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en Mess es j â€" Maltravers replied, with «coldness, that he had not had thatâ€"honor; that ‘Vargrave had called on him in his way from the rectory the other day, â€"â€"but that he was from home, and that he had not seen him for â€"some years. "He is a person of most prepossesâ€" ising mianners," said Mrs. Merton. 3 "Certainty, most prepossessing." "‘And very «clever." ... "He has great talents." a "He seems most amiable." 5 Maltravers bowed, and glanced toâ€" wward â€"Evelyn, whose face, however, * was turned from him. Maltravers)then hastily took his deâ€" parture. He would not trust himself to do more than .bow distantly to Evâ€" «elyn; she looked at him reproachfulâ€" ly. So, then, it was really premediâ€"< ated and resolved uponâ€"his absence #*@rom the rectoryâ€"and why? She was grieved, she was offended, but more grieved than offended, perhaps beâ€" cause esteem, interest, admiration, are more tolerant and .charitable than love! _ "No, my dear friend," said he, "beâ€" lieve me that I am sincere. My feelâ€" ings for you are, indeed, such, as no words can paint." ‘"Then whyâ€"" ‘"Why wish you wedded to another? ‘why wed another myself? Caroline, I have often before explained to you that we are in this the victims of ap jnevitable fate. It is absolutely neâ€" eessary that.I should wed Miss Camâ€" _eron. I never deceived you from the ‘first, I should have loved her, my heart would have â€" accompanied my hand but for your too seductive beauâ€" ty, your superior mind!â€"yes, Caroâ€" line, your mind attracted â€" me more than your beauty. Your mind seemâ€" ed kindred to my own; inspired with the proper and wise ambition which regards the fools of the world as pupâ€" pet, as counters, as chessâ€"men. For . myself, a very angel from heaven could not make me give up the great game of life! yield to my «enemies; slip from the ladder, unravel the web I have woven! Share my heart, my friendship, my schemes! this is the true and dignified .affection that should exist between minds like ours; all the rest is the prejudice of chilâ€" dren." ‘"He is changed since then; but he will call as soon .as he arrives, and «apologize for himself." â€"Maltravers meet _Lord. Vargrave! ‘the happy Vargrave! the betrothed to Evelyn! Maltravers behold .the famâ€" gliar rights, the enchanting _privileges accorded to another! and that other one whom he could not believe worâ€" thy of Evelyn! He writhed. at the picture the invitation .conjured up. Cleremont. Sure this lady has a good turn done her against her will. $ ‘Philaster. In the! breakfast room at Knaresâ€" «dean theâ€"same day, and almost at the same hour in which occurred the scene and conversation at the rectory recorded in our last chapter, sat Lord Vargrave and Caroline alone. The party had\dispersed,, as was jusual at noon. They heard at a distance the sounds of the billiard balls. Lord Dolâ€" timore was playing with Colonel Leâ€" gard, one of the best players in Euâ€" rope, but who, fortunately for Doltiâ€" more, had of late made it a rule nevâ€" er to play for money. Mrs. and the Misses Cipher, and most of the guests, were in the billiard room looking on. Lady Raby was writing letters, and Lord Raby riding over his home farm. Caroline and Lumley had been for some time in close and earnest conversation. Miss Merton was seatâ€" ed in a large arm chair, much moved, with her handkerchief to her eyes. Lord Vargrave, with his back to the chimney piece, was bending down, and speaking in a very low voice, while his quick eye glanced ever and anon from the lady‘s countenance to the windows, to the doors, to be preâ€" paredâ€"against~any interruption. “Xofi are very kind, my dear Mrs. Merton, but I expect a visitor at Burâ€" leigh; an «old .and .dear friend, Mr. «Cleveland." "Mr. Cleveland! .we shall be delightâ€" ed to see him too! we knew him many years ago, during your minoriâ€" ty, when he used to visit .Burleigh two or three times a year." Arethusa. ‘Tis well, my lord, you‘re courting of ladies. Maltravers pressed the fdir hand to his lips. ‘"Alas!" said . he, affected with various feelings, which gave a tremor to his deep voice, "your only fault is that your society makes me wdiscontented with my solitary home; and, as solitude must be my fate im life, I seek to inure myself to it beâ€" ‘times." _ She apologized for her absence,talk,â€" wed of Mrs. Hare and the little Masâ€" ters Hare; fine boys, but noisy; and then she asked Maltravers if he had seen Lord Vargrave since his lordship had been in the county. the lapse of time, the new ties she had formed,, his ownâ€"resolutions. B “’f&i@‘â€"is a bad compliment to us," answered Evelyn, ingeniously; "do you think we are so little worthy your s:ociety.as,'not to value it? but perâ€" haps," she added, sinking her voice, "perhaps you have been offended;perâ€" haps Iâ€"Iâ€"â€"saidâ€"something thatâ€" that hurt you!" Hereâ€"whether opportunely or mot, it is for the reader to decideâ€"Mrs. Merton returned to the room. ‘"Perhaps," said Mrs. Merton, "you will meet Lord Â¥argraveâ€"at dinner toâ€" morrow; he will .stay with us a â€" few days; as long as he can be spared." ‘Vargrave, ly, I own it; for you!" "You think so, for you do not know the sacrifice. You see me apparentâ€" ly rich, in power, courted; and this fate you are willing to share; and this fate you should share, were it the reaéc;ne I could bestow on you.. But revefse the medal. Deprived of ofâ€" fice, fortune gone, debts pressing, desâ€" titution notorious; the ridicule of emâ€" barrassments; the disrepute attached to poverty and defeated ambition; an Evelyn laughed, and tossed back her sunny wringlets. "I think Sophy is right," said she, with enchanting simplicity; "let us make it up;"‘ and she held out her hand to Maltrayâ€" The turn the conversation had takâ€" en was painful to the visitor, and he rose to «depart. Sophy, who had been â€"attentively listening, here put in, "Shake hands, and make it up with Evy; you‘ve been quarreling, naughty Ernest!" "You?" emotion. HER ATONEMENT Continued from last week K+. CF repeated Maltravers, with I am ambitious, worldâ€" but I could give up all More, â€"but to the same efect, did this able and crafty villain «continue to adâ€" dress to Caroline, whom he alternateâ€" ly seothed, irritated, _ flattered ~ and revolted. Love him she certainly did, as far as love in her could exâ€" tend; but, perhaps. his â€"rank, his reâ€" putation, had\served to win her afâ€" fection, and, not knowing his embarâ€" .rassments, she had encouraged a worldly hope that, if Evelyn should reject his hand, it .might be offered to her. Under this impression she had trifled, she had «coquetted, she had _played with the serpent till it had eoiled around her, and /she could not wescape its fascimation and its folds. .She was sincere; she could have reâ€" signed much for Lord Vargrave, but his picture startled and appalled her. For difficulties in a palace she might A&e prepared, perhaps even for | some _privations in a.«cottage ornee, but cerâ€" ‘tainly not for penury in a lodging house! She listened by degrees with more attention to Vargrave‘s descripâ€" tion of the power and homage that would be hers if she could secure Lord Doltimore; sheâ€"distened, and was. in part consoled. For the thought of Evelyn again .crossed her; and, perâ€" haps with natural jealousy was minâ€" gled some compunction at the fate to which Lord Vargrave thus coldly apâ€" peared to condemn one so lovely and so ‘innocent. § exile in some foreign town on the poor pension to which alone I should be entitled; a mendicant on the public purse, and that, too, so eat into by demands and debts that there is not a grocer in the next market town who would envy the income of, the retired minister! Retire, fallen, desâ€" pised, in the prime of life, in the zenâ€" ith of my hopes! Suppose that I could bear this for myself, could I bear it for you? You, born to be the ornament of courts! and you, could see me thus? life embittered, career lost, and feel, generous as you are, that your love had entailed on me, on us both, on our children, this miserâ€" able lot!s~ Impossible, Caroline! we are too wise for such romance. It is not because we love tho little, but beâ€" cause our love‘ is worthy of each othâ€" er, that we disdain to make love a curse! We can not wrestle against the world, but we may shake hands with it, and worm the miser out of its treasures. My heart must be ever yours, my hands must be Miss Camâ€" eron‘s. Money I must have! my whole career depends on it, It is litâ€" erally with me the highwayman‘s choice, money or life." 4 "I can not reason with you," said she; ‘"you know the strange empire you have obtained over me; and ‘cerâ€" tainly, despite all that has passed" (and Caroline turned pale), "I could bear anything rather than that you should hereafter reproach me for selâ€" fish disregard of your interests, your just ambition." ‘"Even in that case," interrupted Vargrave, "I must turn to the golden idol; my rank and name maust buy me an heiress, if not so en(wied as Evelyn, wealthy enough . at least to take from my wheels the drag chain of disreputable debt. But Evelyn, I will not doubt of. her! her heart is still unoccupied; she Has seen no one; she can have seen no one at your father‘s house!" ‘Lord Vargrave lounged into the billiard room. The young men had just finished playing, and were about to visit Thunderer, who had won the race, and was now the property of Lord Doltimore. s "I don‘t care for money," said Lord Doltimore, coloring and settling his neck cloth; "but you are mistaken; I have no thoughts that way. Miss Merâ€" ton is a very fine girl, but Iâ€" doubt much if she cares for me. I would never marry any woman who was not very much in love with me." And Lord Doltimore laughed rather foolâ€" ishly. Vargrave paused and took Caroâ€" lines‘ hand. ‘"‘No, indeed, I think not; he has been very little with us of late. He talked to. her more|as a child; there is a disparity of years." "I never heard him speak of you, Vargrave; and I will do Evelyn the justice to say, that, precisely as she does not love, she esteems and reâ€" spects you." "Esteemsâ€"respectsâ€"these are the feelings for a prudent Hymen," said Vargrave with a smile. ‘"But hark! I don‘t hear the billiard balls; they may find us here; we had better sepâ€" arate." "Fair flatterer! Maltravers does not love me; I fear his report of my charâ€" acter=â€"â€"* Vargrave accompanied them to the stables, and after concealing his igâ€" norance of horseflesh, as well as he could, became a profusion of compliâ€" ments on forehead, â€" hindquarters, breeding, bone, substance and famous points, he contrived to draw Doltiâ€" more into the courtyard, while Colonâ€" el Legard remained in converse with the head groom. "Oh! I can detect the* attraction, but certainly it is a fair‘®one; the handsomest girl in the county; pity she has no money." ‘"You are more modest than clearâ€" sighted," said Vargrave, smilingly; "My noble friend! I do. not say that I shall not feel a deep and sharp pang at seeing you wed another, but I shall be consoled by the thought that I have assisted to procure for you a station worthier of your merits than that which I .can offer, _ Lord Doltiâ€" more is rich; .you Avill teach him _ to employ his riches well; he is weak; your intellect will govern him; he is in love; your beauty «will suffice to presenve his regard. Ah, we shall be dear friends to the last." "But do not, Vargrave," she said; ‘"‘do not be ftoo sanguine; Evelyn may reject you. She does not see you with my eyes; it is only a sense of honor that, as yet, forbids her openly to reâ€" fuse the fulfillment of an engagement from which I know that she shrinks; and if she does refuse, and you be free, and I another‘sâ€"": "And this Maltraversâ€"she is roâ€" mantic, I fancyâ€"did he seem captiâ€" vated by her beauty or her fortune?" "I amymany years older than Malâ€" travers," muttered ‘Vargrave, moodily. ‘"You! but your manner is livelier, and therefore, younger!" ‘"Doltimore, I leave Knaresdean toâ€" morrow; you go to London, I suppose; will you take a little packet for me to the Home Office?" "Certainly, when I go; but I think of staying a few days with Legard‘s uncle, the old admiral; he has a huntâ€" ing box in the neighborhood, and he has asked us both over." "No,; as yet, her affections are not engaged." "but mark my words; I, predict that the beauty of next season will be a certain Caroline Lady Doltimore!" The conversation dropped. "I think that will be settled well," said Vargrave to himself, as he was dressing for dinner. "Caroline will manage Doltimore, and I shall manâ€" age one vote in the Lords and three in the Commons. Iâ€" have already talked him into proper politics;â€" a trifle all this, to be sure, but I had nothing else to amuse me, and one must never lose an occasion. Besides Doltimore is rich, and rich friends are always useful. I have Caroline, too, in my power, and she may be ofâ€"serâ€" vice with respect to this Evelyn, who, instead of loving, I half hate; she has crossed my path, robbed me of wealth, and now, if she does refuse meâ€"but no, I will not think of that!" Out of our reach the gods have laid Of time to come the event; And laugh to see the fools afraid Of what the knaves invent. Sedley, from Lycophron. The next day Caroline returned to the rectory in Lady Raby‘s carriage, and two hours after her arrival came Lord Vargrave.. Mr. Merton had seâ€" cured the principal persons in the neighborhood to meet a guest so disâ€" tinguished; and Lord Yargrave, bent on shining in the eyes of Evelyn, charmed all with his affability and wit. Evelyn, he thought, seemed pale and dispirited. He pertinaciousâ€" ly devoted himself to her all the evâ€" ening. Her ripening understanding was better able than heretofore to appreciate his abilities; yet, inwardâ€" ly, she drew comparisons between his conversation and that of Maltravers, not to the advantage of the former. There was much that amused, _ but nothing that interested, in Lord Varâ€" grave‘s fluent ease. When he atâ€" tempted sentiment, the vein was hard and hollow; he was only at home on worldly _ topics. Caroline‘s spirits were, as usual im society, high, but her laugh seemed forced and her eye absent. The next day, after breakfast, Lord Vargrave walked alone to Burleigh; as he crossed the copse that borderâ€" ed the park, a large Persian greyâ€" hound sprung toward him, barking loudly; and, lifting his eyes, he perâ€" ceived the form of a man walking slowly along one of the paths that inâ€" tersected the wood. He â€"recognized Maltravers. They had not till then encountered since their meeting a few weeks before EFlorence‘s death, and a pang of conscience came across the schemer‘s «cold heart. Years rolled away from the past; he recalled the young, generous, ardent man whom, ere the character or .careér of either had been developed, he had called his friend. â€" He remembered their wild adventures and gay follies in climes where they had been all in all to each other; and the beardless boy, whose heart and purse were ever open to him, and to whose very errors of youth and inexperienced passion he, the elder and the wiser, had led and tempted, rose before him in contrast to the, grave and melancholy air of the baffled and solitary man who now approached him; the _man whose proud career he had served to thwart, whose heart his schemes had premaâ€" turely soured, whose best years had been consumed in exile, a sacrifice to the grave, which a selfish and disâ€" honorable villainy had dug. Caesarini the inmate of a madâ€"house; Ftorence in her shroud; such were the Visions\ the sight of Maltravers conjured up. And to the soul which the unwonted and momentary remorse awakened, a boding voice whispered, "And thinkâ€" est thou that thy schemes shall prosâ€" per and thy aspirations succeed?" For the first time in his life, perhaps, the unimaginative Vargrave felt the mysâ€" tery of a presentiment of warning and of evil. The two men met; and with an emotion which seemed that of honest The Joy of Motoring CHAPTER IX Graham & Carton, Dealers, Weston. _A Ford car will open up new fields of pleasant possibiliâ€" ties for you and your family and at the same time serve you faithfully in business. No doubt you have felt the need of a carâ€"your wife has often said, "I wish we had a car," so why not buy one now? There is no otherscar that gives such good value for the money invested as aâ€"Ford. This is why the Ford car is so popular everywhere. . The Ford is powerful, easy to drive, economical, endurâ€" ing. _ It is the car you need. ET the Ford car introduce you to the bheauties of Nature and the outside world. â€" Let it take you into the country, or along the lakes where the air is fresh and sweet. THE TIMES & CGUIDE WESTON, WEDNESDAY, MAY $TH, 1918 THE UNIVERSAL CAR and real feeling, Lumley silently held out his hand and half turned away his head. "Lord Vargrave!" said Maltravers, with an equal agitation, ‘"it is long since we have encountered." ‘"Long, very long," answered Lumâ€" ley, striving hard to regain his selfâ€" possession; ‘"years have changed us both; but I trust it has still left in you, as it has in me, the remembrance of our old friendship." > Maltravers was silent, and Lord Vargrave continued: ‘"You do not answer me, Maltraâ€" vers, can political differences, oppoâ€" site pursuits, or theâ€"mere lapse of time, have sufficed to create an irreâ€" vocable gulf between us? why may we not be friends again?" R "Our ways in life are different, and were I to scan your motives and caâ€" reer with the scrutinizing eyes of friendship, it might only; serve to separate us yet more. I am sick of the great juggle of ambition, and have no sympathy.left for those who creep into the pint bottle or swallow the naked sword." ‘"Long, ve ley, striving possession; both:~ but 4 "Friends!" echoed Maltravers, "at our age that word is not so lightly spoken, that tie is not so unthinkingly formed, as when we were younger men." "Who ought better to judge of the Eleusiniana than one of the initiated ? But, seriously, why on earth should political â€" differences part private friendships? Thank Heaven! such as mever been my maxim." Lord Vargrave continued, after a short pause, "Though my avocations have separated us so much, I have no doubt in her steady affection, and, I may add, in her sense of honor. She alone can repair to me what else had been injustice in my uncle." He then .proceeded to repeat the moral obliâ€" gations which the late Jlord had imâ€" posed on Evelyn; obligations that he greatly magnified. Maltravers listenâ€" ed attentively, and said llittle. "But may not the old tie be renewâ€" ed ?2" "Ahb," said Maltravers, with a smile, half mournful, half bitter, "but are you not one of the imposters?" "If you dispose the exhibition, why, then, let us laugh at it together, for I am as cynical as yourself." "If the difference be the result of honest convictions on either side, no! but are you honest, Lumley?" "Faith, I have got into the habit of thinking so, and habit‘s a second naâ€" ture. However, I dare say we shall meet yet in the arena, so I must not betray my, wealk points. How is it, Maltravers, that they see so little of you at the rectory? you are a great favorite theree Have you any living that Charley Merton could hold with his own? You shake your head; and what think you of Miss Cameron, my intended ?" In view of the situation it was learned at the meeting certain cities in Ontario are planning to grow a considerable acreage of flax on unâ€" used land in, or near, these cities. Citizens are to be responsible for the production .on specified small areas and are to provide labor for the same. In the fall, winter wheat will be sown on the flax dand. _ TO SECURE SEED "Feel deeply, you were going to say. In the hand of my ward, Evelyrn Camâ€" eron, I trust to obtain at once the doâ€" mestic happinesé to which I have as yet ‘been a stranger, and the wealth necessary to my <career." ‘"And these obligations being fairly considered," added Vargrave, with a smile, "I think, even had I rivals, that they could searcely, in honor, attempt to break an existing engagement." The question of go‘o,d seed was thorâ€" oughly discussed. ~A warning was givâ€" en against planting any Western Canâ€" ada oil seed, which would not proâ€" "You speak lightly. Perhaps you (To be continued ) AND LABOUR duce a fibre crop. It was decided to make an immediate supply of seed stocks remaining in the country and to make every effort to ensure an adâ€" equate supply of seed for this spring‘s planting. As Indian labor has proven very satisfactory in the past, it was also decided to make arrangements to seâ€" cure Indians for the flax pulling seaâ€" son from districts where no flax was grown. It was further emphasized that boys could serve very effectiveâ€" lyâ€"in this regard. A boy seventeen could pull more flax than the averâ€" age man, it was explained, while five younger boys would pull an acre of flax in a day. An organized effort is to be made at once to provide sufâ€" ficient laber for an increased crop. The urg%nt necessity of growing every acre of flax consistent with the general farm plan and the labor availâ€" able, especially in Western Ontario, should be given the most emphatic publicity was the unanimous opinion of the Committee. The suggested motâ€" to of the Canadian Flax Growers‘ Asâ€" sociation: ‘"If you cannot fly yourâ€" self, help others to fly by growing flax." < We‘ve raised a flagpole on the farm And flung the old flag to the sky, And it‘s another touch of charm That seems to cheer the passerby, But more than that, no matter where We‘re laboring in wood and field, We turn and see it in the air, Our promiseâ€"of a greater yield. It whispers to us all day long From dawn to dusk: ‘"Be true, be strong; Who falters now with plow or hoe Gives comfort to his country‘s foe." It seems to me I‘ve never tried To do so much about the place, _ Nor been so slow to come inside. But since I‘ve got the flag to face, Each night when I come home to rest, â€" I feel that I must look up there And say, "Old flag, I‘ve done my best, Toâ€"day I‘ve tried to do my share." The flag now waves above our toil And sheds its glory on the soil, _ > And the boy and man look up to it As if to say: "I‘ll do my bit!" He tells the milkmaid by the door: ‘"We‘re going to make these acres yield More than they‘ve ever done beâ€" fore." She smiles to hear his gallant brag, Then drops a curtsey to the flag, And in his eyes there seems to shine A patriotism that is fine. And sometimes, just to catch the Bbreeze, I stop my work, and o‘er the trees The old flaig fairly shouts my way: "You‘re shirking . far too much toâ€" day." The â€"help have c=ught the spirit too, The hired man takes off his cap Before the old, red, white and blue, Then to the horses says: "Giddap!" And starting bravely to the field, We‘ve raised a flagpole on our farm, And fl,ung the old flag to the sky. We‘re far removed from, war‘s alarm, But courage here is running high, We‘re doing things we never dreamed We‘d ever find the time to do; Deeds that impossible once seemed, Each morning now we hurry through. © Always bears the Signature of For Infants and Children In Use For Over 30 Years CASTORIA THE FLAG ON THE FARM ‘ WESTON‘S HARDWARE STORE MAIN STREET PHL OL BMÂ¥A M § Gents‘ Furnishing and Tailoring Store MAIN STREET, WESTON PHONE NO. 2 I have just received my spring importation of fine Men‘s Suitings, Pantings, etc. All the desirable patterns and fabrics are here for your inspection, including West of England Worâ€" steds, Plain Serges, Howick Tweeds, Cashmeres, etc.__ In checks, pinstripes, diagonals, plain and fancy weaves. Open for inspection on Friday, April 12th. Come in and look them over. Prices $25.00 up. _ l Why Buy a New Suit ? 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