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% 7 * I 4 5 '' ' " • V <â-  * iti j. il l •• I ' l ' .. i ^ 1 ' *i â-  I' i ' ,o Hf DARE HE? ^i-.- â- S^' OR, A SAD LIFE STORY Quality in Farm IVIachinery. CHAPTER XII. "A mercg, going out bringplh oflen a mournful TClurn homo; and a joyful â- evening makes many limes, a sad moni- The reliiSl drive, as it is c,(ucker, be- ing all da^ hill, so is it a more silent one than -iJial to the villa had been. Byng indecid is as gaily \viili:)g to bo fondled by Cecilia as he was on his way up; but there is a mixture of maidenly reserve and sub-tender reproach in her manner which makes lh(;ir relations somewhat; slrained. The afternoon's pleasuring has had a jading effect upon Amelia a spirits, as, alter having been sucked dry on the subject of .Sybilla's maladies, and afterwards at once shaken oU by herjemale acquaiiilauce, she has not, been fortunate enougii to meet with â- any one elBe to exchange talk with, and has sal in disconsolate vol patient lone- liness on*a stone bench, afi-aid to stir from the spot where he had ieil her, lesl she might miss her lover, of whom, however, she has unaccounlalily seen nothing, witil when the Angelus is ring- ing, and the shadows spreading, he has â- come to give her curt notice, with half- averted face, that the flucre is al the door. la point of fact he has been too <:onscious of the disorder of his features to dare to expose them sooner than he â- can help to her fond scnitiny. He would give anything to Ije able to sit beside, instead of opposite to her during their drive home, as a profile is a much less tell-tale and more governable thing than a full fiice, and he is painfully con scious that as often as she imagines she can do it without being delected by him, she is stealing looks of inquiring anxiety at him. He tries to put her off the scent by spasmodic conmients upon the entertainment thai they have just <iuitled; ^d she does her best lo keep up the ball of conversation, since she sees that it is his wish. But in vain. Each forced remark falls still-born, lead- ing lo nothing. It is Cecilia who al last succeeds in giving a fillip to tlic languid talk. "I did not know thai Mrs. Roche was e cousin of your beauty. Miss Le Mar- â- chant," she says, suddenly, growing tired of her pensive attitude, and ad <lressing herselMo Jim. â-  He starts guillily. "Did not you?" He must look odd; for even Cecilia's large and preoccupied cow eyes rest upon him with an expression of sur prise. "I wonder why she was not there to- day." It is not exactly a riuestion, yet her grcnt shallow orbs do not seem to be going to leave his face until he makes some response. He forces himself to do so. "I understood Miss Le Marehanl lo say thai they ore not going out just now." "And .why are not iliey, pray?" in- quires Cecilia, in an injwed voice, as if the retirement from the world of the two ladies in question were a personal injury to herself ; "Ihcy are not in «iourning, m\1 their gowns ai-e colored ones, aaj they do not look as if Ujey had bad healthâ€" perhaps, however" (after a moment's thoughtful alteuipt to find a^' solution)â€" "perhaps, however, they may have somethingâ€" one never knowsâ€" people have such unexnecled diseases nowadays â€" hysteria pei'haps or Ills." At this ingenious suggestion Jim is â- conscious of a wrilliing motion passing over the stalwart form of. Byng beside him. In his own train, if there is room for anything but the desire to evade Amelia's eyes, is a dim sense of relief <il a suggtxstion so grotesquely wide of the mark as that made by the younger Miss Wilson. In perfect innocence of Ihe effect produced upon her compun- â- jSons- by her bright hypothesis, Cecilia ^oes on to i-emind her sister of the par- allel case of a very, handsome girl whom tliey had once reckoned among their acquainlance. and who w»s periodically hcing found by her family with her head under the fender. But Amelia rises but talntly to the reminiscence, and the re- mainder of Ihe drive is accomplished in ix general silence. The next day is the one which had teen Q.\ed upon for the expedilion to Ccrlosa. It was only with a very largo ndmixtui'e of wormwood in his pro.spcc- tiv> pleasure thai Jim had ever luoUeil forward to this parly, but now he an- ticipates it with ab.so!u!e dread. How can he face KUzabelh and her mother •with that ominous phrase of the "sci"ew loo.so" still ringing in his ears? He Icels a traitor towards them, in that he has. however unwillingly, overheard it. To add to his .mental unca.siness is the fact of his having as yet not broken to Amelia his iptention.s witJi regard lo the disposal of his afternoon. Amelia's eyes tiave for years had the hal'it of covertly watching him lo read his wishes, almost before lliey rosi», hut in Ihoir gdzo yeslcnlay he had, im!c.?s ..misleJ % his guilty con.'jcien.ce, doleclcJ a ! ew quality, a quuliiy of alarm and fiilif'iiiennient. He will g-;'t over Ihe cuhiniuUiication of his piico of news as early ift the day as may be; so. having finished breakfast betore Byng has «uU in taJ«, as u^al, tardv iu>- pearance, -. he takes his lia.sly way to the .^nglo-AmericaIl. Mo frnds' the faintiy llicre in a more placid frame of mind than thai which Ihcy had presented on one or two of Jiis recent visils. Sybilla is expecting her doclor, on which occasion she always likes to liave a more lacy coverlet than usual thrown over her lanquid feel; a greater cfnorescence of pink ribbons aJ.uul her Uiin throat, and a disposition of pots of lilies about her wan head. Amelia, ac- tive "an4 long-suffering as usual, is usual, is moving about in patient exo- culion of her vain and tiresome whim- sies. Cecilia sits tranquilly in Ihe wm- dow, knitting an elaborate pair of mens woollen gloves, not, indeed.â€" Id do her justiceâ€" for, any one in particular, but with a wise forethought for Ihe acui- denls and possit)ilities of life. Since, on this occasion, his sweetheart shows no inclinalion lo draw him away into Ihe dining-room for a lete-a-lele, Jim has to take the bull by Ihe homs. and rush into his subject in a more public man- ner than he had intended. But Ihe one desire to get it over outbalances all minor considerations. ".\melia," he begins suddenly, and even to himself his voice sounds dis- courteous and abrupt, "siiall you want nie this alteraoon?" The moment that the words are out of his mouth it strikes him that the form into which he has thrown his queslinu is more than necessarily unlendcr. She stops in the patting of Sybilla's smart pillows, and perhaps there is sonieliiing a little abrupt too in her monosyllabic "Why ?" "Because" â€" standing before the fire- place, with his back to the three women, and throwing Ihe words over his shoul- der, "because- If you do not, Byng ajid I were lliiiiking of going lo Certosa." There is a pause. He hears that Co cilia's needles have stopi>ed clicking ; her work has dropped into her lap. In another moment she will have proposed to come too. "With Ihe Le Marchanis," he goes on, shooting out the faleful words like buUeLs; "a parlie carroe." .Slill silence behind him. lie cannot go on staring for ey^r at the billets of wood of the unlit fire. He has to turn round qiid tacc his, companions. The only one of them wh'bse pleasure or dis- plea.sure in his announcement he at al! heedsâ€" .\meUa â€" is stooping over Sybil- la. rearranging in a high, pict^urcsque tier behind Ihe invalid's long back, three cushions, and her face is almost entirely bidden from him hi her atti- tude. „,,,; "Of coui-se if it is in the least incon- venient, if you have n;::de any oilier plans for moâ€" if- in fact, you vvanl me," he continues in a tone ti;at is at once apologelic and dogged. «. "Hul 1 do ifiol," cries she af last, ijhd wilh a distinct laugh in her voice, a Umgh into whose quality he is not anx- ious loo curiously to inquire. "You must not be so conceited as lo think that I always want you I In point ot fact you could not have hit upon a da;g that suited me better. 1 am really ra- ther 'Ihrong' to-day, as they say in Yorkshire. I have quile a hundred things lo do, and father wauls me lo help him lo correct the proofs of his sermon, the sermon he preached at \li^. Moffat's church on the Holy liinocenTs' Day. lie has been asked lo puljlish il- ls not that nattering? Poor father, 1 believe ho will end by being a popular preacherâ€" ill' fuel' (laughing again), "the whole fainily is going up in the world r There is such a forced mirth in her tone that Jim fcfils much more guillily uncomfortable Ihan if she had -treated him to hysterics or sulks. .Nor does his sutisfaclion wilh himself increase when, upon his rising to depart, she runs out of the room after him. lo say to him, while her homely face Iwilches against her will, how much she hopes that he will enjoy himseUs how perfeclly ha|)-py she shall be wilhoul him; and how eagerly she shall look forward to hear- ing all about it from him lo-mnnow. 'Tl will be almost belter than going to Certosa herse-," she ends. Bui against the unnatural allitude of this last lliglit of abnegation nature re- voils, and becoming conscious of a break in her voice, she hastily retreats and gets back into Ihe salon, in lime lo see Cecilia shaking her elaborate head and to hear her remarking with slow eiiii-'lui.sis, "Mark my words ! There is someUiiiig odd about those people, au^ it is not hysleria !" Wilh spirits sensibly worsened by his interview, Burgnyne returns lo Iho Mi- nerva, and, mounllng lo Byng's bed- room, Qnds that young gentleman stretched upon his bed, gloom in his usually jocund eye, and an open letter lying on Ihe floor beside him. But Jim is far too preoccupied to noUae any- body's gloom but his own. "I came lo ask at what hoiir we arc lo set off this aflernooa?" he says with..,a sort of flat moroscness in his lone. "We, indeed 1" rejoins the other with a groan, and rolling over wilh a sort of petulance on the bed, disheveling Ihe neatly-smoothed pillow by burrowing bis ruffled head in itâ€" "wel" Are you jHlorestim in Farm Machinery? If so, Ihe above niustralion mi.sl appeal lo you. 11 shows the fine now plant pf The Fi-ost A Wood Company, Limited, al Smith's Falls, Ontario, in which the famous Quality Line of Agricultural Implements is built. About aLyear ago, lire destroyed our Manufacturirg Plant and Hiese are the buildings we have erecled lo re- place it. The demand from all parts of the Dominion for our machinery was so ui'gent that we have erected a plant at Double the Capacity of our former one. That means that you. are assured of tlie highest grade of .Machinery and Prompt Delivery. Bsrery thing about our plant Is new and right up to date. A belter and more -hiba iium .idina3o| ^uomdtnb^ uudpom able experience in Ihe consiruction ol .Agricultufal Iniple- nients, wilL enable us lo put into your hands Machines of ^ the bighcst giadc. FROST & WOOD machinery is ased by Canada's best and mcnt prosperous farmersâ€" you cannot do belter than follow their example They Are Getting Satisfaction And So Can You. We have Uic goods, and if you will give us an opportunity, wo will prove that thpy csnnot Be surpassed by any on ttit market. Every machine that leaves our factory Is Guaranteed â€"wo never ask a man to keep anylliing that is not satis- factory. Our agents arc in every section of Ihe country and 'he information they and our travellers can give you, will, prove useful, whether you want machinery now or not. We nrs always glad to answer que-^Uons about any of. our goods. Get in touch wilh usâ€" our experience may prove valuable to you. Drop us a card asking (or calalotpic "R" â€" »c will also send yon one ol our kuudsoinu 1907 calendars. l^QU^'P^^^ K@ad Otnce and Works. Smitii's FaSIs, Ontario. There is such a henrl-rent woe in Ihe accent with which llie last mono.'<yl!able is prOr.ouiiced th;a for a niomcnl IJur- igoyric has no oUii?it idea but that his young friend too has become aware of the "screw loose.' has heard, perhaps, in detail, that sloiy from before whose ominous opening be himself had Und. The thought sends hLs heart irio his .throat, .so Os lo render hiiu incapable of a.sking an explaiialiou oL the olhor's alUicUoii. "Wel" lepcats Byi|g for the third time,, and very indislinclly, as he is now lying enlirely on b.is face. "Why do you go on saying 'we' in Ihal idiotic way?" asks Jun at last, recover- ing his voice- recovering i! only lo em- ploy, it in imitating tjh« younger n)nn's accents, in a manner which di.splays moi» e.xasperaliuii than natural talent for mimicry. It is not a poliloly wordi-.l inquiry, but it has the desired result of iicling as a Ionic on him at whom il is aimed, making him not only rolh ovw once again, but actually sil up. "Why do I say we'/' i-epeals he, his young eyes looking lamentably out from under Ihe fall of his lumbled hairâ€" "be- cause it is not -we! it is you! Y'ou lucky dog, you will have her all lo yourself I" Jim heaves an inaudible sigh of re- lief. Whatever may be Ihe cause of his companion's enicmalical conduct, it is evidently not what he had feared. There is, however, no evidence of relief or any oilier mild quality in his nexl remark. "If you would lalk le.ss like an a.ss, I should have a belter chance of laiowiiig what you arc driving at !' The query seems only lo renew and deepen Ihe other's tribulation. He fails back inio his former altitude. "You will hold Ihe while wonder of dear Juliet's hand !" hegroiins. "N'o, do noi go' (wilh a sudden and slarUing change of lone, springing off the bed, as he becomes aware that his friend is making for Ihe door, unable lo bear tliosc rhapsodies, whose full dislastefiil- iiess to their hearer the udcrer little coii- jeclures). "I'll toll you 1 Til explain ! Why are you in sudi a deuce of a hurry ? t cannot j,'o to Cerlosfi because I have just lieai-d from my mother Ihal she is lo arrive to-day. She will be hero in anolher hour." Jim's lingers are already on Iho door- handle, but this piece of news arresis liiin. "Your mother? I did not know liial -slie was conrng nhroad." "iNo more did I 1 " "It must irove been a very sudden thought I" 'Tery 1" "What a delighlful surprise for you!" "Deligliliul 1" Tliero is so ludicrous a discrepancy Ijefween Iho adjrclive and the ."L'ccnt with which it is rendered that Jim bursis into a l.iiter laugh. "?>lie would- he llaliered if she could SCO yjui- claunn at the prospect of meeting her !'' ; Hyng's blood rilslies up under his' clear snwoth skin at his friend's jeer, "but lie answers, vyil!! .some dignity : "I do nol lliink you liavc any right lo imply lUat I am nol aiways glad, lo see my niolhcr; I d<3 nol deny Ihal, it it had been equally convenient to her, I had ratlicr she should have cqmc Iwcnty- fi:ur hours lairr." Jim feels dsh.Tined of himselTi. Iliough, being nn .\«g!r>-.*(axon, he has: fur loo tuuch false sliaino lo conf.rss it dlreclly, und what !•> niCims for an amende, when it co-noi;, is of an oblique nature. "1 think far iti«>-fcc,-l plan will be lo put off Ihe excursion uMotji-llwr; I am sure Hint 1 am nol particularly keen about it." Tire indignant red Mas rapidly died out of liyiig's face; his placability being only to bo surpassed by his slowness to take offence. "is il possible ?" he n.sks. in a l!)ne of slupefaelion; then, with a siuldea Inrdy reco lice! ion ol the rosy f-.HIcrs in wliieh his friend is hcl:i by anolher lady, he adds â€" "IJul, of course, you are liotâ€" I was forgelling !" Jim winces. ".\s it Is your parly you had l-^eUer soiiil up a note at once lo the Piazza d'.Vzoglio." "No. do not let us both Ihiwv thorn over !" cries Byng, eagerly. "Heaven knows il was hard enough to persuade them Ij ncecpt in the first instance. 11 you go we shall at all events keep our coinnjunlealion:: op.'n; and youâ€" you will say something lo her for ine?' "Whal kind of somelhing?" inquire."? Iho older man, carningly. ".Am 1 lo Ieil her only what n fine fellow you are in general, or any'h-ng mere circumslan- lial?" "Tell her." liogins l?yng. in a rapt voice; hut anparcnlly tlie si.Tht nf hi.s companion, who has .scimcwftol oslcnla- tiously pulled out a noli^-book and pen- cil, and a^ijiimed the palioul air of '-no about tn write lo diclaiion, dries the sli-eam of his young eloqu'-'nce; "Icil jjer â€" nolhinf?.''' ' " 'N il'niiig spfa^fs «?T!r gWef like to speak noLIiing I' " replios .11m, Icnvlisr Iho iH^onv with Ih'j qijoialionon his lips, rftlhor haslily, for ;>â- â€¢!;• !e-l fho o:!i.-r sluiui!^:. chajigo feis CH/VPTER Xin. It is five o'clock, Uie hour fixed for the expedilion lo Curtosa, uud in Uni entre- sol ot 12 131.S, l'ia-i/.a d'Azcglio, M."s. and Miss Le Marchunt are sitling-hatfcd, gloved, and en-lout-cai?-edâ€" in cxpectu- li-in of Ihe arrival oi Iho.r double escort. 'Eiiznbetii's ffe'lomooji lias, so far, nol been a lazy one, as her lillio cousin Uorlie and his dog have again bc-oi. good enough lo pay her a lengthy vlii!! and the lormcr has uiai&led upon a rope lllion ot Uier.i u.'iical pcriorniar.cc of t'l- oilier day. liiougil wiUi Uimcaled riti -. Wilhoul Ihe powwiul aid ot Dy.ig, li:i.;i::i belli has found il a task cor.s;derak:y beyond her strength to hold a la.-g â- â€¢ cnllio poLsed on his hind legs, on a miislc-slool. He has jumped dowa i-e- pcaleilly, und no>v lies on his b:icUâ€" a;: attlludo In which experience hos tauBiit him ho l3 loss allackaislo limn la uny olhcrâ€" sawing Iho air with his fore- paws, and lilUng his Up in a depreca- ting gria» "Where is Mr. Byng?" cries BoHiB fretfully, baulked in his efforts lo mako his wily victim resume the perpendicu- lar. "I want Mr. Byng ! Why does not Mr. Byng come?" "Perhaps it you wonl lo Ihe window," suggests Mrs. l-o Marchant. in that pa- lienUy coaxing voice in wliicii wo are want lo address a lirc.-;onie eiiild on a visit, instead of the buffet which we should bestow upon 11 were il a re.sident â€""perhaps if you v.cnl lo Iho window and looked out, you would see ui.-.i coming round t'.io corner of Ihe Piaxza." The suggestion is at once r.ccepled, and ttie child, balaneing his lUigely body on a chair, end craning his neck over the window-lcJgc; is .iSiouling shnll pieces ol infornialion aa to tlio passcr.s- bv lo hui friends wUhin Ihe room. Prr.- scnlly be .shrieks out in Iriuniph : "I see Ulni I Wa is just coming info aighl 1 rtc is walking so fas! ! No !"â€" a n:o;nent laler. wit." a chu!>;;rd and di.<5- giipled nolo, ns a ncnrcr view corrects Uio first untrcssion- "it is not he at ail I II, is' onlji Uio other one f (To be conlinucd). ^ Mj^. . .?o;'};?*y-t''.\fElTy off nieF Don't yoti "knqw ll:a! n;an .vour dnughlcr is goiHg to irtiiry?" Mr. N'enl;- "So-o. I've bocvft iif:-aid lo ask hor." Mr.';, ."^n- cielyâ€" ' He's n prty.c-n.L'hrer- a n^gxilar tough. He'.s foii{;hl a fcbro nf "en nnd ha'f liiM a dnzo-i'woir.C'i.'' Mr. 'Mc<^"k (mush r.'Ii>-^c-<l)~"Oh! T^en he's all ri.^:it. 1 wa." i<;rni! tomo poor lamb li!?u "myself."