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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExeter Advocate, 1914-10-8, Page 6TCAPTER VIII,—(Continuetie he called at the Oarwerdines' Kitt ties foilowing aftemoon, elelterbet wa eliown into a. drewing-room. which, Mk peered to be Kull of small dogs 'who. bare ed liire furiouille. A very smiling au eelepoeeeeeed Dulcie oaane forward an greeted Jenabiddine the doge be q,uiet See wae quite unemberre.ssed, end pre- sented the vietor to Mrs- Templemore introduced the tiny toy doge, and dealer ed he must wade until Printroee, who bad 001111 pleturaegellery with eom frienae, returned. Be:turbot felt' elightly dazzled by D'ul teets gaiety tend the etaartuese of her dress. "'What it butterfly she 'IS I" he thought. "And not altogether improved by London, ROW I =1St have been ever to have thought ebe wae the wiee for mer Be had not long to wart before Prim rose came in. She was wearing a, long Week dress, and a, Week velvet het which made her complexion more like wild roses than ever. Belturbet went forward to meet her, and as they shook Imelda Print resets sraile wee yery sweet. eyee held her gray one for it Emceed, but they greeted each other quietly. The yoane squire's visit ' lab -tad- about half -an -hour, during which time he had to wateh Dulcie'e eloge go through their tricks, au& listen to telee of their pre- tereatural clovernese, for Duleeeeeeraze at the time was toy Pommel:Jens. Be- fore he left, however, he had ebteined promise thee the sisters and Mrs. Term plemore would join his party the fol. lowine week. When. the door closed on him, Duleie turned to Primaries Be ie duller than evert" ehe excladra- ed. "/ expeet Philippa, -will have a shot at him now; it heart is often caught on the x-eheund, you know.',, She spoke with a sneer, for her temper was not improving. Primrose did. not an- swer, hut her heart fell at the mention of Philippa. Wee ,some one always to come between her and Belturbet? Then ehe told herself that if he .wero ,so easily Influenced, he was not worth her love. She held her head high, but her heart was ear% for Duloie's idle words had wounded her. Dulde spent the afternoon before Bel- tnrbet's dinner -party trying to decide which of her innumerable dresses the ebould wear. Jim had not yet seen her in evening dress, so there wae a pleasant surprise ia store for him. Rut what an intolerable waisence it was to have to wear blackl Dulcie loaned pettishly at her dresses of nearly every material un- der the sun, finally selecting one of chif- fon which etted her slender figure to perfection. There were no eleeves, except a few straps of jet, and the dazzling wbiteneee of her neck and arnis was en- hanced by the black setting. In liter bright fair heir was poised a. jet butter- fly. Primeese's toilet took nearly as long to eomplete as Dtaeie's. Her frock was as perfect in its was, as her sister's; not ;so derieg, but wonderfully becoming- in its soft filtainees. Mrs. Templemore smil- ed at them approvingly. There 'will be few in the dining -hall to equal my charges," he said. "You are a dear old thing!" replied Dul- tie, which showed that Mrs. Templemore had played her cards to the beet advant- age. • They were the last of the party to ar- rive. Philippa, the only other lady, wore a becoming emerald -green dress; Heriott, looking rather- tired and bored, was talking to two strangers, -whom Belturbet introduced as Major Fergusson and Archie Trevor, the former aniddle-aged and eerceptibly bard the latter young, good-looking, end brimming over with the irrepressible spirits of youth. Belturbet, tall and dark, with hie strong features and slight stoop, looked to Primrose immeaeurebly superior to the other mem She eat next to her host, and on his other hand was Philippa. Dulcie was between Heriobt and Arehie Trevor, but as Jim sat next to Mrs. Templemore also, and devoted himself to that lady, Durcie commenced a violent flirtation with Trevor, who responded in it manner that showed it was a game at which he was not it novice. Resplenent Philippa talked pleasantly with her host, but elle did not ignore Ma- jor Pergueson on her other hand. Prim- rose ate and spoke as in a dream. She could not believe that ,she was actually sitting beside and talking to Arthur Bel- turbet, of whona only a few months ago she had resolved never to think again. It was incredible: Yet she was talking to him as if nothing had ever happened. It eeetnerl as if new life etretched be- fore her. 33ut her dream had an abrupt ending When dinner was over, four taxi. cabe took them to the theatre; Beltur- bet and Philippa, entered one; she follow- ed with Heriott; Dulcie with Trevor, and Mrs. Templemore with the Major occupy- ing the others. She talked bravely to Jim, who never gueesel that the girl by his side had every -whit as much reason ae himself 41 feel wretched. Ile tortured himself be wondering what Duleie was saying to that eyoung ASS Trevor" in the taxi that was east behind his. Belturbet had engaged a st4ge box at otee of the biggest theatres in London. The play was it musical comedy, plotless, but fun of movement and eolor. Dulcie and Trevor giggled and •whisperecl to- gether sharneleeely throughout the piece. Belturbet„ who sat behind 'Prinarose, oc- cupied huntself in admiring pretty way in which ber hair was arranged! She was very dose to him, so close that the faint perfume of violets see wore reached thine He did not trouble to no- tice what was heppening on the eta,ge; he was Bleed with thoughts 'which ren- dered him deaf and blind to everything. but Primrose. The curtain fell, the band played eGoa Saye the King," end the party trooPed into tee eestibule of the theatre. Some c-ortfusion followed in getting tee va,rious eouplee into their taxis. Dulcie strove to capture lIerlott, but that gentleman had followed Mrs. Templemore, so Archie Trevor was ber companion again, whilst Philip,pa found herself being handed in by Major Ferguseon, and finally Behar - bet and Primrose were -whirled away, eit- ting side by side. She was very pale, but her voice was well under control as elte broke a brief silence. "You have given us a. mote delightful evening," ehe said. -Hive le" he 'bemired in a voice that was purely mechanwal, for be was won- dering what would happen if he put his arms around her. ••Why yes—of c.oursel" she told him gaily, "Pri Parise I" lie field burrielly. "Prin.rose—T—its n o good, I must tell you—I love you! X bave loved you from the first minute I saw you, and I have never ;stop. ped loving you. Will you listen to me?" Tii dark eyee sought hers, and at that moment the Joy of Primrose' e life came to bor. pieced a small ungloved hand on hie Etiseve, and whispered hie name. Belturbet took her in his ernes, he gaid a little later on, "let me tell you why T. made such a fool of my - tete Ittet ' "Not now," ethispered Primrose. "It really does not matter." Her grey eyes looked into ele, and be 'taw she understood. "No, eleareet," be agreed, itesing her egaie, "It is ,nothing to es—now!" CHAPTER IX. Pietercete elept Hale that night,. She < wee too berme. Beltarbet liae prouifeed to come to. her the next, tifternoon. Sem *titer hrealtfast aceorripliehed the not very pleasant taek of telling Dniele that s 5110 Wag goleg to marry tee rune to Wh hom er teeter bed been engaged, le n. highly r alba ble manner. tetleises increthility changed to ameeement, and enalle to Whit, appetra veal. like jealousy. e "1 r etter heard arteth g 50 fennel" she exclaimed. "Faitee Arthur Battle -bet t merrying eieter beeauee he oanuot o naia•ry me I" • "As you don't care for Ilene eou • aeed. not grudge hien to me, ;sale Prim- e rose, ooloring. d "Ary dear girl, I do not! But you eau' • only ge expect that •thinwill be said klb011t the rapidity with which he has traal$' ferret!. hie affectione erom one sister to - the other." "Yes, eines my awn sister doee riot hese tate to paint 11 o'ut to rue, I cannot ex oprecLeou•tentge to elow any greater delicacy Dulcie stared itt eurpriee• at her eister, for there was it tone in her -voice 'which she had never heard before. Truly Due dee world muet be changing if the -usual- ly gentle Prienroee could employ , that tone! ' "Mien are you going to be mauled?" she asked, "Iu the autumn," was the quiet reply. y".goiunrd,hD041uileciew,it-tuve whop you will make "My dear Primrose, it is very kind of you—and Arthur—but, 1 should not dream of inilleting myself on you. I•anean to 'See it 1itt1 of the world tbefore '1, eettle down, 1 shall probably ea abroad with Mies, Temelemore as eoon att you are mar- ried—Egypt for ' the winter,end then wherever my fancy takes tae."' Prim.reee, looked et her Mestfullye It. wae no use offering advice or counsel then; later on, perhaps, Dulcie <might e The truth wee thet Dudes vanity had received 0, very severe blow. . She eealized, now that Belturbet had never cared , for her at, all. She had thrown liereele into hes orals in such • it manner that he had not been able to repulse her, and al- though she did not want hinx fer'herselt, yet •the thouglit that lie had preferred Primrose all the time was -eery bitter. She recaIled sev.eral incidents or the previous sinnuter—Belturbees polite. yet. impassive acceptance of the attentions he levished on hien, attentions all de- signed to achieve aier obJeot of becoming mistress of Old House; Iteriott's passion- ate love -making, end her quarrels with 1311Ste.coul•d have had Jim thereeithen ehe did not went hiial And now, wheel, she would give everything to hear him say "I love your he...would bete nothing .to do with het. What a 'Impel:me muddle she had made of .everything! Well,atty. how she did not intend to die efegrief 'or a broken heart, and she woad .sho.W 'Ar- thur Belterbet—and - Jim Heriott, tot,— that she elid -eettcere. one jot ter either of them! During the next five years Dulcie kept, her word. After Primrose and Arthur liteltuebet -were married, she ,and Mrs, Templemore went abroad, and it was - a, year before they returned to England. Then Dulcie spent two years emongse that section of society known as "Smart,' went on a motoreeur through Europe, and had what she called "a perfectly rip- ping time," until eventually, when every. thing .eeetned te pall, and her innumer- able flirtations had become .wearisome, she decided to spend a month or two at Old House with Primrose and Arthur, and in the quietness of their home to gather strength, to commence it fresh campaign of amusement. alie had only 'seen her sis- ter and Belturbet ,occaeionally, for they preferred country life to town, and could not give her the excitement for which she craved, The Ileriotta had not crested her path for several years Philippa had received the news of 'Primrose,. and Aethere en- gagementcalmly, recognizing that her ehanee of reigning at GleitHouse wae for ever at an end. As Major Pergussoo be- came eery attentive, however, she be - arae Rea Pergueesan without much delay. Jim stayed on at the flat with an elder- ly housekeeper,and continued his varioue experiments with untiring industry. It was a, blnzing day in Jane -when Del- ete arrived at Old Hou,se. She had be- -come it very elegant graceful woman of twenty-six; her forget-me-not blue eyes were as clear as ever, and. the fair hair arranged in a mass of curls about her mall head was as bright as on the day when she and her sister had sat in the woods, and Belturbet had overheard their conversation. But yews devoted solely to the pursuit of pleasure had given her an air that seemed to indicate that she found most things wearisome, and her eneraies de. clared that the look she wore indicated a petulant disposition. Be that as it may, Miss Dulcie Oar- wardine, Who was an undeniably attrac- tive eoung woman, confessed to herself atter a week 'spent at Old House, that the quiet, uneventful life led by her slater and Belturbet did not suit her in the least. "Are you not going to provide anything in the shape of entexteinment for me?" she asked Primaroee one afternoon. "I really do not think I can stand mudh more undiluted simplicity." . Prirariose, wthe 'was lbS graceful and Pretty AS ells had ever been, put down her needlework. "We have asked the Fergussons, Kr. Iteriott, and the Ashbye, brother and elle. ter, to come dawn on Saturday for it -week or two," she replied. "That eounds better," eaid brightening. "The Ashby boy is rather amusing. Be -the -way, what has Jim Her- iott grown into? He threatened to be stent, 1Sarney!" "Then lie gliew thin instead. He bee worked like a slave for the last few years, and. ig now reaping the reward -of hie in, •duereaxy." me, how noble that sounds! Be errast have changed a good deal eince he was a fat, redheaded young man with a violent temper had it penchant for mak- ing scenes." "Yon will find him greatly altered. He ie going to be it very rich man before long. The Government have taken up eome of his inventions." • "Very 'eourageous of them, I'm sure!" seid Dulcie lIghtly. "I feel quite a thrill of excitement at the thought of meeting such it celebritee' We quarrelled the laet time I raw him, I believe." She fell into e reverie. The time seem- ed very eemote now, yet he could die tinctly recall bow her heart had :weed because elm ignored her. But the ache had elisappeared in time, and it hest of admirers bad 'taken Heriotes, place, for Dulcie received far more admiration than is good for any one young woman. See received 'propose:le of marriage from several men, but no one seemed to poe- tsees• the qualiticabions she deemed neces- sary in it Mebane, eel thereforeat tweneyesix Dade wags still ,Mise Oar - vat -eine. • Arthur Belturbet met hie guests at the etation. Peilippe had developed into a wonderfully m,ajestio leder. whose has:band admired her •greatly, and tee° Asethye were it merry, happy-go-hieky brother and sister. Jim Heriott,. now lean of ilg- itre, looke4 several yeare itt advance of hie age. Itis fieentng Itead wae many shades darker, his brown , eyes were re- flective and oritical, rather than merry, and the brown moustache that wed , to tide a filen mouth had tlisappeared; • - He was urtfeignecler glad to 'tee Beltar. bet, and inquired after Primrese and :the children, but evinced •no Seeleig of aey kind when Beltewbet. renterkee, "Prime rosae eleter stityine with 159.' The new arrivale •foarel their heetese and her eleter in the ga,rden, bath in "(Melte taught dresses, looking tee Mame of eltarmeng eleglielt womanhood. If Dal - .110 vv,a8 startled at the eluthge la Jim lieriott, she <lid not show it ae she ehook haude -with I•tim. "How d'ye, ,do," oi eerie, as if elie had eel him the, us .previodae, Herlott ettulted Made carefully: he tie. iced her discontent and restie,senste, and Wondered if tee led forgotten 'whet he odd never forget—how they had elled five years ago, Five yeers of steer- t1,011S wok): they had been for brie, and 'wo English soldiers EaVre, with a French yotIngSter, Who is trying tO keep up, I I Neither* he relleeted getnee, iled .1144 t140 year's of pleesere for her. Tim did nOt dem,liewever, to leave bleritelit etta• htelePieelee, iledging• fronl, 'Whet kio <WM- eel eyescould (see. i brought, hien hapeineee. Ptertnrie Wake • within Luz rode ln afew ,inetither hie POSitiOn would be meured, elite tt he lilt. ed be need never do it etroke or, work agehe yet he ,wae hot eatieteed 'With lee life. 'elm real reaeon fee thee he etnere to hitle, but, in his heart or aielletts he knew whet it wee, ' A. week puesed agreeably for the liouse- Petty. Delete no 'longer oortiPleirted tielitess, tor leeeinale etilibe wee ner 'sieve, 'while We sister, Beatrice, .a Plentie goleen-heired maidee of twenty, el:timed Heriott De her enure, tee thee did not hana beeves,' on the hamlet of any of thelll. Y0t both Dulde mid ,, ,Tim were vonecieus of a dietinet eeneation, Of aemointment ae the days Hew by, and ,vvliee the time eame for elin. to all110•Ull0S that he 'WAS COTayglied bY hllSill5SS to re - 10 London in it couple `of days, Del. eie began to experience anew all the Paeige she had euffered ilve,yeale age, If he laved lier witat wee there to ere vent lieu telling her SO 00.1V Shcl'aglied 1101lSOf, EVIBIT See eald ',that he was go- ing to be a. rice man, ,se there Was no reason why he should not say that he lov- ed her -41 he did. Mt, thee' wae eti IK he did! One moment ehe felt ,aerteie of it, but the next ehe doubted, It da-wned ou herthe day before the one fixed for his deperture that he intended to leeve her without 'toying a.uythina, The morning .and- afternoon EliPpetl teeta,e; dinner -tame came and paesed; only ,a few houre remained before .they 'would sey "Geed nighet and goad-beHerlott was to leave' early the next morning. It was a twarm etill evening, following a day of enteilde heat,. anti after, <teener the little party strolled out late elie gar- den, Reginald- 'Ashby , everted,. Duecie while hie goldenhaired leieter kept, near iteriett. ' • ,"What, shallBet we do to amuse )11% He- iott on his last eveniug?" asked Beatrice Aehby, "1 do not want to be amused," replied Jim, "Only to be allowed to finish my cigar in peace." "It would he cool and quiet in the woods," suggested Delete -with a fast - beating heart. "Than let ue to the -woods!' pried Ash- by. "We will all playehide-atuleseek, and it will be great eport. . Prim,roee declered she 'was to old to come, but Philippa thought it would be amusing, and holding eP her long skirte led the way. As Dulcie bed said, the -woods were cool and quiet, while the light still lingered. -Very mon the SIX yelling aeople were running about like a party of sdbool children, and .startling, the birds, that had retired at their proper time, When Beatrice Ashby lost one of her pale blue satin elippers and Heriott found it and replaced it on the owner's pretty foot, Ihilme felt as if she would enjoy nothing so much as to give Beatrice sound box on. the ear. eIt is ,your turn to seek now, Dulcie! cried Philippa,. "Be quick and bide then, teen," an - aerated Dulcie, trying to arrange a, lock. of heir that heel fallen down in the heat of the ehase. They an preeented a rather diehevelled appearance, even stately Phipippa'e queenly robe was. tarn, and Beatrice had a large smudge of green down one side of her dress. Duloie was left alone pinning up her hair,» whilst the others seettered to hide. After a fee- minutes one of ;the hietirs gave e load "Coo-oee," and holding her skirte well up out of the grass Dulcie began the search. She ran Philippa •to earth quickly, and then Beatrice -"who ,with many 'screams of dismay rushed this way and that, but failed ,to elude Dulcie's swift feet. It was more difficult to And Reginald, who. got hom.e easily, after leading Dulcie long. chaise, but she tenet Major Fergueson unawares. Hemet, however, was not to -be seen. "You will never find him!" ecoffed Beatriee. • • , • "Shan't 1r retorted Dulcie. "Do not be too sure! I will catch him ir he has not gone out of bounds." "Of course he hae riot!" "Then I will find him iu a few minutes ateDbaolleadaeies bad been 'arranged;wiel due regard to the ladies' capabilities he athletes. Dulde dieaPpeared into the leafy green- ness of the woods, and when she was out of sight of the others stood still for a minute. A sudden thought caxne to her. Just out of bounds was the Gap in the old stone -wall where ehe had so often inet, her lover years ago. Suppose he had gone there?. • With noieeless stepe she made her way towards it. Beeend her the voices and laughter of the others grew feinter ana fainter, until they were completely lost. Onee she stopped euadenly and listened, but nothing was to be heard save the rustle of the leaeee and the drowsy notes of the birds. Presently she came to a clearing in the woods which had. been declared out . bowies. She picked her way carefully amass it, and etole into a rtarrow path between the trees on the other elde. Iit a few zainutes he had reached the Ga,p; and there, unabashed, ,at dim, &reeking a eigareete. ' "X euppese you know you are out oe bounds," said. , "Oh I am not playing now!" he regelied. "Then you, ought to have said so, re- torted Ditloie, "and laved inc the trouble of coming all this way to find you." "How did -you know I was here?" "I thought you would probahly be re- visiting the scenes of your youthful days." - Dulcie spoke easily, but she colored. "And you were also seized -with a de- sire to •do the sa.me?" queried Heriott, rising and ,showing hie intention of re- turning to the others. "I believe you are afraid to stay here -with me," said Dulcie. "Do not let me detain you, but as I am rather tired I Propose to ret for a few minutes before Sghoe 3)(1a:refill ly selected a seat on I:be broken -wail, while Jim tean.ained stand.' ing. ' "Pray do not, wait," see eaid with ela- borate politeness, "I know my Vay, and am mete at home in these woods. Once 1 bad exe got to elue Poste from this very +Vet 'Vito late nt lied 40 not 11 the lesete Tele woe reteind flertott of taie lest oeceeion Wh101 they had 60 eller() tergethee. If he remembered, hOweeer, he gave no eign, hut etood holdieg his tie:matte between les fingehe "Do etrioeer eltkreetle "Thanita,' ,said, ;wailing himself of her pernieseiOn, ,A. gust of terapea. eeizea Dielcieelte •vva like granite, leargeatted immovable, yet Ib seemed to" her impoevsible that those odvb, icli had once barged eo, intensely witeitif emed be lenge lutely "Yoe, heeet changed Very mech," she. pemarkee abruptly. • ' "I dare eee. 1 have lied, so rntener theDirgoe ytoguatOth.'ilat x 31a.ve, ouicie inquired, , new glartee -Of luet' blue eyes. 'Reeiote, appeared. to reflect. , Not, greatly, I elioald was di8 answer. Duicie felt baffled, but gathered her forces for it Mutt .effert. "I aim afraid • I treated 'you 'very badly once upon a time,' shetanurteuree "Ob, that wits yeares and years age!' was hie cheerful reply. "Believe me, have entirety forgotten it, Meet of us melte fools of ouredvee once bt our livee," Dulde looked et the melt whoepoire so carelessly. Tee sparetiess of his form made hen look taller than in days gene by, wheat his once round, smiling face had become holloweiheeited, and the pink and white of his complexion given place to a uniform. pallor. The brown eyes were eold ahd critical, and. his hair no laAasger,sbileameetiedo.guized the completeness of the change in eine inentally OS well as physietelly, she eneyr that it was not en- tirely dueeto the many houre spent at work, bat that he bad suffered ae she had ""nrre. v' never epeale kindly to me again!" slie told herself. "Never! What shall I do? I must not—I •will not—lase him!" She strove to find words wheel would 'teed the conversation in the direction she wished it to take, but, vensid as „she - was in feminine wiles, she could think of nothing. She ffats extremely ,misera,ble, knowing that the last chance of halite. nets was %%lipping away. There was si- lence between them -until the man broke 'Tr you have sufficiently x.e.sted," he 'mid oonventrionally, "do you not think we had better return to the others? They will be wondering *whet has; become of us." • "I do not -want to go back," said Diecie deAtigaanitnlys.ne'; !Jute terii like a curtain between them. Heriott made no answer, but the fingers that held, the cigarette censhed it. He stood motionless. IMIcie welted for a word—none came. -Jim!" ;the whispered. "Tim—speak to me!" Hee elender form trembled violently, and then as the man made no sign she buried her face in her hands. and a sob broke from ler. "What do you want me to say?" aeked Ileriott, ,a voice that wee devoid of ell expression. • "Do you never -intend to forgive me?" asked Dulcie. raising her head ,and look- ing at him. - "There is nothing to forgive," he re- plied. "That means you will not. Well, any- how, I am sorry I behaved as 1 did, and as I think 1 have humbled myself sua Roiently for one eiening, we may as well return to the others. She ;rose to her feet rather unsteadily, gave a shake to her dainty eilken skirts, lifted her head and stared him straight in the lace. Be met her gaze without flinching. "Come," ,said, with a rather poor attempt to eanile. "I am quite reade." But Heriott did not make any attempt to move. "Just one moment," he said. "Did you follow me here to ask me to forgive You?" "Suppose I did—whet. then?" "If ;you. did, it makes all the differ- "Parele' e and love 'struggled for the near;Or hand within Riede; she longed to appear flippant, but the fear of losing hen stop- ped, the weres that, rose ito her lips. 'What difference coeald it make?"' she aSked. "Tell me the truth' he said sternly. "Well, I did," she confe,ssed. a trifle nervously. ' "Wh-y?" he queried. - She shrugged her shoulders. "Why?" he insisted. Oh, a whnn. replied aualy. "Thee is not the truth," he said soberly. "Well, then," she began desPeratelle followed you because I guessed you had come here, ,and I wanted. to tell y011 that I am soery, for the way I -treated you years ago—and that—that—I ham regret- ted it ever .since," "As a matter of fact, so hare I," he emprieed her by xeplying. • She looked at him, and then suddenly 13e'ellar,-Vee IlIaepallen quite enough gh humble pie, Jim?" she agsked softly. "Are you eever going to be generous? It is not like you to''Tbanaervemrableicreereou any, malice," he re- f -plied. "But how aan.e -to know that you. mean ,what you say?' 'I will marry you when. you like if you will ask me tee" she marrauxed, slipping an arra within his. "Let, lie sit, down and tan it oyer,” sadd Jim. • So they sat down, very clese together, and there were many explanations and s confeesions to be tatade by both ' Dalcie persisted on unburdening every- P thing on her conscience. ' e She told Jim, -whose eyes -were growing less eritical, the reason .she wanted at one , time to marry Arthur Belturbet, how he el overheard her say eo, but thought it wee -1 Primrose, who had .designe upoe him, and therefore loolled on her -with suspicion, S and Wags ,determiped not to fall. in love with her, but did se, in spite of hiaaself. She also confeseed how she had inveigled Arthur into proposing to her. "Zust, as I have -you.," she said, glancing et Jim. to see how he took - it , g life only nodded, mid said— ' e "Juet as y.ou have me. X see—go on!" ee Then Duleie told him how she found the Will that left ber and Prienroae nearly. ! a penniless, and had burned it ete that she could be _rich and =erre jien. • "Only you never aelwd ine," ealil rtiefully. "W'beet de you tbink of nee, A DE III aLow To FREEDOM gleiioten,,, Pow Yoe lieve hoed it, all?" she aeuret. When ehe had hee conree, "My dear" be reielee, "no you are the only girl fever wanted to marry, end it eeenie you are foellah enough to <are for Maw, .Iovme may Se 3ritosowitt it.haell veeoriit talett.I duo ,raoou.r..t had not .found here this evening I (should' have- gone aWay• because never ititended to ask you to inarrY -ere, Imt sine°, dt eeente you want me really, and I 'want you, I think we hied better got- iniitrerltedinasees:toecieoh14.weee gioeirs.rinbillet,dsbeargoa;riel4eve "I teink so, too, said Dulcie,' her heart , beating eumultouely, "And, oh, Jim, I will try- to be better in ranee! I know I am selfish end vain, bub I moon 10 1/edrOleilavVe91)%elYnillai?etvh0exo't,kieottwrislt., wretch: Jim iiieeed her. "Do you really love me?" she asked wietfully, for 'he had made ao declara. tion of affection, at her me?" asked Jim, looking pi,;33rwl'ithmG'sririrtatrn you deGerve'" '311e re. "It ie just the eame with me," Mid Jim. "I am »really =thee fond of erim, tblauttnlyaoltial enlia•etage14)37jaageet.° Mak° Yaa vainer Dulcie laughed. 'Itin affaid," she said artfully, "thet 't is time we went baok to the others,' ' "Kiss .me fleet!" he ordered, foi. me,' she murmured. :KT 'Ki inc!" ylioeu 4i1,::.:Axiot,ctare very -weed Very gently ahe placed her arms round his neck and kissed him ;rather timidly on the oheek, She was not troubled :wale wet& any doubt as ,to the strength of his affection fer her., becauSe he caught her in his arms and kissed her in a manner that convinced her his line was nearly— if not quite—as stron,,T as her Own. shOWooxoTlealmilrettbluisreat gtholesb"slky:to the othei•sl" 'Oli, bother the othete3r he said, kies- ieg her again. TEE 5 110. • SOME FAMOUS SIEGES. Gallant Defence of Liege itgainst Three German Corps. The defenee of Liege by 30,000 Belgians against three German army corps numbering 125,000 will go down to history as one of the amnonsatisbroillf iwanatr.feats of arms in the The Franco-Prussian war of 1870- 71 was remarkable for its sieges. Ba,zaine held out at Metz against the Germans for nearly two months and finally surrendered with 6,000 officers and 173,000 men. For this he had to 'submit to court-martial .and Was sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment, `_Afterwards came the siege of Paris, which lasted six months. Thousands of shells. Were rained on the city every day by the Germans, and no fewer than 40,000 of the inhabitants euecumb- ed to disease and hunger. That lengthy sieges are quite pos- sible even in these dais of huge guns is illustrated by Ohukri. Pasha's gallant defence of Adrian.- ople last year for 155 days. Then the t' great siege of,Port Arthur in the Russo-Japanese war in 1904-5, which finally capitulated after be- ing blockaded by Admiral Togo for 210 days- The name of General Stoessel will rank with those of the greatest soldiers of modern times. In Ottoman and Russian military history there has never been a siege like that of Plevna in 1877, when. Osman Pasha, defied the Rus- sians for 144 days and,,finaller rundered on December 10th, with 30,000 men and 100 guns, owing bo provisions and a,mmunition running lehort. In the same years Kars, long the bulwark of the Ottoman Bro.pire in Asia; was storrned:by the Russians after a siege of five months. TWerit,y-tWe years earlier the or -tress had :been brilliantly de- fended for eight months against the Russians by the Turks under General Williams, who ha,d put 15,000 men against, 50,000. Even these sieges, however, ire oniewhat insigmfican when cora- ared with some others. The long- . st siege occurred in the Am.erican Civil war, when the -Confederates efended the town of Richmond for ,485 days, or just over four years. ebastapol, in the Crimean war, eld mit, for eleven months, while General Gordon defended. Khar- toum against the Souda,nese for Cimberley, and Mafeking, in the 00 days. The sieges of Lad12y0,sm1i2th3: outh African war, lasted nel. 261 days reespectivey. There is proba,bly, however, no teeeeeite Tonimy Atkins in Fiance and Belgium. The piCture on the right shows 13raddock, a well-knewn 43ritish boxer, with his unit duties now eonsisb of preparing food foe the marines who have been landed at that place. Ostend, His On tlat left are SHOULD GERMANY TRIUMPH IN THIS WAR. Rudyard Idpiing Sounds a Call t� Arms in a Stirring Address. It is not conceivable that we should fail, If we do fitirthe lights of freedom go out over the whole world." This was the statement of Rud - yard Kipling, the author, in a. stir- ring address to a mass meeting at Brighton, England, where an im- mense crowd had gathered in the Dome to listen to speeches in sup- port of Lord Kitchener's crusade for recruits.. The meeting was pre- sided over by the Lord Mayor of . Brighton, seconded hy Herbert Samuel, president of the Local Government Board. Mr. Kipling said "Through no fault nor wish of ours we are at wa,r with Germany, the power which owes its existence to three well thought out wars; the power which, for the last twenty years has devoted itself to» organ- izing and preparing for this war; the power which is now fighting to .conquer the civilized world. Must Have Men. "Fr the last two generatiens the Germans in 'their books, lectures, gpeechesand schools'» have been carefully taught that nothing less than this world conquest .was the ' objeet of their preparations and their sacrifices. They have prepared carefully and sacrificed greatly. "We must lia,ve men, and men, and men, if we, with our allies, are to check the onrush of organized barbarism. Germany's Objective. "Have no illusions. We are deal- ing with it strong and magnificently equipped enemy, whose avowed aim is our complete destruction. The Germans' real objective, as she has always told us, is England and. England's wealth, trade and world- wide possessions. 'If you assume for am instant that attack will be sueeessful England will not be,reduced, as some people say, to the rank of a second-rate power, but we shall cease to exist as a nation. We shall become an out- lying pro-vince of Germany, to be administered with what severity German safety ,and interest require, Aria Against Fate. are against ucha fate. We. enter into a new life in which all the facts of war thet we had put behind or forgotten for the» past hundred years have returned to the front and test us as they tested our 4abhers.» It will be a. long and hard road beset with difficulties and disconragements, but we »bread it to- gether and we will travel it toge- ther—tO the end. "Our petty social barriers have been swept* away at the outset of our mighty struggle: Change in Short Time. All the interests Of our life of six weeks ago are dead. We have but one interest now and that touches the naked heart of every man in this island and in the em- pire. ' "If we are to win the right for ourselves and for freedom to exist on earth every man must offer him- self for that service and that sacri- fice'while the state sees to it that his dependents do not suffer. "There is no middle way in this war. » We do» not doubt our ultimate victory, any more - than we doubt the justice ef our .cause. It is not con- ceivable that we 'should fail, for if we fail the lights of freedom go mit all over the world. Duty Done Means Success. "They may glimmer for a- little in the evestern hemisphere'but a. Germany dominating half the world by sea and land will most certainly extinguish them in every quarter where they have hitherto shone upon mankind so that even the tra- ditions of» freedom will pass out of remembrance. If we do our duty we shall not fail." Youthful Slur On Graedpa. `'Don't y,ou think he is too cute for anything 2" a.sked the proud young, mother, referring- to her baby. "Q, I don't know," reelied eee 17 -year-old brother. "He's ente enough, I guess, but I never did think much of people who hadn't any teeth." ' Fortttne Hunter. "So jack's married ? Did he marry for beauty?" "No, booty." „e siege whith Britisliers like to read. about so ninth as »that earried -but by France and Spain in their en- deavors to earry the Rock of Gib- raltar, 1779-83. Altogether the siege lasted nearly four years, and as the world knows, resulted in a coin- plete triumph of British arins, spite of the feet that the enemy nombered 30,000 to 40,000 men, while the defeeders could onlr mute ter 7,000.