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OR, A CURIOUS MYSTEI _ CHAPTER XVI--(Cont'd) "he stranger bowed and went out of the shop, leaving behind him a memory which did more to prevent the blue devils from gaining mastery of Frithiof's mind anything élse could possib done. . When he left, however, .at his usual dinner hour he was with- out the slightest inclination to eat, and with a craving for some velief from the monotony of the glaring streets he walked np to Regent's Park, hoping that there perhaps he might the fresh air for which he was longing. 'Come along, will you!" shout- ed a rough voice behind him. He glanced round and saw an evil- looking 'tramp who was speaking to 3 most forlorn little boy at his 8. The child seemed ready to drop, but. with a.look of misery and fear and effort, most painful to see in such a young face, it hurried on, keeping up a wretched little sort of trot at the heels of its father, who tramped on doggedly. ' Presently the tramp paused outside a public- house. 'Wait for me there in the park," he said to the child," giving it a push in the direction. And the little fellow went on obe- diently, until, just at the gate, he caught sight of a costermonger's barrow on which cool green leaves and ripe red strawberries were temptingly displayed. Frithiof lin- gered a minute to see what would happen, but nothing happened at all, the child just stood there pati- ently. "Have you ever tasted them?' said Frithiof, drawing nearer. The boy shook his head shyly. "Would you like to?' Still he did not speak, but a look of rapture dawned in the wistful child eyes. '"'Sixpennyworth,'"' said Frithiof to the costermonger; then signing to the child to follow, he led the way into the park, sat down on the nearest seat, put the basket of strawberries down beside him, and glanced at his little companion. "There, now sit down by me and enjoy them,'"' he said. And the child needed no second bidding, but began to eat with an eager delight which was pleasant |_ to see. "Eat, too," said the child, point- ing to the basket. And Frithiof, smiled and took two or strawberries. "There, the rest are for you," he said. "Do you like them 1' "Yes,"" said the child emphati- cally; "and I like you." : "Why do you like me?' "I was tired, and you was kind to me, and these is real jammy !"' But after this fervent little speech he said no more. Then before long the father reappeared; and the lit- tle fellow with one shy nod of the head ran off, looking back wistfully every now and then at the stran- ger who 'would: be' remembered by him to the very end of his life. The next day, something happen- ed which added the last drops to Frithiof's cup of misery, and made it overflow. The troubles of the past year, and the loneliness and poverty. which he had borne .had gradually broken down his health, and there came to him now a re- velation which proved the final blow. He was dining at his usual restaurant. Too tired to eat much, he had taken up s bit of one of the society papers which some one left there, and his eye fell on one of v those detestable ' paragraphs which pander to the very lowest tastes of the public. 0. actual name was given, but every one knowing anything about her could not fail to see that Blanche Romi- aux was | the woman referred 0. The most reyolti insinuations, the most conte le 'gossip, end- ed with the words, "An interesting' disores casé may soon be:expect ed. to please him, three And then with a pleasant farewell { £0 ham |b ibly have' "Oh, it is: chiefly ther," said Frithiof, and as if anxi- ous to put an end to the conversa- this hot wea- | I} tion. he turned away to his desk the and 'began to write, though each word cost him a painful effort, and seemed to be dragged out of him by sheer force. At tea-time he wan- dered. out in 'the street, scarcely knowing what he was doing, and haunted always bv Blanche's sadly altered face. When he returned he found that the boy who dusted the sho had spilled some ink over his order-book whereupon he flew into one of those violent passions to which of late he had been liable, so entirely losing his self-control that those about him began to look alarmed, "I can bear it no longer," he said to himself. 'I have tried to bear this life, but it's no use--no use." Yet giter awhile there rose with- in him a thought which checked the | ¥ haunting visions of failure and the longing for death. He remember- ed the face which had so greatly struck him the day before, and again those kindly words rang in his ear, "Courage! the worst will pass." At length cloisng time came. He dragged himself back to Vauxhall, shut himself into his dreary little room, pulled the table toward the open window, and began to work at Herr Bivertsen's translating. But at last he was at the very end of his strength. A violent shivering fit seized him. Work, wae no lon- ger possible'; he could only stagger to the bed, with that terrible con- sciousness of being utterly and hopelessly beaten, which to & man is so hard to bear. Later on, when the summer twi- light deepened into night, and he oould no longer make out the har- bor, and the shipping, and the fa- miliar mountains, he buried his face in the pillow and sobbed aloud, in a forlorn misery which, even in Paradise, must have wrung his mo- ther's heart. * * * * Roy Boniface came back from De- vonshire the following day, his holi- day being shortened by a week on account of the illness of Mrs. Hor- ner's uncle. As there was every reason to expect a legacy from this aged relative, Mr. Horner insisted on going down at once to see whe- ther they could be of any use. Like many other business men he relieved the monotony of his daily work by always keeping two or three hobbies in hand. The mania for collecting had always been en- couraged at Rowan Tree House, and just now botany was his keen- est delight. He was contentedly mounting specimens on the night of his return, when James Horner looked in, the prospective legacy making him more than: ever fussy and pompous, + "Ah, so . you have come. back; that's all right!' he exclaimed. 'I had hoped you would have come round to us, However, no matter, I don't know that there is anything special to say, and of course this sad news has upset my wife very much." "Ah," said Roy, somewhat skep- tical in his heart of hearts about the depth of her grief. "We were sorry to hear about it," "We go down the first thing to: morrow," said James Horner, 'and shall, of course, stay on. there is no hope of recove: Roy went up quiet door as OnoIny as went in, h : "I wish yon wouldn'i again," pl an irritable the bed. "The lightest torture." «+ : "I just looked in to ask sow you were,"' said Roy, much &hc to see how ill bis friend seemed. "Oh, it's you!" said Frithiof, turning his flushed face in the di- rection of the speaker. "Thank God you've come! That woman will be the death of me. Bhe does nothing 'but ask' questions."s 'I've only ' just got back from Devonshire; but they said you hadn't turned up to-day, and 1 thought I would come seo after ou." Frithiof dragged himself up and drank feverishly from the ewer which stood on a chair beside him. "I tried to come this morning," he said, "but I was too giddy to stand, and gave it up," 'My head's gone wrong somehow." "Poor fellow! you should have given up before," said Roy. '"You seem in terrible pain." "Yes, yes; it's like a band of hot iron,"' moaned poor Frithiof. Then suddenly starting up in wild excite- ment. "There's Blanche! there's Blanche! Let me go to her! Let me go! I will see her once more--only this once!" Roy with some difficulty held him down, and after awhile he seemed to come to himself. "Was IT talk- ing nonsense "> he said." 'It's a horrid feeling not being able to control one's self. If I go crazy you can just let me 'die, please. Life's bad enough now, and would be intolerable then. There she is again! She's smiling at me. Oh, Blanche | you did care once, Come back! Come back! Hg can't love you as I love! But it's no use--no use! she is worse than dead. IT tell you I saw it- in that cursed aper, and I saw it in her own face, Why. one might have known! All women are like it."' And then he fell into incoherent talk," chiefly in Norwegian. * (To be continued.) . etree em SIR HERBERT'S WIT. - Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, 'the famous English actdor-manager, has & reputation as a wit also... - When he appeared at the Palace recently, a - fellow variety 'artist, given to hailing everybody by - "By the bye," said Mr. t J "I have just remembered to tel you that provoking fellow, Falck, rned up to-day. He never] ' the Frac to send word | never tu: even had that he wasn't coming.' "Of course he must be ill," 'said i Roy, looking disturbed. - "He is the last fellow to stay away if he eould ly keep up. We all thought 3 re we left.' "abou illness Hip ial tors Koen worst theories; but theorv. after in nearly so important as practice: 1 You can't achieve more than. believe. Your reward will be pro- » portionate to your effort. Whatever you ean grasp with clean hands is your property, but you'll be knock- ed about, blocked and fought by every man who wants, what' you seek. If you have a yellow streak you haven't a show. The years that face you are full of promise. To-morrow is always mightier than yesterday. . single generation than id any pre- vious century, Legislation is tearing whip after whip from the 'hand of Privilege-- hours are shorter, sanitation is bet- ter, and facilities of every sort are at the disposal of all who wish to improve their minds and bodies. But we offer no charity--only | cowards and shirkers whine for con- cessions. We want the greatest ability at the top, so we are merci- less to quitters. It's the only way in which we can truly test efficiency. When you are discouraged, wi on your own 'shoulder--pluck is ashamed to display its tears. Hold - hard to hope--fling your faith in the teeth of ridicule, disas- ter and enmity. Dream far--we build close to the stars in this century. Think with unleashed imagiantion: Sn gh, . CAUSE AND EFFECT. Travelling in the wild and woolly west, a gentleman entered a small township in order that he might make the purchase of a watch and | chain, The storekeeper was very pleased | to oblige, but as he wrap up the articles purchased he included with' them a fearsome-looking revolver of very respectable dimensions. "I say," observed the astonished traveller, "what are you doing? I}: didn't offer to buy a revolver." The watchmaker, puzzled in turn, and thinking his' customer must} have lost his sense and reason, re- plied: "But watch. 1 in these parts, you tool" - » ou have bought a. gold it you are foing to keep it 'Il want the gun, pped ; ts of wine, corking HH Al perfume _miag be made at A good eure for "placing half an ounce of ness is to rub the ted pas orris-root in one ounce of | the following ointment: O the bottle! ammoniated mercury oints tly, and leaving it for a week. four parts, benz Double Barrel Guns Ng) of the don {Irmes 0 HNoso 12, 16 and 20 Gauge ; Barrels: London Twist Steel finish, left barrel "Choke Bored" Price $8.00 i For sale at your dealer; if he does not carty these guns, write direct or come and see them at our store, 4