nothing from here, except some trifles of my . . . . . Iilllmgvs {h'} 3 own which can be packed in an ordinary common-looking and we wondered that she l 1‘1‘0 “ l'“ “f SI)“ ll m 1‘ “""mlb‘d ““3' 3- l‘ “‘ box." 1,” “ And you put up “0h ! at our usual place in London -- 'ROIIIL‘ very good rooms in Jermyn Street. I sup- pose we shall stop there until We find a suit.- _ _ I A ““Junml’lc “,lmrr'“? I'll-‘1 “"3" “p “awe?” 3 able flat and get it furnished and all that." she followed us in there also and asked to lllcl““‘lm“' 11‘0")” lmgl't “‘30 “"5 0“5l‘““' ' “I wonder how Cruuunlcs will like life in a flat '5" said 'l‘rovor stooping to smooth the fine coat of thebull-dog, who was sleeping ____.__â€"â€".â€"â€"â€"â€"-â€"â€" Centenary of Metliodiam. The death of John Wesley occurred in March, 175”. fly member‘fo the I‘cliguua community which he founded, thceuggcxtion was recently thrown out that the centenary shoutd be celebrated. and tlmmovcmcnt has so far n'ogrcssed that a committee has been formed, With Dr. Moulton, the l'resile-nt of the (,‘nnfcrcncc,as clnairumn, while a common- dation of the scheme hasbccn drawn up and circulated amongst the nu-mlmrs of the rum- muninn. _ Hated to number I‘lUM: upon thirty millium, and they are StulLUiI‘I‘II throughout many lands. The chapel in which he prwvrhcd , ll'..’ years ago still exists, and so also docs his home. American Methodists represent. no small proportion ofthc bmlv,and to flu-tn peacefully at his mistress's feel. “I'm afraid not at (Albâ€"poor old fellow,” Ethel replied. l with his wife afresh and, as it was, this unu outed tenderness was but a flash in the pathâ€"there was nothing lasting or real about it. \Vell, three days after this, Major Dennis sent in his papers. He came home one afternoon about five o'clock and announced “You had better leave him with me," be { suggested. i "Oh! no -â€"I can't part from ('rumndou," ‘ said Ethel decidedly. “l-Itlu:l'."s-tid Trevor prescntlyâ€"-“whcrc is ‘ the Major today '1" “He has gone to Sabbon with Captain the news with the customary disregard of Moore." i “Uh Z â€"uith Moore; after a horse, I sup- : iLed his behaviour. i me?“ i “ Ethel," he saidâ€"“ I've sent in my' “Yesâ€"I ‘n-licz'c 30." l papers." “Cosmo 1" she cried. “Yes, I know. You wanted to go on “Ah! Moore is always chopping and- changirig-«never knew hll'lll a fullnw in my life. I ray, Ethel. what has made the Major send In his pipers '1" “ Ill: says he is tired of the Service.” ' “And tired of being chivvic-l about by That woman is driving me out l . nprcad interest in Wrr-ll: .and appeal is, in particular, made. 'l'hecnnumnn- orative schemi- is to have H-giud to the wide- ynn relics, for as if. is announced, the \Vl'rll')’ ll'illtlr is to be mn- vortcd into a museum of \l'omleyan antiquio tics, the-chapel h- to be restored, a new tomb is to be erected over tlaeiunainsof the great. religious leader, and the graveyard in which they lie is to be restored tocrcvlitableorder. No doubt the appeal made to the sentiment. of the Methodth body tiu‘vmghout the world will be honoured with rcadincrfi. “'hen the (fluent-try Sen ices are held next. March the design» in cunteinplatu n are fulfillmi, very many cia‘i'wa of the publiccau not but cbscrw: the incident withdccp inter- cal. The fiillo'w'I-rs of \lecv are now -. . ta. ps-JVw- _.-__..__.â€"_____~__â€"â€"â€"â€"._.____.-_.-