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3 ”43.323 'rd3tV. _ _ht'ir2W' Sr':is?is'i,'/'ti"y?,?7. "Sensible, shrewd woman, Mrs, Hare. By the bye, we'll send her a A pineapple. Caroline was made to be a , . woman of rankl" - f. "Quite; so much self-possession." “And if Mr. Maltravers would sell _ or let Burleigh-" "It would be so pleasant."' /. "Had you not better give Caroline . almost otherwise unaccountable; he _ could not patiently bear to \give Var- ‘grarve that triumph; it might be that, in the sternness of his self-esteem, he Legard was gone; but Doltimore . remained in the neighborhood, hav- ing hired a hunting box not far from ' Sir John Merton's manors, over which _ he easily obtained permission to sport. When he did not dine elsewhere, Iptre was always a place for him at the paasop's hospitable table, and that place was generally next to Caroline. Mr. and Mrs. Merton had given up all hope of Mr. Maltravers for their h eldest' daughter; and, very strangely, this conviction came upon their minds l on the first day they made the ac- C quaintance of the young lord. ",' "My dear," said the rector, as he was winding up his watch prepara- _ tory to entering the connubial couch, s" “my'dear, I do not think Mr. Mal- _' travers is a marrying man." "I was just going to make the same tremark,” said Mrs. Merton, drawiljg the clothes over her. “Lord _ Doltimore is a very fine young man; his-estates unencumbered. I like him vastly, my love.) He is evidently smit- ten with Caroline; so-Lord Vargrave and Mrs. Hare 'said.” i;i'eii'."' "And your opinion ?” snapped Mal- 'spavers, seating himself in the vacant than; it chafeed to be next to Eve- 2ynlts. _ "I agree with Miss Merton," said Lord Doltimore, solemnly; "not but what I like the country for three or four months in the year, with good shooting and hunting, and a large house properly filled, independent of one’s own neighborhood; but if I am condemned to choose one place to live, give me Paris." "My opinion is decidedly in favor ‘Of London. A metropolitan life, with its perpetual and graceful excite- ments; the best musicrthe best com- panions, the best things, in short. Pro.. vincial life is so dull, its pleasures so tiresome; to talk over the last year's hews, and wear out one's last year’s dresses; cultivate a. conserva- tory, and play Pope Joan with a young party. Dreadful!” "Ahl Paris; I never was in Paris. I should so like to travell" said Car- oline. "But the inns abroad are so very bad," said Doltimore; "how people can have so about Italy, I can't think. I never suffered so much in my life as I did, in Calabria; and at Venice I was bitten to death by misquitoes. N 0- thing like Paris, I assure you; don't you think so, Mr. Maltravers?” "Perhaps I shall be able to answer you better in a short time. I think of accompanying Mr. Cleveland to Paris!" One evening the rectory party were assembled together in the cheerful drawing room. Cleveland, Mr. Mer- ton, Sir John and Lord Vargrave re- luctantly compelled to make up the fourth, were at the whist table; Eve- lyn, Caroline, and Lord Doltimore were seated around the fire, and Mrs. Merton was working a footstool. The fire burned cledr, the curtains were down, the children in bed; it was a family picture of elegant comfort. Mr. Maltravers was announced! "I am glad you are come at last," said Caroline, holding out both her hands toward him with a gesture of delight. "Mr. Cleveland could not answer for you. We are all disputing as to which mode of lite is the hap- "Indeedl" Said Caroline. "Well, I envy you, but it is a sudden resolu- tion 'Y' a hint?" "My love, she is so sensible, let her go her Own way." l "You are right, my dear Betsy; I shall always say that no one has more common sense than you; you have brought up your children admirably!" "Dear Charles!" "It is coldish to-night, love," said the rector, and he put out the light. "Not very." "Do you stay long?" asked Lord Doltimore. "My stay is uncertain." . "AUd you won't let Burleigh in the meanwhile '?" _ "Lat Burleigh? No; if it once pass from my hands it will be forever!” "‘Sensible man, Mr. Maltravers," said the young lord; "but I don't hit it oft with him; Vargrave is more agreeable. Don't you think so 'Y' From that time it was not the fault of Mr. and Mrs. Merton if Lord Dol- timore did not find her house the pleasantest in the county. Maltravers spoke gravely, and the subject was changed. Lord Dolti- more challenged Caroline to chess. They sat down and Lord Doltimore arranged the pieces. M. We “um” - imagined he had already conquered all save affectionate interest in Eve- lyn; fate, and trusted/coo vainly to “119': own strength; and it might be, also, that he could not resist the temp- tation of seeing whether Evelyn were Contented with 'her lot, and whether :Yargnave were worthy of the blessing that awaited him. Whether one of these, or all united, made him resolve to brave his danger; or whether, af- ter all,,he yielded to a weakness, or cpnsented to what, invited by Evelyn herself; was almost a. social necessi- ty, the reader, and not the narrator, shall decide. _ - _ "Lord Vargrave is very kind to me; I never remember any one being more so; got Legard that appointment sole- ly because it would please me, very friendly fellow'. I mean to put myself under his wing next session!" ~“You could not do better, I'm sure," said Caroline; "he is so much looked oi to; I dare say he will be prime minisgggnpe ot these days." - _ _ "Oh, no; not much of that. But my father and my uncle are stanch Poli-- ticians; gentlemen know so much more than ladies. We should always go by their opinions; I think I will take the queen's pawn; your politics are the same as Lord Vargrave'sy' __"1 "tTikes the bishop; do you think so really? you are rather a politi- cian?” "Yes, I fancy so; at least, I shall leave my proxy with him; glad you don’t like politics; great bore." "Why, so young, so connected as you are--" Caroline stopped short and made a wrong move. i' HER ATONEMENT (Continued from last week) "Maltravers, I suppose, has an eye to the county one ot these days," said Lord Vargrave, who honestly fancied that a man's eyes were. always direct- ed toward something for his own in- terest or advancement, "otherwise he could not surely take all this trouble about workhouses and paupers. Who could ever have imagined my 1roman- tic friend would sink into a country squire?" “Flattering to your humble ser- vant, whom all the world allow to be the last, and deny to be the first. But your remark shows what a sad possession genius is; like the rest of the world, you fancy immediately that it cannot be, of the least possible use. If a man is called a genius, it means that he is to be thrust out of all the good things in this life. He is not tit tor anything but a. garret! Put a genius into office! make a genius a bishop! or a lord-chancellor! the world would be turned topsy-turvyl You see that you are quite astonished, that a genius can be even a. county magistrate, and know the different be- tween a spade and a poker'. In fact, a genius is supposed to be the most ignorant, impracticable, good-for- nothing, do-nothing sort of thing that ever walked upon two legs. Well, when I began life, I took excellent care that nobody should take me for a genius; and it is only within the last year or two that I have ventured to emerge a little out of my shell. I have not been the better for it; I was getting on faster while I was merely a plodder. The world is so fond of that droll fable, the hare and the tortoise; it really believes that be- cause (I suppose the fable to be true) a tortoise once beat a hare, that all tortoises are much better run- ners than hares possibly can be. Me- diocre men have the monopoly of the loaves and fishes; and even when tal- ent does rise in life, it is a talent that only differs from mediocrity by being more energetic and bustling. A day or two after the date of. the last chapter, Evelyn and Caroline were riding out with Lord Vargrave and Mr. Merton, and on returning home they passed through the village of Burleigh. "It is astonishing what talent and energy he throws into everything he attempts," said the Parson. "One could not, indeed, have supposed that a man of genius could make a man pt business." "Perhaps so; but if we had never known affection, we might not miss it; and the brilliant Frenchwoman speaks from memory, while you speak from hope; memory, which is the ghost ot joy; yet, surely, even in the indulgence of affection, there is at times a certain melancholy, a bertain tear, Have, you never..telt it, even with --wlth your mother?" "That must have been an idle and vain thought. Your mother.' does she resemble you?" "Not yet; no." (Evelyn's spirits rose.) "Have you read the book I sent you ?” (It was one of De Stael's). "Yet; but it disappoints me." "And why? it is eloquent." "But is it true? is there so much melancholy in life? are the affections so full of bitterness? For me, I am so happy with those I love! When I am with my mother, the air seems more fragrant, the skies more. blue; it is surely not affection, but the ab- sence of it, that makes us melan- choly.” "I wish I could think so, Oh, if you knew her. I have longed so of- ten that you were acquainted with each other! It was she who taught me to sing your songs." "My dear Mrs. Hare, we may as well throw up our cards," said the keen voice of Lord Vargrave; "you have played most admirably, and I know that your last card will be the ace of trumps; still the luck is against us." "No, no, play it out, my lord." "Quite useless, ma'am," said Sir John, showing two honors. "We have only the trick to make." “How d'ye do, Maltravers.” Maltravers rose; and Vargrave turn- ed to Evelyn, and addressed her in a whisper. The proud Maltravers walk- ed away, and suppressed a sigh; a moment more, and he saw Lord Var- grave occupying the chair he had left vacant. He laid his hand on Cleve- land's shoulder. "The carriage is waiting; are you ready ? “You! everywhere you must have occupations and resources;everywhere you must find yourself not alone. But you will not go yet?" --wlth your mother?" "Ah, yes; when she suffered, or when I have thought she loved me less than I desired." Caroline coughed, and stretched her hand quickly to move. "I do not think I‘shall stay long away," said Maltravers, trying to speak indifferently. "Burleigh has be- come more dear to me than it was earlier in youth; perhaps because I have made myself duties there, and in other places I am but an isolated unit in the great mass." "I wish we were going to Paris to- gether, we should enjoy it so," and Lord Doltimore's knight checked the tower and queen. "Pardon me, you will lose the game if you do sol" and Doltimore placed his hand on' hers; their eyes met; Caroline turned away, and Lord Dol- timore settled his right collar. "And it is true; are you really go- ing to leave us?" said Evelyn; and she felt very sad. But still the sad- ness might not be that of love; she had felt after Legard had gone. "You are bitter, Lord Vargrave," said Caroline, laughing; "yet surely you have no reason to complain of the non-aIfisreciation ot talent." "Humphl it I had had a grain more talent I should have been crush- ed by it. There is a subtle allegory in the story of the lean poet, who put lead in his pockets to prevent him being blown away'. Mais a nos Mautons, to return to Maltravers; let us suppose that he was merely clever; had not had a particle ot what is called genius; been merely a. hard- working able gentleman, ot good char- acter and fortune, he might be half- way up the hill by this time; whereas now, what is he? Less before the pub- lic than he was at twenty-eight; a dis- contented anchorite, a meditative id- ler." "No, not that," said Evelyn, warm- ly, and then checked herself. Lord Vargrave looked at her sharp- ly; but his knowledge of 'life told him that Legard was a much more ?" CHAPTER XVIII dangerous rival than Maltravers. Now and then, it is true, a suspicion to the "contrary crossed him; but it did not take root and become a serious ap- prehension. Still he did not like the tone of voice in which Evelyn had put in her abrupt negative, and said, with a slight sneer, "If not that, what is he?" "One who purchased, by the nob- lest exertions, the right to be idle," said Evelyn, with spirit, "and whom genius itself will not suffer to be idle long." Just at this time from a cross-road, emerged a horseman; it was Maltraw. ers_. The party halted; ~sa1utations were exchanged. "I suppose you have been enjoying the sweet business ot squiredom," said Vargrave gaily. "Atticus and his farm; classical associations! Charming wea- ther for the _agriculturalist, eh! what news about corn and barley! I sup- pose our English habit of talking on the weather arose when we were all a squirarchal, farming, George-the- Third kind of people! Weather is really serious matter to gentlemen who are interested in beans and vet- ches, wheat and hay. You hang your happiness upon the changes ot the moon!" "Leave Burleigh in peace, I beseech you!" said Maltravers, angrily. "And is there no power in genius?" said Evelyn, with deepening fervor; "no power over the mind, and the heart, and the thought, no power over its own time; over posterity; over na- tions yet uncivilized, races yet, un- born?" - - This oGtburst, from one so simple and young as Evelyn, seemed to Var- grave so surprising, that he stared on her without saying a word. ' "You will laugh at my champion- ship," she added, with a blush and a smile; "but you provoked the en- counter." / turel" Caroline, with a movement of im- patience, put her horse into a canter. "As you upon the smiles of a min- ister. The weather ora court is more capricious than that of the skies; at least, we are better husbandmen than you, who sow the wind and reap the whirlwind." “Well retorted; and really, when I look around, I am half inclined to en- vy you; were I not Vargrave, I would be Maltravers." l It was indeed a scene, that seemed quiet and serene with the English un- ion of the feudal and the pastoral life; the village green with its trim and scattered cottages; the fields and pastures that spread beyond; the turf of the park behind, broken by the shadows of the unequal grounds, with its mounds, and hollows, and ve0er- able groves, from which rose the. tur- rets of the old hall, its mullion win- dows gleaming in the western sun; a scene that preached tranquility and content, and might have been equal- ly grateful to humble. philosophy and hereditary pride. "I never saw any place so peculiar in its character as Burleigh," said the rector; "the old seats left to us in England are chiefly those of our great nobles. It is so rare to see one that does not aspire beyond the residence of a. private gentleman, pre- serve all the relics of the Tudor age." ward ?” "Besides," said Mr. Merton, "he has won a high reputation, which he can not lose merely by noUseelcing to in- crease it." “Reputation! Oh, yes; we give men like that, men of genius, a large pro- perty in the clouds, in order to justi- fy ourselves in pushing them out of our way below. But it they are con- tented with fame, why they deserve their tate, Hang fame; give me pow- er." "And you have won the battle," said Vargrave, with prompt gallantry. "My charming ward, every day de- velops in you some new gift of na- "I think," said Vargrave, turning to'Evern, "that as, by my 11ncle's will, your fortune is to be laid out in, the purchase of land, we could not find a better investment than Burleigh. So, whenever you are _inc1ined to sell, Maltravers, I think we must outbid D6Itimore. What say you, my fair Overland Cars You will make no mistake when you buy this/ I It is the best fence buy to-day for strength, quality and life. It plays for itself. "That is said like a Digby," return- WESTON'S HARDWARE STORE MAIN STREET PHt C)LDiHA?v1'S GET IN ON THIS OIL . STOVES TIGHT LOCK FENCE GARAGE, MAIN ST., WESTON, PHONE 254 Barker PERFECTION or CLARK JEWEL In all sizes, 2, 3 and 4 Burner Coal Oil in Any Quantity. ed Vargrave. “Allons! will you not ”0651b home with us?" "I thank you; not to-day." "We meet at Lord Baby’s next Thursday. It is a ball given almost wholly in honor of your return to Burleigh; we are all going; it is my young cousin's debut at Knaresdean. We have all an interest in her con- quests." Now, as Maltravers looked up to atviiver, he caught Evelyn's glance, and his voice taltered. Thus soliloquizing, he suffered the rein to fall on the neck of his horse, which paced slowly home through the village, till it stopped, as it in the mechanism ot custom, at the door of a, cottage a stone's throw from the lodge. At this door, 'indeed, for sev- eral successive days had Maltravers stopped regularly; it was now tenant- ed by the poor woman, his introduce tion to whom has been before nar- rated. She had recovered from the immediate effects of the injury she had sustained; but her constitution, greatly broken by previous suffering and exhaustion, had received a mortal shock. She was hurt inwardly; and the surgeon informed Maltravers that she had not many months to live. He had placed her under the roof of one of his favorite cottages, where she received all the assistance and al-- leviation that careful nursing and me- dical advice. could give her. - __ "Yes," he said, "we shall meet once again; adieu!” He wheeled round his horse, and they separated. "I can bear this no more," said Maltravers to himself; "I overrated my strength. To see her thus day af- ter day, and to know her another"s; to Writhe beneath his calm, uncon- scious assertion ot his rights. Hap- py Vargrave! and yet, ah! will she be happy? Oh, could I think so." Ths poor woman, whose name was Sarah Elton, interested Maltravers much; she had known better days; there was a certain propriety in her expressions which denoted an educa- tion superior of her circumstances; and, what touched Maltravers most, she seemed far more to feel her hus- band's death than her own sufferings; which, somehow or other, is not com- mon with widows the other side of forty! We say that youth easily con- soles itself for the robberies of the grave; middle age is a still better self- comforter. When Mrs. Elton found herself installed in the cottage, she looked round and burst into tears. Mrs. Elton, who had been seated by the open casement, rose, to receive him. But Maltravers made her sit down, and soon put her at ease. The woman and her daughter who OCCU- pied the cottage retired into the trar- den; and Mrs. Elton, watching them withdarw, then exclaimed abruptly: When hishorse stopped, the cottag- er's daughter opened the door and curtsied; it was an invitation to en- ter; and he threw his rein over the paling and walked into the cottage. "Oh, sir! I have so longed to see you this morning. I so long to make bold to ask you whether, indeed, I dreamed it; or did I, when you first took me to your house, did I see-" She. Stopped abruptly; and though she strove to suppress her emotion, it was too strong for her efforts. She sunk back on her chair, pale as death, and almost gasped for breath. Maltravers waited her recovery. "I bed pardon, sir; I as thinking of days long past; and-but I wished to ask whether, when I lay in your hall Bidder Twine PHONE NO. 14 in surprise for "It is so, it is sol" cried the woman, half rising and clasping her hands. "And she passed by this cottage a little time ago; her veil was thrown aside as she turned that fair young face toward the cottage. Her name, sir; oh! what is her name? It was the same, the same face that shone across me in the hour of pain! I did not dream.' I wasn't mad!" almost-insenSiible, any one besides yourself and your servants were pres- ent? or was it," added the woman, with a shudder, "was it the. dead?" "I remember," said Maltravers, much struck and interested in her question and manner, "that a lady was present." "Cameron-Cameron!" the woman shook her head mournfully; "no; that name is strange to me; and her mo- ther, sir; she is dead?" "No; her mother lives." A shade came over the face of the sufferer; and she said, after a pause, "My eyes deceived me then, sir; and, indeed, I feel that my head is touched, a.nd I wander sometimes. "Compose yourself; you could nev- er, I think, have seen that lady be- fore; her name is Cameron." These conditions point to the necessity of Canada knowing the exact capabilities of her men and women at home. All persons residing in Canada, male or female, British or alien of 1 6 years and over, will be required to register on June 22nd and truthfully answer the questions set forth upon the registration card. It is not the Government's intention to conscript labour in any form, but to assist in directing it wisely, 21 ANADA faces the gravest crisis in her history. Four years of war have taken from the Dominion a heavy toll in talent and labor, yet despite the shortage of man power, our Allies still depend on Canada to maintain her own fighting forces at full strength and to increase her exports of food and war materials, so vital to them, and to the successful prosecution of the war. Every ounce by which Canada can increase her food production and every ounce Canada can save in her food consumption is needed for export to the Allies. Should the war continue for another year, food cards and a rationing system may have to be instituted. It is the duty of Canada to be prepared for whatever situation circumstances may force upon her. It is quite probable that before the war is won our Government may have to place restrictions upon the occupations in which men and women may engage. In such an event the Government wishes to be in a position to render all possible assistance in keeping our population usefully and profitably employed. (To be continued) Registration Day, June 22nd Gents' Furnishing and Tailoring Store MAIN STREET, WESTON PHONE NO. 2 STRAW HATS Issued by authority of W. E. COLEMAN so that every available unit of human energy may be utilized to the best advantage. The information procured through registration will be used-as an aid to the Military Authorities in pro- curing the men necessary to maintain "Canada's First Line of Defence"-i mobilize all units of avail. able labor in the Dominion and direct them from less essential to more essential 6ccupations--to establish and intelligently administer a system of food rationing should that become necessary. All Sizes, Shapes and Prices CAPS AND FELT HATS All for the Summer Time Canada Registration Board 11:0 a), 2’14 Cf9ueiVii"iiir' Q: 'it')'!: