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The Herald, 1909-06-18, Page 3An expression of disgust passed over Erna's face, and her delicate upper lip curled with scorn. Violet laughed covert- ly to see the very effect she had antici- pated, Then she started and stared as atother change passed over Erna's face, and the proud young beauty turned and nein: "Did your mother really say so?" "Why, Erna!" cried Violet, "you wouldn't really think of him?" "I don't know what I might not do," responded Erna, her eyes flashing sud- denly. "Others have done such a thing." "Oh, but you!" cried Violet in disanay. "Here he comes now! Do say something ugly to him" Erna glanced at the tottering old roue, who had nothing but his title and for- tune to recommend him, and a little shudder passed over her. Theta she flash- ed a glance at where Lord Aubrey stood by the side of . Lady Gertrude, and a dark, stormy look filled her brown eyes. "Ah, Miss March," mumbled the old beau, "I understand now why we have no moon to -night. It is to you that the sun has lent his radiance." "Oh, you are mistaken," replied Erna, in aai indescribable tone of mingled re - /Alien and cutting irony; "this gown was lent -to me by Lady Violet." Violet almost dropped with horror, but a glance at the threatening eyes of Erna told her that something had gone wrong, and that it were better not to betray her feelings if she did not wish to bring on worse things. Even the old marquis was staggered, by the cynical frankness of the young girl, and mum- bled something about Erna lending radi- ance instead of borrowing it. Poor Violet! she could not comprehend ;her friend at all. She bad seen her in her moods before, but never in anything like.. the biting humor she was in for the few seconds during which they two and the old marquis stood together be - fere they were joined by the throng of eager admirers, who had waited for .a suitable opportunity to renew their court to the new beauty. "Lady Roseboro has conferred on me the honor of taking you in to dinner," said the marquis, eager to try a new eubject of conversation with the petul- ant beauty. Erna flashed a quick look at the tottery old fellow, and Violet felt ready to faint with apprehension. It was just the look that always prefaeed. one of Erna's most cutting speeches. • "How kind of the dueness," she began, *ben Violet, in a most beseeching voice 'broke ii Oh, Etnan there is Lady Gertrude. Iiow lovely she Iooks to -night!" "She always looks lovely," said Erna, her snood changing in an instant. "See, marquis! there is the beauty of the school. You know, did you not, that we were still bread-and-butter misses. Ah, Captain Merriwether!" and she turned with her most engaging manner to the first of the young gentlemen who ap- proached, "have you recovered from the efforts of your violent exertions at lawn tennis?" "'There will need to be a new judge of beauty appointed," mumbled the mar - gide, but his little voice was overwhelm- ed by the deep tones of the young guardsman. "If I were suffering the most horrible anguish," he replied to Erna, "your soli- eaude would be asovereign baler. Be- hold me a new man, ready to do and dare anything for the boon of another such anxious inquiry." "There is nothing I wish done at pres- ent," laughed .Erna, gayly, "but when my time of peril comes, I shall not for- get your offer" ."I beg you will let me enlist for the forlorn hope," said the marquis, not dis- posed to yield to his younger rivals. "I trust it is a forlorn hope," said the eaptain, glancing significantly at the marquis. The summons to dinner happily closed a discussion that might, with such a dangerous presiding officer as Erna, have led to some malicious speeches. CHAPTER XVIII. It was not Erna's fault if she at- trfa,cteda great deal of attention. She tirade no unseemly effort to gain the eyes and ears of the guests at tee sal -lo of the Duke of Roseboro; but she was in precisely the mood to say the w ;ttiest of things and to look her best. • There was just enough of sting to her wit to make it piquant, while she was too young, fresh and buoyant to be in any way artificial. When she spoke earnestly, as she .did now and again, there was something in her exquisitely modulated voice that hushed every oth- er sound, in the eagerness to listen to her. Lady Gertrude, triumphant in 'hold- ing the attention of the Earl of Aubrey, near to whom she . sat, he having taken Lady Violet to dinner, was nevertheless inwardly raging at the reception ac- corded to her school rival, for she could foresee that in the little time that was to intervene before their coming out Erna would have already established her -reputation as a beauty and a promi- nent attraction. .Occasionally she caught a glance shot.,, by Lord Aubrey toward the other beau- ty, and she had a premonition that the rivalry began in the school rooms of the Misses Warner was destined to be carried on in the world outside. She closed her white teeth hard under her red lips, and registered a vow that she would not be conquered in the fight, the prize of which she told herself was the nobleman, who was triply attractive be- cause of his title, his wealth and his shadowed past. Erna could talk well. Lady Gertrude had known that, but she had had a hint of the earl's love of music, and she awaited the triumph of the drawing room with the impatience of the gladia- tor who chafes to see another success- ful in a field in which he cannot enter himself. There was one other person who watched Erna with a great deal of in- terest, and that was the Marchioness of Romlcy, who, without having decided in precisely what way to take up the cause of her young and beautiful kins- woman,' was nevertheless each moment more determined to take it up in some way. She watched the earl, and was only half satisfied with his attention to Lady Gertrude, although she was quite satisfied that she would be the fitting mate fo: him. The astute old lady no- ticed the occasional glance which Au- brey bestowed on Erna, and she also noted the studied coldness of Erna to- ward him; but she was unable to guess at their true relations with each other. When the ladies left the gentlemen over their wine, and retired to the draw- ing room, the marchioness, with the deftness of long experience, contrived to place herself by the side of Erna, with- out in the least seeming, to• have any premeditation in doing so. "Of course," she said, turning smil- ingly to Erna, "you haven't the least idea who I am—have you?" Like most really high spirited and generous young people, Erna- was always deferential to age, unless, indeed, it pre- sented itself to her in masquerade, its in the ease of the Marquis of Melrose. Besides; she was glad of some one to whom she need not talk at high.pres- sure, as she had been doing all through. dinner. "I don't," she replied, with a bright smile, "but I should like to." "I am the Marchioness of Rowley, and your kinswoman by marriage. Did you not know that your aunt bad re- ferred to nay husband when she wished to place you in the Misses Warner's school?" chioness was immediately conscious of the resentment that underlaid the curt exclamation. "Yes," she said, in a low, pleasant tone, "it was thought better that you should not go there with the earl as a reference. You know our kinsman is somewhat under a cloud." "I have been told so," replied Erna, quickly, her eyes flashing with sudden ehaanpipnship, "but I am disposed to doubt it. I see that he is the lion here, and that the mothers are only too eager to put their daughters in his care," "Oh, that is a different thing, my dear," said the old lady. "fie is a choice husband, but he is a dangerous guar- dian." A. crimson flush dyed the beautiful face, and the brown eyes grew black. For a moment a stinging retort trembled on her lips, then the color died away, and Erna was calm. Tier lessons in self- control were beginning to stand. her in good stead. "I think," she said, quietly, but with enough of fire lingering in her eyes to make what she said impressive, that you said that for nay benefit. Perhaps you have the right to say such a thing because you are a relative, and because your name was used in my behalf, though quite without my knowledge. I am a minor and have nothing to say for my- self." It was as gentle a rebuke as could have been administered to the marchioness, but it was effectual in making the old lady comprehend that Erna could be treated in but one way—as a woman of sense and courage. "I said it, my dear," she replied, "not because I had any right, but .because T have an interest in you, You must not deny me that. You are almost alone in the world, and I have no children. You have a brilliant future to look forward to if nothing happens to spoil it, and I would like to help that future to be realised. I have already talked plainly to the earl, and I thought I would say enough to let you know- that I am your friend. I mean a real friend, and not a mere marplot presuming on age and kinship •to say disagreeable things to you!' There was no doubting the sincerity of the marchioness, and the kind way in which she laid her hand on Erna's gave emphasis to her words.. Erna under stood, but still resented the words that implied that she stood in any danger from the earl. • "1 know nothing of the earl," she C 0 You can painlessly remove auyynq5Me rbard, soft or bleeding, by amity i;um'e Corn Extractor. It never urs,!wtf nosoar contains no adds; is harmleys Pecan composed only of healing gurus and Panes, ,years in use. Cure guai.apteeds old be: / etioeists ase. bottles. Refuse substttutos, PUTNAWS PAit s - CORN EXTRAcr R said. "When I was a ehild,;.ttpplieation was,. made to him to .assist lir any: ;,eduear tion, papa having, died•lenving me'Penni- less. Lord Aubrey, $o far as t know, never gave a thought to rue, but turned the whole matter over to his attorney. I met him a few days after his •return from abroad. Ile interfered unwarrant- ably in nay affairs, as I think, and this afternoon, which was my first opportun- ity, I told him that the instant the time came when I could. free myself of his undesired assistance T. weal& do so.'I know nothing and care nothing in regard to his affairs. If his reputation is bad that is simply another reason: for not accepting any assistance from hien." She spoke proudly and frankly and it was impossible to doubt that • she' spoke with ;perfect truth, and yet theshrewd old lady simply felt that there was yet something to learn on the subject; -"Where do you spec' he Easter holi- days?" ahe.asked. t}* "With my aunt,a the place , Lord Aubrey has given her for her use,"; re- plied Erna, with a ,r:rt of' disdainful frankness, as if she were willing, to risk any misconception which the knowledge might produce in the mind of her ques- tioner. "Why not spend them With me?" asked Lady Rowley, kindly, ui will write to your aunt" Erna flashed so grately .n loot: at the marchioness that the latter had no doubt - that sh.e was glad of the oppor- tunity to escape the chance of passing any more time in the vicinity of Aubrey. "I shall be very glad to visit you," she said. "Forgive me if I seem proud' or hard, but I ane . alone, and I must fight for myself. I do not know how, but in some way I shad prove to him and to Aunt Augusta that they are not necessary to me. You cannot guess how I feel toward him," she went on, with a sudden approach to passion. "If I could return him every penny it has cost him for me, I would do so, and I would rather starve than. accept anything more from him. When T ani free to decide for myself my dependence on him shall end." "But you must depend on someone, nay dear," suggested Lady Rowley. "Would you tellme to depend on him?" demanded Erna, and then an- swered her own riuestion: "No, you would not.' "No, I would not, You are right. But you must do something: you cannot starve. Would you tench?" Erna. tossed her queenly head. "I would do that if it were necessary. But it will not be: there aro other ways open to"me..Why." she added, scornfully, "i ctaul,,r t•>iffys .sill: myself- There yself There is, the Marquis of alelrosc, who hardly makes a secret 01 his desire to have me become his' m raltioness." "My dear," said. Lady Motley, gravely, beginning toform an idea of her own, "you speak scornfully, but I really do not see that you . can do better. It is true that, with your beauty, you could have a with choice, but could you do better? I know I take a worldly and not a romantic view of the question, but my experience has taught me that it is wise to take a worldly view of matrimony." "It may come to that," laugher Erna, with such a sudden change of manner VI I� Cued by Lydia E. Pink- ham'sVegetableCorpound Canifton, Ont. --"T had been a great sufferer for five years. One doctor told me it was ulcers of the uterus, and another told ane it was a fibroid —, tunior. No one knows what I suf- fered, I would always be worse at certain periods, and Never was regular, and the bearing -down pants were terrible. I Was very i11 in bed and the doctor told me I would have to have an operation, and that I might die during the operation, ' r 'wrote to my sister about it and she advised me to take Lydia .E- 1'inklratri's Vegetable Compound. "Through personal expe- rience I have found it the best medi- cine in the world for female troubles, for it has cured me, aid I did not have to have the operation after all. The Compound also helped me while pass- ing through Change of Life," --Mrs. LETITIA BnArE, Oanifton, Ontario. Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Com- pound, made from roots and herbs, has proved to be the nest successful remedy for curing the worst forms of female ills, including displacements, inflammation, fibroid tumors, irregu- larities, periodiepama, backache, bear- ing -down feeling, flat iexfey, indiges- tion, andnervous prostration. It costs but a trifle to try it, anf`t'the result has been worth millionSta sufferingwomen. that the'xnarehioness was surprised, ern- til sale turned her head 'Mut .taw that' the gentlemen, headed by the earl, were returning to the drawing room, "In the. meantime I am not obliged to think of it, and I won't" • "You are an enigma, m ' dear,"' thought the old lady. "A. very o iarm1.g enigma, however, and I find myiselE laking you very much. • I think you;,i,rh luite too good for old Melrose, and Z shall. dd the best I can to save you from him.. Nevertheless, it will do no harm •to en- oourage'him a little. Marquis," she add- ed, aloud, tapping the aged beau with her fan, "leave those young people fox a moment and come sit by zne:" • The marquis made a hideous grimace at the suggestion that he was too old for the fair young creature he was wooing with such taste, but he knew that Lady Romley was a relative of Erna,, and he concluded to obey the summons. Lord Aubrey approached her at the same time, and the marchioness thought for a moment that ire was contemplating speaking to Erna. Instead of doing that, however, • he approached the old lady, and said, curtly: "You shall Have your way, as express- ed this morning. I have no choice in the matter." "Better so, Aubrey/'. said the mar- chio>,iess, kindly. "Win you take my place?" he demand- ed. "To the best • of my ability." "'Thank you!" and he walked away and went to the side of Lady Gertrude, who had watched hint with turmoil in her heart us he went so near to Erna. When he only spoke to Lady Itomley, however, and did.not seem even to look at Erna, but returned at once to her, she 'felt a thrill of triumph. "What a horrid custom it is,". she said to hint, "that keeps you in the dining - room after we have left. Do you say anything very dreadful there when you are alone?" She was very -beautiful, and knew how to ask risky questions with a most in- nocent air, as, the modern custom is. "Nothing very dreadful," he answer- ed. "1 am sure we were all very stupid this evening, and I have no doubt that the others, like myself; were wishing to be here with you." "How kind of you to say so. Don't you think Mies March very beautiful? She is a cousin of yours, is she not?" "A distant cousin. Yes, she is very beautiful, T should snppose, to one who admired that dark style of beauty." Lady Gertrude looked pleased.. and n. faint gleam of irony shot into the stern blue ere of the earl as he noted it. "Caro isn't so very dark," said Lady Gertrude, in a half -pitying tone. "Oh, no." he said, carelessly. "She has an exquisite complexion. 11'hat is she going to do?" Erna; had risen after a brief conversa- tion with the duchess and was being es- corted to another part of the room. "I think she is going to recite some- thing." replied Lady Gertrude.. " We schoolgirls have to do something to jus- WY..being. seen in publie, you know. Are you fond of ''recitation?" • "V:17111 fond of singing, when it is good," he answered. "lf you are going to sing, 1 have something to look for- ward to." • Lady Gertrude was in the seventh hea- vers of delight. Slee had heard that the earl never troubled himself to pay com- pliments, and it sentednas if she had made a decided intnressaou on him since he took the trouble to compliment her. :1s for Erna, she did not fear her any more. It was•so plain that the earl did not like brunettes. As a natter of fact, the earl would have given a great deal to be away from the drawing -room at that moment. It was fashionable to have professional re - ethers, banjo players, singers, and other entertainers conte to the great houses, and he thought them bad enough; but he felt that a schoolgirl in the role of elocutionist was more than he could bear. "Excuse me," he said, hastily, bending over Lady Gertrude. "I believe there is something I have forgotten." Lady Gertrude laughed ---rather more palpably than was required, for Erna was looking that way. "I aur afraid it is acigar you have forgotten," she said, archly. The earl shrugged •bis shoulders and moved away with as little disturbance of the others as he could. Erna saw him go. She had seen the seine on. Lady Ger- trude's face, followed by the shrug of hie shoulders, and his departure, and she murmured to herself, as she prepared to recite: "Ile is going to avoid beaeiing rue." CHAPTER XIX. Bating and scorning the. earl as she did, it should have made no difference to Erna whether he remained in the room or went out of it while she was r•eni•ting. " But somehow it did make a difference to her, and for a moment there was a'choking in her throat that threatened to put an end to her speak- ing for that tirne. Then her pride revolted at the thought of a failure for such a reason, and with a sudden efforts he calmed herself. She knew it would be impos- sible to do justice to the pretty thing she had intended. to recite in the mood she then was, and with a quick im- pulse she determined on something quite different. It was Lady Gay Spankers' description of a hunt which Erna chose as fitting her mood, and Without the slightest preface she broke into it. She had seen it clone on the stage by the actress who had made it famous, and she was aided in its interpretation by her own pas- sionate love of horses and riding. It was a daring thing to attempt in the face of inevitable comparison with the great actress; but she was in a snood to be reckless, and it was the light mood for the description. "i?il an Somehowv•she thought of Selina and the jump she Matt made on him the day Lord Aubrey arrived at the Castle; and from reeklessuess and anger she quickly passed to the rollicking hoiden mood of INDIGESTION CURED EVIDENCE IN PLENTY Your Neighbors Can Tell You 'of Cures by Dr. Williams' Pink Pills. Every ease of indigestion, no mat- ter how bad, can- be cured by Dr. Williams' Pink Pills. Not only cur- ed, but cured for good. That's a sweeping statement and yozi are quite right in demanding evidence to back it. And it is backed by evidence in plenty, —living evidence among your own neigh- bors, no matter in what, part of Can— ada you live. 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About a year ago I was ad- vised to give Dr. Williams' Pink Pills a 0.. trial. Before I had taken a couple of • boxes I found relief, and by the time 1' had used a half dozen boxes I found Myself feeling like a new woman, with a good appetite, good digestion, and a clear complexion. I can strongly recom- mend Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for this. trouble and advise similar sufferers to lose no time in taking them, Dr. Williams' PinkPills cure all the troubles which have their origin in bad blood. Thet is why they cure anaemia, indigestion, rheumatism, eczema, St. Vitus dance, partial paralysis, and the many ailments of girlhood and woman- hood. Sold by all medicine dealers or sent by mail at 50 cents a box or two boxes for $2.50 by writing. The Dr. Williams' Medicine Co., Brockville, Ont. the other days, which now seemed so, far away. She forgot the drawing room and all its artificialities, and seemed to hear the yelping of the hounds, the halloo of the hunters, and the thunder of the hoofs on the turf. • . Iter "Yoicksl 'tally -ho!" rang out clear and eager, her wonderful voice seemed , . to echo the very sounds of 7fhe adient, and.'there was not hunting lfinive4i s.": Woman in .the drawing -xoom who dad not follow her in imagination over field and fence, wall and brook; and not a few of them started to their feet in utter forgetfulness of where they were, their eyes fixed on the beautiful, ani- mated face, and their breath coming and going in the heat and excitement of real action. The earl had reached the door when the first sound in that mellow voice fell . on his ear. He hesitated in order to hear more, thinking that the music of the voice would almost compensate for the crudity of the recitation- Then he stopped and turned back to where he could see Erna, wonder growing into ad- miration, and admiration into enthrall- ment. • (To be continued.) 4e t• After making a most careful study of the matter, U. S. Govern- ment scientists state definitely that the common house fly is the principal means of distributing typhoid fever, diphtheria and smallpox. Wilson's Fly Pads kill the flies and the 'disease germs, too. Oe♦ The Blacksmith Shop. I went with pa to the blacksmithshop And saw them shoe a horse; It's iron shoes that horses wear— Not like ours, of course; For horses they have round, hard feet, And they walk all clay on the stoney street. A blacksmith -shop is a funny place Chock-full of funny things; And lots of horses stand around, All tied to iron rings; And the way the red-hot sparks do fly! I almost got one in any eye! The blacksmith, he is awful strong; He gives the horse a slap, And then he picks his foot right up And holds it in his lap; And the horse, he lets lana do it, too, I'd be afraid to; wouldn't you? • A. blacksmith's what I'd like to be When I get to be a man; And I think that I will be one too, If papa says I can. I'm going to save my pennies up, Till I can buy a blacksmith -shop! —George Redfield Clarke, its Gunier'e. TRY MURINE EYE REMEDY For Red, Weak, Weary, Watery Eyes, Granulation, Pink Eye and Eye Strain. Murine doesn't smart; soothes eye pain. IS'. compounded by experienced playe", clans; contains no injurious or prohibit., ed drugs, Try Muriaie for your eye troubles. You will like. Murine. Try in in baby's eyes for seely eyelids. Drug- gists sell Murine at Etre. h1urine Eye Remedy ce., Chicago, will scud you art- teresting Eye Books free,