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u i 5 THE STEWARD'S SON $ CHAPTER XXin.â€" (Cofitiniieil) "You have made all inquiries, I suppose?" "Vcs, my lady. I've sent all ovar the village, lint there's nowhere sho could hide away from mo in the â- vil- lage, or, for the matter of that, 'n Feriidale. iiecca'.s too «oll known." Norah rose with a sigh. Much as she wouhi have prefeired to remain looking for tho missing (ifirl, and a.s thi'.v touched thoir caps and eourtesy- ud one and anotner itxprossod thoir approval. "Hor Ia<lyship's got a tender heart," .said one old woman. "She's one o' the first to bo ;iftor the yiil. And there's Mr. Ilerton, too. I'll bo bound ho'll find her if any one can!" .same half absent, half troul)li'd expression. The vaj^ue, indeunable •,t i,,>m„ „„ »!,'., I, • ,. !• ' Xornh looked at tlio people with ui. Home on the chance of ( yril s ,i writinj;- or calling, she feit it her duty to help Harniao in her troubl.'. r , ,.â-  ^ â-  ,â-  'â- <S..,i._.K u . 1 'â„¢i' "' presentiment wa.s weiiihintr ^ho^^sai^'^^'^ir ^ d"i"^i./^""d::i;e^"\'- ^- r'" "^^t"' r'- -'-"^ poiiiwi ,.„! „„,. ;r ... ,11 1 Suddenly she pulled up tho ponies round ami see if we can lind her; and • i •- don't be more worried than you can help. Depend uiioii it, she i.s not 'nr off. I expect wo shall find her at homo by the time we get there." "Where sliuU wo go'ln-aV! To her grandfather's cottage, I suppose?" .said Norah. "You will see wc shall find her there." Ilicy reached the cottage. nn<l Har- man got oiit of the phneion. «he was "There uro some giiis â€" liiose sUiiiJ ing outside the inn â€" whom I saw at th.u fete. Will you usli tlieiii if tliey know an.vthinf^, please?" siio sai<!. Bertoa walked t,<) tho knot of girLs. the phaeton following. "L'an any of you tell Lady Norali where Becca South i.s?" They looked at each otiier shyly, and shook their heads. away scarcely two minutes, and re- i • >'°v ""T '^'"..ii-V'"^" '"â- ''' "'S*""" turned shaking her head. '"""^ ^"'""' ^"' """" '" >â- "" «".• "She's not come home, my lady,'' she said, in a low voice. Norah did not know what to do ne.xt, and as she sat holding ihe rest- less ponii's, perple.xed and undecided, Guildford Ucrton turned tho corner of the lane in front of tliein and cnmo toward them. Ho was coming alonp; with his eyes ' j;,,|.^ downcast as usual, and did not "see them unti! ho was almost close upon the ponies; them ho .started slightly and looked up, and Norah noticed that ho looked rather paler than usual, and haggard; but hi.s (aco cleare<i and lightened as he re- cogniziHl her, and he came up with a smile us he raised his hat. "Good-morniag, Lady Norah," he Said brightly. "X am glad to see you out; 1 was afraid you would be «.\- hausted. What a lovely morning!" and ho noddi-d smilingly to Harman, who droiiped a courtesy. "I rode over to I'erndale this morning," ho said, "to a.sk after you. I do hoi>o your headache has vanished!" "Thunk you, yes," replied Norah, gravely, and trying to decide whether she should tell him of her quest; but, a^ if he had divined her indecision, hu said, (lUietly: "Is anything tho fuatter, Ladv Norah?" Norah forced a smilo, but avoided bi.s c.vos. "Well, yes," she said. We are i!or- not u still is it? Is she ey ! quHe iilainly, it Was tliu artist j but ' looking- for Hccca South. Mr. tun." Ilia eyes did uot quail, and muscle of his face winced, a.s smiling, hu said; "Not a very dinicult search. Your maid is very well known, not?" "Yes," said Xorah, constiainedl.v. (or she felt that he was thinking of last night, uiid the .scene between Cyril and liocca, "and th;it makes it difUcult. Harman â€" her aunt â€" is afraid that she did uot return to Snntlei^h last night." -. mNm!" ^^â- â- "â- ^['-â- â- â- â- i..ri rai.sing h=s alaruiing in that, is there, MrS. Harman? She may havo stayed nt Fcrndale." "Oh, wo have thought of that," said Norah, almost impatiently. Guidford Uortons presence made tlio affair still more dista.vlcful to her, and she began to regret that sho had not sent Harman aluiie to make in- qiiiricB. "Of course." he said, "torgivo nne; but tho lust person tin tho .scene al- ways makc.'j suggestions which have occurred tu others at the beginning. When did you see her lu«t, Jkli'S. Harman?" "When she started for tho fete, sir," replied Harman, almoiil iiuia- dibly. "Ah, yes," he niurmuied, glancing at Norah, who sat looking straignt in front her. "Of course. You were not ther-j yourself. Mrs. Harma-i'' inn door whoa Mrs. Well, ilont look so anxious; 1 have ed no doubt wo shall soon find your ; Sho looked flurried and up.set. n.id He seemed to ; dropped a succession of courtesies to hor when you were coming away?" Tho girls looked at one of the party and whi.sperod to her, evidently urg- ing her to speak; anil she stepP'Td forward a littlo and dropped a courtesy. It was the girl who had wished Hecca good night us Cyril was writing the letter. "I saw Becca last of any one, my sho suid, timidly. "Yes!" .said Norah, gently and en- couragingly. "Will you tell us when and whore you .saw her?" "It was when I wa!« coming awaif from the big tent, my lady. Becca was coming away. too. Sho was standing ju.st a little way frotn the tent, near tho shrubbery." Norah leaned forward eagcrlv, and Harman .sat with clasped hands ami an anxious look on her face, but Berton stood grave and impassivclv cool "She was coming away, coming home?" said Norah. "Whv did she not coimi with .youV" "I don't know, my ladv ask her, but " "Was sho alone? Berton. "No, sir," replied the girl Was a gentleman with her." ".V genilcman!" he said was it? Do you know him?' he turned with jui encouraging smile to Norah. "We .shall (ind her now." ft was Mr. Cyril lady," shn said. ".\ reâ€" are you sure?" sho asked in a low voice. "Yes. my lady, cjuite sure. There wes a streak of light where the wore, and I saw him t)h, I'm qtiiio sure gentlemon." Guildford Berton broke it "That docs not help us much. 5Ir th her cloak; he was very atten- tive to her all tho evening." "Did no ono .sou her after thuf>" ho asrtod genernlJy. j "No. sir. No, iny lady, none of u.s ,saw her after that." i "IVrhaps we had better ask Mr I Burne? he said to Norah in tl.e I saino low voice. "I don't suppose! ho can givu us any information, wo will leave no stono unturned -^orah inclined her and he went up to tho inn door, as he did so an elderly man with bushy eyebrows came out. It was Mr Fur- I did not aske<l (Juildford "There "Who Then smile ow." Burno, n.y but I thought that he'd stayed at Ferndalo perhaps " "Ut-. Buruu did not stay at Forn- dalo I'ark." "i'hen where can ho havo gone, my lady?" continued Mrs. English. "It's true as he's rathor a strange gen- tleman, a-rushing off, as you may say, without a word of warning; but ho Wouldn't go up to London in his dancing things, would he, my lady?" ".Just so, Mrs. Kni^lish; as you .say, that is not very likely. But I ilon't (piilo seo where he could havo stayed tho night." "Ji he'd stayed at the inn at Fern- dulc^â€" but. Lor', sir, it's a roU(;h place, aud Mr. Cyril wouldn't have thought anything of walking home here. No, he wouldn't have stay.MJ there, and if he had como back this morning, if only to change his things." Guildford Berton went up to tho phaeton and leaned on it. "It is very â€" curious," ho said, thoughtfully. ••Really, I think Mr. Buine's uiuapiiearunco as remarka'jlo as Becca Soulh's." The group had become considerably augmented by ihis time, and tir.'.v listened iii eager interest to' tho pro- ceedings. "Vou havo not seen Bocca South this morning?" asked Berton of .Mrs. lOnglish, and slio seemed quite hurt by the tpieiition. "Lor", no, sir! Beg'rin' your par- don. I should think I've been usk.^d that at least a hundred times on the best o' days. Tho last time I sa.v her, I think" â€" she paused a mom- ent â€" '•at least so far as I can remen- iMjr. was tho day Mr. Cyril startid for London. She came with a mjs- •sugo from him to fetch his wutcli. as he'd left behind." j At this ire.sli link of connection biv I tweeli C.yril's movements and Uecca's , Norah's face flushed, and sho bo.it down to hide it, and arranged tho ' fur wrap at her feet. ', "This deserves to bo called tho ' Santleigh m.ystpr.v." .said Berton to I her with a smile. "Heally, 1 don't know what to do next, unless we in- j quire at the railway station." Norah gathuruil the reins in her hand, "But pray <l(m't trouble to do so," he said, quickly. "I will get m.v horse and rido over." "Harman and 1 will go," said Norah. "Will yu let mo go with you?" hn .said. "1 ma.v bo able to save you a little trouble." Xorah would have liked to say "No," but she could sea-rely do no, and at a sign of nsstuit from her he got in, and tho phaeton drovo off. Tho group at tho inn door com- menced chattering instantly like a Hock of magpies, and AlVs. Knglish gave a .start when a rough voice from the bench said: "What's all the fuss about, mis- tress?" M'rs. Knglish turned to him, and. the crowd listening as iiitentl.v a.s if they had itover hoard the story be- fore, related tho lioublo disappear- ance. The man Ftnlong did not seem to take much interest. "Is that all? ho said, half cnn- temptuously, when Mrs. Knglish MILK The interior of a cow's udder contains • manrcUotia collecticn of blood veins, miljt tubes, otc. 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I^outcd, Toroato ajgi^nssa^g^a^^^s^ga! hu have got far, cither of them; Eng- land iun't big enough to lose any- body in. Who was that young Indy in tho pony chaise?" ho inipiir(Hl of- fer a pun.so, which the b.vslanders leid filled with indignant glances at the "fiiriinor " "That? Wii.v, that was Lady Norah. Ihe earl's daughter, " replieil Mrs. I?iiglish. "You must bo a stranger in these j.>arl:! not to know that." "Y'ou're right, I am a stranger," retoi ti;d l''uiloiig, and he put his lef;S up on tho bench and went on witli his pipe as if "tho subseciuent pro- ceedings interested him no more." Norah drove on in silence, llarmiu crying in a suppressed way b.v her I 1 ,. , , i .'fide, and for a tiiiio Guildford Ber- '!" ,.'!'!?^^';'':;to>> ''i>l "''t .speak. Fato ivas still on his .side, and working foi him in a persistent faah- 'Ihey reached tho station, and jumped out. "I will not be long," ho said, hut Norah, feeling that if her life ile- pended upon it. sho could not n^main in suspen.se while ho made tho in- quiries, gave the reins to the groom and rose. â- â- I'leaso don't get out," he said earnestly. "I will bring tho statiou- moster or any ono olso down co you." "Harman and I will both come, ' sho .said, aininst coldly. They found tho station-master, and Guildford Berton put tho iiuestiou.s, Norah and Ilarinan standing by in silence. "Oh, Mr. George,"- ho said, "wo j want to ask you about the pas.scn- gers by your early train this morn- ing" "Yos, sir," said tho slatiiin-nia.-f- ' ter, respectfully, but evidently with ' sonio suri>rise. | "Do you remember any of them? ' For instanco, did you see" â€" he paiiB- j oil a scarcely perceptililo niomenl, ho j could not bring himself to pronouneo '' Becca's name. Ho fought against the difficulty in that brief second. but was nwslored by itâ€" "did you noti(;o whether Mr. Cyril Uurneâ€" the artist, you knowâ€" traveled by that train?" "Mr. TUirne â€" tho gentleman who was staying at the inn at Sant- leigh? Yes, he di<l, sir," was Uiu prompt reply. •â- rhank you," said Berton. "You are quite sure, of cour.so?" "Oh, yes; I noticed him, bocauso I saw him como by tho down train last evening, and I thought it rather strange that he should bo go- ing back so soon, and b.v the early train. I suppo.se ho camn down for the ball at Kerndalo, sir?" "Yes, ho dill." assented Ilorton. ".â- \sk him if he .saw liocca, sir, ' faltered llarninii. lenrfuU.v. "Was Mr. Burne alone?" ..„ ^.., in a constrained voice. i "I cant exactly say. sir. \'ou seo, it was darkish, and tho train being ' a bit behind time, we hurriiMl the passengers in. I don't know whother any of tho men noticed " lie look- ed round. ••Did yo\i see Mr. Uuriiu this morning?" ho asked of the book- j ing clerk, who had come out of his den and had stood listening but re- .spectfully remained silent until ho was addressed. "Vo.>. sir, m.v lady," ho said, proinrjth'. "That is, if he's a good- looking gentleman, in a light over- coat and a silk hat." "X young woman?" "Yes, sir." "Didâ€" did you see her?" broke In Harman. as if she could contain her- self no longer. "A young woman â€" darkâ€" withâ€" with black hail?" .sho faltered, almost hysterically. "Ves." he said, "that was hor, no doubt." Harman staggered back, and !iiil her face in her hands. Tho station seemed to sway from side to side before Norah's oycs, but her lirst thought was of tho poor woman upon whom the blow had fal- len almost as heavily as upon her- self. â- 'Hush!" sho whisper, brokenly. "It may not ,bif " "Yes, yes, it's her, my lady!' ITurman, in a ilry, lioar.so voice. Becca, .Tnd she'.s gone olT with Cyril Burno! Oh. (Jod forgive God forgive them both!" Noruh tried to echo the prayer, but tho re.iponse would not como. Her heart seemed to turn to stono; she could only clutch tho woman's trembling hands and stare at her vacantly. (To bo Continuetl.) Ho'.rt "ft'H Mr. him; KAHLV PILLAU-IIOXKS. The first Knglish town to hav» pillar-bo.xes for tho posting of let- ters was (â- helt<-nh.am. It is iTcoixlod that a clergyman nometl Charltoa and a Captain Carter were touring in Brusr.ols, and noticed a pillar-box in course of erection thciv. Wlum they got Imck to Cholttmhom, their home, they brought the mailer bo- fore tho local postal authorities, with the result that soon after a down of sui h bo.\es weiv erected ia the (ilnucs-.vt/M'.S'hiiv wnt(fl'lng place. The .system was ((uickly oxionded ho asliod throughout the United Kingnlom. " 4 LONGEVITY OF SKElvS. familiar statement that soods in l.''g.vptian mummy eases The found have l«rcn known to sprout and ro- pro«luc(! their kind when i)Ianted ia onoo more cnlle<l in question by J'rof. M. A. Hrannoii. who points out that Do Caiulolle and others, by careful experitnents, showed that few seeds retain their vitality after 10 or 1.0 years, and that probably 30 years is the limit of vitality for tho most vigorous se<;ils. Profi>.sHor IBramion adds that seeds from mum- as havinjf by many botanists to have bi>eM sl.vly put ill tor purpo.M>.s of di^cepdon. oiig. Ho wns lillinjf his pipe, ond '"" ''""^ almost alarmed hiin. Cer- gl.Tucod at tlio group, and then nt I '•'*'"'-^'' '"-' thought, he would receive Hie phaeton; his e.'ves rested upmi "^ check luesently; at tho station. Norah's face with intensity, and he I f"^*"'"^''^- '*â-  "'"" ^""*'' I''"^'^''''" 'hvt stopfied the filling- of his pipe. Then â- J'" H'^^ne had left some message he touched his hat, half lifting it in '^'"â- '''''> '^'"1 spoken to some ono, a;ul London fashion, and going to „''â- '"' chain of ovidonco with which bench out.side tho inn. sat dowi â- ''â- â- "â- "-• " -• - "•"• - •â-  â-  leisurely lit his pipe, and sal smok- ing, apparently p«yi„g nttlo or i,o attention to what was going on. Guildford Berton glanced at him half curiously, and was entering tho B^ngli.sh appear- nioee. Let me .sce- consfder for a numient or two. "Why yea, of course, the thing to do is to (ind out the person who saw her last. No doubt some one left tlio fete and wulkoil homo with hor." He made tho suggestion so cheer- fully and encouragingl.v that Har- man gave him a grateful look from her anxious eyes. "1 will help you to flrul her," lio said. Then he turned to Norah: "Proy don't trouble about it, Lady Noroh. I am sure there is no need for anxiety. I will make some in- quiries of tho people who were at tn<! fete yesterday. The girl is well known, and I dare say dozens of hor friends know wheru she is." Norah inclined hor head with a constrained "Thank you." and turned tho ponies, but walked thorn slowly and ho kept by the sidu with h.*3 hand resting on tho phaeton. Tho village street, usually so sleepy and inert, was alivu with groups who looked at tho Court car- riage, and discussed the ono topic of the day â€" the disappearnnco of Decca. Thoy guessed from llarman'.s accompanying her that Noroh wo-s Norah "Good morning, Mrs. Knglish," said Guildford Berton. "Is Mr. Burne in?" "Mr. Uurne, sir?" sho replied. "Oh, no, sir; he's not hero. He hasn't boon home all night." Berton gave a littlo start, and looked over his shouUler at Norah. "Not been back to tho inn? la Ko not sta.ving here?" "Well, you may say so. sir." sho said in a nervous wa.v. "But he's l>eeu awa.vâ€" to London, I think â€" for tho last fortnight. He came back all in a hurry, us .vou say, last ove-i- ing, and dressed for the" ball, andâ€" andâ€" that's tho last I've seen of him. Won't you step in, .'dr. and you, n.y lady? I'm all in a fluster this nvirii- ing, what with Becca South going ofl all of a .sudden, and Mr. Cyril â- Dt coming back." "No, thank you, we won't como in, Mrs. Knglish. You expected BIr. Burno to return, then?" "Why. of course, sir. Ho've only got on hi.i black dancing cloth'-s, and \ll hifi things is here. 1 can't make out why ho didn't come bw>k' Guildford Berton was connecting hs I disappeaiance with Becca would snai). I "Don't cry, Mrs. Harman," ''o said at In.st. "Wc shall be sure to find your nii'Ce before man;. hou'-s have passed. After all. nothing ser- ious can havo hai)pened to her." At that moment tho vision of the murdered girl ro-^o before him, and he was forced to pause. "I moan that tho very worst view of tho case a s that she ma.v havo taken it intio her head to run away. Sho wa.sâ€" Well, rather a gidd.v girl, was she not?" "Yes, sir," said llnnnon, with dif- ficulty. "Uecca was llighty and un- certain, butâ€" but Hint's tho worst that can be said of lu-r. and I cnn'l understand her running awa.v. Sho was so happy up at the Court with her lail.vship, who'd been so kind to hor. Besides " "You mean that you don't think sho woidil run awa.v aloiu-. and tliat you don't know of any ono with whom she was likel.v to do so?" ho put in, .suavol.v. "Yes, sir, that's what I meant," assented TIarnian, with a sob. Guildford Berton looked sideways at Norah's pale face. "Of course," he said, cheerfully, "Depend upon it, wo shall hear of hor presently, and we shall he quite ainiisod with the nccouni of her ad- ventures. Pray don:t j^ive way, " ho added, in a low toni\ hut pnrpo.soiy not too low for Norah to hctw. "Vou dtetross her ladyship." "He was in evening dress.- and woru niy cases, ivjiorled a light fuwii overcoat?" said the stii- sprouted, are believwl tion-mnsler. (Juildford Berton nodded. "Vcs. that was ho. And ho was aluno, I suppoKo?" "No, sir. Ho took two tickets, third cla.ss. for London." "Another gonllonian with him, I suppose?" .said Berton. "No, it was ft lady, or a .young woman, I should say." AGi; STATI.STICS. Of over.v man and woman living to-da,v at thi? ag« of iwenty-live. one out of two will live, according to the tables, to bo sixty-llvo years of ag-o. * t •r â-  A LIGHTNLNQ CHANGF. Nicholns. tho Muscovite Marvel.â€" "Dead frost, that war turn. IB give •em rhf Haguo businocJi asuin. Hurry up with tho dov, tuul oU- * brai^chl" i !