MUM— ■ ill I - _ w ■ ‘ft. beside his mother he told her the story of the St Cyrils. Mrs. Trenholme lis tened wi.th Interest, and was delighted when he had closed. "Then Marina was of noble birth!” she cried, delightedly; "and It was no mcaa!'lance for you to love her, Ralph. Poor child! We must have her brother and sister up here at once." "Just my own thought, mother," then turning to Imogens, "Have you any ob jection to offer?” “None,” she answered coldly; “Mr. Trenholme's friends will always be wel come at this house." So after dinner the Trenholme car riage and Ralph went down to the Reef House and brought up Mr. and Miss St. Cyril. They met with a cordial wel come from Mrs. Trenholme and Agnes. But when Imogens was brought face to face with Genevieve, the agitation of the haughty woman was something al most appallng to witness, She turn'd white as marble, her eyes g!owed with feverish lire. But In a moment she re covered herself and bade Miss St. Cyril welcome with a grace that few could equal. • • • • Time passed. Still the 8t. Cyrils lin gered at the Rock. They were pleased with America, and Ralph would not lis ten to them when they spoke of going away. His mother was delighted with the brother and sister; It was very pleasant to have such distinguished persons for guests. It gratified the pride of the good lady. Before a fortnight had elapsed Guy 8t. Cyril was In love with Helen Ful ton. And such a life as the gay girl led him! His tenderest speeches she laughed at; his flowers she made Into wreaths to deck Quito, and when he asked her to walk or ride she said she must stay at home and flnlsh a pair of stocking*! she was knitting for her papa. But one day, by some stratagem, be hr»r nut tn rlilp Thf»v ha.fl not MISCHIEVOUS MATCHMAKER. "I am nure, Conaln Molly, that Mr. Beaumont la in love with you." "Nonaenae. Nellie! He know* very little about me. I have only been atay Ing with you three weeka." "But don’t you Ixdleve in love at tlrat Might?" *’l am aura I don’t know; bub—" ! "Now, be aeualble, Molly. You know yon are very fond of him." "I don’t know anything of the aort. I don't care a bit alanit him—that la, I think he la very agreeable, and liand aome, and kind-hearted, and all that—” ‘ Von might mid ‘(lever, vlrtuou# and fnxi-inatlng.'" "Why?*' "Herauae then you would Imve given him all the i|ualltlea that a woman can o*l»ect In the man ahe would murry." tleal Joke, but surely this one Is a little, undignified. It was understood that you would refuse." ‘‘I made no such pioinlse. Mr. Beau mont.” "Why. Moll Ip. dear, whatever Is the matter?” “Don’t come near me! I’ll ne-never for-forglve you! You are a horrid, mean th-thlng. I’m parking up and go-going away.” "Now. don't be a silly girl. What have 1 done?” "You pro-promised to refuse him, anil then actually accepted him. You treacherous creature! I'll never speak to you again. To play such a vile trick on me! How could you lie so heart less?” "But I saw yon leave the room be fore 1 gave him my answer." “I came back and listened outside the door I heard you accept him ,and then rushed away.” "My dearest Molly, It^was all a prac tical Joke. I thought you were out of hearing and I was Just teasing him, j I am sorry I have hurt your feelings, | and will confess all. I have been | hoaxing both >f yon.” "How?” "Mr. Beaumont never iiuvint to pro pose to inc he lores yon alone hut lie went through the farce at my re ; quest. He Is waiting down stairs to | see you. So. bathe your eyes, make I yourself pretty and come down. I gave the |hm*i' mail quite a fright, bill I was awfully penitent and lie bus forgiven m®, I will tell you nil about It. There -we’re good friends again, aren't we?” • •***• “My darling Molly, you have made me so happy.” “But don't you feel a terrlMe biga mist—accepted by two women In the same day?” “It was a cruel Jest of Nellie’s.” "Yet she meiiat no harm.” “Nevertheless, I should like to pay i her back In her own coin.” “Yes: how can we manage It?” “Look. Molly! Here Is Oapt. Hurs ton coming up the drive. We will pre tend that Nellie and 1 are engaged.’’ A Palm Hard* Fresh Air. The air where a palm is kept tnuet be moistened by the evaporation of water about the plant, or by the appli cation of it to its foliage Fresh air must be admitted to take the place of that whose vitality lias been burned out by too intense heat. The plant must have a place near the window, where dircot light can exert ita bene ficial effect on the soil. Care must be taken to give only enough water to keep the soil moist. Good drainage must be provided also.—Washington Star._ Antidote for Parboils Acid. There seems to be no restrictions to the sale or use of carbolic acid, one of the most powerful and dangerous poi sons known, and the result i£ a large number of cases of accidental poisoning are reported. Dr. Kdmund Carlton recommends cider vinegar as the best antidote.—Popular Science News Free to "Comrades." The latest photograph of the Hon. I. N. Walker, communder-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic Write to F. H. Lord, Quincy lluilding, Chicago, and you will receive one free. You will never realize the scarcity of your friends until you used one. Billiard table, second hand, for sale eh sap. Apply to or addrsss, H.C. Axis, Ml H. 1-th St., Omaha, Nsb. ■ CHAPTKR XIV—fOowrmjan.t " Put I ruined all your happiness! O Regina! niy wife! It has been this ac cursed pride that has wrought It all! If v e but had our Ilvea to live over again! ’ " Huahr ahe aald aoftly. ‘Lot It be a* God will*! He known beat. And there la a hereafter where all the*e broken golden thread* can be taken up, and Joined agnln together. In that we find our compensation.' ‘She remained with him until he died. Two day* of watching pasaed, ant) eno morning be quietly breathed hi* jaat In her arms. We took hi* re mains hwie to Auvergne, and there we hiiri«0 him beneath a tree that he had plant#*! on the day of bia marriage. "On an examination of my father* affairs, It was found that he had left hi* whole vast possession*, without re- , e14*1 for the Ashes' Hod help him fils brow felt ae If *a true bead bourn l| round the world wui dark os night hie heed whirled so that he had h stood) himself hv the dour knob befort ># lifted the iat< h IN beer a voices in the silting room With H ftfUr •ge he up p.oe had tbs d>sui He might ns wel fgr« the worst nt once. He entered lh< ,ug«n n l wes Night end cheerful Hb gSOther «u SgAfiag in be* srest ■ hell "I do not know to what you refer." "Well, once upon a time, a very good man, a member of the church, I guess, became so disturbed in his mind that sleep forsook his pillow. He grew pale and haggard. His anxious wife In quired the cause, and after a great deal of hesitation he Informed her that he had committed a murder, and burled his victim under an apple tree In the garden. The good woman got a couple of men to dig for the unfortunate re mains. and after a hard two hours’ work they turned up the skeleton of a toad. Now I would respectfully Inquire If you have killed a toad?” “You are Incorrigible! But you shall not evade my question. Were you out In the boat last night?” "Don’t! You hurt my arm! And you’ll break my bracelet. And It coet a heap of money. Yes, I was out In the boat.” “Did you go to the Rover’s Reef?” “I did." "For what?” "To see the Rover, of course.” “Pshaw! Did you see me when I went there?” "I did; but unfortunately you were not the Rover. You are not dark enough, and you don’t wear a mous tache. Why don't you?" “Will you be serious and tell me who you found on the reef?” “You are inquisitive, Mr. Trenholme. If I were speaking to a third person, I should say you were Impertinent. Can't I go to meet my true love all by the shining sea without giving un account of It to you?” “Who did you And there?" "I found Mrs. Imogeue Trenholme and a man black as Othello, Moor of Venice. Only I did not know that the Moor had cut off two of his Angers." “How came you to go to the reef?” “I saw that my lady and her gallant had lost their boat, and thought It al most too cold a night for salt sea bath ins ’* “And you look them off?" "I did. And they offered me uulold cold If I would keep it a secret. I told them I’d never tell of It unloss 1 changed my mind Hut I'm In n great habit of changing my mind. I’ve done It several tunes in my life.” ”1 should think so Well, Helen Ful ton. you know something about me that no one else knows; you can keep It to yourself or not, aa you choose I will tell you aometblug mure That mas baa ruined tu) peace; be baa destroyed my confidence In n»y wile. A terrible temptation to leave them there ,o per ish beset me last night, nnd but for you I should have been a murderer You do not know how deeply grateful I am for uiv salvation!*' Thunk too And If you will allow me to offer >uu a bit of ad vice keep iiulel on this matter; the boat drifted away front the reef, >ou know" "Hut this wan this Moor, aa you call him what became of him?" Ah' Voo want a lltttlr more >»n geattce do you*" '"I want to know whither be went*' "Ha weal In the ittrecituH of Fortlee > I know ae more Hon’t tana# we for I her I moat dree* tor dinner " And she danced away Hul|>h went tu aia room and sinking > ua hla knew* he thanked Hod from a i full heart that he had bees saved from > this terrible *iu Hy sad hr ho re luroed >0 IF* parlor and sitting dawn gone a mile from the Rock before she challenged to a race. She rode Agnes' horse Jove, and Guy was mounted on a stout but by no meuns agile beast that he had taken at random from the stables. The road was smooth and a little de scending. Helen gave the word, and off they started. She did not put Jove up to hie best pace, for she wanted to be near enough to witness Guy’s discom fiture when he should discover that his horse was not built for speed. They swept down the hill at an easy canter, down to where the highway was crossed by a brook that was spanned by a stone bridge. Helen was looking back laugh ing at the sorry figure Guy cut with bis heavy going horse, and did not perceive that the late rains bad torn the bridge away, until she was on the very brink of the gorge. It was too late to wheel her horse; she gave him the bridle, closed her eyes, and he leaped the chasm. Guy came up on the other side and hesitated. Helen felt reckless. “Ha!" she called out to him, "so you are afraid! There Is a ford a few rods above, where you can come through and not get drowned. The water Isn’t more than two Inches deep. I’ll warrant you that!" Her tone stung him. He knew the Inferiority of bis horse, hut he could not endure to be dared thus by a woman. He struck bis beast a sharp blow. The animal reared and plunged over. The water was deep and the cur rent rapid, but the horse was strong and reached the opposite shore, but not before he had cast his rider headlong upon the rocks in the bed of the brook. Helen looked back pale and startled. Her heart felt cold. She turned Jove and plunged Into the water. Guy had been partially stunned by the fall, but the coldness of the water bad brought him to consciousness. She reached out her hand to him. “Come.” she sala; “let me help you out of this. I suppose they will all say I got you In.” *Po you want to help me, Helen?* 'TO BB CONTINUED. ) Identified bjr 111* Htla Signor Luigi Ardltl, the famous con ductor of opera, and the composer of much delightful music, la entering the fiftieth year of hla public career, and on lta completion will puhllah bis remin iscenced. The conductor of an operatic orchestra soon learns more about great singers than they themselves could tell him. He knows their moods, can un derstand their temperament, and la probably the only person to accurately gauge the limitations of their art. Hence Signor Ardltl'a hook will throw a new ami Interesting light on many favorites of the t eratir stage. To all opera goers the halo aurroundlng Slg nor Ardltl'a head Is famlllsr, and the maestro tells a good story shout It, at hla own expense. It was In the days when the Mapleaon opera company, ftoiu Her Majesty's, was lu America, aud at one of the lowue Ardltl went ta cash an open check payable to hliueeli and made out by the Impresario. If* reai bed the bank and presented thr paper to the cashier, who looked ftrst at the check, then at hint, and said, “I must have some proof of Identity, Thli Is an open check you may tie Mr Ar dltl or you may hot " This waa awk ward, for the musician had no card 01 palters with him. whereby to set ih> ■lueetlou of Identity at reel, ami he dh not wan* to hate a Juurney hack to hi' hotel. At last a bright Idea airnck him "(to you ever go to opera?" he aahei the i ashler ' Yew, 1 have h**g sever* Hiring," replied the cashter "Thou, i rted the music ten. turning totynd agd tcnlt aud lifting his hat, 'do yen nseai to tell me you don't know Ardltl?’ fb familiar hack-view at nave cuutla«*< the cashier and with many apolofle* Ike muuey was paid I'rtMs ihe Mhetcii i now tonsiltetur In Indiamspoilg ha diphtheria think of Ihe ameunl a iktowl hie suakeehlg has in gerfln, I hl> ago News r»u Are a Irbrnilnv I«lttle Mulch mnkcr. "Kcnlly, Nellie, 1 believe you are nothin# but a Hchemln# little mutch maker." "In till* lnutance perhapa I am. But It 1* certainly a very dealrable match, and you are both head over eare In love with each other.” "I pro teat, I don't love him a bit.’ ( 1 f Ml <14*11 I HUBW J UUI "OH. yes, I do. I don’t love lilm, and I wouldn't marry him." "Do you mean that?” “Well, of course I do." i marry him myself." i "You." i "Why not?" “Oh, of course, It Is nothing to me.” "Quite so.” "But I think It very mean of you 1 Very, very mean—not to have told me 1 that you cared for him." i “Now, Molly, Just listen Mr. Beau mont, I am sure, thinks you do not like him. and (hat you would refuse him If he asked you to marry." ' "Do you think so.” i “Yes; so I believe, from something be dropped, that he Is going to propose I to me this afternoon. Now, If you slip Into the drawing room and hide behind the screen—” 1 ”1 shouldn’t think of doing any such thing. The Idea!” i "Do as 1 tell you, dear, and you will hear me refuse him. I was only Jest lug when I said I would marry Mr. Beaumont myself.” 1 "Then you are sure you don’t love hlui the least little bit, Nellie, dear?" "Not In the least. You will hear me tell him so If you wait.” **•••• i "Well, Mr. Beaumont, I have sound ed my cousin Molly.” “And do you really think I may hope for success?” "I am sure of It. She Is very fond of you. but not yet fully aware of the faet. We women are curious cieat urcs.” I “It was very good of you to ouer me your advice and help." "Not at all; we are very old friends. Now. don’t you be rash, or you will sjsdl everything. You must do exactly as I tell you. You must come Into the drawing room ami propose to me.” j "Propose to you?" • Yes; and mind you act your part well.” "1 don't understand you.” •■Well, while you are proposing to me. Molly will be behind the screen. When she hears your protestations of love for me she will think she has lost you and will discover the true slate of her heart.” "But really, this seems rather—" "Now. don't argue. Do Just as 1 tell ' you. C'onte Into the drawing room at 1 once, or she will suspect collusion." ! “One moment. Don’t you think—" j "Not a word. I hear Molly coming I down stairs. I will sit here on thU sofa. When I raise my hand Ik-gin Can you tell me of a good novel. Mr Beaumont?” 1 “Well—er—It is rather a responslbll Ity recommending novels to ladles now adays. There are us many different ■chool* of readers as of writers." mi..* ham 1 v «r t lilts lltnn iii w (niitr In ttetion.” ••Not ho well, I am afraid, aa I could wIhIi. Mem! If you would—er—only let me become your Hole literary read er, taater ami advlaer for life!" "I am arrald I don't understand yon i Mr. Beaumont.” “Cannot you guess what lias hrough j me ln*re this afternoon? lax me l>< I frank with you. Oh. Nellie, we hav« be< n frleuda now a long time. Kverj ; year you he**otna dearer to me am more necessary for m> liapplneaa. WII you not become my wife? H|u«k, darl lug! Say you consent. You eanno guess how I long to Itave you alwayi by my side Say 'yea.' and make im the happlent man In all the wldt world.” l**rom when* *be sat Nelite saw tie j flutter of a light blue g-wn as It pan* m| iiulekly from liehiitd the screes t. the i*|mhi iloor. Molly had preuititurel; •ed . .. , i.» not k**ep uie In »u*i>ensr. It weiit on "Say ym will tie my wife" She !>ru! her ttead to hide an Irr* alallUe smile. 1 "Year Mr Beaumont NM U* tits feet P amasemetit Neills did not apeak l want M llh a h»>k of anger on hi I facs, lie stepped tiehlnd the scrseti I There was unUwly there. ••\\ |,i«i does this luewuT •It simply means Mr It iwm*