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( "HOf )0H«+«H*H-<H^>O^ttf «f 0>«-f 0>«-f»>-5>f 0+«>«^^ A House of Mystery OR, THE GIRL IN BLUE IOef«4«4«eHa4«4«>«>«-H5-Wf.> >»H0^«H-«>«><H«4 tSr rtt;re youU find your s!gna'\jfr??j lo- "U you examine tb» marr.age leglv gslher with that of your v.'.e,' G<Hlge observed, with a cotihtknco tival ratlier surpitsed me. "1 shall certainly take no trouble in such a matter,"' I declared. "11 is al- leged thail I am the husband cf Ihid la,jy, thiTer'jje tt is tor her to bring proijf â€" not lor me 'to seek it." "Very well, th^n," cried the woman who called herself -Mrs. Healon. "With- i.i three days a copy of the cerUflcate sjiall be placed in your hands.' "I'm not very partial '.o cop es <i do- cuments,' I observea vory dubously. "I always fj-efer orijrinals.' "The orignal is, iin'ortunat^ly. lost.' "Stolen, or strayed away of its own CHAFFER Xl.X. "My dear WiKcrd!" exclaimeJ Uio ttiin- taced. angular woman, "I really think you must have taken leave of your BC'as«.B.'' IMy dear madam." I cried excitedly, "l haven't the slightest notion of your name. To tlie lc-;t of my knowledge, I've never had 'ihc plensure of ineeting vou b«foro ths n-.omont. Yet you have Iho bjidms* lo assert that you ar^ my w.fe! Th.^ thing is ab.«olut<;ly prepcs- teirous!" I luughud cynically. "You must be mod lo talk like this!" Ibe womaa answered with same as- perity. "I '.ell you that I'm not mad, madam. ' i protested, "and further, I dectei-..- that I havo never married." "What rubbish you talk!" she j?aid. •This accident to your head has eviilont- 1/ ;if(<ict«i your intel!e<;l. You must rest, a^ Doctor- Britten has ordered. "* "Th.) doddering old idlol ihJnks. Ike yours^'lf, that I'm not quite respinsbe tj- ray actions," I biugbeJ. "Well, we fehall see." "If you were in your r'ght .^onscs you would never deny that I am jour w.fe,' ensw« jied the ovf r-dressed woman. "The Ihaig's too absu-rd." ".My decj- madam," I cired, growing angry, "your allegations ar,.' utterly n- d.cu:ou», to 5ay ibe lecst. .\il Uife is either some confounded cn^pirdcy, or else you mistake me for somebody els >. I tell you that I tin WiKord Ikat n, of Ej*cx .StTe^'t, Strand, a bachelor who has, neither thought nor inclination of marrying." "And I tell you thtil you nr» Wilford Hcavon, my husband, and owoer of I his house," s^e answe^ied. her face grow.ng ««dder with e.xcilement. The situation was oerlainly .stranger than any other in which a man could posiibly be placodv That it was no dieaiii, but a st-em reality, was entire- ly plain. I glanced around the com- forljb'e libnixy, and saw ''bTe evidenc- es of w.nlih and r.-finenn-nt, wh:U> through Hhe wiiid-c^v beyond my gaze Cei; upon the wide park sloping away to a large lake glistening in the sun- shine, and through Ih* trc<ii b-^yond. could bo sc<?n a distant glimps-> of the blue waters of the English Channel. I .vUxxl iflt'rly nonj)hisscd by the startling declaxiUion of ths artificial- looking jKirson, who aped youth s>> ri- dicul<^usly, and vi-t spcke with s-uch an air *>.f ctnnd^^nco and <!cltTm nati*,!!. ".\nd you actually expect me to bo- Ue\e this absurd story of youi-s, thai I *in your husband, when onlv lo:»L night I direa at The Boltons. .ind was then a boohel ir' Basidej, madam,' 1 add«rd with a toii<A of sarcasm, for I con.'etw that my anf;«r was now Ihoivughlv arous-\l, "I think theâ€" well, the differ- ence in out- ages is suilicicnt to convince any oive that " ".No, no. ' she hastened to inlorrup! me, as though that jxrinl were very dis- tas-lftul to her. ".\jcc te ent roly out of the question. .\m I to understand Iharf you di.--'tinctly deny having made mo your wife>7" "I do, Tnost dt-cdedly." I Itiughed, for the very idi-a was really t o ridiculous to entertain. She exchanged a pitying ky* with G<.\!it;e. who stood at a liCMe distance, watfliing in silence. "PiTor Wilford! poai- WilfortU' she ejarulatod in a lone of symiialhy. and, addiessing the man wteo called hisiiselX my 'ccretary, said, "It ,-e mis quit- tiuc what tl!« doctor has doolarod; the bk)W has uj-srt Ibe balance of his mind." ".Madam,"* I cried very d<-<ermine<lly, *you will oblige ni* by n^>l adding fur- ther insult to yoxtr atlcim;ikd imi:osture â€" fcn'iiui'h sympathy is insulting t'> me." She claisped hor handis, turned her «yes up\\ard, and sighed in the manner of Uie elderly. "You i)elieve that I'm mad. Tbeiefore you aro trying -lo ijupose iijxini nwl' I wejil <in furioi:sly. "But 1 tell you. my <kar m«d:ira, that 1 am ju>t as san ^ as yoHrself. and am fully prepar«xl lo i iMve that I am not your huslond. ' "A-ik Mr. Gedgo wh<?tJicr I sjK-ak the truth or nc(t," siie said, turning to Ute secrc»lary. "Certainly,"' an-wereil Iho man ad- dres<»d, Icoiking straight into m.v face. â- "1 have no hesitation whaU.'V<ir in bear- ing out Mi-s. Hoaton's sta'esnav'." 'It's all humbug!' I ci-od, 'u:n ng sav- agtHy ujoiv him. "I d<_ai t kn-fw this woman fr^.>m Adam." "Well," he lau(SH\I cvnically, "you ought lo ikr«y\v her pjTtly well, at any rate." It was appaiwil ftvm his 1 mo Iha-' lio had no vei'y high opinion of tnr. "I'm pleased ^^^ sfly that until 'hs pre- sent !ii:om«Tvt wo have bo?n sli angirs, ' I .^aid, lor I wa® not in a humor lo mince words. "You an' extivniely c«m!)lim'"nlaiy, WilfoiNl," ihe oio-j^i^d ivscnifully.. "It appears to nie that o<inp:i»nonts arc entirely unneoos<Ary in 'h s affair.' I said. "You otv eivleavoring tiv I'nrust yowso'i upo« roo as my w fo. n ord«r. i eupiy>ie, to aohievo .-oine ol'je."t you have in view. But I lell yow < nr« a'id Ur all, madam, that any such allumpt will bo lulite. To speak phiinly, I don't know you, neither have 1 any d-sire to add you to my li^ of aoquainlancos-" "Well," she cried; "of all the stories I've ev*T hiVLPd, this is the most extra- ordinary!" "1 think, madam. I may say the scm-?, â-  I remarked coldly. "Your story is the WiU«5Pt and m>jst incredible that I've ever branl. Last night, as a bachelor, I dined with friends in Korsingfon. and left at a late hour, calling at a house in Chelsea on my way homo to Essex Stjwt. To-day I awake to be tokl that I am the owner of wrealth beyond the dreams of avarice; maMw of ''his house â€"in^ Devonshire, 1 belle^•e, Isnt it: and your lawful husband. N )w. if you think me capable of swallowing su;h a pack of palpable Actions as fhe^e. you must certainly consider be abeoiulely insane, for noive but a madman would give credence to such a t s-ue of lite." "CKrctor Qr.tten consdeis that your brain is unbalanced, tecause you do RTt know <i\e truth," she ^aid calmly. "•I quite agree wit>h him." "«es a fo^lâ€" a dnv. 11 ng idot, ' I cried, forgetting myseif in the heat of >.he moment, and using an unwritabk; word. .Mention of that totltring eld fossil's name was to ine as a red flag •lo a bulk "I surely know who and wha'l I am!" I ci-ied. "No. ray dear WiUord. that s just it. You doii'l kn^w whj you are," the wo- maa answeied with a smile. "Oh!" I exclaimed. 'Thtn ptrliaps you'll kindly inform iine. :\\i 'Shis may be vei-y ajiiiising to you. but 1 assure you tiiait to mo it's the very reverse. ' "1 can only tell you w.'io you aro cs I know you -'.o be," answered ihi pow- d^K•d-faced, doll-like old Vidy. wh.js-> al- Uinpts at juvenile ojquetry sickenel mo. "Go on.' I sa.d. preparing myse.t for more attcmi-'ls to befix>L nK\ "I ask you fifot whelfr-r' you are not Wilford Hoalou, of IkatonAfanor, near TewkesLury?" "Certainly." ".And j\ju were once stricken by blnJ- i:es>?' "That is so unioplunaCely." ".Vnd yoa uro n(.w ^arryin^ on busi- ness cs a financier in the Ci-ty of Lon- don?' "I know nothing of llnan"c," I answer- ed. "Thi.i .\lr. Ciodgoâ€" or whatc-ver his name isâ€" has told me somo absurd fairy- tale about my petition in London, but knowing myself, as I do, to be an ar- rant duffer at ftguros, Vm quite pos-live that 'Uie atcry is all bunkum." - "Th<>n how do you account for these nK?morandum forms," inqitired Gtdge, taking some from the table, "and 'or these leltci-s? .\pe Ihey njl in your hand-writiiig? ' I glancod at the let'ens h- hold. They reftnvd 'Jo s^o:no huge linajic al <r:msac- tion, and were certamly in a hand that appeiO-ed wonderfully liko my own. "Some cwiie has teen imiKJ«ng upon y<ju. I tell you. This is a caise of n>i&- taken ident.ty â€" it must be, my drar sir" "But I tell you it isnt," prcWsted Gv'dgo. "\\l thai your w:fe has .^aid is the ub-oliilo truth." "My wifel" I cried angrily. "I have n > wifeâ€" thank HoavenI" ".N-i, no,'- wh:ned the painted oVl w> man, dubbing her eyes witih her hand- kerchief, veiy lighlG', iKiwever, so as iwt to disturb tlieir aitifldal.ty. ".No, don't say Ihart, iny d>'ar Wilfoixl. don't say that! You know that jou aro ray hu-^bandiâ€" you know >ou are!" "I knj^', my dear madam, quite well tha* I do not occupy Uiat dLstinguislvxl pi'siton,' I respond!'d vvj'y firmly. "But I can prove it â€" I can prove, ill' sh? cried wivh a futile effvKt at trars. Then I shall to nh-st intorcstal to .sts? this exliaordinary ft, 'ton proved," I said. "Pertwps we shall then g.'t down lo fa-ts.' "The facts are as already stated, Cndge r«iiarke-.1. "Then lei me se proof. Thefc must b< a cori:licai:e or oflicial entry s>wne- whoiv if what this Ifldy says is ivaUy ooirect. Where is it?" "My cerlitL'irte was stole?v when my jewel-case was rifled in the train be- twot-n Watcrkx) and Exeter," she an- swenxl. "But, of course, a copy can easily be obtained. Your solicitor in lx>ndon can get a copy ait once from SoMiensct House. "CrlincaUi stolen!' I cried. "A most ingenioiiis excuse. I quite aiKicipakd it. although it. unfortunately, exhibfts m digliialUy. Thieve-! dent usually steal marriage ccrtifloates. Tlioy can't pawn them, you know.' The woman bi-.'oiv me glanc-d^round th<» room with an air of bewilde:m nt. ami 1 'hen knew that 1 hail cornered her. "And wh TO did this e.xtra n'ltinary marriage Ix-twecn us take place, pray?' I ipquii'-d, Ui-l without some bitter ii-onv. J "At .'<t. Aiv.Ircw'i. Wells Sire!.' "Wells S're.'t. m London?" "Yes. You surely romembci- it, dmt y<.u? The chuich is c'cte by Oxford C reus.' "I know the church quite wel'.* I an- vswei'ed, "But I nio^sl fliinly and dis- tinctly d-ny ever having been lnBi<Ie.ft in my life." ON TIE FMl PfiEPARING LIVE STOCK FOR THE RING. In the various live stock depart- ments there is a certain class of professional exhibitors who need no instruction regarding the prepar- ation of animals for the show ring. Some of them have certain methods of feeding and ways of handling live accord^-eh?"" f added with a doubtful j stock for rounding them off for ex- laugh. ... .. ... ... hibtion purposes. It is impossible Are you content t, wait until the cer- j^^ ^^^^^^ a detailed description of j their methods. I breeders take As a rule, many their cattle direct liPicate can te obtained from Somerset H'juse?" she inqiiiped. "?iio," I rcsponaed. "It you are aclu- , ally my wit? as you allege, madam, per- jfrom the pasture to the fair. A few haps you will khvdly explain tl'je mj-s-j weeks before the fair the cattle are Ury of my preseace here, in a bouse ; brought in daily and kept up for a Iha-l until an hour ago I had never seen ghort time until they become accus- in allmy l.fe.' Itemed to their feeds. In this way The woman and the secretary agaui ... ^„ __ „ .. j- i„.k«j k,. exchanged glances. I saw tliey oo,t>id- ' ^^^^ "« ""^ disturbed by ered me an utterly Irresponsible agent. •*'^« sudden change when trans- They believed me to be demented. iferred from the pasture to the fair "None of us can explain, it.' (i?d^e 'grounds stall. With plenty of good answered. "There is some mystery, but chopped hay in sacks, the exhibitor wh.Tit H 13 we cant yet fatlxim. ' jwill be able to do so adjust the meal "My^ery!" I echoed, 'n should think land cut feeds in sacks to the needs i^^.r^»tf "?* mystoy-anl deviUhly ' ^^ t^e animals so that they may be comphcated it must be. too. wh:n I fmd i, . .., â-  . j j • myself m this amazing positim Why.^-'^P* f"^ ^^^" proper feed and m ifi sufficient to turn th.? biain of any 8ood tone. Good alfalfa and clover man to be told of one's marriage to a.^^^lj cut, makes one of the most â€"to a woman one has never set eyes , satisfactory cut feeds. U|.H;n before, andâ€" well, old enough tio 1 Care should be taken not to over Ikj his own mother!" I crowd the animals with food on the "Hush, hush!" said the secreUiry, who ; way to the fair. Frequently the ap- appaienly wish-dto avodasc.n-?. Hei titg slackens in transportation evjtenlly knevf that this angular wo- ^ , exnerience shows thit it is bet- man. notwKhstanding her affected jy. .and experience shows that it is bet- venility. possessed a fiendisli temper. I \^^^ *» keep tnem under, rather than ha-J detected it ty the keen Ijok in her 'overfed. The feed given them dur- eyes and the Iwitchings of ber thin, ing transit should be dry rather bard tips. I than possessing too much succu- "If 'm in my own house,' I cried jlence. It is a well known fact that wTath'uUy, "I am surely renniltevi to gome animals will not take much .««y^wli«t I like. Am I master here, orj^^tg^ ^y^^^ ^^ j,jg ^.^^^ ^ence the ""CorUinlv vcu ai^, 8U-." he respond- j °f«!«^5 .f 'i^^ '""Jl'^ ^^.^Pf^'" *o, instanllv huiiiblod. jThe mdividuals should be watched. "Then U;.ten." I sad. "Until thJ ar-;The more nearly they can be kept r.val of the ccrtiflcale from LonJoa 1 , and fed as they were when at home have no wish to meet tliis lady who a I- the better. Itges that sh:> is my wife." . Animals should not be washed Then, turnng to her. i made hw" a L^til they are thoroughly rested "^..f'.'^^' **»!"« ".<?"''-"*''l>-.„ .^ after their journev. The facUities "1 h:nk. madam, that it will avotd , â-  • 'â-  ,„j „„„ u„.„u^„ any furthn- w«ds of a disagreeable na- [««• ^f '^'°S' 'f '«^« ffP- brushes, ture if we-iemain apart for the present.', buckets and plenty of fresh water. "Ci^t;iinly. Wilf'-rd,- she cried, put; It is important that this work be ting her hands out to me with an im-' pushed rapidly. Animals are taken plorlng ge-stuie. "Go and rest, there's to the fair for show purposes and a dear, and carry out !> ctor Bi-!''ti'ns the oftener they are in the show the onlrrs. You wilt soon be right again k^ttgy {q^ tjj^ individual who shows if > on do. You've been puzzling your L^^^ .Vfter animals have been head too much over your ugures. and ., , , u j ^l u i j i blow h,as affected you. Go and thoroughly washed, they should be queen cell ; but in every instance ba sure to see that each colony from whicb-tb&.8warms has emerged haa a good fertile queen in it. There are hena in some sections that are far from the sources of sup- ply of oyster shells^ yet they equal those in other localities as egg pro- ducers. Nature prompts the fowl to select the food best adapted for their purpose, and, if given a vari- ety, they will balance the supply s*» necessary for the production of eggs as well as provide for their bodily wants. While some of the common pigeons are kept, they are not recommend- ed ; their flesh is too dark and they are too small to bring best prices. The American Homer takes the lead as an all around bird, with the white German and Belguim quite popular. The Dragoon, the Duchesa ' and the Runt follow in the order named. The whites are very pro- lific, but smaller and more delicate. Some are crossing the two with good results. The Belgians are a very plump bird, but smaller than the American. you. you go I woukl ask groomed carefully daily, the more the better. The character of the stalls and pens rests usually with the manage the rest. But beta you one favor." "Wi'lir I inquirtd' in a hard voice. She drtw noari^r to me, an<t with that de:*«tab;e artiticlMl wiquetry Lifledi berjJnent. The exhibitor should be care fiice lo mijie th;il I might kiss her. {„} not to undulv expose a valuable "No!' I cr.e<l roughly, tor I was bo- L^^j^^, to inclement weather. Pre- side m.vself WK h ange-r. Let me re- , j^ „^ ^^ j ^.^j^. mam m peace. I don t want to meet 'i • i u- K ^ a u* you again, my dear madam, until- | able animals are subject to draughts until I know the worst. ' "What have I d^me, W"ilf-rd, thai you s!;oiiW treat me thus?'* sh.^ wailxl bit- •lerly, bursting into a toi-rent of tears. "Oh, what have I done? Te;^ me." "I doiiT. know what you've done, and Tiji suie I'm not interested in it," I re- si.on*.-d. ".\ll I know is that when you d<cUir.-^ that you aie my wife you leU a deliberate and downright 1 e." For a moinenl she stixni im hesitation, t!e;i, wi!h 1oar> fkiwing fast, she cov- ere.l h r face with her hands and stag- g»Mvd fioin the room. Was she only acting the broken-!;eai-t- exl wife, or was that emotion real. Which, I could not decide. If all Ih s w -re part of some con-pir- acy, it was oerlainly one of m ordinary ( haractjr. But what a onfoiradedi o'd bug the woman wa*i! I shuddeienl. Sillily she could not be my wif >! Tlio suggest.on was lo>) utterly prop oten.us lo l.>e enteilan^-d for a singl' moment, and witiiin ir.ys.'lf I laughed, her allega- tion tu sci^rn. (To be Continued.) RATTLED. 'Hear about Reggie 1" 'What's the latest?" 'Well, you know how bashful he isi "Yep. Get on." "The other night he proposed to Miss Coyne. Of course, he got all balled up. He thought the proper thing would be to get on his knees to he*. " "Yes." 'So he did. Well, he hadn't been on his knees since he was a kid. And, rattled as he was, he couldn't think a thing to say but 'Now I lay rac down to sleep!" ROCKY. Mr. Wiggins, in his study, was en- deavoring to concentrate his thought upon a bit of writing. A perpetual noise in the flat above an- noyed him beyond human endur- ance. Rushing into the sitting-room he cried. "What is tha,. confounded rack- et f" "My dear, it is only the lady above rocking her baby to sleep." "For hei\^n's take run ar.d tell '.evsrcd-.J't ttet-sw^rins niav bo pio-' her to use ^ntilli&r rocks '" ' vcr.totl by ci-.tting out aM tut hue and beating rains during heavy storms. Frequently blankets can be tacked up affording ample protec- tion. There should be more individ- ual exhibits of first-class pure-bred stocks from farms. Frequently of this sort takes the ribbons away from professional showmen. It is competition like this that adds in- terests to the live stocks depart- ment of an agricultural fair. FARM NOTES. Timothy hay is very deficient in albuminoids, while clover is rich in them. These go to make milk and growth in the young animal, and also contain the greatest amount of fertility to be returned to the soil. Therefore, it is of double value. It is idle to say that there is no use in trying to get the last weed, for they will come again. It is ob- jected that it is hopeless to try to keep weeds at bay when the seeds thereof are traversing the air and at certain seasons are coming down upon the land. A determined, per- severing man is more than a match for weeds, though they come from any quarter whatever. Has perfection been attained in the potato! Can it be found in any variety? Probably not. As a rule, we fiijd that those varieties that are of the purest flavor are usually only moderate yiclders, more subject to blight, more in- fluenced by unique moisture and drouth. On the other hand, those of great productiveness, as a gen- eral thing, are poor or only passable in quality. There has been a vast improvement in the potato in the last few years, and new varieties are constantly replacing older ones. LIVE STOCK NOTES.. .\fter horses have been working hard and their hair is all matted down with sweat it rests them much to give them a powi currying just bef 're bedtime. .\fter the prii^ary swj>rm has em- BATHING IN THE DEAD SEA. Sir Gray Hill Tells of His Exciting Experience. It is well known that the waters of the Dead Sea are much heavier than those of the ocean. This is due t» the great amount of salt held in solution. A few years ago .Mr., now Sir Gray Hill, of England made a trial of swimming in the sea and then in the Jordan, to compare the two. He tells the re- sult in his book, "With the B«- duins " : Many tourists while at Jerichs bathe in the Dead Sea and the Jor- dan, and for very shame I could not pass by without doing so. But my experience was peculiar. I had with me one of the Jericho sheiks and one of the muleteers, and we rode first to the Dead Sea. Its waters are generally perfectly still and of a splendid blue color ; but now, o\«ing to the storm, they were \erv rough, the waves ran high, - and for some ttro hundred yards from the ,3hore .were of an ugly brown. I looked askance at it as I un- dressed, but felt bound to go in. The waves very promptly knocked me down, and fiiled my mouth, nise and eyes with their strong brine. Again I tried, and again, picking up one after another of the bare branches of trees which are carried down by the Jordan and washed on to the shore of thia strange lake, with which I tried to steady myself as I walked in. But the force of the waves, aided by the great floating power of the water, twisted the branches out of my hands, and knocked me down time after time until, feeling that I had done -enough for principle, I ac- knowledged that the victory did hot lie on my side, atd scrambled out, smarting most unpleasantly. Then we galloped off to the Jor- dan, where I thought I should suc- ceed better. So I cast about for >» suitable place to jemp in, for I did not like to crawl in ignomini- cusly at the pilgrims' bathing- place, near which we were, and which would have been the wisest course to adopt. I wanted to take a header. So procuring a long stick, I ascended the stream a lit- tle, and made sure by sounding with it of a deep spot under an over- hanging tree. In I plunged, intending to swim down to the regular bathing-place, where I knew there must be a good bottom for getting out. Down I came with the fast-flowing, yellow flood, striking out in the fullest en- joyment. But when I was just about to put my foot to the ground, I was brought up sharp with a tremendu- ous blow on ray right breast. If it had struck me on the heart it would, I think, have killed me on the spot. I had come down on to the end of a stake pointing up- stream, and driven in to hit .-k the upper boundary of the bathing- place, but which was hidden, owing to the rains having raised the sur- face of the river. I had some dif- ficulty in crawling out again, and was black and blue in the chest for a month afterward. There is no- thing like a little experience t« teach one wisdom. WE.XRIXG EM OUT. ''You're not as strict with thai voungster of yours as you used to be." No, for economy's sake. Every month 1 used to have to buy myseft a new pair uf slippers and him a nev, pair of pants. THE LAST LAP. Meekerâ€" "Just one year ago to- day I led my wife to the altar." F'^ekerâ€" "You did. eh?" Meo^.;erâ€" "Yes, .-in'l right tliere and- then my leaderslup ended,"