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[ ♦ttfO^^-f 04-«4-»>«^f tt>0^»>«H-iCH«4«>m-»H^5«HH»4^^ A House of Mystery OR, THE GIRL IN BLUE CH^fi4Ha*«><H 04«+0>a+«>0> t«4 O>«>-O4-'CH-0-f«>«f «>-«-f C-f CMAPIER X.â€" '/ ontiniK^I). If, however, N-lling ClianiiLnK w^s preity, h>H- t«auty vvh.s lar e-Up* hI t.y thill of my noitjliijip on my ^gh^ a. lull, •dark-hau-ed girt in b:uo, ;i ,\U-.s \n-oii, whij w.th Nv niotftei-, a qui^l. whiie- hair«Kl, okl.>r!y lady, \vt>ic lie on'v o'lh^r giKil* III adiillion to iiiy^-.>lf. rroiii Iho JThmicnt we wero inlfv'duO'i i saw tlial Mrs. Ans.)ii's daughter pii-a,es.;«J a (ace thai WiiA ubijoliitely [>ei"f';<-"l. ratl'or cv«l In shiii'*, Willi largo, l.tauliful <»yes, that ^^nvM to sliiiic as4t:ey lookod liijj- â- cri mo, and- t.> search m<> tliroiigh ami through. H«r c<iiiipl<'\ion \va.s gixnl, bw cbeelu wolli jiiouUf'd. Iter luoiilli small and teifo;tly forni'^d; ti^r le>-'th gieamod whilo ever and anon as sho sniil.d at the CoVon^'r.s huinjrous re- marks, and her. wj.se was* ji:.5t .suffici- ently lip-llltet* (o g;ve licr coii;it--uaiice a piquant aii* of coquetry. Her loslumc, rich and wilhiiU. any un- due oxaggc.rati-in of triiiiin n^; or at>le. spoke mutely of tlv^ handiworti of a nrsl-..las9 couluri<^r.>. The sliu^l-^; af turqu<iiso biL'e auitd her dark l>"aiily admirably, and Ihc bodice, cul discreeU ly low, revealed a ncoJi wlwl.> and (irm- ly nhjulded as th.il (4 llv \eiius of MiV). .\roiind iicv throat, sitiixnidrtd liy a golden thain so line as lo be almost imperceptible, was a singk dtaaiwiid set in a thin ring if gokl. a large stone of magniJlcenl liwlre. It wa.s her ojily ornJiui'Mit. but, lla->.hing inij filiU^^r.ng with a ihiiisand liivs. it was quite .^iir- (Ici^Mit. She wor- no r;ng.s. Ikr han-1.'?, white and well-furn-.ej, w^r,-) devoid of any jewel.*. The si.nglo diani irid g'oani- eC and giiiij-rod as it ivse and fvll no- on hor bre.i*t, an ornani<-nt as.surcily fit lo adorn a. princes.-^. Mrs, Anson f-al opposit<> nie, challed pi- a-sanlly diirjig lli- meal, and ii'iw and. Iheii tier dau^jliter \v<vu!d turn, raise tier line ey^-s lo inino for an instani and join in our ronvor.-alion. Thai she was exceedingly cW'vcr and well- infoiiivd I at once ('elected by h-T te.r.so ami cJovor critic sni of the liiUst i>iay,j which we discus-ed. 5>l:e conrpuri-.t il, with a display of 'know!t«lgc llial sur- prised me. to a I'l'cnch play but ;itl!t' known imvc to sludvnls â-  of llie I-'rc :ch drama, and once or twice her reriiarVs ujoii .stage technicalil.'es (â- nii.4<>d''ire lo suspect that slic was an ucUe^^. Mi,s. Ansm, lnAvever, di.'<..'elied Ih.s notion tiy oxp«s.S!iig her disapproval of the stage (ls n profess^n for wom^vi, an opinion with whicU|l;er daiisriiler ai once agrood. No. .<^ coiiM not U- nn aclre.s.s, I felt a.ssuretl. Both molbi-r and tt^irghter IxiPc' th<? unnii.slakable hall-niaik «if genllew..inion. I .'ml lesldc Mabel .\i;son in rapt ad- miral on. Novel" before in all my I fe hat> my eyes fallen upon so perfivt an incarniilon of fc-iniaine giaco and niar- veil'iu* beauty; ne\er liefore unlit that moniont lia.1 a woman's face h.-ld nic in su.h onchanljiieiil. .Sh<» hesitated. For an instant her huslrou^ eyi-s met mine, and she at once lowered Ihoui wiUi a d-jwnwaid sweep uf her lung dark laslMss. "1 don't Ihink thai a girl Ihiniting M;-riously of her future husband stKiuid lay any groat .strea* on good temper,' .she ari.-;wered, in a .sweet magical voice. "\ .soldierly form, a pair of g-^od eyes. h noblo piijJili' â€" any «if ttsese niighl ea.sily ou^woigh good tuniier." ".\h! tli'-re, I fear. I di.-agrv wilh you,' 1 r-Mnarlced iiiiilingly. "II has olways aj/peared fcj n-w that after the (irsl year or so married pi>oijlo rarely tliiiik of each otiiei'^ features, l)^cuu*e ll.ey are always in eo.?lv other's pres- ence. They become twiddles.* of wlie- Ihci- each <>ther'.>> feature.-^ arc cla-ssica' or ugly; bul they n>:ver fail U be cog- n.sanl of one snotlKsi'.* icnujor or short- cotnings." "You speak «.-» though from experi- en.-e," .she laughed wilh-aU, however a'tenipliitg to coiubal my argument. Vn-olher outburst of laughter greeted Ihi.s lM.nterit)g reniark of hers. '^'o," fibserved Ne!ii<', on my other liand. 'Mr. Ili'alon is the nvosl con- tinued baclvelor I knuw. 1 beli..'\'.' hes a woiuan-hilerâ€" if Iho tiulh wefo told.' "Oh. really. Miss rhanning!" I pro te.st.xl. "Thif.s coiLiinly Umj bad of Vi.u. I a.s.sure you I'm no hater of the sex. but an admirer." "Ulealon'.s aboul Ui make a pretty KpsMli," obs-wod the jov.al, r>l-fac<.*d ('.lionet, "(.ni on, Wilfoid. my d-ar fel- k)\v, we're all allenl.on.' "No," I fiaid, laughing. "I've been drawiK quit- unfairly into Ihl* contrn- \ersy. Tlien'foiv I'll pr<.s.'rvc a mas^r- ly .silence." "Mr. Healon is, I thinlv. diplomatic," Intigher^l the dark, ha»;ds<3me girl next til in-', "ile has cleared his cliaracter of thv' asp^nsion aisl upon it, and pre- .sei-V'\-< a Jignillt'd altiind'." And she tiwni'd and smiled gaily upon me in triumph. Sh» wa.*! exquisJio'y chinning. I sat at her sido gossiping merrily, while to my dazzlcil gazt* .she presented a beau- liful picture of yoiilhiul a ry delica yâ€" feminine .sw?ctni\ss cmUMned w.lh pat- rician grace. For the lirst time in all my life Uiit |ieU:ot>a'ed paradox, wo- man. convcy<Hl to mo the impre-ssion of lerfect beauly, of timidity and grace, cinibined with a natural, inlxirn dig- nity. Tl>cre wa.^ nothing forc.M or iin- nalural in I>it nianiK-r a^ with oth<>r women 1 h.id me'; none < f Ihat affected niannishness of doporliii-nt and slangy • nibellishnients of o«5nv,isalion whi?h are s-i characteristic of girls of lo-day, be they daughters of trnd-smen or of p«<ors. The qiialit e* wh ch imparled to Mabel her ilistln.'l indivduality wiclhe tiiaulful oombinalion of ih." dainty dcl- cacy with llie elejjanceâ€" of .simplicily with .•levuti«!n â€" of spirit with .sw •elnes.s. The a r less manner in wli ch lier innate Pnsently the oonvcrs;itloii lurnet. as n.ibility of soul mid natural luttine.s.s of SMTil shone forlh Ihrough her patri'ian d sguisc was apparent fi\>iii li.-r c n- vorsiUon when, an tiour later, we re- sumed our chat in the diawing-in mi. SIh» slwwid in Ihat .slmrt and pleii.saiit gossip that she iwss-.sst'd that iipiighl simplicily of mind wliich dLsdaim-d all ci>x>l\ed and indu'cet means, which would: not sloop tor an instant to dis- SMnblnnce, and was mingled with a rK.ble confidence in the jxiwer of go<jd in IIk' world. Slve gave mo tho impi'fts.sionâ€" why. I cnnnol lei! â€" of '-ne who had passed un- der the ennobling discipline of suffer- iufj and self-ifen al. .\ melaneh«dy n'e csUhI inich"Ti tempered the iialura!- vigor of her mind; her spirit si^-m d t«> stand upon an emlneiice and 1 ok down up^in me as one infoiior ti> her in inlolkct, in moral principle â€" in fad. in every- 11 so often does at dinner-tabu's, upon certain, engagements ivcenMy announc- ed, wheix'uixin Ihe Oilnnol, m the mer- ry cureless manner hobitual t» h tn. advanced the theory that most girls niarricd wilb a view lo improve li.eir sociali posit.^n. "As ill a husband's fortune," remark- ed hi.s w fe, with that stiff fornmlity â- Vvhich wus her jieculiar ch.Tracleristlc, "il really isn't so im :oi laiil Ij a wo- man as Ihc qualiles which lead lo fo.'- lunoâ€" ambilion, determination, indusiry, ihrift~and fxisitiim such a man iiiuy attain for himself." ".Vnd in educatloni?'' inquirtM Mrs. Anvni, sofMy, app;v nt'y lht> argument. "In education a man certainly should ho his wife's equal,' answered Mrs. Chaniiing. speaking wit'i Ihat high ed our gla.sfies. and rejoined the four UiJics who were awaiting UiS in the drawinff-rooin, whei'e later, at Mrs. Qianning's urgent pereuasion, my di- vmiiy in blue seated herself al the piano and in a sweet, clear contralto sang 111 Italian a charming .soUi from Puc cini's Bolteme, the notable opera of that season. Then, with tbo single diamond gliU lenng at lier throat, slie came back lo wi.eie I .stood, and sinking into Ihe cosy corner with ils pretty hangings of ycl- U'W silk, slie accepted my congratula- tion.s wilh a delicate grace, a channing d gn ty. and a grateful .•-mile. .\t last, however, tlk' hour of part- ing came, and reluctantlyâ€" very relucl- anUy â€" t liiok lier small hand, bent over it, and handod liei" into her carriage beside her nioiher. "Good-night," slie cried merrily, and next ia'stajit the fine pau- of bays plung- c«l away into the rainy nigh-t. I reliimed into the hall, aivd my host helped me into my overcoat. We were alone, tor I had mode my adieux to his wife and daughters. "Wilford," he said very gravely as lie gripped my hand prior U> my de- parlure, "we are old friends. Will you permit me to say one vvx>rd wilhoul tak- ing offence at il?'' "Certainly," 1 answered', surprised. "Wluit is iir "I've noticed lo-nig!it that, like many another man, you are entianc<.d by the beauty iif Mabel Anson. Be careful not lo make a foal of yourself." "I don't understand," I said quickly. "Well, all I would say Is, that if you d<wlro happiness and peace of mind, steel your heai-t against lv:r,'' be an swered wilh a distinct air of mystery. "â- ^'ou speak in enigmas." "I rn«fely give yoi» a timely warning, llmt's all. my dear rol'ow. Now, don I be offendeJ, bul tjo homo and think il over, and resolve m^vor aga.n t<j .see h'Tâ€" never, you understandâ€" never." pitched 'jerkliicss <il tone which made i <''â- "«. fiom th'' very tiisl monionl 11 apinar as Ihnigii I.er words snap;cd \vhon 1 had bow^xl lo lur on otir intro off sh .rl. "Undoubtedly Ihoiv Ls s mio d'^^^lnn sho held me Si.-clL-bound in subtle aflinily between cpposiles. '\'ot there must lx> likeiiftss as well a'* un- likcni^s. Tlw laltiT will leml piquancy, wlilcb is uleasanl, but the former will give iieace, which is essential." "Wilh that <pinion I quite agree, mo- ther," icinarked Mabel Ansun, neir.ly. "Al first love il.self is, .d course, all- sufficing, bul a l.ltlo la'er Ihe individu- al characterislic-s must ie:iss*'rl them selves, and ttien in the absence of c 'ni- prelK-nsion and ,sympalhy in on.'S tasli^ mill Ihoorios a barrier .springs up. slighil, unoonfes^si [lerhaps, but still impa.s.siliU\ and in one .'vnse man and wife aio not 'one,' but distinclly 'two.''' ".Vly d-^ar Mabel, yuu talk I'Ue a wif- man of IKty," Iwr mother ronmrk.'d re- provingly, whereupon all jo a.d in laughter". Her daiigliloi'ii chi> ks (lashe I slight- ly, ar.d tor a nicmeiil she ;ipi>eaped coo- lU5ed. 'WeU, molher, I only expressed what is my llrni <iiilnion," she piote.tixl. wilh a pii'Uy poll*. "1 s»'e S) many ill-as- Bfirted eiigUKVinenls imnjuaireil and niarriage.'i (junlracleil tluil my theory b<v;uiies slivnglheiuvl every day." *'.\nd is not good temp'T o^isential »-flh .1 hii«b.'»n<l?-Come, now. I.el.s hear .voiir ioeas on thai p<i4iit.' said Ihe Colonel, challliigly, from behind tli« big eperyne. d'^^^llln sho held me Si.-clL-bound fiLsin ilion, Wlien the Indies had left, and I sal alone with the (xjlonel, snuA. iig over a liipieur. I mqured aUiiil h.M'. "Mrs. .\ii-on is the willow ofxild Ccn- eial Xiis m." he said. "He died about twehc years ago, and tiieyve since lived a gn-iit deal abiMaJ." "Well off?" 1 inquired, with affected care'G-v-jie.ss. "Very ooinf<'rtably, I .should say. .Mrs. .\nsoii h.is a forlune of her own, I be- lieve. They have a house al present In The Bolttins." ".\laU4 is exlwmely gooit-looking," I roiiwii kod. "Of c»iur.-e, my dear bo.v," laughed (Iv; Odoiiol, with hi.'J liqueur-glass |xii:-- et' in his hand, a Iwinkl" in his eye. 'nv>lw<vn us, s.hes Uk' pretliost girl in London. Sh-» creates a seii.sallon wher- j ever she goes, fir beauty like hers i-n't j iii^t with twice in a 1 f«d nie. l.ucky chap, wliocvor marries lier." "Yes.'? I sad reflectively, and then dil g' ntly pursueil th • l->pic. in an en- «leavi)r to learn further details regard- uig her. My hasl eith r knew very lit- tle, or puri>aM'ly affiv^led ignorance-â€" which. 1 wu> uivable to determi'k-. He had known her fatlicr inlimaiely, hav- ing bei'n in ha legonenl long ago. That was about all 1 leariil furllier. So wo tossed away our cigars, dra n- CIIAPTFJt XI, I/mg and deeply I pondered over the Col jiaJ'^ words. ITiut ho had sonic w.iicr'.y':ng motive in thus warning iiw against Uk; woman by whom I had be- oviie so fascinaled was vividly appar- ent, yet lo all my demands bo remained dumb. On the afteni-on following I fi und him in the St. James's Club â€" Ihat cliib <f dip'onialistsâ€" and reverted t) tiic siibj 'Ct. But all the resj;oa:« lie vouchsafed was â€" "I'vo iiKTely warneil you, my dear fclkiw. I shall say no more. I, of course, donl blame you for admiring her. 1 only tell you to pull yourself up short." "But why?" "Ho'^ause if you go further than ad- miration .voii'll be treading dangerous groundâ€" devilish dangerous, 1 can as- sui-e you." "You mean that she hr.s a jealous lover?" i suggested. "She has id lo»er. as far as I am aw.Tj'e," he answered. "Tlv-n. speaking cand;<lly, Channing,' I said, "I don't sec why you should turn prophet like thi* without giving me any reason." ".Vly 'rea-xjn is briefly told." he said wilh unasual gravity. "I don't wish to .>:ee .vou uivset and unhappy, now that yim've i-ecovcred your s g!;t." His words s<^enK"d: very lame ones. " Why should I be unhappy?" "Bivaiiso .Miibel .\nson can never be more to you than an acqunintance; she tan never reciprocate your love. I tell you plainly that if you alK^v yourself io become entranced and all llvat sort oi th ng, .vou 11 only make a confound- ed ass of yourself." 'You certainly speak very plainly," 1 ob-*n-ed, aniio.vod that he ahou'd in- terf re so pr-nnaturcly in a mailer which was assuredly ir.y affair alone. "I speak because I have your wel.'aro al ht-url, Wilford," he answered' in a k.ndly t^mo. "I only regret now that I a.sked you lo my Uible to meet iK-r. U is my fault, entirely my fault.' "Vou talk OS tbiiugh she weie s iiie genius of evil," I laughed. "Let me act as I Ihlnk lit, my dear Channing." "l.et y<ni go hcadking to the devil, eh?' he snipix<d. "Hill to k>ve her is net lo go on the <lownward path, surel.vj" 1 ciied mcre- dnlou^ly. 'I warn you. once and for all, Ij have nolhing whatever to do with her, ' he .sad. "I kiww herâ€" you do n.>l." But I laugN-d him t-o .s<'orn. His words i-ei^m.d utterly alsurd, as though hi:.! in nd w.to tilled by some strong piejudice which l.e dared not U> uller fjr fear ol luying liini.self open lo an acti<m for slander. If Iier acqu.iint- ance were so extremely undes.rable, why ilid hi' invite h<'r and her TiKither to ills tub!-? His w<>rds were not Ixmie cut I'V his own nciioiis. S.I I ba 'e h'Ki fart well ralher coolly, and lefl the club iibruplly. in anger wilh mv.self al having sought him, or b(«to\vc,l a s ngl." thought upon his ex- traoi'dmarv wurning. fl'o be Cx)nlinued.) #MÂ¥MVMVMWVMV^^^^^^^^^ ON M mi I^^^MV W M^^^^^^^^^^^ ^ SLIOm" MISTAKE. J;m was Ihe village necr-do-woll; nl- ways in .'â- oiiie .sciai<' or other, n jlhiiig daunled by ro.eat^'d thrashings adm.n- ister.xl to him liy his father. \l llie age of fiiurtecii he ran away to sea, 1 ut was glad tiiough to return home again at the end nf .-ix moiilhs, hav- ing had a VI ry r.'Ugli line of it. On lh> .MX- iiid day afier his lelurn, he WHS walk itg. or, rather, limping. thiMUgh tli<^ villag»> when he met llie piir.sin, will stopi.ed liiiin "We'd. J.ni.' .said lb; niiiiisler, "glad to .s(s» voii've come Iwick homo. Did y. ur fatler kiH the Tatl.d ^alf?" '.Nil. sir.' ledivd J 111. "ill he \vi,\ iKurly kii:«vl live irjdlyal lop." E.M'hJil.Mli.NTS IN THE FtEUlNG OF HOGS. The results of Ihe experiments in the fi.'Oding of hogs that have been con- ducted at the Central K.xperimental Farm, Ottawa, were described ivcently I., the members of the .Standing Coni- niitlee on .\gricu!lure of thii House of Commons, by .Mr. J. H. Grisdale, Do- miiiiou .Agriculturist. .Mr. Grisdale em- phasized strongly the value of roots for pi.gs. Hogs, when turned into a coro- ner of the rout Held in yeplember, ate mangels first, next sugar beeU, then carrots, and, lastly, turnips. There was, he said, objeclion to this method of feeding. The pigs were apt to de- velop too much paunch, and not to make as rapid gains as wtien the amount of roots fed was controlled. Theieforri, whilst one saved in Ihe cost nf harvesting," lliere was a loss in tho rate of gain, and kind of product ob- tained. "We compared root pasture with a!- falfa and with red cl-iver pastunn'j.' said Mr. Grisdale, "and then we com- pared a lot in the barn which had no pasluro at all, bul which received a cer- tain o^iiount of roots. We found Ibut the pigs which we ha-l on root pasture cost us $3.8i a hundred. We estimated the roots at so many bushels an acre, and worked it up tlial way. Of course, the roots cast Os less unharvested than when tiiey were harvested. Fetl in pens, without looLs, the 00.^1, a 100 pounds of gain,- was W.23. When the pigs v.<Te f<xi with roots and meal in the pens the cost w«.s $:i.*J9, and when fed with roots in the pasture, the cost wes $3.82. Whi^ Ihe pigs were fed on alfalfa pnslure, the cosl was $3.(17, and in red clover pasture S:1.52. You will see, Ihepefore, that Lading with rools and meal in the pen was the cheapest way of fattening them. We have foimd that 10 gel quick and profitable returns from fatU'-ning pigs they niurt be kept in clo.-e quarters. For breeding slock, it is probably belter lo give the pigs a run. ''We have had a bunch of ynung sows out all winter. They have done very well, but the cost, of course, was some- what more ti feed them than if they had Leen inside. The c<st of feeding Ihc pigs outside- pr,:wing sows â€" was about 6 cents each day. Tho others fed iiisii.'e cost fi-om 2% to 5 cents. Com- paring inside wilh outside feeding, il usually cost about t cent a pound in- crease in live weight, when fed outside than when fed inside. Another experiment conducted, was fwding pigs on milk, on sugar boets and on mangels. When fed on meal and mangels, tho cost to produce 100 rounds live weight, was $C.20; with sugar teels, $5.05; showing that the sugar boot is very much bclAer than the jnaiigiU." .Vsked what k nd of f<'ed produced ttie test pork, .Mr. Grisdale said in his ex- perience, equal parts of oats, peas and barley, and about throe pounds of skim milk, and' aioul as much rools. For every two pounds of meal or grain, Ihere should be an equal amount of riols fed An oxperin!<»nl had be<^n conducted in Ihe wintering of brood sows. In one bunch there were 29 breed sows. From the 1st of December. iyo7. im*il the Ulh of March. 1908, it c«isl the Dc- I.artanenl $i:!5."J9 to feed those 20 sows. Tliey were fed 37.100 pounds of roots, it $2 a ton, 3.788 p^mnds of bran ul $iZ a ton, 4.151 pounds of slmits al $25 a ton, and 1,5,50 pounds of hay at $7 11 ton. IVirlng the first seven weeks, that is ab.nil 50 days, those sows cost just 2% cents a. day lo feed. This shows that it is possible to cam- brood .•>ows through very cheaply, even un- der such adverse conditions as are lo b- h;:d al the farm. Th-.» last seven weeks, or 50 days, it cost a little more, becau.se the sows wee getting mar tho i time for farrowing, and thoy had lo be I n tK'lter sh.ipe for llie IiIUt-s. Mr. Grisdale in reply to questions, said Ihat pumpkins vveiv an excellent r.e^l fur pigs. In fact h.^ di<l not Ihink that anything would surpass them as a cheap fattening ration. .-Vrlchokcs were a capital Ux\\ for fallonijig pigs and brood sows ftjr aboul a nionlli in lh> fall and two weeks in the sjiring. LONDON'S FINEST PARK r.KKHKSIIMKNT PLACE INVADES .4 RKSOKT OK K,V!>UION. Ucing tttiill in Hyde Park ki (lie Itlng >Vhcrc Lord.s and Ladies Make Merry. .Ml tliioiigh Iho. gUxmi and fog of winter Londoners Uike small account of IlK'lr parks and squares «nd have only a d-^adeiied uppiecialitin of their charms. Few [x-rsons walk or drive in tlK'in exiept as short culs to. various d stinalloiH. Bul wilh the tiisl warm hint of .spring Ukj^; one.' decried places iii'o ciowdd Willi Londoners big and [ 1 llie. whi -ok Iheiv the prncUciil de- I ii'iiLslratvin Ihat si)ruiglim,> li.as c^jiiie. Will. s a Lonton coi respondent. Nxver has lh<" .spring Power sh iw in live pinks bctii iH'Ik'r worth .-ecing Ihuii !his yeiir. Fl<iwers in Knglami iK>ed 01 y small eii(^iuiag.'meil to jjrow aiul il;e flisl m III w('ntlv.'r lrln».s out myri- ut-. of (laffoilils. primroijes, eixjcuses iiihI t<ilip.>. Ihs .vear ttc Giien I'aik abounds iu golden daffodils. In St. Jame.s's Park and along Constilutton Hill the grasn :a starr-d with white, purple and gold crocuses. Regents Park lias made a si<«cialty of primroses, and Kensington IPark has united all these in a mulU- coloreJ carpet. H.vde Park has its usual display o( blossoms in which Oaunt ng i>m1 and yali lew tulips predominate, but !o the lior- ror of lovers of this largest and most fashionable of London's paiks amid lh« fl.iw<Ts and grassy lawns is rapivlly ri»- ing a "refresliment retreat," which m being Lulll on one of the most popular and frequented walks. \s a matter ot fad history is only r<y;ea'ing itself and this new little lea plooe is to be on the very site of Ihe F.UIOUS "BING" OF BYiiONE DAYS, where for many generations fxshionabU ladies and gentlemen caiiM to walk, di'ive and legale tliemseives on llie dainties uf their times. it was J-tenry VIII., that royal proper- ly grabber, who "acquiied" the church Ifindi of the .Manor of Hyd<? in 1536 and oonvcrte<i them into a deer park, when he and his suecesaors could hunt la their hearts' content. Charles I. ad- mitted the pubhc to the park in 1631 and Itien gave 11 to his peopie> as a pUice for racei and. athletic sports. Stem old Crojnwell seems lo hav* Ir.vcd lo walk about Uie park, and it was he who conceived the idea of en- closing a great stretch of grass with a driveway about it inside iron raU- ings, as a .sort of locreaUon gi-ound. Af'er the Restoration the o-al popularity of this grassy lawn was eslabusbed and it lecanv; a regular les^rl for fa.shion- able men and women every afternoon Ihrough the spring and summer. Even the King and Qu<-en visited the "Bing, ' as il was called, and ^imelimes linger ed lliere lo watch Ihc games and sports. In the very middle of the enclosiin w.'iie nine p<Jo!s or spr.ngs or sparklin| waler. where people congregated (4 drink cooling draughts and where caro ful molheiB dipped their newly weaned babies for luck and heal h. A wc<HJen Iwuse was ei-eoted in th< IBjig called Prices Lodge, where lighl Ttfixshments were wrx'ed and whicli Pepys and his amiable spouse oftefl frequented. He says "after going to se« a line foot rac three times around tlw Iling we ret red to the lodge lo partake of chocisecakes and tankaiMs of warm milk." L\ QLEFiN ANNETS TIiME Ihe gayetles in Hyde Park Oourshed well. .May day w;,s high fcslival for Ux lords and ladies of the e'urt. Ma; pol«s wei-e set up and dancers stepped to the rasp and screech of the llddle slj-ings and bows. Upon the new grown gra^s collation.s were served fiMin Price's Lodge. W ith William and Mary's reign came a diminution of roy- al prestige for llie Ring, bul Ihe fun and frolic evidently continued, as ono chronicl'tT. Tom liriowne, describes it Ihiis in 1700: ".Sc<ires of gallant ladirs in coaches, some singing, some laughing and others tickling one another, biy in the Biug and devour choestcakes. marchepana and China oranges." Then cuine a time wtien the troops were encamped in Myde Park and th« olTiters were nxis.s--d wilhin Ihe King. This dees not seem t> have ds"oiuerl- <'*i in Ihe least Ihe gallant ladies, as liiey still continue to visit their favor- ite recriatum ground in the afternoons, roi p into the lenls. joke with their oc- cupants and llnish up wilh "hot dishes of lea and sweet drams of ratillas." Tho first King CK'orge thought best (i: regulate the gayety -if his court, and s'n-'o .soni'" <^f th«^ slnider element w-^ra -shicked al Ihe revelries of the Hlng re- s'ricUons i»eix- inip<i--ed upon Iho e wl'xi vi.--iled Ihe park daily. Hired c^ioches could not enter the park gates at all. Only pei-siins of quality w, re adinilted Ul Ihe ring. Children and iorvants in liv- ery wei-e ri-legat^sl lo OL'TSIOE THE IltON BAU.ING.S, where lh<.'y had to wail while their au- gxisl pareni.s and nastei-s took their wallis around Ihe Biiig. Jhwever, tlM popularity of the recreation ground soon waned and the gallant ladies "hiiTicd Iheir attention ol.s. wh â- re.'" Early in Ihe l.xst century Prices Lodge was pulled down an.l the iiim railings onclo.sing the Bing torn follow<'d. Bo rwshinenl and merrymaking were ban- islxxl and Iho Bing l>x-ame like any other stretch of gra^iS in the purk with Iho jiromenavlc around it. In the gkwm of the later C«.'orgian period and llie early Victorian era, Hyde Park became Iho so!«.i;nn resort of fa.9hion and weallh that il is now. Hired, cats aix? still tubo ed and dignity and ie|)ase mark Ihe daily progix-ss of smart victorias in ll-dteii Bow and tho nxirning chun-h iKiw.Ie whiclj is lo be sen on brighl.'sunila.vs in Ihe season. That a rH^freshiiient p!ac« should rise vn Ihe old site of Price's Lodge is but fitting, and it i,s lilting t,.io, ]M>ihaps, thai tea and thin bivad and butler should replucv Ihe mairhepani, China oranges and iyllabuls of byg.nc days. But it is <!oublful if the stately ladics of loshiy wdl regale themselves in the Bmg as did the "gallant ladies"' of past years, for Jvihii Bull and his wife lake their pleasures sadly now, and the dig- nity of a drive in the park Ls not likely lo h« marred by taking lea within iU precincts. ABOUT PAPEHH.VNGEnS. We don't know what It is to have a cyclone visit our home, but wc don't lolicve it could make anore muss about the place than Ihe jiapcrhangers do. Ef lONOM l<ll.\L WE.VrHEB. Byb illâ€" "What do you call good woa« llier. anyw.ny?" T ghlw.^1â€" "Tile Kind that make* a iiinn's wife prefer her own home lo • Irip d<, Willow u."