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The Herald, 1909-07-23, Page 3"Do I? '• Well, I, will give you an 'an- fswer to -malaise,. I think 1 may say that." ,. "is; there,' any hope, marchioness?'" he' -.asked. "How can there be?" • "Marquis," sheaaaid, sadly, i'Lought to tell you tire. truth, •and 1 wiIT, Therea, is every.licipe,th at i'i•ne will accept your coffer, She has ooquet'ted• vat.h the earl an order' -to lead bilin on to., a proposal, Which; ,she "intends to: refuse."' "My deur marchioness!" - • - • Both' he'and. Lady Gertrude have of - faceted her;, 'and she is. like a mad wo- ttaih;� ie e11 you.tiria 'frankly. she has airiwen Lady, Gertrude• a'tvay,', and ewer :she ~will :send him away,too. I am surer "ehe will'refuse• hien; 'but T am equally' suee"she loves him frantically. There, '-'' marquisl that is the tragedy that has •been going on under your roof..And •eculd cry my old eyes out to stop it.` Now you know all." "Good heavens!" • e you withdraw your offer of rear "'De ?" "No; I would marry her under any 'circumat+aauces, Perhaps—who • can tell— "Oh, do say it, marquis!" snapped thl3 cid lady, "If there is a thing I 'cannot bear it is a sentence left unfinished," "1 was afraid you would scoff at me," he said. "As if I did not scoff at you any'hoiv," she retorted. "I was going to say that perhaps I. could help her in some way. My love for ,her is as incomprehensible to me- as it de to you. But it is so great that I would e any sacrifice to help her. Do you understand what I mean? I might learn to understand her peculiar disposition, sand help her in that way." "You are right," said the marchioness, Sgt oring most of what he had saki; f'l:ere is a peculiar disposition. Mercy on us! if you are going to spend your vleelining years"—the marquis evinced— "in inced"in fathomin the springs of a girl's ac- tions---- Well, I don't envy you." "But you are sure she will not ae e tt him?" he queried. "Sure f No. Who can be sure of any- thing in relation to her. I believe she will send him away with a broken heart, with her own broken as welt There! don't. talk to me any more. If I were not &i foolish over the girl se yourself, I would never put up witth all his non- eer.se, and worse than nonsense." "Look at them now!" groaned the mar- quis, pointing out of the window. Lady Romley put up her lorgnettes and looked, .Aubrey and Erna were walks ing down the avenue together. She was looking up into his face with a witching smile, and, he was looking clown at her vtith passionate longing. CHAPTER XXV*T It was early morning when. the More- ltains shook the dust of Melrose, so to speak, from their feet. In reality it was the horses of the marquis that shook the dust from their feet; and they made sufficient noise in doing so to apprise Erna, who was lying awake, of the fact. She rose up front her bed and stole to the window and drew the curtain. Lord .and Lady Morehani, personifying dig- silty, ibsilty, sat bolt upright in the carriage, as it whirled by; but Lady Gertrude, either indifferent to, or unsuspicious of obser- vation, lay back against the cushions, her face drawn and white; bearing evid- •enee of the cruel hurt from which she aims suffering. And Erna, looking out at her; felt a pang at her own heart; her own face was as white and drawn as Gertrude's; and under her brown eyes were dark rings which betrnyed the unrest of body and spirit. But whatever eompune- tion she might feel in her breast, ehe smothered savagely; and she stamped her little bare foot on the soft rug as ehe cried out: "It is their own fault. Why did they Great me so?" Later, when she went downstairs, Sally Lady Ttoiniey suspected the turmoil that was going on beneath the gay and brilliant exterior, But the old lady, studying the beautiful face, shook her aced sadly, and murmured: "Ah, my dear! you are marking a bit- ter sorrow for yourself, and I cannot help you." Usnatty Aubrey was given first plate near her, but this morning, without nteming design, Erna contrived it so brat he could cbtain no more than a word and a glance, And it seemed to hint that 'the glance was cold and indifferent. He understood neither himself nor her. He .did not know why he was so madly infatuated; he only knew that he was, and that it seemed to bit that he had loved: Erna from the first moment of reeeting- her, but without comprehending Ids feeling until now. It seemed to have downed upon him suddenly: Ile watched her as she sat in tare midst of the hanging throng, and • wondered if she. eared for him at ail; if _ all the kind words and soft glancesh she had bestowed ui=,him had been' only such am she would have given to any ether. And as he watched, it seemed to him that he Could bear. the suspense no longer. He must know if she had any love in her heart for him. Sometimes lie was sure she had, and then he was as enure that she had not. It tame over him many times that matting, as he watched the eager attet- tiolt ` of the gentlemen about her with jealous t;nnniety, that within a few days he' had passed through a strange revolu- titan.: It was ea shot a tifae ago that letis ,been fixed ,in hit 'd termination to ask the hand of Lady :Gertrude; he had met Erna, then, only to anger her, and. to . call from her bitter, • scathing `words;: ' Now he thought of Lady. Gertrude as of some one far apart from ibinr; and 'he and Erna had ha.d many delightful walks and talks together, in which she had unfolded to his astonished con- sciousness such a wealth of. wit and in- tellect that he had become enthralled— bewitched, it seemed •to him! sometimes. He watched her until he could bear it no longer, but he had already learned to respect Erna's moods; and since she seemed to wish that .the 'should not be with her, he• haened from the Castle, intending to take a walk; in which he might at least think of her undisturbed by,,the untoward reflections aroused by the sight of so' many ;taming eyes upon her., Nervous and r'estless'as he was, flow - ever, his ewhllc brought ban no peace of mind. Sometimes his 'thoughts were all on Lady Gertrude, and•the wistful look he had scent in her eyes the last: time .he had met her. He wondered if he had done her any wrong; if he had gone so far in his attentions to her, as to give her a right to feel aggrieved .at him. la is so easy to believe what you wish' to believe. Aubrey persuaded himself that` nothing stood between him and Erna but her will; and he was deter- mined to know what that was before the day was out. ' Love is athing which many scoff at; and yet i{ ; r. power is beyond that of unitt other s•:factor in human ` affairs. Kings have bartered their kingdoms for its gratification; and men have teased their immortal souls to perdition `for it, Aubrey strode off that morning far into the country, wrestling with himself,,and trying to adjust his sense of right -with his inclinaion, ' When he turned into the park again on his return, and walked slowly through the woods, there remained but one thipg clear in his mind; and that was exactly as he had set out on Ids walls—he loved+ Erna with a mad infatuation which no reason could control, no sense of any other obligation could mitigate, no 'sug- gestion of her possible refusal could check. You may temper the steel to the utmost limit of hardness, and yet the softer magnet will attract it. Place a barrier between the two, and still the hardened steel will leap to the softer enc. Something there was in the manner of Erna's treatment of the earl, which. warned him that an insurmountable bar- rier stood between them. What it was he eould not tell, 'There were times when it seemed to him that he could see to the bottom of her soul, where ail was calmness and - womanly strength. and then his own soul grew strong and serene, and he felt a sublime and peaceful security that her love was all his, But there were other times, and they came as the hurricane comes, suddenly, and with dark portent, when it seemed to him that between hint and her was a passionate, swirling storm of wrath, which hid her soul from him. Then she was all mockery. More be- witching, more enthralling, it might be, but saddening and unapproachable. It was at such times that the earl felt that he was but a plaything in her hands, and yet it was at these very times that the: madness to tell his love was the strongest. IT had never thought this out, but the feeling of it was strong in him. He was never certain of her mood, and often found himself watching with bated breath to discover how he might ap- proach her. Now, as he strode along slowly, he wondered what her mood. would be when he came upon her again. Would she be cold and distant as when he had left her, or would she greet him with a sweet smile of gladness, as if her greatest joy wits with him? . But, ah! he soon would have an an- swer to that question; for there she stood now, under a spreading oak, like a. sylvan goddess. She was quite alone, and was lean`ng against the rough bole,. her little white hands engaged in idly te"Ernbits saidT1 a," hesoftly; for she had not started at his approach, and he was afraid he would startle her. She looked up quietly, but 'with a daucin * light in her brown eyes that made him sigh. She was in ,Tier mocking mood. ":1h guardian," she said, her red lips dimpling in a smile ",that showed her even, white teeth. "I thought I had been dismissed from the office," he said, trying to fall in with her mood. "Oh, yet," she replied, "it was on that morning when we met on horseback, itis it not?" "Before that, 1 think," he said his thoughts flashing bash to that morning, however. I'ie wondered now if he ever again would have the overage to oppose her in anything, no matter hew wild. "Perhaps it was," ehe carelessly ans-' wered, "`Vii tat a disagreeable guardian You made, did you not?" "I de not doubt it. I have tried hard enough to atone since." "You have?"' ehe queried, her eye- brows going up with a, sort of mocking surprise. "If you have not noticed it," he said, rtai pain in his vette, "I cannot have anteceded very well." "Oh, that does not hollow. I don't ,a1� CORN`"41a24HOURS You can painlessly remove any corn, either bard, soft or ,bleeders: by apply}ng ePnteam's. corn Extractor. It never a s, leaves no scar ooutains,tto acids; is harmless bec'auseooinposeci only of healing gums and balms Fifty years le use. ••cure guaranteed. gold by aIliarugglsts 25c. bottles. Refuse substitutes, PUTNAM'S PAIIINII.ESS CORN E]CTRA °t -0R ways notice uanless I am interested," Be looked into her ' face with troubled eyes. Never had he seen her at one so, radiantly beautifta and bewitching; and yet so forbidding, Her wonderful brown eyes were fairlyluminous, and' iter moist red lips were (slightly Parted, in 'a smile' of mockery." "Erna," ho said,. sadly, "have you nev- er forgiven, me for the terrible' launder I made when :I first met you?'". "Was it .a Blunder?" she queried, laughing softly. "I ani not so sure. I think you were quite right. What a for- vrard little hoiden I was, But, there! 1 won't let ;the thought trouble . me I have altereate since then. Oh, I know' I am still willful, Is that what you were going to say?" Therewas a light �n her eyes now that was 'not of mocicary; but it disap- peared at ones- ' "I was not going to"' say that," he gravely answered. "Per�a:ps you have al- tered; perhaps you are willful, however. T ''only wish you were the same, and that once more you were calling to me from: your place on'the chilff." "You would go around by the safer path now, would you not?" and site laughed in a singular 'way; "But I would ,not make your acquaintance that way nc.rv. Sinee I have : been to fin- ishing 'school, I have learned how to ac- coi n.plish the same object in a less re- pr+hensible way." He winced. an she recalled the finish- ing school That was another of his blunders—offenses: "1 think," he humbly said, "that if you knew what my life had been before I met ecu, ,'ou would. think my eon - civet less strange." 1Vtat a hard light leaped on the in- `stant into the brown eyes! "Pray excuse me, Lord Aubrey;' she said, with delicate but cutting sarcasm, "but however interesting the recital might be, I ant afraid it would hardly be proper." A dull red color rose to the earl's cheek. "I do not understand. you, Erna," he said, sadly. Ile was not angry with her for her cruel words; only heart -sick, "I nide a miserable mistake when I first met you. I was a self-absorbed mans, who fancied his own sorrows were greater then those of any one else. I could not see anything beyond. myself. I would give anything to undo what I did. Can }ou not forgive inc "Yes. Now." She answered curtly, her eyes dilating„ IIs did not understand what her tone 'meant; he weeonlyawu,'e hat. -ho wee the other side of that strange barrier that sometimes rose between then But the eonsciousness only gave him a feeling, of desperation and recklessness. "Erna," he said, his voice rich and tre- mulous with feting, "1 cannot find fit- ting words to say what I wL'h to say. I know I shall blunder, that the very in- tention of spealing is a blunder. but I cannot help it. I have offended you binw and time again, and aiways without a shadow of excuse. Now ---oh, hose can I say it so that you will understand? -•-- now I love you. Love you,, Erna? '11 e word gives no notion of the overwhelm- ing passion. 1 aur yours to reject, t,trnv away, trample on; yours to scorn, yens to wither in the fire of your disdain. Heaven help me! t "u hare my life, my soul in your hand., Chia, Erna, give nue hope." It was the hopeles., mean of a doomed man. Ile had seen her face harden, her hp curl as he spoke, and he knew be- fcre she answered what her word would be. And yet he had gone on pleading with the sublime pathos of iiopelessnese. He was not on his knees to her; hest his hands were outstretched, and his eyes were beseeching. She laughed. Ile shrank within himself, shuddering. "No," she answered contemptuously, "I gave you no hope. I wished you ter say these things. I have wrought for it. I drove Lady Gertrude from here. Now you may return to her. "How startled, how shocked you Iook!" she laughed in a bitter, hard way. "I tell you these things because I wish r ou to know. When T first met you, I vas a foolish, open-hearted girl. 411 ".this is your handiwork, Oh, I do not aceese you; I merely* state a fact. It was you with, your delectable past, who cantle home to make a finished wo- man of the hoiden. Well, I am finish- ed, but no: for you Why, I have loatn. ed the manning lessen of the finishing school to perfection. "Shall I tell you what it is? It is so simple. A poor young girl, if she happen to have beauty, must marry for money. If wise, she will take a. hus- band who is tolerably near his ;rave, get a good settleiticnt; and then ---let him' die as quickly as possible." She laatghfully scornfully, as of his horror were a most amusing thing Then she went on "And to, think that if 1 • had been left 'to myself; I might Lave' married for love, Igor arse! How absurd that would •have be:eni" "Stop! stop! in mercy stop!" inter- posed. the earl, hoarsely, .`In heaven's name do not say I have wrought this ruin! Oh, great heaven, talo is worse than all the rest! 1 em ,accurseal" He "had no reproechea for• her, but, only for himself., A frozen: horror was on his face; and he turned and fled as if from a cataclysm, Erna stood and . watched: him until be was out of sight; then slowly drooped andwink to the earth; a moaning cry rising from "her lips: • "Oh, let the diet. let me die!" CHABTE' R<'iVIL "Are you il1, .Erna:?' 'ave you a head- acheY„ • No, I am quite Weil, Lady;)}omleg," "But your room, is darkened. "I prefer it so. I hope it does not disturb you enough to oblige fine to let the light in.". "No; it doesn't matter.. Did you know Lord Aubrey Inas made a sudden departure? Hs has already gone?" I knew he would go. Why do you ask, me? You were sure I was the cause of it. That is what you wish to say. Yes, he did me the honor to offer me his —I tbink he called it love. I did not care for it, and suggested that he give it to Lady Gertrude, who would accept it-" The voice was dull and hard, and Lady Bentley shivered, knowing the storm that raged within. But she had settled upon a course of action, and be- lieved she was acting for the best. "You don't wish me to comment on what you have done," she said. "I would not permit it," was the quick, passionate reply: "You have something to say to me. Please say it." Lady Romley could have cried with pain. "Yes," she said, gently, "I have come to tell you that the Marquis of Melrose has made a formal proposal for your hand." "It is what 1 thought. • It is a great honor, which I accept. Will you tell the margais that .I will receive him in my own parlor in an hour?" "It is not necessary," 'cried Lady Rom - ley, pitifully. "Nevertheless, I shall receive him." "Erna, Erna; have. some pity for him, if none for yourself! The marquis is an old man, and the whole world will laugh at hien, even while envying him; but he loves you with a greatness of soul that lifts him above your con- tempt and scorn." "I shall not wound bint... I respect hint. I do not laugh at him. 'I am very sorry for him." There was something so terrible in. the Calmness of the suffering girl that Lady Romley could not remain, in her presence. She could not trust herself to speak, but left the room precipitately, tears.,in.het old eyes. , "There is a tragedy in every word she utters," she murmured. Erna's luxurious little parlor was not darkened when she received her aged uitor there, The light was softened, but that was all; and Erna was dressed with unusual care. "You have done me. a great honor, my lord," tate :Aid, abruptly; on his en- trance. "Oh, no,, do not say that. It is you who do me 'honor," lie said, eagerly. al do not .comprehend, now, how I have ever had the prestunption to—" ' "My lord,' interrupted Erna, "you must let me have it my way. You do me an honor in asking axe to bear your name. But I did not ask to .see you to say only that. I do not wish there should be any misunderstanding between us, because I believe you to be a gen- eroua-hearted gentleman." 'There eau be no misunderstanding," he said, eagerly. "I do not expect or ask any love front you. Was it not of that you were going to speak?" "Yes, but perhaps we do not under. stand love in the same way," she said, In a taint, even tone. "I think we do. • I am an old men— old enough to be your grandfather, pee- ple will say—but--but-----" he stam- mered, and then went on, with a pa- thetic sort of humility: "1 have never loved—really loved—a woman before, and it sums to me that all the love ofa life -time is working in my heart now. It is not passion ---rt is not so poor a thing, or perhaps so precious a thing, but it is as abiding as the love of a lover, a brother, and a father all in one. Alt? I do not express myself as I thought I could. What I mean to say is, that I will strive to ,rake you happy, without expecting any love from you." There was a sudden moisture in :;he brown eyes, and for it second the full under lip was tremulous. The old man was not ridiculous; he was noble Erna put out her hand and placed it in his, which quivered at the touch as if from a shock. !To he continued.) 4 The Care of Awnings. "Your awnings," said the awning man, "would last longer and look bet- ter if you'd dry 'ern out when they got wet. "Some folks will leave their awnings down to soak and drip all. through a heavy rain. I never could understand why people do that; of 'course it doesn't do an awning any mora good than it would any other fabric to soak ft an that way, and then drip may fall on the awning from the roof and flying soot may lodge on it, and so if you keep your awnings down in the rain the first thing you know they are faded, diseoiered and dingy. "If you "rant to preserve your awnings you want to haul them' up when it rains, but if they get wet, why, then when ,theair is right you want to lower them and let them dry out, and be sure they'• be dry, when you furl 'tin before you go orgy in the summer."• --1 ew York Sun. DOCTOR GAWE. HIM UPS A lerrihie Experience with Kidney Disease and Dragging i ackddie, Expected , Death any Day To get well and keep well after' being pronounced incurable by 'his 'physician was the wonderful •experience of Mr. A. P. Chapman, who was snatched from the very jaws .of death by the timely use of Dr, Hamilton's Pills. 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If you are suffering from any derange- ment of the system, if you are tortured: and distressed by indigestion, if you are weakened by the ravages of constipa- tion, kidney, liver or bladder emit- plaint—if your blood. is weak and your , system run down—then use Dr. Hamil ton's Pills, take them continually tilt. you are fully restored to health again;" Give Dr. Hamilton's Pills an immedi- ate and thorough trial, your faith in them will not be disappointed, 25e. per box, or five boxes for $LOO at all dealers or The Catarrhozone Company,. Kings- ton, Ont. e.• FAr E ALARM.,, ".Mariana, young Prof. IVIeGoozle pro- posed last Wight--" "Mercy, ehild! What on earth has he gotto live em?" "I wish you wouldn't interrupt me, momma. I'Ie proposed that we start in and read President E1iat's five feet of boots." "Think of the glories of ancient Rome." fes Practically all Canadian drug- gist, grocers and general dealers sell.' Wilson's. Fly Pads. 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