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‘-V . ‘ I I -“" .I- . I ‘» . .‘___ _. __ .â€" MM He might have on the other side of the room met her __‘__________._..._â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"-â€" . . . l . securing his wish. He resolved to 1 had not been a fool. CH+££HM++ been ‘dinne'd into my ears for three , _ 4’ years, and it has made no difference. spare nothing to make her yield. It known after 8.11 1211050 years that eyes. She went up to him and Put was the first time that anyone had Gladys was loyal and faithflfl and out her hands with a sob. " ' ‘ + I can’t marry Sydney. Uncle has bribed me with everything he can opposed him for years, and it roused I true to the man she loved. Eric’s whisper was heard only by think of. He is going to make him all his fierce determination. Shel And She was with him now! The her. - + a partner and goodness knows what, should marry Sydney Devereux or E Second figure under the trees grow “We must forgive himâ€"he is dy- 4: ’ suffer for it. lsuddenly clear to him. They were ing’”. he said, as + else. But it is you I loveâ€"you 1 love, and you I am going to marry At the door Sydney looked back looking into caCll other'S faces; both «1(- 4e «- at s * -â€"and soon, .Eric, dear.’5- for an instant and then slowly went - Wcrc alight, both were blind to ever)“ 'A' day or two later on every wall in Sir William Kennet’s business F . l , outâ€"back to his own office. He rang ; flung and everyone 0150- WWH+++++4'++W+M+ II a bell, gave some orders as to what But S‘Uddenly Gladys caught Slght house was posted. the following anâ€" ' was to be done during his absence, 11”“ and Sl’mng to he" feet‘ nouncementtâ€" ' “Sir William Kennet, having re- ceived proofs of the innocence of Eric Chesterton of the forgery with. which he was charged, has decided to appoint him nanager in place of the late Sydney Devereux, which pos- ition he would have occupied had it not been for this most unfortunate mistake. Sir William feels that the regrets and congratulations of the whole house will be with Mr. Chesterâ€" tOn on his return.” And when Sir William drove up in his motorâ€"car with Eric at his side, tho five or six hundred employes were crowding doors and passages to welâ€" come him. Both Eric and Sir William were a little white when they reached their rooms, and Sir William held out his hand. ” N “Now for a fresh start, he sa1d.â€"~ London Titâ€"Bits. ______,+_.â€"â€"â€"â€"4 PERSOR’AL POINTERS. ___â€" Interesting Gossip About Some Prominent Ecople. ‘ President Louhet, of France, Was “Ei‘icâ€"l‘jricâ€"here is Sydney!” she I. It was bitterly cold. Gladys Ken- nct shivered :T‘ the damp of the early morning as sf.-. laced up and down the empty street. A white mist lay over London. Under it the houses were for the most part silent still, with close-shut doors and windows. But some of then wore beginning to stir. Mil-“men’s carts were busy rattling up and down the streets now and workmen were hurrying to catch trains and tram:4 Life was comâ€" menting again after the sleep of the night, and presently the great wide doors of the prison,would, open to let out into lih again some who had been almost as good as dead. Gladys stopped and peered down the courty ard. A little. strange- looking group was beginning to colâ€" lectâ€"ragged women they were for the most part, all shivering in the damp cold of the (morningâ€"women very difâ€" derent to her, even though she was plainly dressedâ€"women to whom there was nothing strange in waiting outside prison doors! Something that was more than the mist struck her vith a cold chill. She was like themâ€"like. these wretch- ed women who waitcd! She too was waiting for a criminal to come outâ€"â€" she tooâ€"Gladys Kennet, of Orange lands Court, waiting just as they were! She was plainly dressed, yet her navyâ€"blue (Wat and her red hat bore an unmistakable impress. She walked slowly up the street and then back. When she reached the gates again the little crowd seemed larger. She would not be a coWard! She would not shrink now! The time was over; she had come thus far; . ., she had waited in silence and thing urgent? Sydney hesitated. atience for this mornin r nd 1 w , £110 must be true and bligvg'! 1 o “I think I must have left a. memorâ€" The doors were thrown occn' sud_ andum behind in your safe at your denly and a. small crowd. of men hous‘? lam“ night!” he said! 3“ little came out. straggling in ones and husklly’ 9t laSt' “I had halite? 3" twos and thrcos_men with hang’dog and get it before I do anything else, airs, with bent heads, or else with for, you remember, there is a meet- bold faces and defiant eyes, and head mg, ,at twelve", carried high .‘ '10 be sure.” Sir William pulled There was a rush towards them. his keys from his pocket. “You are Gladys hung back for just a moment Sure you put it baCk in my sure?” he and then she too darted forward. asked" “Well’ it ought to math “5 one had come out very differently not to do business out of office hours to the rest. He stood against the my boy' Gladys is always grumbling at me about itâ€" says I ought not to gateway for a moment looking out . . , . with Strange, awed eyes at a world go into. accounts With my dessert, he Seemed seamely to recognise. He and insusts on sitting with me While , « â€"‘ ' s - q ’ passed his hand across his face and I ‘31" my nut“ Just to 5“ I don t d" .lookcd again, and at that moment it. When she is your wife, Sydney, Gladys taught his arm. you must let her keep that up. It’s He looked down with a great Start a. bad thing to carry business home. of surprise, ‘ Well, go and get the paper." ,nGladys_y0u!-o He handed the keys to Sydney, Her breath was choking in her who turned and cressed the room throat. slowly - “Oh, Eric! Oh, thank Heaven, “By the way, Sydney,” Sir Wilâ€" E,.ic_a§ last!” lieam said, suddenly, “you'll see He looked down at her hungrily for Gladys: "0 doubt. Tell her to ex- a moment, and then, as if realizing 130“ you 1:9 dinner toâ€"night. If you where and what he was, he began to can come F11 take Semeone home unloosen hm. fingers {rum his m.m_ with me to make a. fourth, and then “What brings you here?” he asked. "thcnv perhaps, Sydney’ my 1303'- “You ought not to have comeâ€"you You and She can Scale thinfis- I ought never to have come_ It only want you married. Speak to her and makes things worse n arrange it toâ€"night. She knows my fitEric___Eric’ don't say “my, things wishes, and you ought to have no to me,” she cried. “Oh, my dearest, dimculty “OW-"z you knew I should waitâ€"I told you Sydney’s throat W515 (313’- soâ€"I laid them all so, and I do not “Did you kno“':" he asked; abrupt- mean to desert you now. And you 13’» “that Eric CheSterton was to can’t, desert mo after I have waited come out this morning?” 50, Eric!" Sir William looked up with a little She had forgotten everything but Start- him. She was looking up wildly “Why, 110,” he cried- “AFC you into his white, changed face and her sum Of It?” heart was heating for him just as it Sydney n0dd0d. and 811‘ William had beaten nearly three years ago sank back in his seat with a iron/n before they had taken bunny-my, The between his trows, which cleared little crowd had dispersed. They QUiCkly after a minute- ,Weru out in the broad road, walking “W011. She Won't be 811611 a. fool as down slowly tOWards the noisy thor- to thin Of that fellow 110W.” 110 oughfare and the open shops. said: Sharply "She mUSt have had “Eric, you could not believe 1 her lesson, and I was emphatic should ever let you go?" she was enough. A forgcr! Good heavens, saying, _ “Oh, you know [believed Sydney, I can't understand women. you innocent, and “ways Shun," How could she make excuses and “Yesâ€"oh, my darling, I was found stick to a man who had sullied his guilty, and it, doesn’t, matter what; honor as Eric Chesterton had done? anybody believes now. I have been Why do women StiCk ‘90 blaCk‘Lâ€"Tual‘dfi p‘ttiished. I have done my three as they do, Sydney? I Can't under- years just as if I had been guilty, stand them. I'd give Eric tWenty Oh, Gladys, they called me guilty, years if I 001110], jUSt as I'd give and what does it matter even what twenty Neal‘s to any 1111111 W110 Stole you believe now? They have brand- in the shameful way he did." ed meâ€"shut me up with thieves and “But”â€"Sydncy's Voice came strain- crlminals. Oh, GladyS, nothing mat- ed and huskyâ€"“but who knows what ters but that.” temptation he may have had?” he She tightened her fingers on his said. . ' arm. “Bah!” broke in Sir William. “I've “It does matter,” she said, in a heard you say that before, but tempâ€" :gow voice. "Eric, dear, it matters tation is no excuse for a man. It is everything. I believe you innocent; I no excuse for thieving as Chesterton know you never committed the forg- did. Gladys calls me hard, but of all and then, slipping into an overcoat, Went out into the yard behind thelcried. “Let us tell him now.” great building where Sir William’sl She ran out waving her hand. Syd- motor stood. The chauffeur was noâ€"lncy stopped the car mechanically. where to be seen. Sydney looked; “Sydneyâ€"Sydney, here is Erie!” round, and then suddenly got intoishe cried, bieathlessly. “He has the car. He would drive himself. lle;C0mG 1101119- Come and Shell: to could not stayâ€"could not wait. lbim.” Sydney shot out into the open! For a moment Sydney struggled. street. It vas thick with traffic. ’i‘hel’l‘he last drop of blood died from morning was in full swing by now, {his face. Speak to himâ€"to the thief, and the city was fullâ€"throbbing with 3 the forgor, the man who had just business life. . finished “serving time"â€"how could, Sydney ran away from it all-- 110 speak to him? down from the city, through thel Ills attitude was strange for an crowded streets, out into the Open. |lhonest, worthy, upright man, as Sir Hyde Park lorner run past him, and 'William had called him. Guilt, the park, green and bright lay on his i shame, and bitter hatred drew his right. He looked,towards it, 'dnlly, iface into hard lines. Gladys's happy remembering in a queer way thegeycs beamed upon him. If she knew morning rides he had had withgâ€"Heaven help him! If she could see Gladys during the past two or threeiinto his heart, what would her eyes years. He had done wonderful thth 9'look like thcn‘.‘ in that time. His luck had been fab- Eis shaking hand turned the driv‘ ulous. He had got on by tremendous lugâ€"wheel. "he car shot forward strides, and liad‘risen from being anxsharply. He pulled the speedâ€"lever, insignificant nobody into Sir Wil~ sounded the horn, and dashed abrupt- lizm’s personal friend. ly away up the readout into the His car turned the corner of Queens Side, open space about Hyde Park Gate shar ly and ran down the wide Orner‘ . street. Hg drew up before Sir Wil-I What'lfappened them he, d‘d not , liam's house and got down. rlfhe lilatllilfinow' 1}“3 “‘22va was “MW? Cabs lbom with a, passion for music. He who opened the door knew him Well 'a-nd Carl‘wges.’ busos' wagons Toned [has composed several oratorios, and past him, but he saw none of them. is an ‘Cxceuent perfornler on the emegh, and Sydney ran in. r, . . I. “Ask Miss Gladys if She win 505 i There was a confuse? nezisccilin1 llS me {01. a few minutes before I go,” ~cars, but above all he i care . at ys s An early incidcnt in Lord Woke- he said, as he turned into the litrâ€" Clea" V9ic‘e' With the guansound in v. ,_ . 1. was characteristic of “V “I 31133.1 not, 1.0 101.... }.,.I., n it, “Eric has come home, and he lley S “We H mm . . . , .C, -c c. ‘11“, spirit of the man. All “3 I l The great business house of Sir William Kennet and Co. was humâ€" ming like a hive. The morning was in full swing. Clerks were rushing to and fro, bells ringing, lifts rattling up and down. In the outer offices an army of clerks was hard at work. Sir‘Williain himself was in the thick of business, and amongst all those five or six hundred people only one man sat inert and listless. He was a young man with a, dark, keen face, that just now looked drawn and haggard. He was bend- ing over his desk, doing nothing exâ€" cept stare at a. sheet of rote-paper which he held in his hand. Round him, on ever side, were letters waitâ€" ing to be attem ed to. Twice a clerk had come to him with noteâ€"book and pencil, and twice Sydney Devereux had sent him away to wait. He could not dictate letters yet. He could do nothing. He wanted to think. lie stared at the paper and read the words over again:â€" “Eric Chesterton was released this morning. Was met by a pretty girl in navy-blue clothes and red hat. They drove away together in a banâ€" som.” Sydney’s brows contracted. 'A very Ugly look darkened his rather hand- some face. “Bah! If he is out, what then? And the girlâ€"it could not have been Gladysâ€"it could not have been." He. got up hastily and. crossing the room, opened a door which led into Sir William's private room. Sir Wil- liam was $110115, and looked up sharp- ly as Sydney came in. “Ah, Sydneyl'i he said. “Anyâ€" .Q- piano. “Miss Gladys is out sir ” said the 311‘” homingâ€"nothing but her bright” . v - .. ' ' his sn‘ViC- ‘ , ' happy eyes beneath her red hat. of 1.5214, In recoé‘ntmn Of ” Infill}. _ ‘ . i- I .. he was Iraâ€"- The warning snout he did not, hear, e Crimean Wat. a The running policemen he did not es in th zetted captain. covered, hovev little more than When it was disâ€" cr, that Wolseley was twentyâ€"one years old, the captaincy was cancelled. But ed emptyâ€"emptyâ€"dcsolate as his Um young man protested so Vigor~ own life. ously against this injustice that the He turned “‘5 love" SharI-‘IY- The cancellation itself Was cancelled. and car,-like a. living thing, sprang forâ€" the captaincy restored. ward. As it dashed into the stone- The Empress Eugcnic is devotcd to work 1e threw up his hands with 3. flowers and Personally superintends ‘ arnborough at her garden, both at l?‘ the Villa Cyrnos, her house near. Cap Martin, which is famed for its roses. Armed with a pair of scis- her hands protected by garden Empress busies herself Sydney turned sha'ply. His face grew a Mile grey, and the words on , the sheet of noteâ€"paper in his pocket 306’ ’lhe bros-d gateway seemed to grew suddenly clear before his eves. have Yam‘ghed mm an- as he daShed uMet by a girl in ,mvy_b1ue__n." towards it. Hyde Park Corner seein- “Do you know where she is?” he asked, sharply. The. man shook his head. “She left no message," he said. “And when did she go out?”â€" Syd- ney asked, huskily. “That I can't say, sir. Before CTR“ * * * Â¥ *- breakfast, I think, sir." " ,' ', Sydney turned away. In the libra- “All 11017? at most, sald tne doe- ary before him he fumbled for a to“ “He cann9t’ 1WD longer, t‘mn minute with Sir William's keys. What that If “We 19 “WOW he Ought . . need to go through the farce of exâ€" L0G flee they Should be £0“:th at :Cl‘gi’es we amininrr -.h ‘2 ? T 1. l t - 0“ 0' . D ’ .A ,. . .. ~ ' ndcâ€" inc; tlietf‘e lieevs'aaiiged. here “is 10 h Gladys put up her hand to Mir about kc? ‘Obe of The butler met him in the hall. Shaking lips aim “mu tlfrncd to ENC Sliablc Sheets. Her Hardest? is “Any mwsage for Miss Gmavs, who stood besxde her. 'lheyhad seen lwdhered lea {esw Didhbnrhood oi Sir?" he asked_ ‘ the car dasn fen-Yard and had follow- very Populu‘ 1“ 0 1": f’ Treat muck Sydney Shook his head. “NO,” ha ed it; and it was Erie who went new Fol-shorougfil, where ‘ ctl LY“? one said. and fetched 'Sir Wlllian â€"-E1‘ic the nose has endeared hex o e c y - HI' forgo“ Herr Wilhelm Backhaus, the young Sydney lay very still. The hard, German pianist, has won the Rubin- Once more his hand was on the keen look had gone from his face. He stem prize of 5,000 1‘12, founded to Wheel of the car, and once more it had forgotten Gladys and the happi- pm)de “the finest pianist in the was throbbing under him. At the ness in her eyes; but suddenly it warm.” The Con1l'aetitl0n took 131390 top of the road he turned into Kens- came back. She was sitting beside in Paris mm there were thirty-sax ington Gardens and shot forward be- himâ€""there. 01088 ’00 him. and she was competit'ors {mm 5.11 parts 01E tween lines of smooth green grass. crying. Furopc When Backhaus finished He sat Staring Straight ahead, He He stared at her and then all reâ€" ‘hyinof (ho Rubinstein Concerto shot past the Albert Memorial, out. mcmbrance came back. His face O‘t'h 3rchostra and listeners_in dc- through the gates, across the road, Channg abI‘UPUY- HO (11‘0" a Pain- fiarcc of the traditions of isuch com- and into the park, ful breath and tried to turn. §L3tions_burst into & tumult of up- The gardens had been full, but the At the same instant Sir William 'p'i’ use He is just over twentywne road seemed empty now. The - long Kemmt 031110 in- Sydney .WaS 1005112; p? ‘ ' rs below the Wye limit for line of Rotten How was deserted. On at Gladyi- 7N?» y'e-a' stein prize D ' his left the Serpentine lay like a “FOI‘Sinif YOU 09-11.” he Skid: in Lw am”? .I . ... f broad streak of silver between them. feeble voice. “I loved you soâ€" The 13150? Puts 1“ twelve homff" tl‘cL’S- He Blackened speed a. little, from the Very first; and. I hated Eric "01“: a (lay; _he k‘ow“ Emmi“? and crawled along the road trying to because of you-that was why I planâ€" about fnlgmfieflng "nd deatnmty; :6 steady his thoughts and the beat of nod his ruinâ€"why I forged the can Paint 3' pleture and ma!” 3“ cmâ€" icature; he can cook as Well as eat; his heart. Why was there that un- cheque.” _ _ comfortable feeling upon himâ€"that “YOU!” The word came like a, cry 110 leads 111 Prayer and COP-duets. 9' queer, cold fear that had nearly unâ€" from Gladys's and Sir William's clIOiI‘; he clauses his (11355 t‘“”" done three years ago? lips. ‘ .times a day and has $500,000 worth He looked round at the great park. “You!” Sir William repeated. “The of clothes; he hears a. hundred titles: There was no one in sight thatlmorn- son of my old friend!" " and is an Admiral in three of the ing. His car approached the corner, The dying man did not move. biggest navies; he does a hundred and there'suddenly a small splash of “That was why," he” went on, different things and does each 0210 color against the brown of the road SlOle. “I put it in Eric's deskâ€" nearly as well as does the expert in caught his eye. the chequeâ€"where it would be foundâ€" that, particular lineâ€"certainly ’ a On a chair under the trees was a. it g‘Ot him out Of the waif-4t got Royal Jack. of all trades. girl with a red hat! him out of the wayâ€"but it was no The you,” Crown Princess of Ger. The car shot forward sharply under goodâ€"she did not careâ€"you, I mean, man is rag-idly becoming the leader his nervous grasp and then slowod (lid not careâ€"I might have knownâ€" f ignhion in Berl'in Shae has set a down again. His hard grey eyes ah, Gladys, forgive!” 0‘ ° ,stom which.” becominn- ex- stared blindly at the girl under the She rose to her feet. Forgive? Ferâ€" Pop’ular.” wt’mc Walking She trees and then hi 1 v -' 1 nd di. ‘r ce? Fri ' . . . - I S leart ga e a gwc the Shm ‘0 ‘1 gg a J c S almost invariably carries a. dainty, rather long, walkingâ€"stick with a. throb. bitter pain? Forgive the deed that He might. have known. He might. had branded him a forger and a _ _ , . have understood the meaning of the thief? How could she? 291d *0!) 511%: BIRMI-lcflififl SSS; ha: cold fear that .Was upon him if he She turned away. The face of Eric Slum“ bm'" 9‘, 03" 15,51 3 a. large collection of sticks, from. which she is able to select one to suit any costume that she may be wearing. One very handsome mauve colored stick is finished off at the top with a flat crystal button, and bears her initials in rubies. A good story concerning the King of the Belgians is told by a French contemporary. A few years ago King Leopold noticed at an art ex- hibition a. small painting rcp‘eséntâ€" ing a flock of sheep in a field at sunâ€" set time. When the King expressed ,..‘ cry, and I am going to marry you.’.’. IIe started. "‘Gladys Ilel‘ small face was white and set. “I know what it will mton, dear,” she said; “but I am prepared. You know I have some. money that my mother left. me. It will be enough for us to start in business with somewhere, and uncle can do what he likes. lie was cruel to youâ€"ob, he was horribly hard on us both, and 'I am going to marry youâ€"at once, Eric, darling.” He stood still in the middle of the read and looked down at her. “fButâ€"â€"” he. stammered. “I thought eâ€"Sydney saidâ€"that you and -l:oâ€"-” Bhe stamped her foot. “It is not trueâ€"it is not true,’ she cried, passionately. “I would not 7 not marry him for a fortune.” "But, (:ladys, it would be better. fin is getting on. Your uncle thinks the world of him. fie is his right Stand, and Iâ€"â€"â€"” Haiti's, don’tâ€"don’t? It has all . 2-. up“, w sins a man can commit forgery is to marry him to save my life. I would. me least worthy of forgiveness. It is the Coldestâ€"blooded of crimes. A man may do something desperate in a moment of passitinâ€"something for which he may not be. quite responsi- bleâ€"but in order to forge he has to sit down and think and plan and wait. It is a deliberate, coldâ€"blood- ed, crime, and how anyone could for- give it I don’t understand, and Gladys least. of all. She believed him innocent, of course; butâ€"speak to her again toâ€"night. 'l-lcr obstinacy is beâ€" ginning to try my temper, and I'll guarantee that she says ‘yes’ to you when you ask her to become your wife.” Ilis mind was made up about Eric Chesterton, who had forged his name to a cheque three years ago; and about Sydney Devereux, who, he was convinced, was the best husband pos- sible for his niece Gladys. That she did not fall in love to his order and throw up the thief and forger, Eric Chesterton, was so astonishing that all his mind and will were bent on THE CZAR'S NEXT STEP,- Clear euo ’ ~. a wish to buy the picture and asked the price, the artist put on a guil'e‘ less look and sairlzu “Supposing your Majesty paid for my sheep at the butcher's value, 50 fr. apiece?” The King glanced at the canvas, muttered, “Ten or twelve sheep . . . for 50-0 fr. to COCfr. . . . not too much for the picture,” and the. bar- gain was concluded. Three days later the painter took his canvas to the castle at Laeken. When the counting of the sheep began the art- ist pointed to a number of whi’e (lots in the background, and staid, gravely, “Don't forget those. There are at least a thousand." “But isn’t that just dust?” King Leopold asked anxiously. “No, :n‘e; those are sheep." “On your word of honor?” “On my Word of honor.” And thus the King of the Zelgians, whose leaning towards strict. wakiLY‘ny is well known, paid 50.00:; :6. for a. painting which would ham-e bet-n Well paid for by 155,000 fr. «:5 fl" “1.....“2. .. . .‘v _... Mor~ - ..,...._-.~.:.~_s..A_-a..._..__ ._ a}. . , . .