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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Herald, 1914-08-14, Page 2A Fo lis Youllg Man; Or, the Belle of the Season. CHAPTER XX. -(Continued). :the stood and looked at him. The color slowly left her fade untilIt was white as death. the light faded from her eyes un- til they ,were dull and lifeless, the red of her lips paled and the lips themselves ea - taxed and drooped, and ae he looked at her a ghaetly fear smote his heart, and a, question shot into his eyes. She inclined her head as if he had put tire question in words. Yes," she said. "I shall die. You re- member my another. I shall follow her-" He utterad a low, hoarse cry, and caught her hands and held them; then he Sung them from him, and standing with his back to her, said, thickly, as if every work, were forced from him: "You shall have your way! You always have had, like your mother before you- you always will. But mark my words; you'll live to curse the hour you forced me to do this!" She drew a long breath -it was almost a sigh -of relief, and she laid her hands on his arms and kissed him on the fore- head. I'll riek that." she said, with a tremu- lous laugh. There was a silence for a moment, then she said, calmly: "You will play your part carefublsr, fa there You will let Sir Stephen think that Stafford desires it; you will be careful?" Ife turned upon ier with an oath. ,- won't say more if you aro sure there is nothing between you." "I have the best of }•,easons for saying so," said Stafford, carelessly, and with a touch of color in his face. `But it's all daehecl nonsense! The women always think there's •something' serious going on if you dance twice with a• girl, or it and talk to her for half an hour." "Right!" eaid Howard, rising. "There's the 'hell!" As Howard had -said, there was an air of suppressed excitement about the party; and it was not confined to the financiers who clustered together in the hall and discussed and talked in undertones, every now and then glancing up the stairs down which Sir Stephen would preeently de- scend. Most of the other guests, though they had no direct and personal interest in the ,great scheme, had heard rumors and come within reflective radius of the excitement; as for the rest, who knew no- thing or cared less for Sir Stephen's rail- way. they were in a pleasant•condition of excitement over the coming dance. Stafford. as he etood in the hall talking about the night's programme to Bertie- who had been elected, by common and tac- it consent. master of the ceremonies -saw Maude Falconer descending the stairs. She was even more exqui-sitfjyw,elrc sea. Mefferd' than ueual; and err' ]aeard same a f the sae n de ane Men murmur admiringl,; ^- a"anai enviously as she ewept •acroes the hall in her"anagnifioent ball -dress; her dia- monds, for which elle was furious, glit- tering in her hair. on her white throat, and on her slender wrists. The dress was a mixture of greys and black, which would have looked bizarre on anyone less beau- tiful; but its strange tints harmonized with her superb and claseio class of beauty. and she looked like a vision of loveliness which might well dazzle the eyes of the beholders. She paused in her progress -it might almost be called a tri- umphant one, for the other women's looke were eloquent of dismay -and looked at Stafford with the slow, half -dreamy smile which had come into her face of date when ehe spoke to him. "Have you seen my father? Has he come down, Mr. Orme?" she asked, "No," .said Stafford. He looked at her, as a man does when he admires a woman's, dress, and forgetting Howard's words of warning. said: "What a splendacious' frock, Miss Falconer! Do you like it? I em glad," she said. "I had my doubts, but now----" Her eyes rested on his for a 1norrient, then she passed on. "I shouldn't like to have to pay Miss Falconer's dress bill." -remarked a young married woman, looking after'" her, "That 'frock,' as you call it, in•your masculine ignorance. must 'liavo' cost a small for- tune.' Stafford laughed. "We men always nut our foot in it when we talk about a woman's dress," he said. A moment after. the dinner wae an- nounced. and Sir Stephen, who had come down at the last moment, as he went up to. take Lady Olansford, nodded to Staf- ford, and smiled significantly. • Re was as carefully dressed as usual, but on his face, and in his eyes eartioularly, was an ex- pression of satisfaction and anticipatory triumph which was too obvious to escape the notice of but very few. • He.was not "loud" at dinner, but talked even more Snently.thau usual, and once or twice hie fine eyes ewept the table with avictori- ous, masterful glance. Directly the ladies had gone, the little knot of financiers drew Up nearer to their host, and Griffenberg raised his eyebrowe interrogatively.' - Sir Stephen nodded. "Yes," he said, in an undertone, "It's all right! I heard this morning. My man will be down, with the final decision, by a special train which ought to land hint about midnight. "We'll meet in the li- brary, say at half past twelve, and get the thing :finished. eh, .baron?" Wirech grunted approval,- "'Ware goof. Sarre Stephen; deo sooner a ting ees congluded, de bedder. 'serf bast dwelve!" Time was but a short stay made in the drawls%g-room, and before ten o'clock tho guests streamed into the magpi$cent ball- room. There yrexre a wimeee pi theneigh• boring gentry erho weld shaking teir ac- quaintance with the Villa for the first time, and they regarded the splendor around them with an amazement which was not without reason; for to- htrFlbe artistically designed anll shadelt le4trie icsn1•pse the bSatitiful rooms with their chaste, yet effective decorations, on which money had teen lavished like water, were seen to their greatest advantage; and the Vaynes, the Bannerdales, and the lo• cal gentry generally exchanged glances and murmured exclamation of surprise and admiration. and wondered whether there could be any end to the wealth of a man who could raise such a palace in eo short a time. From the gallery of white -and -gold the famous band, every man of which was a musician, presently began to ,send forth the sweet strains of a Waldteufel waltz, and Stafford found Lady Olaneford for the. first dance. Though he had paid little at- tention to Howard's remarks about Maude Falconer, he remembered them. and he did not ask her for a dance until the ball had beenrunning about an hour; then he went up to where she was standing talking to Lord Ban.nerdale, her last partner. His lordship and. Stafford had already met, and Lord Bannerdale, 'who admired and liked Stafford, nodded pleasantly.. "I was just eaying to M iee•Fa/coner that I wish Fate had made sae a great linen. der instead. of a country squire, Orme! By Jove!' -bhis place is a perfect-er- dream; and, when I think of my damp old house---" "What frightful language!" said Staf- ford. Lord Bannerdale laughed. "If Mies Falconer had not been present, I might just ae well have used the other word. I say I can't help envying your fa- ther that magician's wand with which he manages to raise such Marvels.' I'm going to fled hiss and tell him so!" "A dance?" said Maude, as Stafford Dr -Offered hi.s request.' "Yes, I have one, only one; it ie this.' Re put hie arm round her, and as he did so her eyes half closed and her lips quiv' erect at sirs touch, Stafford waltzed' well, and Maude was far and away the beet dancer in the room; they moved as one body in the •slow and graceful modern waltz. and Stafford, in the enjoyment of this perfect, poetry of motion, forgot every- thing*, verything', even hie partner; but ,tie came busk from his reverie, as ehe suddenly paused. 'Are you tired!"' he asked. "By George! how 'perfectly you waltz! I've never en- Toyed a dance more. A faint color tree to her fano•-ia ha4 been very pale a. Moment before -and the looked at him with an carneetnees' 'Which rather puzzled hams. "They gay that to agree in waltzing le an unfortunate thing for those who wish to be friends." "Do they?" ho said, with a smile, "I wender who ft is says all theee silly things? Now, what nonsonee, thie one te, for .instance 1 To on joy a donee as I've Just ei=loyed this, putt a man in a geed temper with himself anal his emitter; and, "'You'd. bee esei--re'-ttrente;'' he said, savagely: Ill try and save you from s++ .• : all I ean. For Heaven's sake go nd leave me atone!" ' CHAPTER XXI. While Stafford was dressing for dinner that night, and wondering whether, even if he should get an opportunity of speak- ing to his father, it would be wise to tell him of Ida, Howard knocked at the door. Stafford toad him to come in, and sent Measom away, and Reward, who was al- ready dressed, sank into an easy chair and surveyed his friend with bland ap- proval. "A white tie to -night, Staff? Anything on?" - Yes; there is a dance," replied Staf- ford. rather absently. What would hie father say and do? Would he go over to Heron Hall the next morning? Yes, that is what he would do. "A dance? Is that all? From the un- dercurrent of suppressed excitement ani- mating most of the guests I should think It was something more important. Have You noticed the air of suspense, of Suotu- ating hope and doubt, triumph and de- spair, which has characterized our noble band of financiers, during the last fear days?" Stafford :shook his head. "No; I haven't noticed 'em particularly. In fact, I scarcely see them, or do more than exchange the usual greetings. They seean to me to move and look and speak fust about as usual." Howard smiled. "To be young and happy and free from ease is to be blind: puppies, for instance, are blind!" Stafford grinned. "That's complimentary, anyhow. What do you think is up?" "I think Sir Stephen .is going to pull off hie great event, to make his grand coup." said Howard. 'Do you find a black-and-tan terrier improves a coat by lyine on It?" Tiny had coiled himself up on that gar- ment, which Measom had laid ready on the ohair, and was lying apparently asleep, but with his large eyes fixed on s hibeloved master "Oh, he's a peculiar little beast, and is always getting where he shouldn't be. Hil young man, get off any coat!" He picked the terrier up and threw him. softly on the bed, but Tiny got down at once and curled himself up on the fur mat by ?Stafford's feet. by, to be fond of you: strange dog!" said Howard. "Yes, I think Sir Stephen's 'little scheme' -as if any scheme of his mild be 'dittie'! ]tae *wetted on ? ees- fu1 y, and I shouldn t be surprised if the financiers had a meeting to -night and the floating of he company was annquncedi" "Oh," eaidStafford, as he dot into hes coat. "Yes, I daresay it's all right. The governor seems ri.waye to pull it off." lit/ward smiled. ''You talk ffair of thousands of thousands, perhaps millions, were quite aa,pat e," he said. "My dear boy, d �itx,- 'yotf and latande realize, the -impertddcb of this business? It's nothing lees than a railway from--" Stafford nodded. "Oh, yes. you told me about it. It's a, very big thing. I daresay, but what puz- zles me is why the governor should came to worry about it. He has money enough," No man has money enough," said Row- ard, solemnly. "But no matter. It is a waste of time to diecues philosophy with a man who has no ;Hind above fox-hunt- ing, fishing, pheasant -shooting and danc- ing. By the way, how many times do you. mean to dance with the Grecian goddess?" "Meaning—?" eaid Stafford. "Mise Falconer, of course. Grecian god- desses are not so common, my dear Staf- ford, as to permit of more than one in a house -party." "len sure I don't know,." replied Staf- ford, eyeing him with faint surprise. "What made you ask me that?" Howard eyed the handsome face with cynical, amusement. "Pardon. if I was impertinent; but I assure you the question is being asked among themselves by all the women in the house—" Stafford stared at him, and began to frown with perplexity rather than anger. My dear Stafford, I know you are not peesessed of aparticularly brilliant intellect, but you surely possess sufficient intelligence to see that your at- tentions to Mies Falconer etre somewhat. obvious." "What?" eald Stafford. "My attentions to Miss Falconer. --f Are you chaffing, Harvard?' "Not in the least: it's usually too great a waste of 'time with you, my dear boy: Yon . don't listen, and when you do, balf the time you don't understand, No, I'm (Suite serious; but perhaps I ought to have said her attentions to you; it would have been more correct," Stafford colored. "Look here, odd man," he said, "If you think • Oh; dash it all, what nonsense it lel Mise Falconer and I are very good friends; and of course I like to talk to her --rhes so .sharp. almost as smart and clever as you are, when she likes to take- the trouble; and of course I like to hear her sing— Why, my dear Howard, it's like listening to one of thebig operatic ewelie; but -but to suggest that there is anything -that -there ie any reason to warn me— Oh, dash sit.!i come off it, old man; you're chaffing? "Not in the 1 Fhea, But I didn't intend Any rw rning;...in feet, I remember now I am in honor bound to refrain from any- thing of the kind.' In honor beund?said Stafford. Howard almost blushed. '"Oh, its nothing; only a silly wager," he saki. "I cant tell you, so don't Ina quire - quiro; But all the same --well, there, I i a17, aeleraile • Jar • area IAuanA* 12te 11.1,4414- Ring Arthur's Court is filled with glee, Joy reigns therein this morn; eci ' The Queen—God bless Her Majesty— A pudding has made from Benson's Corn. Food Fit for a King ! —but so cheap that e ;reryane can afford it. That is why BENSON'S PREPARED CORN is so popular. It's a food for all seasons; excellent for warm weather because It is not over -heating. BENSON'S PREPARED CORN The housewife who keeps a package of BENSON'S PRE- PARED CORN in her pantry is never at a loss for a dainty dessert—one that can be quickly prepared in half a hundred different ways. Delicious with any flavoring, fresh fruit or extract. Can be Served in so many different ways that it is always new rel<res14ng• Send a postcard for a dainty little receipt book that tells how to make the many table delicacies that owe their goodness to BEN- SON'S PREPARED CORN. :: CANADA • STARCH . COMPANY :: Makers of the Famous Edwardsburg Brands MONTREAL ss CARDINAL ,. BRANTFORD 10, .•1,4px;,... .:R!#}."M•*Mi,. -- A'4'"t{P�tti•^.;Y'w ,G'.a++,�W',£.' ', I: i'l3Tr?. 'k5 o ir. .eareees sae, of course, snakes him feel more friendly. I'm not a good logician, but that sounds all right, doesn't it?" "Yee," she said, in a low voice. "No, I won't dance any more. I S am a little tired to -night and disinclined for danc- ing." "All right," he eaid. "I'an sorry --both that you won't dance and for the canoe. You have been doing too much to -day -- too long a ride, -I expect. These hills are rather trying to those who are not 'used to them. Shall we go and sit in that re- cess? I'll bring* you some wine—" .o. thanks," she said, quickly; she could not bear him to leave her, He led her to one of the recesses leading on to the fernery, and, found her a neat near' a softly ,,lashing fountain. The lighte were shaded with rose-colored silk and threw a soft, 'warm glow upon her lace and snowy neck. For the hundredth time, as he looked at her, he thought how beau- tiful she wae, and for the hundredth time compared her to Ida, of coarse to his sweetheart's advantage. She leant back in the luxurious lounge with her eyes bent on her jewelled fan. and seemed lost in thought. Then suddenly site said: "Do you know how long we have been here, Mr. Orme? It is a tremendous time. I told my father to -night that we, .must take our departure." "Oh, eel" he said. "Pray don't think of it, -if. yon care •to stay, if you are happy. You would be a very 'serious Ioss to us." "If I care -if I am happy!" She laugh- ed a low etranke laugh ,and raised her eyes to. hie for an instant. "Do you think 'have not been happy?" "Oh. I hope so," he •said. "My father would be awfully••cut up if he thought you had not; if he thought there had been ane- thing nything to prevent your being happy he would remove it even if it: lt were oneof thee( eteaentaills outside," he added, with a 3angh. "You admire yetis father?" she said. "Yon ate fond of bim?" Staffead nodded, It seemed an unneces- sary question, "Rather!" he said. "Theis never wae euoh a father as mine!" Si Ste tbinka And r hen p them never Java's such a soft as lire," ehe said In :a low voice, "I suppose you ere both quite willing to Make s ceificce feeachthee. Would you do -would d y giveup era& for your fa. Cher, Mr, (Mune?" She raised her eyes again, .and let them rest on his. Stafford tried to smile, but his face grew grave. "Just my life, if it were any use to him," he said. That is so little!" she said. "We ean all die for those we love, but few of us can dive for them -go on living a lite which has to be moulded to a plan, bent on another's will -Could you do tinier' "Yes;" he eaid, after a pause. 'There is no sacrifice I would not make for my fa- ther's sake; but" -he laughed and cleared the gravity from his brow -"ads the sacri- flee seems to be on his side. He hie work- ed •for me all his life, is working still, I'm 'served— Here is yt,ur lather, Mise Fal- coner; and looking for you, I'm afraid. Ralph Falconer stood in the doorway looking round, axis heavy face seeming heavier than usual. his thick lips •droop- ing. As he saw the two young people, his live straightened and he went over to them slowly. I hope you are not going to take Miss Falconer away, sir?" eaid Stafford. Ralph Falconer shook hie head, and, avoiding his daughter's eye, said: "Sir Stephen wants to see you in the 11 - beery, Mr. Orme, and wishes me to accom- pany you. "certainly, if Mies Failooner will excuse nee' Re rose, and he fancied her hand trem- bled slightly as it rested aamoet as light- ly ae a feather on hie arm. "I'll take you to Lady Clansford—" *•here is no need: here is my next part- net,". she •s'aid, as the 'beautiful, bounti- ful Berths" cants up emiling and buoyant. Anything the matter, sir?' aeked Staf- ford, as he and Falooner made their way round the roe= 'through whish wae float- ing the last thing in waltzos,''a soft and. eeneuous melody which sang the soul to test."1not. A matter of business n k,,' iekb id Raltih Falooncr, 'Hiie seers think," tery :Mr. Murray, has Suss earn(' from Lone don:. it may be eoa•tethtng to do with,• the Payers he had brought." Stafford nodded, though the explanation seethed unsatisfactory; for what ter:earn had Stafford with the "papers"? As they `Went' through the hall they saw tho 'fln- anciors clustered together ,with an expect: ant air, .ae if they `were ,waiting for the retch of the arrival . of the 'man by the speeittl train; anal they etaeed et Falcon- er and ex6hapg.ed glances as he and Staf- ford •passed them and wentto the, library door. Sir Stephen's voice came cheerily in response to Stafford'e knock, and St,t ford entered; .Falconer fbiiowing,4hiati'with bent head`and the eame..heaey look. (To be cdntinued.) .I. GERMANY'S WAR MACHINE. Kaiser Would Have Had Far Larger Army Next Year. That Kaiser William would have 5,400,000 trained soldiers to turn loose upon mankind by the end of 1915 had the present crisis not been precipi- tated is one ofthe startling facts which military authorities state. And although Germany's ruler even now has 4,000,000 men in arms, the rest of the world may take some comfort that his new army organization scheme had not been in operation a little longer. The remarkable military" activity of Germany which has been worrying the rest of Europe for the past Yew years culminated in the law of 1913, of which the main principle was to largely increase the number of re - omits joining yearly by lowering the age standard: By this plan less rel!; ince had to be placed on the reserve elements. More important even than these provisions' with their immense numerical increase, however, was the fact that mobilization would be enor- mously expedited thereby and a huge airmy of trained men thrown intothe. field at a moments notice. Sinister and significant on top of this, to all but those who blindly re- fused to see, was the gathering to- gether of gold and silver by Germany during the past two years. The war chest—gash immediately available for mobilization—was doubled in gold, in- creased from $30,000,000 to $60,000,- 000, while no less than $30,000;000 in silver had beenhoarded up, TALKING BANK NOTES TEST APPLIED RATHER OP THE ORDINARY. A. I. Ba'wx°ee Is a Great of Forgers in.' Great Britain. "Are you •a good ten dollar or .are you a counterfeit 4" "Ten dollars," replied the note, just like that. b For there are now bank lei o -b that talk out loud. • Oounterle, n .are dumb. • Genuine bills Inas+ the the latest process will anno er their denomination ill plain tin, and in •the language of the cog's Iso in which they are issued. Thi g mi .; off ti fir were Br! esp 1mi 1 07 rikil dge ca' ere Ge; ha{ she England a genuine five -pound replies to your question : pounds." In France a real hundred-ts , bu note replies: "Cent francs." In Italy agenuine twent' note answers: "Venei lire.", IIEG3 In Germany a, good fifty note says: "Fuenfzig Marke.' In American a genuine five -d' bill replies: "Five dollars.": An English Invention. '';lespa Such bank notes are not s circulation, but it seems saf predict that they will be b2 many years. They are the in tion of A. E. Bawtree, an ele cal engineer and chemist, wh considered in England to be greatest authority on bank n He is a terror for forgers, and to him that bankers have reco when the genuineness of a no in doubt. It was at the recent meetin the British Association that h scribed the method of defe counterfeiters and, making notes inimitable. -His English tent is No. '27763, A.O. 1910. I scribes bank notes having e serrated. in a way that' appear regular, but that really corresp to certain determined sound w and further describes the cons tion of small phonographs N make audible the sounds co ponding to these waves. At present English bank have three rough edges, du their being printed on sheets o per the size of two of the notes sheets are cwt in two, which one smooth edge and three bearing all the irregularities original paper, like the rough found on the unfolded side o pages of uncut books. Mr. tree conceived the idea, of sys tizing these irregularities. Hair tre JIow It Is Bone. By means of a photographic cess he obtained a matrix of the edgeswith their zigzag curves represent precisely th traced..hy:; hgfassylAs of a ,gr-apdr 011 which the words pounds," for example, have registered. By means of a. machine it is easy to rep these zigzags and curves up edges of the paper on whic notes are to be printed. Thi note would have edges whic fac-simile of the phonograp cord of the words that exp denomination. To make these words,a.ud Bawtree has devlwo d machines.,.• -*Oils consists of ;aitn'lile''gramophone, the est which follows the sinuosities edge of the bunk note when passed through it and spea corresponding words su' loud to be heard by the o who places the flexible tubes ears. In the other apparat observer blows into .a tub, a air, penetrating a soundi through the sinuosities of th of the bank note, which is in between two metallic leaves, duces puffs of which the freq and intensity correspond to destined sotind waxes and duce the desired words•. • If th remains mute or the issuing are meaningless; it is a, oountel Lie ue y. the its old. ed s thrc g o. ga he c roa ani ty. terir , tf the ed r.. ing la des s v he c lie resi ca.p was the y'i tent t o ar tag er im; N3 'S all spa an 3 inc by 1 T for al aI ha ve ax ht sf itgil alv spat port nt 11 s T That Test Won't Work. heal Six nt efen+ Vats istrii Se) twt he Bal dee yl lan the ti Mrs. Flat+bush—"And you your little boy steals your piesai Mrs. Beeonhumt — Some: does, and I suspect Tommie.' �' 'Well, there's a way you tell," "By the thumb P.b rints." . "Oh, no, I can't. When To gets through with a pie ther n't any, thumb prints," knives Two ,small. ora'te'd a small scrubbing brush, for the Pose of preparing vegetables, is he found in every kitchen. If one's finger is ,swollen eo ly that a ring will not come best way .to ren'fove it is to finger in icy -cold isoapsuds! di,