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il OR THE STEWARD'S SON .n •♦• tt •*- â- â™¦- flago," ho said, "und put this explun- I ation into circulation, uiid then iM- I turn to the Htution. I linow the sta- tion muster vt-iy well, und I am surn I can show him good reasons for keeping the bookinfj clerk silent, and he hiniBelf will untlur.stand that tho affair ia not to bo talked about." Harmnn fullered out her gratitude, and they drove on in silence. "Will you put mo down at the inn. Lady NorahV" he said. Norah pulled up tho ponies at Tho Chequers, ami ho got out. "You are letting thi.s mutter trou- ble you, I am afraid?" he said. "i â€" I liked lUscca â€" once," she said, in a repressed tone. "Yes, I understand," he murmuro<l. "But do not let it worry you too much. I shall find her in a very short time, and I am .suro it will turn out as I have said. She is Mrs. Cyril Burno by this time," and he smiled. Norah drove oPf without another look at him or a word of good-by, and he went into 'llio (;hequiTS. Mrs. Kngli.sh was still surrounded by a knot of idlers drinking her beer und di.scussing the event of tho day, and Guildford IJorton advanced to the tiny bar. "Ah, Mrs. ICngli.ili," ho said, in a cheerful voice, that was loud enough to be heard by tho [xsrsons inside Hud outside tho inn, "I thought you would like to hoar the result of our inquiries. It's a. very tame ending to the sensation, but wo have discover- ed that ])ecca South has gone oiT to a situation she has got in London." "lljcro now!" "Yes," said Ucrton, laughing light- ly. "It is a Very prosaic linish, isn't it? Hut I'm glad it's no worse." "Ah, you nia.y well suj so, sir," as.seiited Mes. Knglish, tragicall.y, "wo was talking!; of diagging tho pond " "Oh, nonsenee; Hecca was the la.st person, I should think, to commit suicide." "I shouldn't he surpri.sed at any- thing Reccu H<Mith did," said Mrs. Knglish. pursing her lips, "and I'lu glad it's no worse than it in. Uut there, it's just like her to go off like a fla.sh o' lightning iind without one word to anyone. Why couldn't she tell her aunt and her grandfather, liko an ordinaiy girl?" "Ilccrtuso lU-cca isn't an ordinary girl," ho retorted, pleasantly. "Hut as. you say, Mrs. lOnglLsh, wo arc all glad it isn't worse."... "And what about my Mr. Cyril?" I demniidod Mrs. Rnglisli, in a tone I that implied that his disappearance I was of far gi-isater importance. j "Oh, ho went uji to London by tho j market train," he said, c*relc8t>ly. I "Imivortant husintws, I e.xpect. There is nothing wonderftd in that." "Why, ho and Mecca must have I traveled hy tho sumo train!" sarJ I simio one. shyly. "Very likely. However, I am glad .set nt rest. (!ood- Kn<,'!i.sli; good niorn- hiiinming an air, he leaving them to dis- • cu.ss tho termination of tho sensation. I Outside on tho bench tho man Fur- I long was still lying, apparently I aslocp, and Uerton scarcely notic3d I him. â-  Ho made his way bark to tho sta- tion, and got tho stalion-m:vKlcr and the booking-clerk together, and, with tho iiaiue air of easy carelessness, saiil: "I dure sny you were rather sur- prised bj our visit .^nd our (piestions j but the fact is, we were a little un- ' ivi.sy at lh« sudden disnppearanco of I Ilecca Mouth. Mrs. llarman had got ! il into her head that tho girl hadâ€" I well, run away; und there waa soi.in I uhsurft aiiH|>iciou thut Mr. (lyril j llurne was connected with her (light; j hut I am gliul to sny that wo ha%o I just hud tidings from her. Hho had I gono up to London to take a situa- ] lion, and, fearing that her people VTould not lot hor ffo, she took Fronih leave." "I !»co, sir," suid tho station-mas- ter. ^01-', if there was a fusa made over ^[^l^hiiity thut went off sudden- ly without .sayin' goodby. wo should I have enough to (io in lh«t lino." I "Kxuclly, and I am sure wo nro I very much oblij^ed to you for the I trouble you have taken. Hy the way, there has been a good deiii of gossip atxiut the girl, and should uny one ask any c|Uciilions, perhaps you won t mind telling tlieni the truth." "Certainly, sir, certainly." asscnl- e<l tho station-master, und Uerton Went down tlie stops again, feeling that thus fur his rl-vcrn.'.ss and h's luck woro .serving him faithfully; but Ilia strain had told upmi him, and v.hen ho reacluMi tho cottage he stood by the door in tho wall, con.scious i;( n reluctance lo enter. Kor tho first tinio tho forbidding asiRvt of the place struck hiln^ the j dead silence, tho grinini'ss convoyed ' hy tho high walls, ki nl a chill itlirough him; it was all so terribl.v silent: and yet, for nil Its silence, ho I seimmd to hear fnintl.v, very faintly. the voice of the dead girl who lay I bidden under the hciap of luavos. Cn.MTf'.Jl XXIV, Norah drew Ilarman's arm within her own and led her hack to the phueton, and (luildford Uerton fol- lowed, fairly dazed by this latest stroke of luck. Who the girl was tli.'it had gone with Cyril he couid not oven conjecture. As he him.self Would never have coudescoinled to jirocuro a ticket for a stranger, it dill not occur to him that Cyril might have done so. Anyway, Uiis new link in the chain suited his pur- pose to a marvduuK degree, and by tlin time the ponio.1 had started h? hud collected himself and mastered till! sitnaition. â- "ITiis is veryâ€" sad r'- he murmured to Norah. Norah inclined her bead. She could not speak. â- "Ilio question is, what is to bo done next?" he muse<l. "I must go! I must find her?" so'i>- bed poor llarman. "Wo must think it over, Mrs. Har- mnn," he saW, gently. "I am afraid there can be no doubt that your niiM has gono off with Cyril Uurne â€" butâ€" but I am not sure that we ought to take the worst view of tlio case." llarman looked at him. "You se<»," he said, addressing her, but watching Norah's face, "Cyril Uurne is a gentleman; of that 1 am â€" wo all an- â€" (juite certain, and, being a gcnilcniun, it follows Ihut ho can- not net dishonorably, I am convinc.'d of that " "Why did he entice hor away?" tal- tere<l Harman, not unreasoi>al)ly. •"I'hero may have been rensoiLS of wl'.ich Wo know nothing," he answer- oil. "Wo know nolhine: of tJyril Buriifl or his affairs, and cannot sur- mise his object in running oft with Willi her. lie inu.v have very good reasons for a secret uianiage. For instance he may ho afraid of offend- ing some relative from whom he has r.x|ieclatiotia." "Marrying her!" echoinl llarman. "Ves," he said, with quiet conli- deiice. "My belief is that Mr. Uurne intends making your niece his wife." Uurmaii lirew a long breath and looked agilale<lly at Nortdi; but Niuiih aToided her eyes, and 8l<irj*l straight before her, -vacantly a,s i'O- foie. "1 havo no doubt we shall find thut they were married this niDrning." A .shudder ran through Noruh's frame, and the hand that hold Uui reins shook. "Yea," he lesumod, musingly, "tlio more 1 consider it, the stroni;er 1 iim convinced that ray theory is tho rignt one. Why did ,Mr. Uurne go off t<> London so suddenly, and why did h» come back so .secrell.y, so to speak? Ho must have gone up lo make ar- rangemt>ntH for Ihuir flight and nuir- riui;c. and no doubt he came down. Using tho fete as u blind, to carry her olT. Depend upon il, they aro nmnied by this time." •Oh, if I could only think so, sir!" niurinurod Harman. "I am sure of It," he said. "1 can scniTi'ly explain why I feel so roa- viuced that I am right, but I am coiivinco<J. llov;ever, wu can soon lind out the truth." llarman lookc<l at him anxiouiily and expoctantly. "If you will allow me to help .vol, Mrs. llurman, 1 will underlako lo trnci! them and discover what ha.i rciilly happened." liiirmati could onl.y look ut hiiu Willi unspenkahle gT.alitndc. "Ypb," he said, lelleclin^ly, "I kmiw a person -ill Londonâ€" a dete<'tl*e â€"who will havn no dilUcully in work- ing out tho whole matter, and I will telegraph to him al once," "Iâ€" I don't know how to thank you, sir," faltered llarman. "Don't you think that will be tho bc-l plan, I,ady Norah?" ho asked, spi'ukiag to her lor the first lime. Norah forowl heiself to reply, "You are very good." "Not at all," he said, with self- dein'eciation. "Wo must help oa;h otiier when and how we can, and I am (inly too glad to be of some Blii;lil service. Don't be anxious. Mis Ilitriiinn, all will come right." '"Iho scandal, sir! we havo always bi^i 11 .so refitioctpble." '•â- .Afl to -t.liftl," he .said, tlioughtful- ly, "I think wo might prevent any gossip it we took proper steps." llarman wnilc*! breutlikssly, "Oh, sir, if wo could!" "it is en.sy enough," ho said quiet- ly. "We Imvo only got to sn.y th;it wo h:v/o heard satisfactory news at the station or elsewhereâ€"" Mo saw Noruh's face suddenly (lush, and ho went, on more cautiously; "You ne-Kl Hny nothing, Mrs. llarman; in fact, the less .you say the better. Leave ic to nil,'. J am afraid I must tell a white lie or two, hut it is pardonable Ki suppre-'iH the trulh somolimes. ( sIimII sa.y that Uecca has gone to n siluation in I,<)n(lon, which she had procured without the knowleilfie oi her friends. She was such a restless girl that tho St'iry will bo readily bilieved." â- '.es, sir, sl)o was nlwa,vs restless p.ior yirl!" "I will go on with yo I to the vH- llie matter is morning, Mrs. ing nil;" and, sauntered out, "I'm getting nerrousC he muttci ed, with a forced scDile. "That won' do. Once I lose my nerro " rulling hinLSaif together, ho ptit th koy In t^ho loci^ tuui opened tho dooi As ho did so the man whom ho ha lust seen asleep on the inn bend came sauntering by. Uorton eyed him curiously, "â- < with tho vague suspicion with whict ho was doomed to regard ever; stranger henceforth, and as long .^. lifo sliould lost; and, with a nod said: "It is a fine day." "I've aeon bolter, and I've nc'i worse," said Furlong, sentcntiously and with a glance at the high wall and as much of the grim cottage u.- he could see through the half-opei door, sauntered on. CHAPTKn XXV, Norah drove to tho Court, and on tho way managed to mumur a fc-v words of encouragement to Harman, and at once sent her to her own room. Then, when sho herself was alone, with the door safely locko<i upon tho outside, world, she faced this that had happened to her. It was so incrodiblc, so impo.ssible. that at first she felt simply stupefiot! ami numbed; but pi-esently, when sh • realised that Cyril had indeed desert- ed her, that sho had lost him forever â€" for even if ho had not marriwl Uecca, all must bo over between them â€" sho uttered a low cry, and fluii^ hecself face downward on tho bed, and a Hood of tears came lo her re- lief. So sho lay and cried, her hand.-; ivrithing together, her beautiful hair strewn on tho ^vhito coverlid, iinlii her woman's pride came to her aid, and, with a moan of shame, she rose, trembling, but resolute. , This man, who hail won her heart was not worth a sigh, least of all a tear! lie had been acting, she told herself with a shudder, from the very (irst. All the pasiiona'-e proteeta- lions, which had thrilled her to thj very soul ho had learned by hefl.rt; perhaps he had rohoar.se<l them with Uocca South! Ho had been false to the core, and had ju.st amiused him- self â€" that was all! â€" by making love to hor. The shame of the thought tliut she had iM^en jille<l, scorne<l by a man to whom sho had given her whole heart, burned hor like actual fire, and hor proud head bowed itself on h:;r breast with the weight of self-scorn and contempt. And sho had believed in hiin s.i wholly, had loved him so passionately and devotedly. Had loved? A shudder shook her as something within whi-*- pered: ' Ye.s, and love him still!" And, with a moan, she flung herself '>n tho bod a^in. That ho had left her, de.serled her, for such an one as Uecca South, add- ed a refined torture to her anguish. If tho girl ho had preferred to hor had been a lady, one in her own sta- tion, sho thought she could have borne it betterâ€" but Uocca, hor own maid! No doubt they wore laughing to- gether over his treachery and fal.siv niMiB! For tho first time sho realixod that sho was an earl's daughter, an.i something of tho pride of race stirred within her, and increased her shamo and humiliation. .\nd yet iis she lay there in all the aliandonment of her mi-sory, a strange, vague doubt haunted her, a doubt whether it was possiblo th'it sho could havo beon so cruelly de- ceived, whether Cyril could be so baso and vile as facl:j .scemeu to maiie him. Why .sliould he have made love to lior. and won her promise to be his wife, it all the time ho was in lovo with IVx-ca South? At liuit, with a weary gesture, tint was at tlio .same time full of deter- mination, .she ruse \and bathed her faco. Cyril Uurne had passed from her life, never to ro-<'nter it, and from that moment it bolioovod her. if she po.sKOSMed a .spark of womanly pri.lo and sdf r(vjj)<!C.t, to cast him out from hor hi>art and even from her mind. Sho would force lui'selt to forget him, or, if sho thought of him at all, to regard him as beneath her cou- tctiipt. With tremhling hands .she did up her linir, and put cm her pret tio«t dress, and thea went downstairs. d,>- termiiied so to play her pail that no one should suspect that her hoart was vory nearly broktm. The drawing room door was open, and she went in and sat down to the piano, and began to play nusjhani- cally. TnstinrlivcOy sho wandered in- to a mournful sonata of Hchiihert's in harmony with her feelings, and tier eyes hi"gan to lill with tears. With an iinpatietit gesture sho dashed thetn away, and changed the sonata to a brilliant tugiie, which filled th.'< room with a nmgnilicent storm of sound, in the midst of which the earl enlerod. He pausi-d nt the door, looking at her, and lislenlng, and his faci! soft- eno<l, or, rather, grew uioro proud and satislied. She was very beairi- ful, he thoue.lit, and sho played lik^- n. miisiclan. Nes, this daughter of lii.-i was n cre<lit to him! Norah did not know ho was in tho room until ho came and stood by th.! piano; then she stepped playing, and, with a start, looked up nt him, and ho saw how pale and worn sho looli- od. "rioaso do aot stop," ho s.iid, wi'Ji a wave of his hand; and .she went on pln.vin.u, but more softly. FJo did not guess how keenly her he.irt ached with the desiro to tell hlin nil, and to nceive one word of symi.ulh.v find con.solution frohi hiui She cnnie to the end of the pivvo, nnd tho earl ncxlded approvnt, "Yon piny with taste and Wtpre.^^- Sion, Norah," l-.^i Mvltt; then, ns if $1000. Reward Kecent investigations have disclcsed the fact that unscrupulous haiullers of flour are endeavoring to tako advantage ot the great populArity (rf Ogilvio's " Royal Household " Flour by refilling, with cheap inferior flour, the bag.*? and barrels bearing the Ooilvie Brand, and selling it as the genuine article. In order to bring the guilty parties to justice we oft'er the following reward. '-) REWARD. The Ogilvie Flour Mills Co., Ltd., will pay One Thousand Doll.Trs (Si.ooo.oo) for such evidence as will result in the conviction of any person, persons, firins or c-jrporations who may be renilinf; their bags or barrels with flour of other nianu:'acture and selling the same as flour manufactured by the O^ilv'ie Flour Mills Ca, Ltd. Ths OgsluSs Flour Mills Co., Ltd. MOTfTREAL. half n.shamed of having unbent oven so slightly, he added, in the same breath, almost ns if he were ai'raid sho would make some affectionate re- sponse: "Uy tho way, what is this story that 1 have heard about o.^e of your maid.s â€" the girl named Ue- becca South?" Norah winced, but she rai.scd her eyes to his steadily. 'ITiis was a part of the ordeal she would- have to undergo, und sho would bear il without making a sign. "Tlio story, papa?" "Yes, I have heard, from my vaUt, some rumor that tho girl has run away. It is not true, I suppose?" "Yes, it is true." .she sai<l. "Itun away from the Court! Why has slio done .so. With whom has sh.- run away, pray?" "She is Mrs. Harman's niece," said Norah, slowly, and still playing .soft- ly, "nnd llarman is trying to keep it .secret. She ran. away withâ€" Mr. Cyril Uurne." "In-deed! It would bo scarcely cor- rect to say that it is no more than I expecteil. as my acquaintance wilii the â€" gentleman was so slight; but from what I have heard of him, I am not surpri.sed. I trust that 't will bo a, warning to you not to credit every strangr-r you may hap- pen to meet with all tho virtues." "Tho truth is not known, papa, it is Ilarman's .secret " "She need hiive no frar of m.v com- municating it. 'ilio girl has left mv roof of her own free will, and tlioi'e is an enil of it â€" and her!" Norah <h-ew a breath of relief, and ho inoveil toward the door with hi>j slow nnd stuli-ly '^U'P; liiil ho came buck and s^^ood looking down at her. ",Vro you 'unwell?" he asked. "I am a little tired this morning, papa," she replied. 'Vou look pale. Would you liko to .see a doctor?" Nonxh .shook her head again, and a faint .smilo thai was more sad than tears ctoswhI her face. No doc- tor cx)Uld giTo hor back tho Cyril sho had loved and lost! "Vou havo not looked well for some time post," ho said. "I'orhatis you iuhhI n change of air." â- â€¢I (loji't know," said Norah, list- lessly. "1 am going up to town in a foiv days. I had thought of staying at an hotel, but if you would like to av company me, I will write and tell thorn tu havo tho small house in I'ark Lano ready. 'Iliere are not many peoplo in town just now, but "Yes? I trust the change may do her good." "Tliere .wore one or two things I should bo glad if you ^vill seo to, Guildford," and ho mcntionoU sqvsreil matters connected with the estate. "Certainly, I quite undorstaniL Don't let anything worry you whlla you aro away; I will soo to ovoryw thing so far as I can." "You know more about tho cstatn than I do, I really thlak," ramnrlcod tha earl, graciously. "I ora suro I do not know what wo should do without you. Wo go to the house ia Park Ijane." "Yes? I will write and toll tho pooplo in charge." "Oh, thank you,'- said tho earl, "I had intended doing so, but II you will bo so kind." "Certainly," assented Uerton, oa if it wero a matter of course. "Lady Norah will have the room ovorlook- iug tho park? And as to horses anl so on, I suppose you will hire? I will writo to Selby's. Lady Norali will want a broughanx for hoj-solf,"- ho added thoughtfully. "Order what you think necessary," said tho earl. Norah sat and li.^tone<l in silence. She was hi>ginning to understand how Guildford Uerton had rendered him-self indi.spen.sable to her father. "Uy the way," said the earl, after a pau.se, "you would bo all tho bet- ter for a change yourself, Guildford." "Oh, I am all right â€" (julte well,"' ha said. "You 8cnrc(4y look so," return' il tho earl. "You are thinner than you were, and paUn-." (iuildford lJ<Tton fv'anced out of tho corner of his eyes at Nor.'xh, and foi-ce<l a smilo upon hia face, which ho knew looked haggard in tha light thrown by tho shadi-d lamp. "Do 1?" he said, carele.s.sly. "When I say a cliange, I don't wi.sh lo infer that Bantleigh is un- healthy, t consider ^ it one of ttoo most salubrious placeJ â- u* Kngland," remarked th" eai'l, sl jtPy- "Uut change of .scmio is sonn-timW vantage. Wo could find room for you at Park Lane if you care to come.'-' (To bo Continued.C tha change may betielit you. Uo you cro to 50?" "n>iank you, papa," sho replied. "YoH, 1 would liko to go." "Very well," he said. "I will make tho necessary arrangements. You will take Harman with ,vou, nnd the hoUMclieeper can .s«Hid .lonie of tlio ser- vantj) Mj) at once," and ho left Ih.; room. 1'ho day pas.sed slowly, draRginjl.s'. Norah tried to read, to work, but the hook dropped in her lap, and she found bers<'li dwelling upon her trou- ble, and going over all its dnlail.i one by one with livid distinctness. Hho dressed herself for dinner, llar- man boing loo ill to wait upon her, nnd went down with a lislle,ss step, to find Guildford Uerton in tho drawing-room. His presence was a very unwelcome one to her, and her face llushe<l as he came up to her, nnd, under his breath, said: ''I have wired to my man in Lou- don; do not be anxious." Ileforo slio could respond tho carl entered. I ".\h, Guildford." ho said. "I am glad .vou (lii'i- with ua this evening-. I 1 was goinj; lo usk you to come over. Wo are jvoing to town for a wcvk or two. I.ail.v NoiMii has not. been look- I iin; wi'U ftir sor.io little time past, ' at.d ucods change of air." ANKLETS OF GOXD. English Women Vse Ancient Sym- bols of Slavery. TTia anklot. after hundreds of year<i, has returned to favor in London, am* is to grace the .slender ankle o£ the belle of to-day. The modern anklet roseinblca tho plain gold band first vroru as a .sig.i of boniiage. IWng a slave no more, woman, as is her habit, is only too elad to ploy with tho .symbol of slavery, provided tho symbol is h-y- coming. Thel•^^fore, tho anklet graces the foot of the girl â-  who wants to b«» iu.st a little more tliau uu^rUy up-to- dnte. Oriental nnklets are much in de- mand, and in many iimtauci-s thofo uro supplied wilh a hinge and claso, and slip round tho foot ea.sily. Homo of the new auKlets are tho tiniest gold beniLs inscribed with an- cient charms, said to defend th) wearer from all diseases and from evil of ever.v kind. Other anklets are made of preciotis stones strung together. -Thiv.o arc worn under the slocking, and scarc.y- ly .show through, so fiuo and sumll are ihev. I'lioenician gln.is or beaten goM nnkh.ts carved in hieroglyi.hks are very popular, mid will probably bo v. orn at winter danco.s. 4 It is hard for a man to stnnd r.n hi.i (!i;jnity when he has aoro feet. Kven tho pessimist who lost bo'U hia legs in a raihvuy ftccidc;a ha'^ uo kick coming.