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0R, PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE. CHAPTER XVII. Gerald gently took the two certi- ficates from the hands of his be- trothed, carefully refolded and re- turned them to his wallet. Then he drew her again with in his arms. “Yes, Allison, it has been proved beyond a doubt that I am Adam Brewster’s son. Are you sorry ‘2” “No, no! I am so glad-so glad!” the fair girl unhesitatingly responded, as she nestled closer to him; “but oh! is not too bad that fie could not have knownâ€"that you oth could not have known the truth when you first went into his office? He would have loved you fl0~h0 would have been so proud of you. He was very fond of you, and trusted you as he trusted no one else.” “Yes, I know that, and it has been a great comfort to me,” Ger- )ld replied with unsteady lips. “Those words of commendation, almost the first that he ever ad- dressed to me, have been more to me than uncounted gold would be.” “Or course they have, Gerald, and I am so glad, too, that I hap- pened to overhear them, and could repeat them so publicly as I did. I shall never forget how earnestly ‘nd kindly he looked at you when e said: ‘I would stake my fortune upon your integrity and faithful- hess to my interests.’ ” “How well you have remembered gem, Allisonl” said Gerald, bend- g to kiss the lips that had re- peated those Words which were so precious to him.” “Why, how could I ever forget them?” she returned, with sur- prise. “They made me so proud of ‘ u, and I just gloried in repeat- Fg them in court that day, and see- ng the face of the judge light up with that look of gladness Which told how thankful he was not to be obliged to sentence you; while iohn Hubbard looked as if he would ave been glad to strangle me for having upset his schemes.” “Allison, I am afraid we are talk- ing too long,” Gerald remarked, with some anxiety, for her cheeks were crimson, her eyes shone like stdars, and her manner was excit- e . “No, indeed. It does not tire inc at all to talk, and I a mso happy to be able to go over all these things with you,” she returned, with a joyous little laugh. “Isn’t it queer, though, that such a little pressure upon my brain could have made my mind a blank for so many months, and that such a simple op- eration should have restored to me the memory of everything?” “It is, indeed, and I know of one, at least, who will always be profoundly grateful for that re storati-on,” said her lover earnest- ly. “The World has been very dark to me, love, ever since last July, until yesterday, when Mr. Lyttle- ten told me the wonderful news that you were not lost to me.” “Well, I am sure you have told me something almost wonderful toâ€"day,” Allison smilineg respondâ€" ed. “Oh, to think of itâ€"that you arr tho heir to all papa’s money!” "it is rather startling, I admit,” said Gerald. “And now”â€"-with a roguish look into the lovely blue eyes regarding him-â€"“hav1ng won my spurs, I shall have no hesrtaâ€" tion in taking my bride just as soon as she can be persuaded to appomt the day when she will ‘Mrs..’ to her name. You will not even have to change it, dear.” add theI lived, all would “But”â€"â€"still preserving her mis- chievous moodâ€"-“suppose I should refuse toâ€"to come to you as poor as a church mouse? I don’t forget how lofty somebody was about a year ago when somebody else alâ€" most unsexed herself, and proposed to share and share alike. Perhaps a certain young lady, who has seemed to sing into a nameless noâ€" body all of a sudden, possesses a. spark of “the same fire in her nature that once animated an aspiring knight.” “Allison l” exclaimed Gerald, a note of keen pain in his tone, while he bent forward to search the face that was resting against his shoul- der, “I hope you are not so wound- ed as your words seem to imply over these recent revelations which have so turned things topsy-turvy. I would rather a thousand times forego the establishment of my claim as the heir to this fortune than have you experience a single pangfi’ A merry little laugh interrupted him at this point, and a pair of soft arms stole fondly about his neck. “You dear, sensitive, -self~deny- ing boy! Did you think I really meant a word of all that nonsense? No, indeed, and I am even unmaid- enly enough to confess that I am perfectly delighted with the present arrangement. I wouldn’t have It changed for the world; for since you are so generous-hearted as to wish to endow a certain poverty~ stricken little waif with all you pos- sess, there will now be nothing to keep us apart any longer. The world would probably be shocked at such a confession, and cry ‘im- modestl mercenary l’. But what care I? I am only hungry to be loved, and for a home where we can be all in all to each other.” . I “My darling!” whispered Gerald delightedly. “I might have known that you were in jestâ€"that you would never maliciously twit upon facts. And we shall make a home just as soon as the lawsuit is end. ed. Where shall it be, Allison?” “Oh, in the old house, during the Winter, Geralc,” she eagerly re- plied. “Then we must spend some part of each year at Lakeview, where you proved yourself such a heroâ€"I cannot give up either of those dear places. But that villa at Newport I never want to enter again; that dreadful man has pois- oned its atmosphere for me. Sell it, Gerald, and we will find some other summer home.” “You shall have everything your own way, my darling, and you could not have pleased me better than to choose, as you have done, to live in the old familiar places, where I have been in the habit of seeing you and fatherâ€"my father! How strange it seems to say it, Allison, and it is the first time I have ever called him so,” Gerald concluded, flushing from mingled emotions as he referred to Mr. Brewster in this way. ‘ , “How very sad and mysterious the separation of your father and mother was!” Allison thoughtfully observed. “I cannot believe that papa intended to do his young wife any wrong, for he was a good man through and through; but his ap- parent desertion of her is to me most strange.” “So it seemed to me at first,” Gerald replied, “but, as I have thought more about it, I cannot help feeling that if my mother had eventually have been well with them. There is cer- tainly something very mysterious “H’m! Conditions have changed I about their relations, but the erec- somewhat since that 'day when I tried to make you promise that you wouldn’t mind about the ‘spurs,’ retorted Allison, with smiling mock- cry. “Indeed, they have.” “They are exactly reversed. I haven’t even a clerkship to share with you,” said Allison wickedly. “I am glad of it,” returned her lover sentcntiously. “Gerald Winchester Brewster, You are a usurper. You have rob- l’md niy father’s daughter of her fortune, and now you dare ailirm tliat'you rejoice in her poverty!” exclaimed Allison, With affected sternness. . ' “It is no robbery, love; it Wlll all be yours just the same, to. use as vou like We are only availing ourselves of a capricc of fate and the consequent formalities of law to establish your rights.” man explained. tion of that monument over my me- ther’s grave proves to me that he never wilfully repudiated her dur- ing her life, and was determined that no reproach should be entailed upon her memory. But by the way, Allison,” he added, with a sudden thought, “how do you suppose it happened that one of the other victims of that accident was report- ed as I‘inss Brewster?” "Oh, I imagine my card-case was accountable for that mistake. It was probably found lying beside some one else, and so it was taken for granted that the person was Miss Brewster.” “But, of course, the lady’s friends would know better than that when they identified her,” objected Ger- ald. “True, and yet the reporter’s ac- count may have been written before the young. the poor thing was identified, and 'thus he never discovered his mis- take; or, even if he did, he may not have thought it worth while to rectify it. I should really like to know who the girl was,” Allison concluded thoughtfully. ' Later the lovers joined the fam- ily below, and a pleasant, social evening followed, although Gerald considerater took his leave at an early hour, having first arranged, if the following day should prove to be fine, to take Allison for a drive. It did prove to be an ideal winter day, and snugly esconced among abundant robes, the lovers spent a couple of hours driving. The re- mainder of the day was quietly passed with the Lymans and Lady Bromley, Gerald only leaving in season to catch the evening express for New York. It was arranged before he left, however, that as soon as Allison should be pronounced strong enough to endure the trip, she should accompany Lady Bromley back to New York and remain with her until the lawsuit was decided, when the oung couple would im- mediately e married. The Lymans expressed a great deal of regret at the thought of parting with her, for she had grown to seem almost like a daughter to them, but, of course, they could not fail to rejoice most heartily, in view of her recovery and her flat- tering prospects for the future; while, as they were in the habit of frequently visiting New York, they were comforted with the thought that they could thus see her often. The day after Gerald’s deparâ€" ture, Ellen Carson was permitted to pay Allison a call( and it was very touching to witness the girl's heartfelt joy over the restoration of her youthful benefactress. “I never was so glad about any- thing in my life!” she exclaimed, with a beaming face, as she rever- ently took the dainty white hand which Allison extended to her; “and you’re going to get your mon- ey all back too, ain‘t you '2” she concluded, with eager interest. “Yes, I expect it will all come to me,” the fair invalid smilingly re- sponded, but not thinking it neces- sary to explain just how the for- ttune was going to be restored to er. “Well, I reckon I can help them do a little fighting on that law- lawsuit,” said Ellen, with an air of importance. “I’ve always hank- ered to do something for you, ever since you gave me those ten dolâ€" lars, and now I’m going to tell all know, to make those greedy what they stole I thieves shell out from you.” Allison smiled at her original reâ€" marks, but thanked her, and told her that she felt sure that every- thing would end all right. A day or two after Gerald’s re- turn from his visit to Boston, he received a note from the chief olfi- cer of the bank where he had serv- ed so long under Mr. Brewster. A new president and other offiâ€" cers had been appointed, and the concern was being managed on a different basis. The writer of the note asked Gerald if he would kind~ ly step around to the bank at his earliest convenience, as there was a matter of business upon which he wished to consult him. Accordingly, the following niorn~ ing the young man presented him- self in the private office of the pre- sident, when that gentleman iii- formed him that he wished to be instructed how to gain access to the secret vault which be under- stood thc former president had had constructed for his individual use, but as no one in the bank knew where it was located, he had taken the liberty to send for him to give him the information. “I want just such a place for my own convenience,” he observed. “I have spent hours searching for it, but without success, and I confess that my curiosity regarding this clever hiding-place has become al- most a mania,” he concluded, smil- ing. “Have Mr. Brewster’s keys i” Gerald inquired, but with a thrill of repulsion as he recalled the experiences of that never-to-bcâ€" forgotten Sunday when he had come there to execute his secret commis- sion. “Yes; here they are,” his com- panion replied, as he took from a drawer the identical ring which the late banker had given him during his last interview with him. “This the key to the secret vault,” you said Gerald, singling out from the others the tiny bit of steel. “Yes. I imagined so; but as yet I have been unable to discover any. lock which it will fit,” the banker responded. “I can let you into the secret very shortly if you will come with me to the vault,” our hero observed, whereupon they proceeded directly to the place. The drawer which had been Mr. Brewster’s individual rece ta‘clc P for important papers was drawnl forth, when, by the light of a canv dle, Gerald pointed out the narrow slot in the panel behind which was the secret vault. (To be continued.) WORD FOR BUSINES GIRL CAPABLE, INTELLIG ENT AND SELF-RE SPE CTIN G. The Woman Wage Earner May be as Modest as 1101' Stay-at- IIomc Sister. Most of those who do not come in actual contact with the business girl have the vaguest idea of what she is really like. In the first place, they look on her as thoroughly undomesticated and devoid of all womanly accom- plishments. In this they make a great mis- take, fo-r there is no reason in the world why the business girl should not be a very capable housekeep- or. The girl who has the brains to be intelligent in business affairs has the brains to be equally intelligent in household affairs. l DON’T WANT IDLE LIFE. The business girl is not always driven to earn her own living through necessity- It frequently happens that she is one of a large family of girls and that her com- mon sense tells her that she is much better off earning her living than idling away her time at home. If a girl is not married at twenty- five she is usually tired of dances and the tiresome round of social life, and she is very glad to get into some congenial line of work. . The pride of being independent 15 very may be independent as far as money matters go, it does not follow that she loses her femininity in the smal- lest degree. - She can be out in the world, a wage earner, and still be as mod- est and womanly as though she had never left the home nest. INTELLIGENT AND CAPABLE. The girl who is inclined to be bold and fast is in just as much danger of becoming so if she stays at home as when she is engaged in business. In fact, there_is even more chance of her getting into these bad ha- bits, as she has more time to get into mischief. To my mind the average business girl is about the finest product of this country. She is an intelligent,.capable, self~respecting, womanly girl, and the men of the country should be \roud of her. .She goes about her business in a modest, sensible way, asking nothing but just recognition of her services and respectful treat- ment from those with whom she comes in daily contact. She is usually a good daughter, and, owing to her generosity, many little extra comforts creep into the home. If any young man reads these words let him remember that a good daughter makes a good wife. Do not for a moment think that I am decrying the home girl, for I am not. I am merely telling some facts about the business girl. The girl wli-cse plain duly it is to stay at home and help her mother is earning her living just as much as the one who goes to business every day. Keep that in mind, lit- tle stay-at-home sister, and don’t le blue because you are not paid a salary every week. As long as your mother needs you, you are do- ing the .very best kind of work in helping to lift the burden from her overweight-ed shouldersâ€"Beatrice Fairfax, New York Evening Jour- nal. *._____. GREETING BY BULLET. Discharge I Revolvers in Air Meeting or Parting. A very pleasing custom of the Montenegrins is that of discharging revolvers in the air at meeting or parting. A score or so of men will accompany a popular guest to the outskirts of the village, and as he rides off they speed him with a deafening fusilade. They will fire their revolvers, too, at the con- clusion rf a jollification, and are not then- always very careful of the angle of discharge. In the acci- dent ward of Montenegro's only hospital the majority of cases are men thus accidentally shot, There is also a certain dance where a ring is formed and-a man and girl prance round, the former striving to leap as high as possible, emitting fear- some yells and firing his revolvcr ac every leap. When that was in progress I always took a front seat lyine; down. on sweet, and, though a girl ' .1::::::::::f--------â€"-------â€"â€"---â€"â€".....______________. BRITAIN’S BlG INCOME ....,_.._-...._... . JOHN BULL’S NATIONAL-BAL- ANCE SHEET. How Two Hundred Million Pounds are Spent - Colossal Figures. _Evcn_ an American multi-millionv aire might be staggered by an at- tempt to grasp the colossal figures disclosed by John Bull’s national. balance-sheet, issued as a Blueâ€" book recently. In the financial year ended March 31st last, the Exchequer re- ceipts totaled £205,137,275 193. Nd, tlie'great bulk of this money being derived from customs, excise, es~ fate duties, land-tax, post office, and property and incomeâ€"tax. _lVIoney raised by creation of ad- ditional debt accounted for a fur ther £2,636,155, and amounts tem- pggarily borrowed came to £8,500,- Where the money went is even more interesting Twenty-eight millions were absorbed by the Na- tional Debt services, £470,000 went to the Civil List, £271,790 in annui~ ties and pensions, £77,736 in sal- aries and allowances, £518,292 to Courts of Justice, and £331,288 to miscellaneous services. The Civil List £470,000 includes the following items. ' Their Majesties’ Privy Purse .. .. .. ......£110,000 Salaries of his Majesty’s Household and retired al- lowances .. .. Expenses of his Majesty’s Household .. .. Royal bounty, alms, and special services .. .. 13,200 ROYAL FAMILY ANNUITIES. Annuities to the Royal Family 125,800 193,000 include: The Prince of Wales . . . . . . £20,000 Princess of Wales . . . . . . . . 10,000 Princess Christian .. 6,000 Princess Louise (Duchess of Argyll) .. .. .. 6,000 Duke of Connaught . . . . . . 25,000 Duchess of Edinburgh 6,000 Duchess of Albany .. .. .. 8,000 Princess Henry of Batten~ burg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,000 Trustees for his Majesty’s daughters . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,000 For political and civil services Viscount Cross and Lord George Hamilton each lraw £2,000 a 'ear pension; Mr. Henry Chaplin, 0rd Balfour of Burleigh, and Mr. Ger- ald Balfour, £1,200 each. Two late Speakers of the House of Com- monsâ€"Viscounts Peel and Gully-- are down for £4,000 a year each, while the pensions for judicial serâ€" vices in England alone reach a total of £45,739. CROWN’ S ITEMS. Here are some curious items un- der the heading of miscellaneous- revenue: Amount received from Venezuelan Govern- ment in respect of claim of British sub‘ ject who cannot be found . . . . . .. .. .. Conscience money re- mitted to Chancellor of the Exchequer .. Unclaimed balance of bankrupt’s estate at Smyrna .. . . .. Commission on sale of photographs (Nation- al Portrait Gallery) . 17 4 0 The gross receipts of the postal service were $319,904,504, of the to- legraph service £3,602,552, and of the telephone service £1,523,622. ..£609 0 0 717 00 7128 ...bX4_.__..__._ MAULED BY PANTHERS. Girl’s Fierce Struggle in a Seaside Circus. A girl animal tamer, “Mlle. Alice,” was attacked and badly mauled by two panthers in the Ma- rine Gardens at Portobello, the sea- side rcsort near Edinburgh, Scot- land. She was taking the animals from the cages to the arena for the per- formance at the time. The panthâ€" ers were in a sullen humor, and resented her efforts to coax them along the passage leading to the arena. They hung back and sudâ€" denly sprang on her, hearing her to the ground. The large crowd present were horrified to hear screams coming from the passage. The manager rushed to the girl’s rescue, firing his revolver, which was loaded with biank cartridges, while others, with iron bars, after a fierce struggle, thrust the infuriated animals off their victim, who by this time had swooncd. The girl was badly lacoratecl on the chest, thigh and scalp. and 2:227 .covcred with blend