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"You need not prozmse too much, my dear." was the smiling reply; “but you are a good garl, Emmand I find! was not mistaken in you; and now. you "Yes; I wxll éwear that never under any circumstances will I be his wife, if you like," was the passionate re- 9131‘ "I give you the promise you require; you have a right to exact- “; for I owe all that I am' to you. But lmust go away; I must not see Ernest. agam till I have conquered myself and for- gotten him.” “You swear to me that you will nev- er mart my son without my consent i" asked " rs. Westbrook, her eyes flash- ing with triumph. - ‘ “1â€"1 will go away; 1 will hide from him; I will my to forget him.” 80th the gufl, painfully. “Your son Ernest ?" and the girl seemed to shudder thb emotion and surprise. "He never spoke to me; But Eva's face had suddenly flushed hOtly; she covered. her burning cheeks with her hands, and she made ‘no an- swer to the woman who looked down so_ coldly and so keenly upon her. "And yiou will'swear that you will never marry him without my con- sent ‘?" asked Mrs. Westbrook, stern- 1y. “Don't make me swear that; have mercy upon me forâ€"[orâ€"l love hxm.” She hid Her face as though she had pleaded guilty to some dreadful crime and even Mrs. Westbrook's worldly 11er was slightly touched by the poor maiden's deep humiliation. But she hid her and to gain, she had her son to save and she replled scpgpfullx _and_ bitterly: Eva rose also. Her face was white as the nightgown she wore; her large dark eyes seemed bigger and more mouthful than was there wont but there were no tears in them and she said resolutely but with strong emo- tion; “All the more easy for you to give me 1the promise," interrupted the mother promptly; “if he has never spoken of love and you do not love him For reply Eva flung herself upon her knees, moaning pitifully, as she pleaded: “Everything but what 1 ask; I have been a fool for my pains. I have nur- tured a serpent in my breasn, and it takes the first Opportunity of stinging me. Upon my word, you have played your cards well Eva Randolph; but I shall noz condesoend to reproach you if you have no more dignity of charac- ter, no more self-respect. than to live for years upon my bounty and then try to entangle my son into a marriage that. will be an outrage to me, and in every sense of the word, a wrong to him, then anything I can say against it would be in‘ vain." 'And Mrs. WeStbrook rose to her feet with an air of injured virtue and dig- nity and moved a step or two toward the door. the assurance can cost you no pain, and can be no sacrifice.” “W'ell?” asked Mrs. VVeétbrook after a time. “You can swear to me that if my son ever asks you to be ”his wite you will refuse him," was the coldly-delib- erate reply. “I will put you to the test," replied the elder woman, slowly. “You have it in your power to make me very happy or intensely miserable; to make me love you or to make me curse the day on which I first saw your face:" “You frighten me," said 'Eva, while her faoe became pale with agitation. ‘éVVhat have I done? W'hat can I o?" â€"‘r‘ â€"- “Yes; very kind, indeed," was the grateful reply; “but for you I might have been helpless and ignorant. I owe all that I am,, and all that I ever may be, to you, Mrs. Westbrook. If I never speak of gratitude it is not because I do not feel it; but because words are too weak to express my deep sense of what I owe LO your kind- "And would you really do anything in your power, Eva, to prove your gratitude to me ?" asked the lady gently. ' “Tr'y me," she answered; “put me to the test.” ”Anvwwâ€"J vv-'_ J The girl raised herself on her pil~ lows, passed her hands over her face, and then, feeling more thoroughly awake, she asked: “Yes; what is it. ?" “I have been kind to you, have I not, Eva ?" uv-v-J - "Yep, I think I am," was the drows- ily uttered reply. “I wish you would rouse yourself," was the next remark, “1 want. to talk seriously with your” .- ‘ u‘ WAL LH‘IVW‘ ywwâ€" __- “Eva, are you awake 3" she asked, gently. _. - - n w an - L _ jâ€"gAâ€"O‘n uuu LL56 vuuxy-v-v â€".- had received from theâ€"iturious down- pour of rain. Mrs. Westbrook superintended all the efforts made for recovery, and she shut herself inuthe same room With out. All this was very kind, or it would have been so had the action been prompted by good will. In very truth, however, Mrs. Westbrook was afraid to lose sight of Eva for a single instant. If once Ernest preposed to the girl and was accepted, her own objections would go for nothing, and she sternly resolved that all she could do should be done to avert such a sequel to her ( n unwise conduct in holding out a helping hand to this poor girl. gAll through that night Mrs. Westbrook watched by poor Eva’s side, while she slept heavily and dreamlessly, and when the first streaks ot morning made their way into the chamber, and the sleeper opened her eyes, Mrs. Westbrook hardened her heart to the self-imposed task she had undertaken. A -1--.) CHAPTER VIII. She Would Be a Lady she was r ~t_eve_n 1W 6 WVLV'V I'v'v'vvâ€" l And so saying, MrsiiVestbrook, half {by force, and half by persuasion, in- duced Eva to return to bed. The scheming mother managed . everything as she had said she would. Ernest went away to keep an appoint- [ment about the purchase of some land in the neighborhood. believing that Eva was still too unwell to leave her room. But as soon as he was out of the way the carriage was brought round, the two girls and their hostess entered it, and Mrs. Westbrook, when she returned to the Grange, had the satisfaction of feeling that she had re- moved a great temptation out of the way of her son. He told her that he loved her; that his love was not the sudden passion of an hour, but a feeling that had been growing for years. Her noble character had first compelled his ee- t-eem he wrote, andhher sweet disposi- tion and beautv had won his love, and At one moment a wild notion of fol- lowing here to the Eternal City and there pleading the love with which his heart was filled, occurred to him, but he. soon dismissed that idea, and though he was not clever 858 a letter writer, and hnd but little faith in the suoâ€" vâ€" rwrv-V So he Jecided ubon tie-latter course and he wrote such a letter as only a true, generous-hearted man could WIjite, and one that any pure woman might be proud to receive. w‘- 7' V“ “I0 LU'V, uuu now he. ask‘éavile; if she could return his affection and if she would be his wife. He put. his heart into the page, but he was dissatisfied with the letter when it was written. It seemed so cold and formal. and he felt that whole volumes of written words were less powerful to evoke responsive love than glance full of meaning into loved eyes that were able to read that cess of an offer sent by. post he was compelled to make his choice between waiting until Eva should return and appealing at once to her on paper. But the‘letter was sealed and post- ed, and after a long journey and much delay it reached Eva’s hand. In the meanwhile Eva traveled with her companion, with whom it must he confessed she had little or no sym- pathy, from one Continental city to another, visiting all the museums and picture galleries and studios; but to her preoccupied mind they seemed very much alike. and she took far less pleasure in them than she had anti- 0 v c.;.t:1ted At length they arrived at Rome. and' Eva went to the post-office to ask if there were any letters for her. Yes, there was one, and it came from Barbara Longford. But in it was in- closed anOther missive. and a glance at the handwriting told Eva from whom it came. “ No; but we are to write to the post- office at Rome as soon as we hear from‘ her the probable date of her ar- rival there,” was the reply; “and if you or your mother wish to write to her, and “_will send the letter here, we will forward it.” After thxs he took his leave. He felt hurt and perplexed; he saw his Ihpther's hand in the girl's sudden flight, but how to thwart his parent and how to b ‘ ' know. rmg Eva back he dxd not But death "does“not come, Instead of the sleep 0t oblivion that she longs for. comes the slow but cold awaken~ How her heart beat. fast and pain- fully, and then seemed to stand quite still; how she became hot and cold by turns, and how her head swam, and she nearly fainted with emotion, I need. not tell. But she recovered slightly. after a time. The letter was srill unopened; it might contain some mere friendly message; it might even be reproachdful" but in any case it was passing strange that he should write. And so she sat' and pondered. afraid, and yet longing to_break‘ the seal. “He loves me!" was thefglad cry 01 her heart. “He loves me. They can never take that assurance from me. She had suddenly announced her in- tention of going abroad with a mar- ried lady, who was likewise an artist. and Barbara declared herself hurt and indignant to think that Eva would not be in. England to be present: at her ap- proaching marriage. In some agitation he asked to see Mrs. Longford or Barbara. Both la- dies were at home, and both received him cordially. But neither of them could tell him much about the girl he sought. “I suppose she left you an address to which her letters are to be for- warded i” asked Ernest, as he rose to take his leave. With this object in VleW, he went up to London a few days after Eva had left the Grange, but when he called at the house in Gower street he was informed that Miss Randolph was gone to Rome. When Ernest returned home he was surprised and annoyed to find that Eva had gone away without his seeing her; but be strongly suspected that it was his mother's work, and he smil- ed mischievously when he thought how soon he would outwit her. ' “I cannot do that," was the dejected reply. “I must go and hide myself; I muSt start for London at once. I must never see Ernest agaln.” “You shall n0t see him, but you can- not go now. Get into bed; leave it all to me. I will send. Ernest out of the way in the course of the m-rning, and you can start for town with Bar- bara, as arranged; then you will give 1138 [.0 no curiosity; our compact must be a secret between us." -v- ‘ 77‘__ ‘-A‘£ he letter was contain some .t‘ might even .y case it was DURHAM CHRONICLE. _ __.â€" w- -wuuuv‘yuo “ And that eminds me, dear,” the writer went on, “that Mr. Church wants you to sign some paper. 12 don’t know what it is; but don’t do it if you don’t like, my dear, only write and tell me if you get ’the lace safe- ly, and remember there’s always a hoine with us when you; want nun-" _-_ “ uvuvu JV“ want; 0118." Over and over again Eva read this odd epistle; then she glanced at the lace. It was not a piece of rare old lace, and certainly couldnot have be- longed to Eva’s mother. What could be the meaning of it? .Whan; paper could they “ram:f her 'to 81311, ‘and Why were. they so anxious that she ahould vâ€" _V‘ The letter began by remarking that, as it was Eva’s birthday, she thought she would write and send her the in- closed piece of lace, which had belong- ed to‘ the first Mire. Bandolph. 6““) L‘ do so. The Longfprdas were delighted to have her back with them. for they had almost learned to regard her as a member of their own family. So- once more we see her in her old rooms. glad to be with friends, and trying hard, and with some success, to treasure her love. and yet keep it from wounding her. was possessed of any property when he died; and,: if so, what had become of it. Acting on ~Qhe impulse of the mo- ment; she dressed herself for walking, and was just about; to leave the house when a letter was brought to her. A feeling of homefiickness, which she struggled against. but which she gould no_r. overcomga, tqok possessmn. of her. and at Iengtli she Srielded to it: an_:d.: tugned her face homeward. from wounding her. In all these years she has never heard from her stepmother, Mrs. Church. or received any help from her or from her husband; More than once it has occurred to Eva to make in- quiries about the affairs of her late father, but various causes have made her d_e_fer_ doing so. 7,9 'â€"â€"v â€"â€" â€"v. “A; u u - -' v v J â€"her twenty-first birthday. She is of 888! And as the thought occurs to ner she laughs bitterly; for what can it matter to any one but herself how old she may be? Succeeeding these meditations comes the sudden resolve to employ a solici- tor, to ascertain whether her father Ernest Westbrook evidently regard- ed her decision as final. and she told herself that it was so, and yet she could not rest. She worked hard, and she did all she could to drown thought and memory in labor. and she made pleasant acquintances; but though she endeavored to reconcile herself to the idea of taking up her residence in Italy for a few years. she could not â€"° "" Suddenly; about a fortnight after her returnfo England. she remembers onee morm g_.th~§1t_ .itl_is_ her Birthday RA“ 4-, l Some days elapsed before she felt strong enough to put the proffered cup of happiness definitely aside. be- fore she could nerve herself to accom- plish the sacrifice which she had sworn to make. \Vhen she did take up her pen, however, with her own hand to seal her own fate, her letter was as decisive as Mrs. Westbrook herself could have desired. “I am very grateful for the high compliment you pay me,“ she wrote, ”but I shall never marry; therefore, you will perceive that I must say ‘No to your question. though I hope al- ways to regard. you: and your mother as my kindest and dearest friends." This letter she posted. herself, and then the days and weeks rolled on. and. no second appeal' came in answer to__her rejectxon. But the life of an old maid had no terrors for Eva Randolph; and one thing she knew beyond all shadow of doubtâ€"she would certainly die un- married if she could. not be Ernest VVestbro-oks wife. even though they take him. ’A.nd.I shall spend the rest; of my days 1n peace and contentment with the know- ledge that he loves me, and that he onge thought me worthy to become 1118 W1 6." vaoi a man, subh a sentiment would have been impossible. bu’ti a woman of Eva s temperament this state of feel- ing was by no means unnatural; (Her pride and her heart were satisfied, and though the sweet end of love mfg-ht never be hers, she thomght with a sad smile that thdusands of Women as pure and as gifted as herself were compelled by fate to live their lives alone. And. oddly enough. this conviction 8336 her peace and comipmt. . ' W 5.9mm Sale or English Ima- 311 you want oneI” again Eva read thls i, October 19, 1899 1 fig 3. .5, v (1!... .1. x The military Chieftains who have pretended to be more important per- 801151868 than ministers responsible for the government of France, have been ing a game of intrigue. They are not great soldiers, but political generals With secret ambitions. Their littleness ha_3__£onnd them out. .wâ€"â€" 'â€" Militarism under favoring condi- tions breeds intrig uer'a. It exhausts the resources 91 nations without secur- 2____ 1‘ " i118 them ageingâ€"ti {1.1; "e95; v8.3.5 hor- POI’B 0f war, or adequately sataguard- ing their interests. He has had the reputation of being a great, silent soldier, who knew all the details of the service and was com- petent to conduct a great war in the most scientific way. He had the self- conscious air of a man who knew a great deal more than anybody else, and had no leisure for idle talk. In reality he has been an ambitious p01- itician, who aspired to the presidency and surrounded himself with flatter- ers and wire-pullers. When he was Minister of \"ar he considered it unnecessary to consult either the president or the premier on any question relating to the army. If he had been a dictator, his power could hardly have been more abso- luse oyer the_military service. Yet he testified in the Dreyfus trial that duringqhis term of office France was not prepared to undertake agreat war when a campaign seemed almost unavoidable. This was a confession that he had failed as an organizer. and did not deserve the great reputaâ€" tion cheaply won by his silence and pretentious air. The nation had pro- vided money: and men lavishly. He, had full authority over military policy; yet he himself being the witness. France was not in condition for war. Those of France Are a Disgrace to the French Nation. The French staff has thoroughly discredited militarism by its treach- ery and dishonor in the Dreyfus trial. The generals have completed the work begun by intriguers and forgers. General Mercier has been, during re- cent years, the most powerful of the military martinets who have overawed the French Legislature. Ministers have taken. their orders from him; pre- sidents have been jealous of his au- thority. “No,” but love said “Yes,” and the conflict in the girl’s breast was a long and trying one; so long, indeed, that evening came before she had de- cided whether she would go or not. She was still sitting in her own room debating the matter with herself, quite unconscious of the flight of tim‘, when a second and far more earnest appeal arrived from Mrs. Westbrook and this turned the scale of victory in love's favor, and Pride spread his wings and fled vanquished from the field. “ My Dear Eva,” it ran, “I know it is your birthday. and I want you to come and dine with us, and Ernest will take us to a. theatre to-night. 'We have secured a box. You must come. The p'rtmise Ionce‘ exacted I give you back, so consider yourself a free agent -â€"but come. This letter utterly bewildered the girl. Did Mm. Westbrook want her to marny Ernest? No; that could not be. \Vas he married? But again her reason answered “ No,” for there was no mention of anyone but them- selves. “Don‘t answer it, and don’t sign anything,” was Mr. Garrett’s advice. “ Leave the matter in our hands and we: will soon unravel the mystery.” Eva acquiesced and retufned home, but the surprises of the day were not yet over. A letter from Mrs. Westbrook await- ed her. Should she accept the Invitation was the next consideration. Pride said write to them? She could ask the questions, but she could not answer them, and, as the surest way out of her dilemma, she sent for a cab and drove to the office of a solicitor whom she. had once met, and whom she knew well by reputation. To him she stated her desire to know something about her father’s circumstances at the time of his death, and then she produced the puz- zling letter. “Your old friend, DISHONORED GEN ERALS. Swish Tax-titan uhm w‘t? To be Continued. “ Celia' \Vestbrook.” Q, 000,59. VVV\,.V“ -'-vâ€" ‘- In a ('om-h and Four. gth 0‘ Two thousand miles is the let! a journey made with a fourâ€"in . ”fetch’ by Right Rev. John Francxs DI Coadjutor 315110;) 0 ' ' Dr. Stretch is himself a natiVe 0‘ ”S. Covered More Than Two In a ('«mvh and Two thousand miles 1 a journey made with by Right Rev. John E Coadjutor BishOp of . Stretch is himself a r feel better in the morning. says : “ I speak a. good ‘0 bum's Heart and Nerve Pills with pleasure; They proved to me a was remedy for nervousness, nervous and exhaustion, and I can heartily W mend them." Mas. POLAND. “ My husband suffered grea vousness, complicated b Milburn's Heart and I\ cured him, and he now firong.” T911 How Milburn’s Heart and Ram Pills Make Weak People Strong. FLOUR, OATkflEfiL and FEED THE SAWMILL LUMBER, SHINGLES AND LATH8 alway on hand. N., G. 8: J. MCKECHNIE. GRISTINE AND SHOPPING DUNE. ncluding 3 Val “able w“! 0% in one 0: “Melt; ' G‘ R” Tomm- ‘1 . DA;A:_’ Two Stratfmd Ladies quickly assert .‘m, free. whether an Invention probably patcntable. Communication: any confldentlal. Oldest agexzcy {z‘ursecuringpatam in America. We have _a 33415111an om; Anyone sending a sketch and description m3 special beautiful! illustrated. lamest circulation of n scient :50 journal. woek!y,1crms$3.003leni £1.00 31:: months. Spvcfmua Cupies and 00: ON PATENTS sent. free. Address on shortest notice and satisfwtion guaranteed. M UNN 8: CO. , 361 Broadway. New York. now prepared to do all kinds of custom work. Endb the prospect of the ' mlse-r‘ le Thanksgivin' was $212!: than could bear. There Wt ‘othin' to her, no time. as you 011 than and this was the last straw gt on ”Mel's back-'1' any rate, all ha; *3 Give out and had to go ter v- “maxim tor, anyway. ”Now, :f' If.â€" len could come home!" Ellen was um: dau h ,°d Wanter see her! ”\th uni 813° “to about turkey and plum pugâ€" dm..it Ellen and the children coulnn :, eat "1 With her? Yes, the money 111,1! ‘8 nu be put in the bank, she Quin L cam," 80 8138 thought on and on, no: hardly . . V .She went out to her work in . the hick“ ‘48 ' ' all broke up. She didn’t ’5! should be, 'less she’d kind“ secretly hopin’ to have an and the children. But she. baa tram to.; She might a' known 1‘ wailéhrough thoe readin' she >61 7.qu - . 61' hands 19 her lap, no: 6X1; 1;: Grievin'. Abut kinder wunderin' 212:1 to pm ° Dd when they kneeled emu-:1 y 8h” kept on wonderin' more’n OVer She ° walk! 7 ~ . 3 -. be thankful a-.. grad “ hagghe h‘i’f“-;,‘) Thenflgé‘bggan to rea d\ a huil full of !ong, hard names, and “I reckon we'll sell the was year and have our usual dinner there ain‘t no children comiu‘ nor nothin'fi" \ â€"â€"â€" I’“\v ug~ un‘g“ in to keep it. than. drawin' on :1 Ion; @400. he looks at Aunt Betsey over h : Bpe'tacles, and, says he :â€" _ "Wim I are of a notion thai 13;: fete Thanksgivin' business is aii lstmess! Seems if it must be a; six; .2 a“ Sight 0' the Lord to ca: 50 mus: .030 day? in the year. I don’: '13:..‘33'; lt's necessary to make pigs 'u' .:.i'.‘- tons of oursexves in order '0 Lute thankful hearts; and if we '0 ‘ ; Aunt Betsey didn't say nothin'; j-;~: 98F and looked at him kinder “L Wlth her hands in her lap, and be we; It was Just at family deVuzions paw momm', jest below {me readin'. 1;._;: he dimlg‘aghed it to his wxfe. He finds the place 111 Nehengrâ€"Lfe alwen tea the long chapters :2 1:1“ and mater. and kep' the short ones, the Pgaflma and sech, for burz‘yln' :zme :--he finds the place and puts his :hum' And we wast om't was that as 1, we Jerry got older his Stinglne<e gzcw upon him. and every year he m it: i; harder ”n harder for Aunt Betsey. i : glt along. She never had no: ’~ er: do with! That was her eve.;;;., oontinewal complaint. 80111611215: 5; had thought seriously of ayylyizt' p the town, to see if that woman”. baggy her husband into bein' more 1i;_e:g._ She never thought of applyln' :12: .. g5.- vorce for non-support! Bless you. L 2: I don’t e‘pose aech an idea ever 68161 mi her head! She wa'n't one 0' that. has; there wa'n’t nothin' stronb-unndcdu “ has: woman’s-right” about Aunt. 13:15.: c. She was one 0' these ere mild. me. 1:14.; little women, that don’t daz‘szc: 3,; their soul's their own, 'lea‘e em: body's wfllin'. you know. (I! U Wards Tlein' he go: a bury-new crooked: for aavin' into his head. You see. everything they rum-.3, g the farm that Other have gone Le {ur- msh their table bountiiui, Srcil ‘-.:‘ : L. ; creature. page. turkeys, hens. egg: 41.; fruit, and vegetables, was eizmx _ at the store or sent off on me was it the city markets; and the money come from 'em was put in the mm; a}; kep' there. Pretty much an we; the year round was Salt pork 3:1". pertaters, with now ’n' then '4 914:4 (11811. J ".J‘ a'aA If Aunt Betsey hadn'L a‘ had 111'? 195' disposition in the world, she \‘(OUJIL'L 'a' stood it all them years. As i; 5 it wore on hot. and told on her (8.512;: Though Uncle Jerry was one o' richest men in town, she migh: 'a' Lend the wife of the poorest and miscrgcs. so fur’s any outward indie-11mm “was ”namedâ€"or Inward indtca i'ul‘ «11-;- erâ€"for she was alwess M 54129;. and W8 n't nothm' but skin and man-.5: as you might say, has for her own use, an mm 4,, Uncle Jerry’s pockets; and f. 5 e wanmd a, now gownd. or a bonnzz. or 'ahoeaâ€"I hadn't orter say if 5L5 wanwd m, bat if she 1111.151, hig'x‘ (+1)“. and there wa'n't ’ no possible a123,; way for him to skin on; 0‘ gc’ Lin ' » â€"-thw Uncle Jerry wouid go 103.»: store with her and buy 'em and {on for “jest as if she was :1 with; an ijiot, and incaperable 0' dm 34' '55,- w on not own book. (3 Uncle Jerry Foster was 100 5:43“ to liVfiu and everybOdY knew i1, 131;; ,mrybody didn't know how DOOI A L121: Betsey, his wife, had to manage and wntrive and skimp to get along, 51’ never had the handlin' of anV mom’. E7“ the bUUE!‘ and “1;: mohey, that most every fauna-'5 1 s.“ for her own use, all want 4‘ A Country Thanksgiving: «a? mum: m ner mp, no: em; 1;: '1'. but kinder wunderin’ and 1 . And Wheu they kneeled GuV-‘Il y‘ 8110 kept on wonderin' more'zx bhe wondered what she had :0 nkful tor, anyway. “Now, 1’ 1-11- L lld com hnmnln 1:11.... ---_1._ . L. , _. turkey