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1 11 u 5 THE STEWARD'S SON » CHAITEU XX. As Cyril ro€»:ht^1 tho horseponfl the church clock struck two. Tho suunrl startled aud rouiail biin from his puinrul revcrio. All tho way alon;; ho had beon goins over th» iiicidoiita o( tho miscrahlu oven iiigâ€" the evenititf which ha had looked forward to with Buch keen auticiiiationa! And as hn thought over It ull ho could scarcel> rcali/o what had hjippdiKd. He had been iu iho coin;)aiiy of Norah a wholo fiveiilng. and they had only ex- chaiij^ed a fo\r words, and those, on her j)«rt, of tho coltlesti What was tho meaning of it? What had ho dono that .vho should trout him so? Had her father, the earl, bojii put- tins; pressure upon her, and pej'- nuadcd her to give hi in up? Was sho Ko lickle that a few days' absouio had been sulflcient to bring her forget- fulnesH? When ho got to Tho Chequers ho was surprised to find tho Ittlo inn wiapped in slundior and darkness. Ho had not e.xpected Mrs. Jlrown or tho maid to sit up for hiin. Two o'cloitk a. m. wa.s to tho good folks of Santleiijh an unearthly hour. IIu knocked at tho door, gently at first, then, as no response came, more loudly. lie stood there for sonio minutes, Jivo or Icii, perhaps, but if The Chequers hud bet n a tomb iii- slead ()f an inn it could not have been luoro silent. Tho timo was going on, and tho Elation Viiaa sonio dist.iiicc. As ho Btood th<!ro in tl:o tiuiet street the temptation to glvo u]) his 'ouruey t-> lirittany, give up overythinp, and re- main to ^Icar up tho troubln with Norah, assailod hliu strongly; but ho resisted it w/.th all his mental force. To turn bark now that ho had got his hand to tho i)low and tho first furrow cut. would bo cimost im- ninnly. Norah herself would ho the first to regret it, if she did not oven reproach hinv; and as for .lack Wos ley â€" well, Cyril could almost hear his eynlenl voice girding ut him for throwing avvaj Iho liist chanco of winning famu and fortune. lie knocked again presently, as tho clock chimed out tho half hour, he resolved to leave his things in Mrs. Uroun's •;are. Ho Would wVito to her from London. After all, ho conld pi'oruru his nrtistic tools and sonio clothea when ho got to town. It would bo rather awkward traveling in <lres!i clothes, but ho had un ovei- coal, and ho could keep it buttoned over his cont nii<t gloaming shirt front. Th.'iM wns only Jvist timo for him to catch tho train, and oven if ho suovoded in waking Mrs. lirown some timo munt elapse bei'oro shi? could get dio.ssed. Yes, it would bo much bettor to leave his things and catch tlio train. Oclay was always dang<'i()U.s â€" lit his stuto of mind, ex- ceedingly so. Ho bultoniMl up his cont, onH wi'h n la.st glancQ at tho windows of Tho Chequers, went quickly down the street. Kveiit.s woro shapbig their course uS they hnvo a habit of iloing, and in leaving Snnlloigh wilhout seeing Mrs. Itrown, or any person who could tes- tif.v to his prtsenro there that iiiorii- liig. ('yril was but blindly following the distatrti of KatO. Tho .•itatlon was to the loft i f Snntleigh I'ork, and (!yril left tho road and rtruck into a bypalh. As lie dill so ho heard tho voie.<'s of the Village folk coming toward Hantleigli, but he did not Htoi>, and went on his way n.l rpilckly as possible. Tho night was gloomy â€" tho gloom ♦Jiat precetles tho dawn â€" and Cyril's mood fully harmoni/.ed with it. h^very yaril he nut between him and Mant- lelgh ('ourt sei'nuul to lengthen itself ominously, and his spirits fell Iow.t and lower as he noared tho station. 'i'liero were no voices to \m heard now, ami the stillness of tho weird hour was only broken by the shrill Bcre<!cli of ft carncrako. Ho seemed HO utterly aloiio ami solitary in the titillness that it was with n start nnd an exclanintiou of nurpriso th.«t hu Haw ft man half-lying, halt-altling against a stilo. Cyril had almost stwtnblod over him nnd started back, oyolng him almost angrily. It Is unpleasant to be startled. The man scorned to bo asleep, but as C.viil was lieHltatIng whether to Wako hini or r.ot, ho deciiied tlio question by slowly rising, and shak- ing himsei/ vurj much uN a New- foundland dug Hliakes hinisidf when aroused from a short nap. "Why, my good fellow, I nearly ti;inlde(l over youl" •M'ld you?" siiltl tho man qidotly. "I i(!cVon lh.1t nould Vuive hoon as bad fir mo as for you." ('.\iil started. Ho had hoard tho Voice brf>ire Somewhere, but ho could not n-colloct for tho moinciit uhyro. "fio I know you, Kiy irlend? ' ho ftsked, peering at hlri. •'Jt isn't likely, sir," ho said, In- <1ifl'erentlv. •'I'm a irJrnngi'r in theao I>nrts. H.iv'o you got such a thing as a light about" you'>" Cyril tcok out hi? uviTchbox and Struck (1 liijrAt, ni'<S »4 it burned up hn uttered an exclamation .of sur- prise. "Why, :t's I''urlong, isn't it?" I.o said. A look of suri)riBO came over the man's rugged face, and ho stared un- der his bushy brows at Cyril. "That's my name," ho replied, "nnd you V 'Vou are the young gentleman I saw at Mr. Wesley's?" "I am, " said Cyril. "This is a Btranpo meeting, Mr. Furlong! This is tho last place in tho world I should havo expected to see you in." "The place i.=!n't half bad," remark- ed Furlong, glancing round calmlv. "I've seen worse, and I'vo seen bet- "Butâ€" but, if it i.sn't a rude ques- tion, what are you doing down here" asked Cyril, hurriedly glancing at his watch. "I was trying to get n little sleep," replied Furlong, as cof>lly as if it were (juiio the u.suni thing to pass thu night iu the oi-cn air. "Xot a veri comrurtablo bed, I'm afraid." "I've had better, nnd worse," re- turned Furlong, as before. "Do you know any one down bore?" ho asked. "I SCO you're rather curious to know what l)rought mo in these out- of-the-way parts, sir," he said. "Well, I am, I confess," asbVJited Cyril. "And I'm hanged if I could toll you," said Iiirlong with a short, gruff laugh. "Tho fact is I>ondon nnd T don't agree together for long, sir. It's well enough for a town-bred man, but I've been a wanderer all my life, 'ind after I've ho.-n shut up in one of your great cities for a week or two I â€" well, I just begin to suf- focate." "I know Iho feeling,'' said Cyril. "Look hero, I've got to catch tho iikiirki't train, and my lime's short; perhaps you won't minil keeping mo company for a half a mile; that is. unless you'd rather go to bed again." "No, I 0.111 put my snoo'/o otT," said Furl vig. ".\nd so you havo tramped down hero for change of air?" "Vcs, and change of thouj^hts; more (f tho hutor than the furmer, Mr. IJurne. It's dillicult tor a man to leave olT thinking in a big city, oud I'm not so fond of my thoughts as to want 'em always with mo." l.'yiil !em«'ml'erod .lack Wesley's half-expressed hint as to tho man's antecedents, and glanced at him rather curiously. "Hut what mado you choose Sant- loigh?" ho asl ed. "l.s that iho name of this place? I <li(ln't know." "Tho village lies tho other side if the j)ark." "And tho big housoâ€" what la that?" ".'^antleigh Court, one of Lord .\r- rowdule's country seats," replied Cyril, and !io stilled a sigh, for with tho nionti.m of tho name back cunio thu thought of Norah. "Ah! Well, I didn't choose it in particular; all places are alike to mo so that thero are plenty of green fields and fresh air," said Furlong. "Somtiwhere 1 can broalho, and can lose tho feeling that tho houses arc drawing together and coming on top of mo." "I unclerstand," said Cyril. "And my friend, Mr. Wesley, does ho know that you have fled from tho house.s?'' "Yes," replied 'Furlong. "I told him 1 was going to take a few day.i' hididay. but I didn't say In whtU, direction I was going; I didn't very well know my.solf, you see. I'er- haps, sir"â€" ho hesitated for a mo- mentâ€" "perhajis, if it doesn't make apy dilTerence to you, you won't mention 'hat you've met mo?" "(."ertainl.v not, if you don't wi.sh it," ho said; "but " "You're wondering why I should ask you, sir?" said Furlong. "Well, it seems rather strange," said Cyril. "I don't seo wh.v you should cure whether Mr Wesley knows or doo.<i not know that I havo met you." Furlong did not respond for a while, and Cyril le'.t, rather than saw, him looking at him siduays from under his bushy brows; then he said: "Ktrnnge? Yos, I dnro .say; but I'vo got my reaf^ons, sir. and they are not altogether whimsical ones. If you insist upon m.v telling you " "Oh, come, I haven t tho leaSt wish to pry into your private af- fairs. IT you have good reasons for kc>cping your movements socret, that should bo sulliclent for both <lf us; it is for me, at any rate." "Thank you, sir. I dare s!\y 1 shill bo back bofo; o Mr. Wesley mi'=siO me."' There was silonco botwcen them ("r ,a while, but Cyril every now and then found his comiiaiiion glancing at him covertl.y; and ho smiled to himself, as ho thoug>,t that If Mr. Furlong Was a bail charartor, how easily ho could deal him, Cyril, n blow and easo him c.f his .watch uiul chain. Hut the idea did not alarm him. and ho could not get up any 'dcfinito distrust of that gentleman. "You're tra voting by an okrly train," said Furlong. "Yes," said Cyril, with a sigh, "I am going to leave Kngland; for some timo, I'm afraid." "Yes, sii-? On pleasure, 1 hope?" "No; business," said Cyril. "That's plo.isuro sometimes," rtn marked Mr. Furlong, philosophically. They woro ncaring tho station lights and ho stopped as he spoke. "Going back?" said Cyril. "Well, thank you for your company; I wish you un enjoyable holiday " "Thank you, sir," said Furlong; "and you won't mention to any oiio that you chanced to meet me*?" "Not to any one," said Cyril, with a smile. "Oood-night; or, rath- er, good-m.orning." They parted and Cyril hurried on, but, happening to glance back, he saw that tho man bad left tho high road upon which they had |-,con walk- ing for .some little time past, and had struck into the wood again. When Cyril got to tho station tho train was just coming in. There were one or two persons on tho platform, which was dimly lighte<l â€" a farmer or two, and two or three women go- ing to the murket town, and yawn- ing emphatically. Cyril was making his way to tho booking office, when one of the wo- men, who was carr.ving a couple of bundles and a basket, nnd was ap- pronchint; \h» ticket hole, lot one of the bundles drop. Cyril picked it up for her, and she took it and thanked him, but in her cfTorts to get out her money lot tho basket drop. Cyril's good nature was always tf tho front, let tho circumstances of the condition o( his mind bo what they might "Let me gftt your ticke*. fSr you. Whore are 'ou going?" "Oh, thank you, sir. To London, please. A sinalo " "Two thirds single, please," he .said. Tho booking ofilce clerk gave him one. "Two," .vaid Cyril. "You said one," remorkod the clerk with a sullen yawn. "I said two, but it doesn't mat- tor. I want two, anyway." Tho man flung the other tic'-ot down in '.ho courteous manner for which the station agent is so iust'y famous, and Cyril looked round "for tho woman. Ifo found her Just out.«ido tho book- ing olTco door, gave her tho ticket, and helped her and bor bundles into a carriage. When ho followed her ho saw ihat sho was a young woman of the hum- ble but rospoctablo class, and as ho put tho bundles on the rack for h<>r ho noticed en one of them a diroction label, "Nova Scotia, by the ship I'enelopo." "Y'ou hnvo n long journey before you, I see." he said. "Yos, sir," sho responded. "I'm going out vo join my sister in Can- ada. Bho's in sorvico there. and havo got a good placo for me." "I'm gUid to hoar that," ho said in tho fr.ank pleasant way. Well. 1 hope you will have a good time." Then ho settled himself in his or- ner, and onco more gave himself uji to thinking of Norah. C^IIAPTKI? XXI. Ouildford lierton had remained un- til nearly all the gnosis had gone: and after Norah had vanished he had. so to sjieak, traiisferied his at- tention to La<ly Ferndale, hovering aliout her and rendering her little services in 'lis peculiarly unobtrusive fashion, so that I,ady Ferndalo felt almost remoiaeful for her i)oor. opin- ion ol him. Indeed, when at last ho came up, httt ill hand, to take his farewell, sho smiled upon him more graciously than sho had over dono before. "You hava been very kind, Mr. Ilerton," she said. "1 don't know how to thank you enough tor takin;.; so much trouble," Hut oven as sho spoke sho caught hiTSelf asking mentally what it was in .Mr. Herton's dark, handsonio face which jarred upon her. "1 have taken no trouble. Lady Ferndale, but hnvo just enjoyed with thu rest what has induod been a de- lightful time. 1 only hope that yon are not cpiito worn out with all your exertions. It is a pity that you could not have retiri'd with Lady Norah, but thot would ha\o been inipossiilo, I suppose? I trust Lady Noruli will havo recovered from hor fatiguo tomorrow." "Oh, 1 hope so." responded liady Ferndale, and sho looked at him keenly, tor there was something in thu tone in which ho si>o'ko Nornh s namo which caught hor ladj ship's acute ears. ".So that is it," sho murmured, as sho watched him walk olT in his l,i> urel.v. Impansivo manner. "Yes, ho has been paying court to her all ! da.v. Foor man, I wonder how le I would fe^'l if ho knew how much Nornh dislikes him!" Whatevir his teelii!5;s niight havo I boi'ii under snfh knowledge, .Mr. C. uildford llerton was U tho host of humors with him.i:lt us ho sanntoiv.l out into the cool, early mvn^ing uir: nnd a.s ho carefully (hoso a cigar from his case and cut it, iv siiiilo if (lalisfattion Ihttod over his d.iri; fuco. Kyory man in ^ho ganxa of Ufo h.is I occasional innings, and (li.lldf'vd Docton had mjo.ve*! Komo pietiy suc- cessful inn'nvs that dn.v indeed, ns he wont over it «'l va ho wnl'-'ed alon;:, ho Was Conscious of n fo ling o( .lurpriso at tho ^ood fortviiio which had .attend', (I him. Ho meunt winning lj>('y 'Nornh. by (air means '.i i)os.*!ible, by foil if foul UNLIOHT Soap Wash oilclolhs and linoleums with warm w-ater and Sunlight Soap, rinse clean and wipe dry. The colors will be preserved and the surface unharmed. Common soaps fade the cobrs and injure t!-.s surfacs. Sunlight Soap cleans, freshens and preserves oilcloths and linoleums. Sunlight Soap washes clothes white without injury to the most delicate fabrics, or to the hands, for it contains nothing that can injure either clothes or hands. . . l^,. Sunlight Soap is bener I 1 1 x^ than other soaps, but is best """*" ^ when used in the Sunlight way (foBow directions). Equally good with hard ca* soft water. UVCI BSOTilCBS UMITID, ToronU were necessary; nnd as to scruplesâ€" well, no such word as "scruples" was in hi> lexicon Soma natures delight in plotting and scheming, and Gulli'.ford llerton's was ono of them. In the silent soli- tude of his gloomy cotti-go ho hsd spent many an hour, since Norah's arrival at tho Court, in trying to lind some means of securing her; but to-day thci" had actually beon no need for .scheming. I'^verj thing had played Into his hands: oven Cyril him.self. although unconsciously. Ho had feared that when Cyril arriV(>d ho would sack out Norah and monopolize hor; but events had oc- curred which, trivial in thera.selvcs, had kept them aj'^art, and then had como the scene botwcen Cyril and IJecca. If Ouildford ISerton could have "staged" it personally ho could n)t havo dono so to greater advantage to himself. Not only to Norah, but to any one. the placing of tho ring on Itocca's finger by Cvril would have looked like lovo-making, and I Ouildford Iterlon looked up at the stars with an almost devout thank- fulness that lis liu;k had prompted, him at that uioment to ask .Norah ' to como into tho air. To her it i must havo seemed as if Cyril wen- i carrying on at least a fiirtatiou with llocca. and Ouildford Herton know | how Norah woiUd regard such a pro : cecding. j "I fancy that you have put a spoko in your own wheel, Mr. llurne" . ho mutterod, with a sini.'iler smile. I '"That little scone with liocea will reijuiro a great deal of explanation." , Hut still an explanation iui?;lit bo ofTered and accepted, and he knit his brows trying to scheme some way j o; prov«}iiting it. He did not know, I as yet. that t^yril was leaving Hant- ! Icigh by iho early train, rnd might be absent for months, or Ouildford , Herton's spirits would havo risen I still higher. ! Ho was a littlo uneasy, loo, about I hi.i position wilh Ilecca. | Kven clevi'r men have their weal; I moments, and in one of those weak moments Ouildford Ikirton had al- lowed himself to ho smitten by llec.a South's black eyes. Ho had l-ogun by nuK'ting her seci'otly nnd flirting ' with her. and almiost insonsibly ho] had driflo<l :iito promising to marry I her. I Sho was pretty and frosh; her half wild, defiant manner had taken his fancy; but some time before Norah had appe.\rod mi tho scene ho had grown tired of Mecca, and now sho threatened to bo very much in his way, notwithstanding that she hail been unintentionally of such use t« him to-night. As lio walked along ho tried t<t ' think what ho should do with her. Uecca was not easy to get lid of. He might, if ho had set about it earlier, have procured her a good I situation in London, but Norah had. \ by taking ne<-ca into her sorvico, all I unconsciously destroyed his chance ot ' getting rid of her In that way. . As to nuarrying her! lie smilaii sardonically at the thought. j The person he meant to marry wa« Lady N'orah, not Ilecca South, th« village girl who had served to ainust him aud while away a dull hour 04 two. (To be Continued.) THV. IKJCTOU WA.S SOFTKNRIK A city iihysiclan. who is described as po.s.se.tsing a "halr-triggor" tem- [xr, al 'jough he dues not suspect it. tells of one of tho many oxperi' iioef' which try his patience; but this ono touched his synipathiiS too. It isn't often that I get out of fialieiice, said tho doctor, but yester- day 1 was tried beyond endurancoj worried by tho son.scless talk of wo- men who make a tad of bcitig inva- lids, and worried still worse over tho case of a woman who has boon smiling at death for monlh.s. Just as 1 thought my evening's work was over a stranger insisted on seeing mo, .*^ho was young and elegantly dresscvl. and carried a covered baskot OP her arm. "1 Want you to st^e Toby," sh» siaid. "Ho has such a cough." lloro sho open'otl the basket and took out an ordinary black and white cat. "I took oil his collar to havo it mond- od, and I'm afraid he took cold, poor dear. Can't you help him?" I was angry all through. "I ana not a cat doctor, madam," I said. I was going to ask her why sho didn't find something better to take up her time than a cat,- but sho evi- dently didn't seo that I was out of patience. "But couldn't you do something for him?" she went on. "W«'ro so fond of him. Ho wns our littlo girl's pot. tho very \».nt thing sh« over spoke about l>eforo sho dto^ and w<e prize it for her sake." Y'os. I did. I treated that cat, and I'm proud to say I curod him. "" YOU ll.Wi: ANYTIIINO TO "^ .\Y, .SAY IT TO UOTII OT "Z^ SB K|"