TITO OMAIIA DAILY BEE: SUNDAY, MAJRCII 17, 1901.
i Tristram
Being- An Episode in a Story of An Ancient House.
BY ANTIIONV IIOI'E.
'nol" "t I'riTcilliiK Clin itcrx.
Lndy Adelaide, wife of Sir Robert Edfio
of Illent Hall, eloped with Captain Fltz
hiibort. Blr Itoliert died in Russia, pre-
umnbly In tlmo for Lady Adelatdo nnd
Fltzhuhcrt to marry and so miiko their
non, Harry, tho legitimate hir to Sir
Ilobcrt'it estates. They learn later, how
ever, that tho dnto of Sir Robert' death
hon been given Incorrectly, nnd Harry Is
not tho rightful heir. They keep the mat
ter secret nnd eventually Harry comes Into
possession of tho estates nnd resldts with
his mother at Illent Hull. Unknown to
Lady Adelaide, a Mm p. Zabriska nnd Mr.
Jenklnson Neeid nro nloo In possession of
tho secret and, Mine, Znbrlskn. with her
uncle, comes to reside at Mcrrlon Lodge,
near Illent I Intl.
(Copyright, 10, by A. H. Hawkins.)
CIIAl'THH III.
On (lunrd,
Harry Tristram was Just on 23; to others
and to himself, too, perhaps (If a man
himself can attain any clear view) ho
Deemed older. Even the externals of his
youth had differed from tho common run.
Bent to school llko other boys, he had come
homo from Harrow ono Raster for tho
usual short holiday. Ho had never re
turned; ho had not gono to tho university;
tie 'had been abroad a good deal, travollng
nnd studying, hut always in his mother's
company. It was known thai she was In
bad health; It was assumed that either
eho was very exacting or ho very devoted,
ulnco to separate him from her appeared
Impossible. Yet those who observed them
together saw no Impcrlousness on lior part
nnd no excess of sentiment on his; frlcndll
boss based on a thorough sympathy of mind
was tho attitude If his demeanor revealed
It truly, whllo Lady Tristram was to her
on as sho was to all tho world at this
time, n creaturo of reollngs now halt cold
and of moods that rellectcd palely tho In
tonso impulses of her youth. Hut a fow
years over 40, sho grew faded and faint In
mind, It seemed, ns welt us In body, and was
no longer n merry companion to tho hoy
who never left her. Yet ho did not, wish to
leavo her.
His childhood nt least had been happy;
l.ady Tristram wns then still tho bo
wlldcrlngly delightful companion who had
cot Into so much hoi water and made so
many pcnplo enger to got in nfter her. Joy
lasted with her ns long ns health did, and
hor health began to fall only when her son
was about in. Another thing happened
bout then, which formed tho prcludu to tho
most vivid sccno In tho boy's llfo. Lady
Tristram waB not habitually n religious
woman, hut happening to bo In n mood
that laid her open to tho Influence, shn
heard n sermon In London ono day preached
by a young man famous at tho tlmo, n great
searcher of fashionable hearts. Sho drovo
tralght from tho church (It was a Friday
morning) to I'addlngton nnd took the first
train home. Harry was there back from
school for his holiday and sho found him
In tho smoking room weighing a fish which
ho had caught in tho pool that tho Illent
forms above tho wolr. Thoro and then sho
foil on her knees on tho floor nnd poured
forth to him tho story of that Odyssoy of
hers which had shocked London socloty, nnd
Is touchod upon in Mr. Cholderton's Journal.
He listened nmazed, embarrassed, puzzled
up to a point, a boy's normal awkwardness
WaB raised to its highest pitch; ho did not
vrant to hear his mother call herself a
wlokod woman; nnd, anyhow', It was n long
whllo ngo, nnd ho did not understand It nil
very woll. Tho woman wub caught by tho
luxury of confession, ot humiliation; of
offering her back to the whip. Sho told
him ho was not her heir that ho would not
bo Tristram of Illent. For n moment sho
laid hor head on tho floor at his feet. Sho
beard no sound from him, nnd presently
lookod up nt him again. His embarrass
ment had gono; ho wns standing rigidly
till, his eyes gazing out toward tho ilvor,
blii forehead wrinkled in a frown. Hcwas
thinking. Sho went on kneeling thero,
aylng no more, staring nt her son. It wns
characteristic of her that sho did not risk
diminishing the effectiveness ot tho sccno
or tho tragedy of hor avowal by explain
ing tho pervorso nccldcnt owing to which
her fault had entailed such tin aggregation
of evil. Harry learned that later.
Later nnd In a most different sort of
Intcrvlow. The discussion was resumed a
week later (Lady Tristram had spent tho
lntorval In bed) on a business footing. She
found in him tho samo carelessness of the
world and its obligations that thero was In
herself, but found It carried to tho point
of scorn nud allied to a tenacity of purpose
nd a keenness of vision which sho had
ntver owned. Not n reproach escaped him
less, she thought, from any goneroslty
than bocauso ho choso to concentrate his
mind on something useful. Dut ho told her
at onco that ho was not going back to
Harrow. Sho understood; sho ngrecd to
be wntched, sho abdicated hor rulo, sho
put everything in his bauds nud obeyed
bin.
Thus at 10 Harry Tristram took up his
burden and seemed to take up his manhood,
too. He novor wavored; ho always assumed
that right nnd justice wero on his sldo, that
he was not raorely Justified In holding his
place, but bound in duty to keep it. Tho
confederates set no limit to their prepara
tions against danger nnd their devices to
void detection. If lies wero necessary
thoy would Ho; where falsification waB
rantod. they faltllled. No security relaxed
his vigilance, but bis vigilance became so
habitual, so entered Into him, that his
toother ceasedto notice it, nud It became a
ocond nature to himself. Ho watched all
mankind lest somo ono nmong men should
be seeking to take his treasure from him.
Mr. Cholderton's Imp had not used her
yes In vnln, but Harry's neighbors, con
tent to call him reserved, bad no idea thnt
there was nnythlng lu particular that he
had to hldo. There was ono llttlo point
which, except for his persuasion of his own
rectitude, might havo seemed to Indicate
n uneasy conscience, but was In fact only
vldenco of n natural dislike to having nn
unwelcome subject thrust under his notlco.
About n year after the disclosure Lady
Tristram had a letter from Mr. Gains
borough. This gentleman had married her
cousin, and tho coUBln, a uoinnn of Severn
prlnclploi, bad put an end to all acnualnt
nco In consequenco of the Odyssey. She
was dead, and her husband proposed to re
ew friendly rclatlous, saying that hit
daughter know nothing of tho past dlf
ferences, and was anxious to Bee her klus
folk. Tho lotter was almost gushing, and
lady Tristram, left to hersolf, would havo
answered it lu the Bame kind; for" whIU
he had pleased herself, she boro no
resentmont ngalnst folk who had blamed
her. Moreover, Gainsborough was poor, and
oraobody had told her that the girl vaa
pleasant; she pitied poverty and liked helnc
Kind to pleasant people.
"Shall we Invite them to stay for a week
or two?" sho had asked.
"Never," ho said. "They shall uevor
como here. I don't want to know them;
Z won't see them." His face was hard,
angry and oven outraged at tho notion
His mother satd no more. If the barony
and Dlent departed from Harry, on Lady
Tristram's death, they would go to Cecily
Gainsborough. If Harry had his way that
girl should not even see his darling Blent,
Tho sun had sunk behind the tower and
Lady Tristram sat In n low chair by the
river, enjoying tho cool of tho evening.
Harry leaned his elbow on a grest stone
of Blent.
ill
Hi
Hi
Hi
vase which stood on a pedestal and held !
... : - i
a miniature wilderness of flowers
"I lunched nt Fnlrholmo," he was say
ing. "Tho paint's all wet still, of course,
and tho doors stick a bit, but I liked tho
family. He's genuine, 'sho's homely and
Janlo's a good girl. They were very civil."
"I suppose so,"
"Not overwhelmed," ho ndded, as though
wishing to correct n wrong Impression
which yet might havo reasonably arisen.
"I didn't mean that. I've met Mr. Iver nnd
ho wnsn't at nil overwhelmed. Mrs. Iver
wns out when I called, and I wob out
when sho called." Lady Tristram was
visibly, although not ostentatiously, allow
ing for the prejudices of a moral middle
class. "Young Hob Ilroadley was there you
know who I mean? At Mlngham farm, up
abovo tho pool."
"I know a handsome young man."
"I forgot ho was handsome Of course
A DUEL BEGAN. DUPLAY HAD READINESS AND -SUAVITY ON
you know him, then. What a pity I'm not
handsome, mother."
"Oh, you'vo tho air, though," she con
tentedly observed. "Is ho after Janle
Iver?"
"So I imagine I'm not suro that I'm
not, too. Have I any chanco against Dob
Broadloyl"
Sho did not seem to tako him seriously.
"They wouldn't look nt Mr. Broadloy."
(Sho was pleasantly punctilious about all
titles and courteous methods of reference
or address.) "Janio xvers a grcai
heiress."
"And what about me?" ho insisted, os
he lit his plpo and sat down opposite her.
"You mean It, Harry?"
"Thoro's no reason why I shouldn't
marry, is thero?"
"Why, you must marry, of course, nut
"Wo can do the blue blood business
enough for both."
"Yes; I didn't mean that."
"You mean am I at all In love with
her?"
"No; not quite. Oh. my dear Harry, I
mean wouldn't you like to be in love a
little with somebody? You could do it
after you marry, bf courso, and you cer
tainly will if you marry now, but It's not
bo so comfortable. She looked at him
with a sort ot pity; her feeling was that he
gavo himself no holidays.
Ho sat silent a moment, seeming to con
sider some picture which her suggestion
conjured up.
"No good watting for that," was nis con
clusion. "Somehow, If I married and had
children it would seem to make everything
moro sottlcd." His great preoccupation
was on him ngnlu. "Wo could do with
somo more money, too," he added, "and, as
I say, I'm Inclined to like tho girl."
"What's sho like?"
"What you cnll a fine girl tall well
made "
"She'll bo fat some day, I expect."
"StralRht features, broadish face, dark,
rather heavy brows you know the sort ot
thing."
"Oh. Harry. I hate all that."
"I don't. I rather like it." Ho was
smoking meditatively, and Jerked out what
he had to say botween the pufiB.
shouldn't llko to mortgngo Illent," ho went
on a moment later.
"Mortgage Blent? What for?"
He raised a hnnd to ask to bo heard out.
"But I Bhould like to feel that I could at
any moment lay my hand on n big lump of
ready monoy any fifty or a hundred thou
ennd pounds. I should like to bo able to
pull It out of my breeches pocket ana say,
Tako that nnd hold your tongue:' no
lookod nt hor to seo If sho followed what
waB In his mind. "I think they'd take it,"
ho ended. "I mean If things got ns far as
thot, you know."
"You mean tho Galnshoroughs?"
"Yes. Oh, anybody else would be ohcaper
than that. Fifty thousand would bo better
than n very doubtful caso. But It would
havo to bo doue directly before a word
wns heard about It. I should like to live
with tho check by me."
Hq spoko very simply, an- another man
might speak of being ready to meet an
Improvement rate or an application .from
an Impecunious brother.
"Don't you think it would be a good pre
caution?" he asked. Whether he meant
tho marriage, tho check or tho lady was
really Immaterial. It camo to the samo
thing.
"It's all very troublesome," Lady Tris
tram complained. "It really half spoils our
lives, doesn't It, Harry? One always has
to bo worrying."
The smllo whose movements had excited
Mlna Zabrlska's Interest mado Its appoar
auco on Harry's face. He had never been
uunoyed at his mother's external attitude
toward tho result of hor own doings, hut bu
was often amused at It.
"Why da you smllo?" she asked, Inno
ccntly.
"Well, worrylng's a mild term," ho ex
plained, evasively. "It's my work In the
world, you know
or it seems as If It was
going to be."
"You'd better think about It," Lady Trls
tram concluded, not wishing to think about
It nny more herself. "You wouldn't tell
Mr. Iver anything about the difficulty, would
you?" "The difficulty" hnd become her
usunl way of referring to her secret."
"Not n word. I'm not called upon to
Justify my position to Ivor." No shadow
of doubt softened tho clearness of Harry's
conviction on this point. Ho rose, filled hid
pipe again, and began to wrjlk up nnd
down; he was at his old gnme, counting
chances, ono by one, every chance, trying
to eliminate risks, one by ono, every risk,
80 last ho might take his ease and
nfiv wUnnlll fnnt nf nnn mil In nil "tinea
Bay without fear of contradiction, "Here
sits Tristram of nfent."
"Did you go up to tho lodge, Harry?"
his mother called to him, as ono of his
turns brought him near her.
"Oh, yes, I forgot to tell you. I did, and
I found Mine. Zabriska having a look at
us from tho terrace, so I had a little talk
with her. I didn't seo tho uncle."
"What's sho llko?" This was n favorite
question of Lady Tristram's.
Harry paused a "moment, looking for a
description,
"Well, If you can Imagine one needle
with two very largo eyes, you'd get some
idea of her. She's sharp, mother mlud and
body. Pleasant enough, though. Sho's coin
ing to seo you, so you needn't bother to go
up." Ho added, with an nlr of Impatlanco.
"She's been hunting In tho peerage.''
"Of courso sho would; there's nothing
In that."
"No, I suppose not," ho admitted almo3t i
reluctantly.
'1 cannot help thinking I've heard tho
name before not Zabrlskn, but tho unclc'd."
"Duplay, isn't It? I never heard it."
"Well, I can't remember anything about
it, but It sounds familiar. I'm confusing
It with something else, I suppose. They
look llko bolng endurable, do they?"
'Oh, yes, ns people go," ho answered, re
suming his walk.
If a determination to keep for yourself
what, according to your own conviction,
belongs by law to another makes n criminal
Intent and that Irrespective ot tho merits
of tho law It would bo hard to avoid
classing Lady Tristram and her son as
criminals in contemplation, It not yet In
action. And so considered, thoy afforded
excellent specimens of two kinds of
criminals, which a study of assize courts
reveals, tho criminal who drifts and tho
criminal who plans; tho tormor usually
termed by counsel and Judgo "unhappy,
tho latter more sternly dubbed "dangerous."
Lady Tristram had nlways drifted and was
drifting still; Harry had begun to plan at
18 nud still was busy planning. Ono re
sult of this dlfferenco was that whereas
sho was hardly touched or affected In
character, ho had been immensely in
fluenced. And Bhe had no adequate con
ception of what It was to him. Even his
scheme of marrying Jante Iver and his vivid
little phrase about living with the check by
him, failed to bring it homo to her. This
very evening, as soon as ho was out ot
sight, both ho and his great question wero
out of the mind of tho woman who bad
brought both him and it into existence.
So Lady Tristram went back to her
novel, and Harry walked by the river,
moodily meditating and busily scheming.
Meanwbllo Mlna Zabriska had flown to tna
library at Merrlon Lodge, and, finding books
that had belonged to a legal member ot tho
family in days gona by, was engaged in
studying the law relating to the succession
to lands and titles in Englnnd. Sho did
not mako quick progress. Nevertheless, in
n day or two sho had reached n point when
shu wns bubbling over with curiosity and
excitement.
CII.U'TKR IV.
She Could nil' She Would.
In splto of Mrs. Ivor's, secret opinion that
pcoplo with Btrange names were likely to
bo strange themselves, an acquaintance wns
soon made botweon Fnlrholmo and Mcrrlon
Lodge. Her family was against Mrs, Iver;
hor husband was boundlessly hospitable.
Janlo was very sociable, Mr, Iver began to
teach the major to piny golf. Jnnlo took
Minn Zabriska out driving in the highest
dogcart on tho couutrysldo; they would go
along tho rond by tho river and get out
perhaps for n wander by the pool, or even
drive higher up tho vnlley nnd demand
tea from Bob BroadlCy nt his pleasant llt
tlo pi nco, half farm, half manor house, at
Mlngham, thrco miles above the pool. Mat
ters moved so quick that Mlna understood
In n week why Janlo found It pleasant to
havo a companion under whoso aegis sho
could drop In at Mlngham; In n little more
than n fortulght she began to understand
why her youthful undo (tho major was
very young now) grunted unsympathetlcally
when oho observed that the road to Mlng
ham wns tho prettiest in the neighborhood.
Tho Imp was accumulating othor pcoplo's
secrets, and was accordingly In a stnto ot
high satisfaction.
Tho situation developed fast; and for tho
Mine nt lenst Janle Ivor was hcrolno and
held the center of tho stago. A chanco of
that state of comfort which was his ro
malntng and modest ambition had opened
beforo tho major and tho possibility of
sharing It with a congenial partner; tho
major wasted no time In opening his cam
palgn. Overtures from Blent, moro stately,
but none the less prompt, showed that
Harry Tristram had not spoken Idly to his
mother. And what about Bob Broodlcy?
He seemed to be out of the running and
indeed to havo little Inclination, or not
enough courage, to press forward.. Minn
was puzzled, Sho began to obsorvo the cur
ronti In the Falrholme household. Iver
was for Harry, she thought, though bo
maintained a dignified show of indifference;
Mrs. Iver tho miraculous occurring In a
fortnight as It often does was at least very
much tnkou with tho major. Dob Ilroadley
hod no friend, unlos lu Janle herself. And
Jatilo was lutorutable, by virtue of an open
pleasure in tho attention of alt the gentle
men nnd an obvious disinclination to de
void horiclt exclusively to any ono of them,
alio could not flirt with Harry Tristram be
cause he had no knowlcdgo of the art, but
she accepted hi significant civilities. Sho
did flirt with tho major, who had many
years' experience of the pastime. And sho
was kind to Hob Ilroadley. going to seo
him, as has been said, sending him invita
tions and seeming In somo way to ho fight
ing against his own readiness to glvo up
tho battlo befoie it wns well begun. Hut
It is hard to help n man who will not help
himself; on tho other hand, it Is said to bo
amusing sometimes.
They nil mot nt Fnlrholmo ono afternoon,
Harry appearing unexpectedly as tho rest
were at tea on tho lawn. This was his first
meeting with the major. As ho greeted
that gentleman, oven moro when ho shook
hands with Hob, there was a touch of re
gality In his mannorj tho reserve was
prominent nnd his prerogntlvo was claimed;
very soon ho curried Jnnlo off for a solltnry
walk In tho shrubberies. Mlna enjoyed her
uncle's frown nnd chafed at Hob's self
effacement; he had been talking to Janlo
when Harry calmly took her nway. Tho
pair wero gono half nn hour nnd convcrsa-
HAIUIY'S SIDE WAS A STRONGER SUGGESTION OP POWER.
tlon flagged. They reappeared, Janlo look
ing rather excited, Harry almost Insolently
calm, nnd sat down sldo by side. Tho ma
jor walked across and took a vacant scat
on the other sldo of Janle. Tho slightest
look of surprise showed on Hnrry Tris
tram's face. A duel began. Duplay had
readiness, suavity, volubility, a trick of
flattering defcrenco; on Harry's side wero
a stronger suggestion of power and an as
sumption, rather nttrnctlvo, thot ho must
bo listened to. Janlo liked this air of his,
oven whllo sho resented it; hero, In his own
county nt least, a Tristram of Blent wns
somobody. Bob Broadley was listening to
Ivor's views on local affairs; ho was not in
tho fight nt nll, but ho was covertly watch
ing It. Tho fortune of battlo soemcd to In
cline to Harry's side; tho major wob left
out ot tho talk for minutes together. Moro
for fun than from loyalty to her kinsman,
Mlna roso aud walked over to Harry.
"Do tako mo to nco the greenhouses, Mr.
Tristram," sho begged. "You'ro all right
with unelp, aren't you, Janlo?"
Jnnlo nodded rather nervously. After a
pauso of a full half minute Hnrry Tristram
roBo without-a word and began to walk off;
It was left for Mlna to Join him In a hurried
llttlo run. "O, wait for mo, anyhow," Bho
cried with a laugh.
They walked on samo way In silence.
"You'ro not very conversational, Mr.
Tristram. I suppose you'ro angry with
mo?"
Ho turnod and looked at her; presently
ho began to smile, oven moro slowly, it
seemed, than usual.
'I must see that my poor uncle has fair
play what do you call It? a fair show
mustn't I7"
"O, that's' what you meant, Mme. Za
briska? It wasn't the plcasuro of my com
pany?"
"Do you know, I think you rather ex
aggerate tho plcasuro no, not tho pleasure
I mean tho honor of your company? You
wero looking as If you couldn't understand
how anybody could want to talk to undo
when you wero there. But Iio'b hotter look
ing that you aro and much moro amusing."
"I don't set up for a beauty or a wit,
either," Harry obsorved, not at all put out
by the Imp's premedlated candor.
'No, nud still sho ought to want to talk to
you! wuy : Because you're air. Tristram,
I supposo!" Mlna indulged In a very' Bcorn
ful demeanor.
"It's very friendly of you to resent my be
havior on .Miss Iver's behalf."
"Thero you aro again! That means sho
doesn't resent it. I think you give yourself
nlrs, Mr. Tristram, and I should like"
"To take mo down a peg?" ho asked, In a
tone of rather contemptuous amusement,
Sho paused a inlnuto and then nodded
significantly.
"Exactly, and to make you feel a little un
comfortable, not qulto so sure of yourself
and everything about you."
"Upon my word, I don't seo how It's to be
done." He was openly chatting her now.
"Oh, I don't know thnt you're invulner
able,' sho said, with a toss of her head.
"Don't defy me, Mr. Tristram. I don't mind
telling you that it- would ho very good for
you If you weren't "
"Appreciated!" ho suggested, Ironically
"No; I was going to say If you weren't
Mr. Tristram or the futuro Lord Tristram
of Dlent."
It sho had hoped to catch him oft his
guard, sho was mistaken. Not n quiver
passed aver his face ns ha 'remarked:
"I nm afraid provldcncofcan hnrdly man
ago that now, either for my good or for
your amusomcnt, Mme. Zabriska, much as
It might conduce to both."
The Imp loved fighting and hor blood-was
getting up. Ho was a good foe, but ho did
not know hor power.
"Meauwblle," ho continucu, as no lit a
cigarette, "I'm not seriously disappointed
that attentions paid to one lady fall to
please another, . That's not uncommon, you
know. By the way, we're not on the pnth
lo tho greenhouses, but you don't mind
that? They wero a pretext, no doubt? Oh,
I don't wnnt to hurry hack. Your unclo
shall have his fair show. How well ypu'ro
mastering English!"
At this moment Mlna bated him heartily;
! she sworo to hum bio him boforo herself,
not before tho world, of courso; sho would
glvo him a fright, anyhow not now, but
some day, If her temper could not stand
tho strnlu better, it would ho some day
soon, though.
"Uy tho way, I am so sorry you couldn't
sec my mother when you called tho other
day. She's not at all well, unhappily.
She really wants to see you."
"How very kind of Lady Tristram."
Thero was kept for tho mother n llttlo ot
tho sarcastic humility which was more np
proprtato when directed ngalnst tho son.
Harry smiled still as ho turned around and
began to escort her back to the lawn. Tho
smtlo annoyed Minn; it was n smllo ot
victory. Well, tho victory should not ho
altogether his.
"I waul to seo Lady Tristram very much,1
sho went on, In Innocent tones nnd with a
fnco devoid of malice, "becauso I can't
help thinking I must hnvu seen her be
fore when I was qulto a llttlo girl."
"You'vo seen my mother beforo? When
and where?" .
"Sho was Mrs. Fltzhuhcrt, wnsn't sho?"
"Yes, ot courso sho was beforo sho came
Into tho tltlo."
"Well, n Mrs. Fltzhuhcrt used to como
and seo my mother long ago nt Heidelberg.
Do you know if your mother was cvor at
Heidelberg?"
"I fancy sho was I'm not sure."
Still tho Imp was very innocent, al-
though tho form of Harry's reply caused
her Inward amusement and triumph.
"My mother was Mme. do Krles. Ask
Lady Tristram if she remembers the
name."
It was a hit for her at last, though
Harry took It woll. He turned rathor
qulcky toward her, opened his lips to
speak, repented, and did no more than to
glvo her a rather long and rather intense
look. Then he nodded carelessly. "All
right, I'll nsk her," said he. The noxt
moment ho put a question. "Did you know
about having met her beforo you came to
Mcrrlon?"
"O, woll, I looked In the peerage, but
It renlly didn't strlko me till a day or
two ago that it might bo tho samo Mrs.
Fltzhuhcrt. The name's pretty common,
Isn't It?"
"No, it's very uncommon."
"Oh, I didn't know," murmured Mlua
apologetically, hut tho glance which fol
lowed hlrn as ho turned away was not
apologetic; it was triumphant.
Sho got back In time to witness to her
regret (let it 'bo confessed) she could not
overhear- Janle's farewell to Bob Broadley
They had been friends from youth; ho was
"Bob" to her; sho was now to Mm "Miss
Janlo."
"You haven't said a word to me, Bob,"
"I haven't hnd a chance; you'ro with
the swells now."
'How can I help It If nobody else
comes?"
'I really shouldn't have tho cheek. Harry
Trlstrnm was savago enough with thi
major what would ho nave been with' me? "
"Why should It matter what ho was7"
"Do you really think that, Miss Janlo?"
Bob was almost at tho point of advance.
"I mean why should it matter to you?"
Tho explanation checked the advance.
"Oh, I I seo. I don't know, I'm suro.
Well, then, I don't know how to deal with
him."
"Well, goodby."
"Goodby, Miss Jnnle."
"Aro you coming tq. see us again, ever?'
"If you nsk mo, I "
"And I am coming again to Mlngham
although you don't ask me."
"Will you, really?"
"0, you do ask mo? When I ask you to
nsk mo."
"Any day you'll"
"No; I'll eurprlso you. Goodby. Goodby,
really."
"You'ro a dreadful flirt, Janle," said Mlna,
as sho kissed her friend.
Janlo was not a raw girl; sho was a ca-
pablo young woman of two-and-twenty.
"NonsenFo," sho said, rather crossly.
"It's not flirting to tako tlmo to mako up
your mind."
"It looks llko It, though."
"And I've no reason to suppose they've
any quo of them made up their minds.
"I should think you could do thnt for
them pretty soon. Besides, unclo has, any
how."
"I'm to be your nunt, am I?"
"0, bo's only nu unclo by accident."
"Yes. I think that's true. Shall we have
a drive soou?"
"To Mlngham or to Blent ball?"
"Not Blent. I wait my lord's pleasure
to seo me."
"Yes, that's Just bow I feel about hlrn,"
cried Minn, eagerly,
"But, all the same"
"No, I won't hear a word of good about
him. I hato him!"
Janlo smiled in an indulgent but rather
troubled way. Her problem was serious;
sbo could not afford tba Imp's pettish treat
ment ot the world and the people In It.
Janlo had responsibilities banks nnd
buildings full of them and a heart to please
into the bargain,
Thero was Mrs. Ircr to be said goodby
to, plump, peaceful, proper Mrs. Ivor.
"I hope you've nil enjoyed this lovely
afternoon," she said, to Minn.
"O, yes wo have) Mrs. Iver not quite
equally, perhaps, hut still
Mrs. Iver sighed and kissed her.
"Men nro nlways the difficulty, aren't
thoy?" said the Imp.
"Poor child, and you'vo lnt yours'"
"Yea. ooor Adolf!" Thero was a touch
mm stomach
WHY IT CURES M
Why the Frightful Tension of Stricture Is Dissolved Like Snow Be
neath the Sun-IN FIFTEEN DAYS.
Why Weak Men are Restored by the Magic St. James Treatment
Applied Locally and Directly to the Affected Parts.
1 We answer the ques
tion brlelly. If you
cut an urtcry in your
arm you do not tako
Internal medicine to
stop tho Mow of blood.
YOU USE LOCAL
AIPUCATI0N3. Sim
ilarly when Uio ure
thral ducts become
weakened nnd relaxed
It Is ridiculous to tuke
Infnrtiu t ..., ........
Which must pasi throught the stomach and
Urine- beforo It reaches the ecrtt of disease,
lho Hcmlnal ducts project Into the urethral
tu.mil through tho Prostato Gland, and are
lastly reached by LOCAL TREATMENT.
. IJr. Carter's "Uran-Solvent" soluble
Bougies will dissolve, digest nnd forever
temovo
Urethral Stricture
In IS days without pain, Injury or incon
venience. Tho bouffios nro Inserted at
hlght nnd net whllo you sli-ep. "Gran-Sol-yont
removes every symptom of stricture,
leaving the canal us healthy n when na
luro formed It. No BRUTAL CUTTINO
bit DILATING. NO INJECTIONS I TO III-
h,-SfCi iU.?..ti H?""11 a eomplote deecrlptlon of tho Incomparable St. Jnmes Treat-
ii. , ii o ii ..Vi" Tc7. rr:r
titi rii. L .. AT. - ' """ wrtiu lu
ti .i '! v"l,"7..,u. '"c" wuimrr
rhowlng the piirtif of the human system
l.llrnetits, which they will send securely wrapped In plain pack
I ge, prepaid ,
ST. JAMES ASSN, &2 ST. JAMES BLOCK, CINCINNATI, 0,
of duty lu Mlna's eIrIi. Sho had been fond
of Adolf, but his memory wns not a con
stant presence. The world for tho living
won Mme. Zabrlska'a view.
"I'm so glad Janlo's found a friend in
you and n wlso ono, I'm sure."
Mlna did her best to look tho part thus
charitably assigned her; her glanco at Janle
was matronly, utmost maternal.
'Not that I know anything about It,"
Mrs. Ivor pursued, following n train of
thought obvious enough. "I hopo she'll act
for her happiness, tliat'B all, Thoro's the
dear major looking for you don't keep him
waiting, dear. How lucky bo's your unclo
ho can always be with you."
'Until ho settles and makes a homo for
himself," smiled Mlna Irrepresslbly, tho re
juvenescence aye, tho unbroken youth ot
hor relative appeared to hor quaintly hu
morous, and It was her fancy to refor to
him as she might to a younger brother.
Thero was Mr. Iver to bo said good-bye to.
"Como again boob you'ro nlways wel
come; you wnko us up, Mmo. Zabriska."
"You promised to say Mlnal"
"So I did, but my tonguo'n out of practice
with young ladles' Christian nnmes. Why,
cull my wife 'Mother' only Janlo says 1
mustn't. Yes, como and cheer us up. 1
shull mako tho unclo a crack player before
long mustn't lot him got lazy and spend
hnlf the day over G o'clock tea, though."
This was hardly n hint, but it was an In
dication of tho trend of Mr. Iver's thoughts.
So It wns a dangerous ball, and that clover
llttlo crlckotor, tho Imp, kept her bat nway
from It. Sho laughed; that coramlttod hor
to nothing and left Ivor to bowl again.
"It's qulto a chango to find Hnrry Tris
tram at a tea porty, though! Making him
self pleasant, too!"
"Not to mo," observed Mlna decisively.
"You chaffed hlrn, I expect. Ho stands a
bit on his dignity. Ah, well, ho's young,
you soe."
"No, ho chaffed mo. Oh, I think I I left
off even, you know."
"Thoy got a bltTBpollt," he seemofl to ne
referring to tho nrlBtocrncy. "But thore's
plenty of stuff In him, or I'm much mis
taken. He's a horn fighter, I think."
"I wonder!" said Mlna, her eyes twink
ling again.
Finally thero was tho major to bo walked
homo with not n youthful, trlumpnant
major, but n rathor careworn, undlsgulsodly
irritated one. If Mlna wanted somebody to
ngrco with her prosont mood about Harry
Trlstrnm her longing was abundantly grat
ified. The major roundly termed hlrn an
overbearing young cub, nnd professed n de
sirealmost an intention to tench him
better manners. This coincidence of views
was n soro temptation to tho Imp; to resist
it altogether would seem suporhuman.
"I should llko to cut his comb for Mm,"
growled Duplay."
Whatever tho metaphor adopted, anna
wns in esscntlnl ngreomont. Sho launched
on nn account ot how Hnrry had trcatod
hor; thoy fanned ono another's fires, and
tho (lames burned merrily.
Mlna's stock of discretion was threatened
with completo consumption. From open do-
nunclatlons sbo turned to mystorlous Mnt
Ings. "I could bring him to reason if I liked,"
sho mid.
"What, mako him fall In love with you?"
cried Duplay, with a surprise not very com
plimentary. "Oh, no," sho laughed; "better than that
by a great deal."
Ho eyed her closoly; probably this was
only another of her whlmBlcal tricks with
which he was vory famlllor; if ho showed
too much interest nho would laugh at htm
for being taken In, But Bhe had hinted be-
fore today's annoyances; she was hinting
again. Ho had yawned at hor hints till he
became Harry Tristram's rival; ho was
ready to bo eager now If only he could he
euro that thoy pointed to anything more
thnn folly or delusion.
"O, my dear cnua," ne exclaimed, "you
mustn't talk nonsonse. We mayn't like
htm, but what In the world could you do, to
him?"
"I don't want to hurt him, but I should
like to mako him sing small."
They had Just reached the foot of the
hill. Duplay waycrt his arm across the
river toward tho hill. Blent looked strong
nnd stately.
"That's a big task, my dear," ho said, re
covering some of his good humor at tho
sight of Mlna's waspish little faco. "I fancy
It'll need a bigger man than you to make
Tristram of Blent sing smnll. Or me,
either, I'm afraid. We must fight hlrn with
a fair fight, that's all."
"He doesn't fight fair." she cried angrily,
The next Instant sbo broke Into her most
Nothing Lasts
except merit. Tho medicine which has lived
for years is worthy to live.
Hostetter's
Stomach Bitters
is half a century old. It carries behind it a
record of absoluto success. In air cases of
stomach trouble, such as
Dyspepsia, Indigestion, Constipation,
Nervousness, Liver and Kidney trouble,
it has eured invariably. It goes to tho root
of these troubles, cleansing the blood and
strengthening tho stomach.
All druggists and dealers sell it.
Seo that a Private Revenue Stump covera the ton
of tho bottle.
LI . i I IK MEMBRANE. NO INTEIl.
I N iml UOINO TO KUUIN THE)
1 ST .if A II Tim Ht. .lutiifn (rratmmt im
local, direct and positive. Tho St. James
treatment Is prepared In tho form of
crayons, very narrow, smooth, flexible and
wholly soluble, which are Inserted Into tha
water passago at night where they dis
solve and depoilt the medication In Its full
strength upon tho I'rostute Gland, contract
ing and stmngthenliiK tha ducts nnd FOR
EVER HTOI'l'INO DRAINS AND KMIH
SIONH, and curing whllo Uio patient sleeps.
Varicocele.
Varicocele U an accumulation of slug
gish blood In the veins of tho scrotum,
djo solely to Imperfect circulation Mid
has Its origin In a diseased and torpid
Prostate Gland. Operatlona In this dlsvass
nro only temporary, and no moohanlcnl do
vice yet dlscoveiAl has cured a single
caso. Qran-Ho'-veiTl heals tho Prostnto and
restores healthy circulation. Varicocele
disappears nnd the Hlugglsh accumulation
Is replaced by pure, healthy, red blood,
Thousands of men, strlctured, weak,
wasting and despondent, were cured and
restored by the St. James method last
year. A vast army of men In whom the
light of llfo hna penetrated the fearful
nightmare of stricture and seminal decay.
irom einciuro ana us orrspnng, rrostati-
mo HI. Jtimcs ABflOCM Hon, 62
St. James
iui mnsirnieu worn,
Involved In urethral
FREE
malicious smile. "Tristram of Blent!" nht
repeated. "Oh, well"
"Mlna, dear, do you know you rathor boro
mo? If you mean anything nt all"
"I may moan what 1 llko without telllns
you, I supposo?"
"Certainly but don't ask mo to listen."
"You think It's nil nonsenso?"
"I do, my dear," confessed the major.
"No, ho doesn't tight fnlr," sho repcatod,
as though to herself. Sho glanced at hor
unclo In a hcsltutlug, undecided wny. "Aud
ho's nbomlnnhly rude," she went on with n
sudden return of potttshuess.
Tho major's shrug expressed an utter ex
haustion of patience, a scornful Irritation,
almost n contempt for her. Sho could not
nduro It; she must Justify herself, rovengu
herself nt a blow on Hnrry for his rudeness
and on her uncle for his skepticism. Some
body elso now must look on at Harry's hu
miliation, at least must see that she hnd
power to bring It about. With tho height
of malicious exultation sbo looked up al
Duplay and said:
"Supposo ho wasn't Tristram of Dlent at
all?"
Duplay stopped short whero he stood on
tho slope of tho hill abovo Blent Itsolf,
"What? Is thoro morn nonsenso?"
"No, It Isn't nonsense."
Ho looked nt her steadily, nlmost se
verely. Under his regard her smllo disap
peared; shu grew uncomfortubla.
"Then I must know moro about it. Como.
Mlna, this Is no trltlo, you know."
"I shan't tell you any moro," sho flashed
out In a last effort of petulanco.
You must," ho said calmly. "All you
know, all you think. Como, wo'll havo it
out now at onco."
She followed llko a nnughty child. Sho
could havo bitten her tonguo out, as tha old
phraso goes. Her feelings went round llko
a weather cock; sho wns ashamed of her
solf, sorry for Harry yes; and afraid of
Harry. And sho was afraid of Duplay, too.
She had run herself Into something serious
that she saw; something serious In which
two resolute men wero Involved.
And when nt last ho lot hor go with her
secret told, sho ran up to her room and
throw herself on tho bed, sobbing. Sho had
let herself in for something dreadful. It
was all her own fault and sho was very
Hor whole behavior was probably Just
what the gontlcman to whom she owed her
nickname would havo cxpectod nud prophe
sied,
(To he Continued.)
1
SYMPTOMS
LIKE THESE
ELCHINC,
BAD BREATH,
BITTER TASTE,
BLOATINC After Mesls,
HEARTBURN,
BACKACHE,
HEADACHE,
DIIXINEM,'
NERVOUI WEAKNESS,
LOW SPIRITS,
Indkite bad digestion, disordered
system nd falling stale of health.
PRICKLY
ASH
BITTERS
l positive end speedy cure. It
clears the body of poisonous secrc
lions, cleanses the blood, aids dlges
tlon, strengthens the kidneys, purifies
the bowels and Imparts renewed
energy to body and briln.
A
4