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c:4a_-nsmaucmi i - . 2“ -.:v":;¢‘.j‘d ___ «“xi‘._~¢'~\gn‘k:gf~.._.s‘4.. ;: _. -‘ ,f , ' _.C« . *~ :15“: my“ .9:ng "f" 7r" x.- w ‘5. 3 i i I assented Norah fervently. . 32+ % 3 fi i 3 OR g 33 33 i i i 3 i i ‘ THE STEWARD’S SON I I + r llill fi+lfim+fi+fi+fi+m+fi$ CH» +3§+3¢€+3fi+3¢£+3¢é+ mnmmmm +§+§+fi+fi+fi+fi+fi+fi+fi+fi+fi+ CHAPTER I. In a front room of a cottage perch- ed on a Levonshire cliff lay a Woman who comes to all of us sooner or later. The rays of the setting sun, which dyed the scarcely rippling sea a brilliant crimson, fell upon her face and upon that of a young girl who knelt beside the bed and held the dying woman's hand. The face 7 t " of the woman was softened by hullovc You! lof you, whatever may happenâ€"Whatâ€" approaching climax, and but for a strange restlessness and uncertainty in her eyes it would have been. wholly at peace. ' She had been silent some time, watching the reflection of the 'sun~ light on the wall, and the young girl had been watching her, silently, too, with tearâ€"dimmed eyes. At last the woman turned her liked and looked at the lovely face and ' mile. . . . fol ced 9' 5 fund fixed them on the girl's face With iinexpressible tenderness; then, with a. n’ sigh, they closed, to open no more “What time is it, Miss Norah?" she asked in a. faint voice. “Nearly eight, Catherine, dear, she replied. "I shall sink with the sun,”- she Said, not complainingly, but with the listless apathy of one who is waiting and longing for peace. The girl's tears fell, but she cried quietly and unobtrusively, and even endeavored to conceal them from her companion, 'who saw them, nuvcr~ theless. “Don’t cry, dear," she said. beâ€"uhhappy. I should not be ifâ€"il‘ I were not leaving you alone--all alone!" “Don't dear," said the girl, forcing ‘her tears. "Oh, if there were thing I could do!’. “There is nothing,” she said [cub- ly. "I am quite willing to go, but for the thought of leaving you. Norah, I have done my dutyâ€"-â€"’*- “011, Catherine!" “I liaVe tried, since your died, to be a-a mother to you “You have been all that a motherl could be to meâ€"all, Catherine!" reâ€" sponded the girl sobbingly. A strange look-"came into the dy- ing woman’s face and she raised her hand and laid it lovingly, wistfully think of me, Catherine, back! any-. mother 'IP l" on the girl’s head. “And you have loved me as ifâ€"as if I had been your mother, dear?“ she asked, with a sudden intensity. “Yes, yus, you know that dean”) "Why, I’ scarcely remember any other motheri than you. You have beenâ€"â€"â€"”- She: could not get any further. “Yes, I know,” she murmured. has been the only thing that has made it possible. If you had not' loved me, Norahâ€"~” She stopped and was silent for a moment or; two. Then she said: “Norah, have1 you thought of what you will doi when I am gone?"- “No, dear. How could I think of: anything but you? You must not‘ be unhappy or anxious about me." ‘ “Youâ€"you 'will stay here, Norah"; she said, and her voice had ' grown‘ more feeble, “tillâ€"tillâ€"for a time.‘ The people will look after you as long as you stay. They are fond‘ of you and kind, and there is money. [You have the last quarter's allow- ance." “Don’t trouble about me, Catherâ€" ine, dear.” “There is nothing else that trouâ€" bles me, only youâ€"only you, dear." The restleSS, hesitating look camei into her eyes and she moved her head! to and fro on the pillow. “Have II done wisely?" she murmured, more to herself than the girl. "God knows! I have done it for the best; butâ€"nah, Norah, if I were only sure!" she gasped. I "It is all so dark, so tl‘OuhlellV" continued the woman. “If I Cullld‘ u only tell youâ€"but I cannot, I dare not. Not now! It'is too late!” "What is it that worries, you, Catherine, dear? Is it anything you want to tell me; anything you Wish me to do?" The woman looked at her long and wistfully, with a tenderness Which} could not have been deeper in ai _mother’s eyes; then she sighed again. “No, it is nothing, Norahâ€"nothing I can tell you; but there is something you must do." “What is it? T. will do everything, you tell me.” “There is a letter under £110 pilâ€" low,” said the dying woman faintly. Norah put her hand under the pit- low and drew out a closed envelope. ‘ ‘ Readâ€"read ' anything, the address,'~ said Catherine Hayes. Ilastily wiping the tears from her eyes Norah read it: The Earl of Arrmvdalc, The Court, Santleigh, Berks. At another time she might have expressed surprise, but new there was no room for any emotion but grief. f “The Earl of Arrowdale, yes," said the woman slowly. “You will post itâ€"with your own handâ€"when-â€"-When, ' I am gone; toâ€"night, Norah, dear?” I “Yes, Catherine," said Norah sim-V Ply- waiting for that messengerl “You don’t ask me what it is, Miss Norah?" “Not unless you care to tell me, dear." “No, I will not tell you; you will know soon. Iâ€"Iâ€"" she struggled for the first time her eyes filled with [tears. “I can’t tell you, Norah, and [yet it is so hardâ€"So hard!" And the tears rolled dowu the wan cheeks. “Norah, say once more, ‘Catherine, I I will never think badly ever I may ‘hear. Whatever people say of yon, I will love you!" “Catherine, dear, dear Catherine, | you know I have loved you and that I shall always love you, Whatever may happen! What can happen to make me so wicked and ungrateful as to forget you or think of you any way but as my second mother?" Catherine Hayes opened her eyes on this mystery which we call Life. Norah uttered one cry, and, as if she had been waiting for it as a lsignal, an old lady opened the door and came gently to her side. “Come away, Miss away, dear." The girl kissed the white face stood looking down at it for a min- into Norah. Conic the same I am greatly mistaken, Van Sncck will lay his hand upon the ring for us without so much as the sacrifice of a bIOSSom.” “I don’t fanCy so," Van replied. “I can’t remember.“ “Well, you are going to,” Bell said, cheerfully. “Did you ever hear of artificial memory?”- “The sort of thing you get in law courts and political speeches?" David suggested. All the same, if you haVe some patent way of getting at the facts I shall be only too glad Sneck to spare my poor flowers. Their training has been a labor of love with me." 7 Bell smoked on quietly for some time. He toyed with the red blosâ€" soms which had so stimulated Van Sneck's recollection, then tossml a Spray OVer to Van Snch and sug~ gested that the latter should put it in his buttonâ€"hole. “So‘as to have the fragrance with as if with some strong emotion, and You 1111 the time.” he said. Van Sneck obeyed quietly, remark- ing that the scent was very pungent. The Dutchman was restless and ill at case; he seemed to be dissatisfied with himselfâ€"he had the air of a man who has set out with two or three extremely important matters of business and who has completely forgotten what one of them is. “You needn't distress yourself,” David said, kindly. ‘ “I beg your pardon," Bell saidâ€" tartly. “He is to do that very same thing. Mental exercise never hurts anybody. Van Sneck is going to worry till he puzzles it out. Will you describe, the ring to us?” The Dutchman complied at conâ€" siderable length. Ife dwelt on the beauty of the workmanship and the exceeding fineness of the black pearls; he talked with the freedom and expression of the expert. Dell permitted him to ramble on about historic rings in general. But all he could see that Van Sneck was far from easy in his mind. and Now and then a. sudden gleam came his eyes: memory played for ute through her blinding tears, then the fragment of a second on 3. Cer- When the first shock of grief subsided she became conscious of the letter which she still held in her hand. She got up and put on her hat and walked down to the post office in the village. She might have sent it, but she had promised to post it and she would obey the one and last request which had been made by the woman who, though a serVant, had been, as she said, a. mother to her. 'A week later an old gentleman in a frock coat and a white hat climbed the narrow path that led to the cotâ€" tags and knocked at the little green door. He was very warm, for the month was June and the sun blazing ‘ in the most gallant fashion, and as took his bald forehead he pulled gasped, although he .was 3y means fat. “Mrs. Jordan, I believe, ina'am,” he said to the-old lady who answer- ed the kock. “I am replied. “'And this, of course, is Clill‘ Cot- tage” he said, raising his hat and ,fixing his gold eyeglasses. “My name is I’etherick, Petherick of Gray’s Inn, ma’am, and I wish to see Miss Norah ll‘rere.” “Walk in, if you please, sir," she said, opening the door of a neat litâ€" tle parlor. “Miss Jl‘rere is out at Hum.“ allowed ,the old lady to lead her tain elusive chord and was gone. ‘from the room. "Were you smoking the night you had came here?" Bell asked, suddenly. “Yes,” Van Sneck replied, “a cigâ€" arette. Henson handed it over to me. I don’t deny that I was terriâ€" bly frightened. I smoked the cigar- ette cut ' of bravado/’4 "You went into the conservatory yonder and admired the flOWers,” Bell observed. Van Sncck looked up with astonâ€" ishment and admiration. “I did,” he confessed. “But I don't see how you know that. “I guessed it. It takes the brain some little time to get level to the imagination. And as soon as you came face to face with Henson you knew what was going to happen. You Were a little dazed and frighten- he'ed, and a little overcome by liquor off his, while hat and wiped into the bargain. and 3 though you no scious of it yourself. you were seekâ€" But even then, were probably unconâ€" ing some place to hide the ring.” “I rather believe I was," Van Sneck said, thoughtfully. “You smoked a cigarette there. Mrs. Jordan,” sir," she Wherekiid you put the end?" Van Sneck rose and went into the conservatory. He walked directly to a large pot of stephanotis in a dis- tant corner and picked the stump of a goldâ€"tipped cigarette from thence. “I dropped it in there,” he said. “Strange; if you had asked me that question two minutes ago I should not have been able to answer it. And now I distinctly remember pitch- ,, _ . ‘ . . . . . present, but I am expecting her cVeryl mg it in there and watching 1t Imoment." Mr. Petherick walked in and lookâ€" ed round the small room with keen scorch some of that beautiful laceâ€" like moss. There is a long trail of it hanging down behind. I recollect :but not unkindly glance. it was the how funnily it occurred to me, even best 100m in the cottage, and it was) In the midst of my danger, that 'ihe not without Two or three volumes modern poets lay on the table and some etchings of best masters There was something about the 130011} a certain refinement. ' trail would look better brought over of the front of the pot. Thus.” He lifted the long, graceful spiral the and brought it forward. Steel nodd- hung on the walls. ed, approvingly. “I came Very near to dropping the that was not only cozy but tasteful, ring in there," Van Sneck explained. and With that indefinablc tone which “I had it in my fingerSâ€"l. toot: it is felt, cribed. though it cannot be des- (To be Continued.) â€"â€"â€"â€"+ o o o 9 9 o o o c o : o $9.9 $9.0 M°o%v.0b¢.fi %§,6®o.c‘v gownocoafio.‘ :g: . . , If The Price of Liberty g £ 0 o t o o o o o o o o 09.01,...er$o¢§o°ofio°o§vo.o‘0.afio.¢‘c.oԤ.o CHAPTER LVII. Bell’s professional enthusiasm got the better Of his curiosity for the moment. It was a nice psychologi- cal problem. Already Steel was 1m- pulsively busy in the conservatory pulling the pots down. It Was a re- gretful thing to have to do, but everything had to be sacrificed. David shut his teeth grimly and proceeded with his task. “What on earth are you doing?" Bell asked, with a smile. “Pulling the place to pieces," David responded. “I daresay I shall feel pretty sick about it later on,I but the thing has to be done. Cut those wires for me. and let those creepers down as tenderly as possi- ble. We can't get to the little pots until we have moved the big ones.” Bell coolly declined to do anything of the kind. He surveyed the two graceful banks of flowers there, the carefully trained creepers trailing so naturally and yet so artistically from the roof to the ground, and the sight pleased him. “My dear chap," he said. "I am not going to sit here and allow you to destroy the work of so many hours. There is not the‘ slightest reason to disturb anything. Unless ' t11atâ€"â€"” for the purpose from my waistcoat- pocket. Then I saw Henson's eye on me and I changed my mind. i wish I had been more sober.” Bell was examining a pot a little lowor down. A piece had been chipâ€" ped off, leaving a. sharp, clean, red edge with a tiny tip of hair upon it. "You fell here, he exclaimed. “Your head struck the pot. Here is a fragment of your hair on it. It is human hair beyond a doubt, and the shade matches to a nicety. After II A sudden cry broke from the Dutchâ€" man. “I’ve got it!” he exclaimed. “You have cleverly led my mind into the right direction. The only marvel is that I did not think of it before. You will find the ring in the pot where the tuberoso grows. I am quite certain you will find it‘amongst the moss at the base.” 'David carefully scooped up all the loose moss from the pot and laid it on the study table. Then he shook the stuff out, and something glitterâ€" ing lay on the tableâ€"a heavy ring of the most exquisite and cunning workmanship, with a large gem in the centre, flanked by black pearls on either side. Van Sncck took it in his fingers lovingly. “Here you are," he said. “Ach, the beauty! Well, you've got it now, and do you take care of it lest it falls into my hands again. If I got a chance I would steal it once more, and yet again and again. Ah, what mischief those things cause, to l.c' sure!" i The speaker hardly know how much mischief the ring in question had caused, nor did his companions sick! i DaVid wrapcd it I to enlighten him. ‘up carefully and placed it in his pocket. "I'm glad that is settled,” he said. “And I’m glad that I didn’t have to injure my flowers. Bell, you realâ€" ly are a. most wonderful fellow." Bell smiled with the air of a man who is well satisfied with himself. At this moment. a. servant came in with a message to the effect. that Inspec~ tor lll'atlcy desired to see Mr. lSteel on important business. ' “Couldn’t hare come at a better time," David murmured. Marley in here.” Marley came smilineg, yet mysterâ€" ious. lie evinced no surprise at the sight of Van Sneck. lie was, doubt~ less, aware of the success of the op- eration on the latter; lie particular- ly desired to know where Mr. Reginâ€" ald Henson was to be found. “This is a queer place to look for him," said Steel. “But he was here yesterday," Mar- ley protested. “He had an acci- dent." “Bogus,” said Steel. “We turned him out of the house. Is he wanted? Marley explained that he was want- ed on three different charges; in fact, the inspector had the warrants in his pocket at the present moment. “Well, it's only by good chance that you haven't got one for me,” David laughed. “if you have ten minutes to spare, between Van Sneck and myself We can clear up the mysâ€" tery of the i‘lianiond-mounted Cigar- case for you." Marley had the time to spare, and indeed, he was keen enough to bear the solution of , the mystery. A short explanation from David, fol« lowed by a few pithy, pertinent quesâ€" tions to Van Sneck, and he was perâ€" fectly satisfied. “And yet I seemed to have an ideal case against you, Mr. 33:03," he said. “Seems almost a pity to cut a ,_.carcer like Mr. Henson’s short, does it not? Which reminds me that I am wasting time here. Any time you and Van Sneck happen to be passing the police-station the cigar- case is entirely at your disposal.” And Marley bustled off upon the errand that meant so much for Ilegâ€" inald Henson. He was hardly out of the housa before Ruth Gates arrived. She looked a. little distressed; she could not stay for a illz'likcr:f,. she declared. Her machine was outside, and she was riding over to Longdcan Without delay. ‘A note had just been sent to her from Chris. “My uncle is in Paris," she said. “So I am going over to Longdcan for a few days. Lord Littimer is there and Frank also. The reconcil- iation is complete and absolute. Chris says the house is not the same now, and that she didn’t imagine that it could be so cheerful. Reginald Hensonâ€"'4' “My dear child, Henson is not there new." ‘ - “Well, he is. He went there last night, knowingthat he was at his last gasp, with the idea of getting more money from Lady Littimer. To his great surprise he found Littilner there also. It was anything but a pleasant interview for Mr. Henson, who was finally turned out of the house. It is supposed that he back again, for they found him this morning in the grounds with one of the dogs upon him. He is most horribly hurt, and lies at the lodge in a critical condition. I promised Chris that I would bring a message to you from Lord Littimer. He wants you and Dr. Bell to come over this afternoon and stay to dinner." "We’ll come, with pleasure," David said. “I’ll go anywhere to have the chance of a. quiet hour with you, Ruth. So far ours has been rather a. prosaic wooing. 'And, besides, shall want you to coach me 11) my interview with your uncle. You have no idea how nervous I am. And at the last he might refuse to accept me for your husband." Ruth looked up fondly into her lover’s faCe. “As if he could," she said, indig- nantly. “As if any man could find fault with you." David drew the slender figure to his side and kissed the sweet, shy lips. ‘ “When you are my wife,” he said, “and come to take a closer and ten- derer interest in my welfareâ€"m” “Could I take a deeper interest. than I do now, David?" “Well, perhaps not. But you will find a good many people find fault with me. You have no idea what the critics say sometimes. They decline that I am an impostel‘, a. copyist; they say that I aniâ€"â€"-â€"” ~ “Let them say what they like,” Ruth laughed. “That is more jealousy, and anybody can criticise. To me you are the greatest noVelist alive." There was only, one answer to this, and Ruth broke away, declaring that “Ask Iii-Ir. she must go at once. "But you will come this after- noon?" she said. “And you will make Lord Littimer like you. Some people say he is queer, but .l call him an old darling." “He will like me, he is bound to. I’ve got something, a present for him, that will render him iny slave for life. An revoir till the gleaming. (To be Continued! .---....__.+.._.........._ HUG/VP BRONZE 1mm. Some two miles from Kainakura and about 20 from Yokohama, in Japan, on a, terrace near the Temple, sits the most gigantic idol in the world. It is the brawn image of deity and it dates from the reign of the Emperor Shomu, who died 11.1.). 748. 'Jhe dimensions of this idol are colossal. Its luright front the base of the lotus flower upon which it sits to the top of‘its head is 63.} feet. came , eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee++++++ stills I» isteeeeeeteeteesetrt ILOME NURSING HEINTS. Don't go into a sick room when. heated and don't sit betwoen the patient and lhe fire, if there be one in the room, as the heat attracts any infectious vapor. A sore throat. .should never be neg- lected, especially in *the time of cpl- demiCs. A cleansing gargle is made by dissolving a heaped snltspoonful of salt allld carbonate of soda, mixed in equal quantities, in half a tumb- lerful of water. When a patient is on light diet it is well to remember that variety is pleasing. Even if the food must be the same, try to vary the cooking and arrangement of it. Let all food be well cooked and (Iain-tin served. and your ration-t will be more easily tempted to eat. :thn the voice goes from the cf- fecls of a bad cold or much speaking, a pleasant and simple remedy is made by beating up the white of an egg and adding to it the juice of a. answers r lemon, and enough sugar to make it- palatable. Take a spoonful from time to time. It willeei‘l‘ect a speedy cure. ' Give due attention to the ventila- tion of the room occupied by your patient, so that the air is constantly changing, at the same time having a. suitable temperature and no draught. In order to avoid noise wrap each piece of coal in paper and use a piece of wood as a poker. All medicines and articles of food should be kept on a small table outside the bedroom door; milk and suchâ€"like goods should be covered over. Bed- ding should be Well aired and changed frequently; sheets should be put on one side of the bed under the patient, and slowly drawn to the other side. Mattresses should, it possible, be used instead of feather beds, as they are more restful and less likely to become lumpy. Windowo that are loose should be Wedg‘ed, as a. window rattling at night may dis- turb the patient; small wedges can be bought for this purpose. ‘WBINKLES ABOUT RESTING. A professor of physical training gave some useful hints to ladies on the subject of rest. According to his precepts, attitude, if not every-f thing, is at least an important fac- tor in securing needed rest and re- laxation. Backache and weariness may be relieved by settling oneself comfortably on cushions and’ reclin- ing with the feet elevated above the level of the head. The entire weight of the body must be supported by. the cushions, and every muscle 're- faxed. The result is said to be very beneficial, five minutes’ rest in this position being equivalent to hour's repose in a more conventional posture. The pain and stiffness that come of working in constrained atti- tudes may be removed and thie circu- lation greatly benefited by lying on cushions and clasping the hands be- low the knees. By sleeping on the left side with the arm thrust under the left knee, or vice versa, weakness in the waist may be relieved. This is an excellent position to adopt in; cases of insomnia. Where it is a question of recuperating the strength! by a few minutes’ repose, the auâ€" IIth'ority declares that resting on the on ' back with the feet propped up against the wall will be found most efl‘ective. INFA NTILE DIETARY. To make prominent a few practicali hints, the following are mentioned: Don’t give acid milk. Don't use a tube in the nursingâ€"bottle. Don't allow the bottle or nipple to be any other than aseptic. Don’t fail to sterilize milk early and then cool rapidly by running cold water. Don't forget the necessity of pure air, cleanliness, and proper clothing. Don't forget. that the infant is a creature of habit, and can be taught the proper frequency and amount of food and the time for sleep. Don’t produce colic by allowing milk to flow too freely. ‘ Don't forget that infants are sensvitiVe tostarch‘es. TREATMENT OF MEASL-ES. It is a common mistake to count measles as a trifling complaint that need not be noticed, and few people realize how many hundreds of y'oun-g children die every year from it. If mothers would only remember that warmth is essential, and that every child w1th measles must be kept in bed, there would probably be few fatal cases. As it is, however, this simple precaution is neglected, and the bronchitis or inflammation of the lungs that supcrvenes is one of the conuuoncst causes of death. FOR LEAN WOMEN. ’J,‘he diet 0f the lean. person should consist of these foods that tend to produce fat. They are chiefly sugar and starches. A good dietary for the lean person would be an abuntd- ance of fat meat, butter, milk, COCUR, chocolate, bread, potatoes, lit-ans, peas, cereals, especially oat- meal, tapioca. rice, and sage pud- ding, with sugnr and cream, cake, sweets, bo-nvcy, syrup, and sweet fruits. Av‘oid pickles, acid fruit, and cat very sparingly of green vege- tables. an. d“