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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Herald, 1904-09-09, Page 7i0 4.3r ��11L..ees`TM��,.t�°`��aP'� � a"^��.:t�""r� , � �.t,s9'"`x�s�tt�.cQ°'� �.✓.��t� These thoughts are maddening - seeming fondness, all her will power the idea was horrible to her, and for, had suddenly deserted her, and she p few moments she did not know had, almost unconsciously, yielded what to do or say. to Ills entreaties for a secret and im- Then she grew suddenly! calm. • medlete marriage. • No, she •knew she was not mus- Bile was conscious, also, that the taken, in epftte of the very plausible spell had clung to her-ealthough she version which ho had given her, had tried in vain to, shake it off - 'doubtless for the sake of carry_ until the moment when she bad look- ing his paint. ed into the depths of the dark eyes Walter Leighton's eyes were blue of that mysterious stranger, when -those of the mysterious stranger the shock had free her instantly. were dark, and that one look which She darted a curious glance at her she had shut into their soulful companion, and •wondered if he really 'de'pths had served to tear the veil possessed hypnotic powers. front her own and to arouse her "I -do not believe that I should from a fatal illusion, over have thought of accusing you of wiilin•gly exerting such an ignoble infuenee over nit," she answered slowly and with a peculiar emphasis as if his questions ,had suddenly forc- ed the conviction upon her ; "but - whatever threw that glamour upon me at that time, it certainly has all been dispelled, and henceforth, Walter, you and I must meet only ars friends." She concluded with a decision of voice and manner, which left him no room for doubt as to her settled purpose. "Florence -Ploy ! my darling ! I cannot bear to lose your love -I am crushed, heartbroken, in view of this unaccountable change in you," Leigh- ton exclaimed with a well simulat- ed sob -adopting this role as a last resort -while he dropped his face' upon his hands_ to conceal all signs of the impotent rage that had taken possession of him. The fair girl regarded him In sor- rowful silence for a moment ; then she remarked in a kindly, regretful tone - Sometime, Walter, I am sure you will realize and acknowledge the wis- dom of my decision." "Then, it is a final decision ? You really mean tlint you will never live with me as my wife -that you will never acknowledge the tie that binds us?" he questioned, 'lifting a sullen look at her. "Really, 'Waiter, it becomes al- most a farce for me to persist in asserting that no tie binds us ; but; since such Is the case, let me say, once for all, that I certainly mean every word I have uttered. And now" -taking a ring box from the table beside her -"I wish to return the be- trothal ring you gave Inc." "I do not want the thing -I will not have it,' .he returned with child- ish petulance. "Surely you cannot wish me to am sure I cannot eom,prehend your object in insisting that I am your wife," she returned, meeting his eyes with a Look of grave ac- cusation. "I do not like to charge !you with speaking falsely ; but I know that y!ou did not stand beside me during that ceremony in Rose- dale chapel; I know that a etrang- er was there, holding my hand and plighting his vows with all the sol- emnity which the occasion required, altllouree what his motive could havo been in perpetuating such a farce -for such I regard tt - is utterly! beyond my comprehension." "Floy;1 Flay!" exclaimed the young man, stimulating a tone and gesture oaf despair. "I begin to believe that the fever was on you -that your brain wits turned even before you went to Rosedale chapel that night!" "No; eau are nfistaken -my brain twos as clear then 'as it is at this moment," she firmly replied; "and," she added, "I regard the incidents that occurred to prevent our mar- riage as providential--" • "Slaw can you have the heart to sit there so calmly and say such dreadful things, Florence ? You do not love me - you never loved me!" cried the eiau•ng man, passionatelyi "No, Walter -as I told you in my letter -I know now that I never loved you as a woman should love the mats whom she marries and ex- pects to pass all the years Of her life with," she gravely replied. "You made me think I did, for a time," sbe continued ; "your strong, meg- mete nature mastered mine, tem- perarily-especially on that last day' when we were together -in the arbor -you literally compelled me to believe that I loved you, and I con- sented to do as you desired, although I knew it was wrong. I fainted at the altar the moment that I dis- covered that the man to whom I„ keep it, under existing eir•cumstanc- believed I had irrevocably pledged es," Florence observed with a note myself, was not you. But as sore] of hauteur in herr usually gentle tones. as I recovered consciousness, a veil "If I take it, it will only be to seemed to leave been 'torn from in destroy it -to grind it to atoms be- ey'es-I was able to reason more neath my heel," retorted the baffled Clearly: than I had ever done, re- loser with almost savage vehemence, garding our relations., and I knew "That, of course, will have to be fait once that your and I could never as you choose,•" coldly responded the lhave been a happy) husband and wife. young girl, "although, to nae, the 1t!iy! swoon -I know now -was ears- wanton destruction of any valuable ed partly by the shock at finding thing seems both foolish and sinful." a stranger beside me -partly by a She still held the box extended to sense of relief a.rnon learning that him while she spoke, and he, begin - was. rio wife ; for, T vac: been re- ning to realize that he was making pe,nting of any rash step every rod himself ridiculous, suddenly snatched of the way to the church ; and, had it from her and shoved it into the that mean been five nfnutes later, 1 depths of a pocket. firmly; believe I should never have "I take it under protest," he mut- gone to the altar -even if you had tared, "but you shall have it again, come.." when you come to your senses, which "Heavens I Florence, why' will you -you will find it for your interest persist in that illusion ? I tell you to do later on," he concluded with that you are my wife and I will a threatening glance. claim you in the face of the whole wiorlti. Why: ! I have the certifcate, signed bye the clergyman, here in my' pocket at this moment, while, as you very well know, there were three vritnesses to 'the marriage," Leigh- ton exclaimed, with oo•nsidera,ble beat, his tem'p'er beginning to give tvayr in view of her obstinacy, "All the same, I know there was in your letter not to come to you no marriage," she steadily replied, for a fortnight -you wanted to although she lost color while he was make short work of this business, a Spetakl:n�g of the witnesses and oer- and give me no opportunity to s tificate�„ "Ah, •Walter," she added follow you. Very well; I will sub- b appeaplingly, "do not let us have e, mit to this condition of affairs - ;scene! Pray. let us settle this mat- for tee present ; I twill not press you !ter in a kind and dispassionate way; further now, but let me tell you let us !hart friends--" I shall insist upon my rights later "Friends!" he interposed, with sur- ori, and shall expect to find you passing bitterness'; "do you urn- in a more tractable frame of mind agine that I could ever regard you when you return. Out of regard Minipill as n, friend, oven i1 it were for you I ,will keep our secret until passible for as to part, as you so then." calmly' suggest ? Friend ! you whom Without giving her time to re- I have held in• my arms, close to my ply, he turned abruptly upon his heart -so close that you could feel Heel, and hastened from the room its every throb whose lips I have kissed as only a lover kisses the wo- man he worships, and into whose willing ears I have poured the most sacred thoughts and feelings of may; sore --4" "Don't -please don't!" eried the girl, shrinking with mingled shame and pain as she recalled these scenes Of the past. "I know that I have seemed to respond to your affection; but, as I have before intimated, I am sure I was governed more by your magnetic nature than by my ' own volition -you siznply compelled ince to believe for the time, that I could be ha!p!p!y; only as your wife." "You seem to have entirely recov- ered from the spell," the young man sarcastically retorted, although a startled lana had leaped into his eyes at her words. "iDa I understand," he pursued hotly, "that you charge me with having hypnotized you into the belief of loving me, when you really entertained no affection for me -that I mesmerized you into consenting to be my wkfe ?'" •Florenco started at these iluest'ons and her. mind instantly reverted to that scene in the arbor, when, as he hold her infolded In his arms, and spite of .the ,man's preposterous sl W48 etroxlnet her heir and face with blaims and threats, she sank batik sen into her chair, where elle sat think- ing for .some minutes; then flushing vividly, her white fingers crept up to a delicate .(attain that encirelcel her neck, and grasping it she itrew forth from its place of concealment a tiny circlet of dull red gold that had been strung upon The ring was, of peculiar work- man,ship, being composed of three small strands braided together and fastened with a little plate upon which was engraved a strange de- vice. She had never •been able to decipher it, although she had tried many times since that night when the mysterious stranger had slip- ped the ring upon her finger, and solemnly uttered the 'words, "With this ring I thee weds" She had forgotten all about it, during the excitement and weari- ness of ber return, after that strange scene i.n the church, until, when she was disrobing for bed, her glance had fallen upon it, and a great •shock went quivering through her. An ley shiver ran over her as she hastily drew it from her finger and examined it curiously - Anna having already fallen asleep upon the couch where she lied thrown Herself, "`What a queer wedding ring i" Florence murmured; "'it looks like a relic of some long -past age. But, of course, the man was bound to produce a ring of some sort, in or- der to carry out the role he had assumed ; and so, as he had not provided himself with the conven- tional circlet, lie was obliged to sub- stitute one that he was probably wearing. It is probably an heir- loom, for he certainly could not have treasured it for its intrinsic value. It proves one thing, how- ever -that lois personating Walter could not have been a premeditated act ; in that case, he certainly would have provided himself with a proper ring. But it will not do for me to !wear it, for it would surely cause comment and embarrassing inquiries." She was strangely fascinated b the curious thing ; but, after con sidering a moment, she shut it awl in a tiny ivory case that had a sec ret spring, then locked this in he jewel box and ooncealed the key. It was well that she did jus then, For morning found her mar ing in delirium ; and, had it bee upon her hand, it must have ar oused the curiosity of Mrs. Seave andfor her, others who assisted in carin As soon as she recovered, lio'weve her first act had been to slip th ring upon a delicate chain and fas ten it about her neck, for Ann was of a prying disposition, an she thought it would be safer ther than anywhere else. And now as she sat looking at' 1 after the departure of Walter Leigh ton a curious smile wreathed he lips. "I could have proven to him tba I ani 'not file wife by showing hi. thls," she murmured; "tat, some how, . I did not like to -he woul probably; have made up some stor about it as he did about his acci dent -what a story -teller he _is3 and since he did not apoliglze, o his own account, for using such ring, I think it is safe to assume that he does not know 'anythi.ng about' it. Oh, what an experience Will the mystery ever be solved' -will I ever meet tile man again' I believe I seal! never feel quit free again, at least until the puz- zle is solved. I should feel la inotltt as if I was wedded to some ghost who had crossed my! path and left his spec] upon me, but for those eyes so dark and tender: Ah, they; were .beautiful eyes! And no ghost could have worn a ring -I wonder what this device imeans ?" she added, as she tried to trace the engraving up- on the tiny plate. ''1 will procure a strong magnifying glass at the first portunity, and study it thorough- ly'. b A step outside her door warned her that some one was coming, and, quickby�! slipping the ring back into its place of concealment, she caught up a book, just as Mrs. Seaver, af- ter tapping lightly for admittance, entered the room' "Why leery 1 what a grave, tired - looking face 1" that lady exclalmed s she observed the serious expires - lot and troubled eyes of her bus- and's ward. "Wasn't Mr. Leigh ton's all a pleasant one 2" Not altogether, auntie," Flor- ence replied, flushing, and' then she changed the subject se abruptly! that Mrs. Seaver regarded her with sur- prise. She did pot give the circumstance much thought at the time, however, but many' months later tt recurred to her with l eruliar significance. She sat with Florence for half an hoar or more chattgne piea,santly! of their plans for tee burning ,year until the fair girl, finally appeared to forget the repression and annoy- ance she had at first betrayed. The following !Wednesday ,was the day set for their departure ; but, con- trary' to her first intention, Flor- ence had decided to leave her maid behind her, greatly,. to the girl's chin - grin and disappointment, for she had Long been anticipating the trip, and had fullyexpeeted to accompany her young mistress, up to within a week of her departure. But, ever since the night of her romantic, . though mortifying, adven- ture, Florence had entertained an unacoountable aversion for Anna ; and when one day, Mrs. Seaver pro- posed leaving her at home, she read- ily', even eagerly, assented to the arrang+emont. `'It•wiauld be somewhat of a 'nui- sance baying her to Look after," that lady had observed, "for', of course, she cold not altvay's aceom,pany us upon our sightseeing, and 'Would have to remain alone at our hotel dur- ing our absence. She would not have half enough to do to keep her busy, And would get lonee'ome and home- Cie and perhaps insist upon being t bonne, Besides, dear. since son y y r t n r a r, e a d e t r t m d y n it t e She pain not the slightest atten- °, tion to his remarks, but observed, with quiet self-possession ; "I wished to have these matters settled before I went away, for, to- morrow, we leave for New Fork, and sail the following day for Europe." "Ah !" exclaimed Leighton with a start, "that was why you told me and the house. Raving with wrath and disap- i:ointment, he went directly to his lodgings, let himself in with his latchkey, and ran upstairs to his rooms. As he threw open the door he stop- ped short on the threshold, and stood like one suddenly turned to stone, his face blanching to the hue 01 marble, a smothered exclamation of mingled astonislunent and fear breaking from has white lips. F•or a full minute he stood thus, his eyes riveted upon a fine looki)ig young man, not far from lois own age, who had risen and turned to face him as he appeared. "'By -- ! is it you, or your ghost 1" he panted, hoarsely, at last, as he staggered into the room and shut the door. CHA.1?T.IE VI. Florence Richardson gave utter. once to a long sigh as the door closed after her rejected lover, and yet she was vaguely conscious that it was prompted by a sense of re- lief, rather than of regret, as she realized that that page of her life history had been turned forever, in �tk L R C ��� 1 '``,• ' OF L MINS. Ammar m M...®, & 414m41,444, ensa The following additional seven-day tests of Holstein -Friesian cows and heif- ers have been accepted bor entry in the Canadian Record of Merit, The most re- markable of these is that of Faforit Sth, a cow sold by R. d''. Hicks, of Newton Brook, Ont,, to I7, A, Moyer, of Syracuse, N. Y. In an official test, under the su- pervision of Prof, Wing, of Cornell Uni- versity Experiment Station, this cow produced 550.2 lbs. of milk and 20.84 lbs. of fat, equivalent to 24.31 lbs. of but- ter, containing 85.7 per cent. of .fat. All the other tests in this list were made under the supervision of Prof. Dean, of the Ontario Agricultural College, 1,, Palma 5th (2,788), age, 8 years 0 days; milk, 550.2 lbs.; fat, 20.84 lbs.; equivalent butter, 24.31 lbs.; owner, II. A. Moyer, Syracuse, N. Y. 2. Pietertje Hartog DeI%ol (2' 216), age 8 'years 23 days; milk, 408.5 lbs.; fat, 14.70 lbs.; equivalent butter, 17.16 lbs.; owner, J. A. Caskey, Madoe, Ont. 3. Echo Bell DeKol (2,270), age 5 years 5 months 17 days; milk, 363.9 lbs; fat, 14.29 lbs.; equivalent butter, 16.01 lbs.; o«mer, J. A. Caskey. 4. Gentle 2nd (2,011), age, 5 years 8 months 8 days; milk, 303.5 lbs.; fat, 13.32 lbs.; equivalent butter, 15.55 lbs.; owner, 'lV S. Schell, `Woodstock, Ont.' 5. Nierop Netherland's Clara (2,962), age, 5 years 10 months 15 days; milk, 450.7 lbs.; fat, 13.00 lbs.; equivalent but- ter, 15.25 lbs.; owner, P. D. Ede, Ox- ford Centre, Ont. 6. Lassie Pearl (2,350), age, 0 years 5 Months 2 days; milk, 451.2 lbs,; fat, 13.02 lbs,; equivalent butter, 15.20 lbs;; owner, W. S. Schell.. • 7 Aggie's Mechlin (3,501), age, 4 years 4 months 2 days; milk, 402„1 lbs,; fat, 13.13 lbs.; equivalent butter,,i15.31 lbs.; owner, P. D. Ede. 8. Aaltje Poseh Duchess (3,145), age, 4 years 1 month 26 days; milk, 406.8 lbs.; fat, 12.18 lbs.; equivalent butter, 14.21 lbs.; owner, W. S. Schell. 0. Bessie Covert 3rd's Fansy 2nd (-), age, 4 years, 3 months, 26 days; milk, 413.0 lbs.; fat, 12.07 lbs.; equivalent but- ter, 14.08 lbs.; owner, W. S. Schell.. 10. Bessie Talmana (-), age, 4 years 10 months 30 days; milk, 878.8 lbs.; fat, 11.82 lbs.; equivalent butter, 13.79 lbs.; owner, W. S. Schell. 11. Gerster's Calamity (3,593), age, 3 years 1 month 4 days; milk, 390.7 lbs.; fat, 13.25 lbs.; equivalent butter, 15.46 lbs. Second week -milk, 411.3 lbs.; fat, 13.20 lbs.; equivalent butter, 15.46 lbs.; owner, W. S. Schell. 12. Cora DeIiol Pietertje (3,472), age, 3 years 10 months 21 days; milk, 359.3 lbs.; fat, 11.18 lbs,; equivalent butter, 13.05 lbs.; owner, ,7 A. Saskey. 13. Dolly Inka DeKol (3,473), age, 2 years 6 months 15 days; milk, 299.0 lbs.; fat, 9.47 lbs.; equivalent butter, 11.05 lbs.; owner, 3 A. Caskey. 14. Netherland Crony's •Cornelia (4,- 095), age, 2 years 23 days; milk, 302.8 lbs.; equivalent butter, 9.53 lbs.; owner, W. S. Schell. Yours truly, G. W. Clemens, and I wain always be together, we (can help each other; or, if we should find ourse:ves in a strait, we would easily' get another maid." Airs. Seaver hail seen some things in the girl which nue caused her to distrust her, and led her to fear that she was. not always as true to her mistress' : it:r,'ri}s as she might be ; therefore she thought this a gond on'r--rtunity to get rid of her. Accorcrargl r Florence gave Anna her notice, and on the day of her departure, made her a handsome pre - emit as she bad her a kind geod- esy, and went away with a sense of infinite relief at being thus freed from 0 ennstant reminder of that one rash and ever -to -em -re- gretted act of her life. But she never once suspected that she had thus made a bitter enemy: of her servant, who secretly vowed tbat she would have her revenge for the keen disappointment she suf- fered, in being deprived of her ex- pected visit to the Old World. Our party found a delightful com- pany of fellow-voyagere on board the Germanic, there being many young people among the number, and from the first day;; out, the greatest sociability and friendliness were manifested by almost every one. During the first three days of the voyage, Mrs. Seaver found herself considerably the worse from mal de mer, and was Obliged to keep very quiet, leaving her husband and Florence, neither of whom was In the least affected by the motion of the vessel, to their own devices. On the ascend niorn'n; after leav- ing port. Florence was on her way below to get something from her stateroom, when, midway, her skirt caught on a screw that fastened the rubber mat, and which had be- come loosened, when Ehe lost her balance, and, for a moment, stem c1 about to be precipitated to the bottom of the companionway. But suddenly she saw a figure springing upward to her rescue; the next moment a strong arm was thrown about her waist and she was set firmly and safely on her feet once more. She was panting with mingled ex- citement and fear; for she bad fully expected to piiclt headlong to the bottom of the stairs and be fright- fully injured. "The danger Is all over, fan:l I trust you will soon recover from (the siloek you must have experienced," her companion observed in low, we1I-modulilted tones, as he re- leased her from Inc embrace. Glancing up at him she found her- self looking Into the handsome face fiveof a, years. young man of perhaps twenty - He hada eels, benithful complexion, regular clear-cut features, keen dark eyes, dark -brawn hair, and wore a carefully and becomingly trimmed moustache, wh'oll, )iowever, diel not conceal the fine set of teeth that gleamed snow-white beneath it when he smiled, as he was now do- ing as his glance met the fair girl's startled, upward look. "Thank you very, very much," Florence heartily responded. "I should surely have hall a bad fall IA you had not come to my assist- ance. I was frightened," she added, laughing nervously, "but I sii,all be over in in a moment, and no harm liras been done beyond what a few stitches will make right," and site glanced down at her trailing ,kirt which had been ripped from the belt. "I am very glad.," returned her companion; "but shall I not assist you blow? You are still trembling." "Thank you; but that will not be necessary. 1 am on my guard now and will taike heed that if. do not get can.glut in the same way again," Florence responder) with another glance into the fine eyes that were regarding her with an earnest, ad- miring look which cau,sed her heart to thrill with a novel sensation. (To be continued.) Worse Even Than a Flat. (Leslie's Weekly.) A LUCKV WOMAN. How Good Health Came to Mrs, Des- chesne Atter Much Suffering. Mrs. Abraham Deschense, wife of a well known farmer at St. Leon le Grand, Que., considers herself a lucky woman. And she has good cause as the following interview will show : "I was badly run down and very nervous. Each day brought its share of household du- ties, but I was too weak to perform thein My nerves - were in a terrible condition. I could not sleep and the least sound would startle Inc. 1 tried several medi- cines and tonic wines, but none of them helped me. In fact I•was continually growing worse, and began to despair of over being well again. One day a friend called to see inc and strongly advised ane to try Dr. Wiliam? Pink Pills. I de- cided to do so, and it was not long be- fore they began to help me. 1 gained in strength from day to day; my nerves became strong and quiet, and after using about a half dozen boxes of the pills I was fully restored to my old time health and cheerfulness. I now think Dr. Wil- liams' Pink Pills an ideal medicine far weak women." Dr, Wiliarus' Pink Pills feed the nerves with new, rich red blood, thus strength- ening and soothing them, and curing such nerve troubles as neuralgia, St. Vitus dance, partial paralysis and loco- motor ataxia. These pills cure also all troubles due to poor and watery blood, including the special ailments of women. Get the genuine with the full name, "Dr. WWiliams' Pink Pills for Pale People" on the wrapper around each box. Sold by medicine dealers or by mail at 50 cents, a box. or six boxes for $2.50, from the Dr. Wiliams' Medicine Co., Brockville, Ont. Venus Fly Trap. The dionaea, or venus fly trap, is a native of the sandy bogs of the Caro- linas. It is a little plant of from six to twelve inhes in height, producing a loose head of large, whitish flowers. some- what similar to the ladies' smock. The flower stock rises from a rosette of yel- lowish green leaves spreading on the ground. Each leaf is divided by a deep incision into two portions, the lower be- ing a broadly winged foot stalk, the up- per portion is the fly trap. It is roundish and divided into two equal parts by a strong midrib. The margins are fringed with a row of strong bristles. The leaf is a little hollow• on either side of the midrib and the upper surface is dotted with minute reddish glands. Each hollow is furnished with three slender bristles. If an insect alights on the leaf and touches one of the bristles, the sides suddenly close with a force so great as to liniprisoa the little creature, despite its most fran- tic enaeavors to escape. The bristles on each side of the leaf interlace like the fingers of a hand clasped together or like the teeth of a steel trap. After a time the leaf suddenly unfolds. MOTfl.lclt AND BABY'. When baby is well the mother is happy. When baby is cross, fretful, feverish and cannot sleep, the mother is depressed, worried and unhappy. Baby's Own Tablets make both mother and baby happy, because they cure all the common ailments of infants and young children. They sweeten the stomach, cure colic, aid teething children, euro constipation, prevent diarrhoea, and promote good, healthy sleep. And you havo a solemn guarantee that the Tablets "soothing" stuff. Mrs. D. McGill, Blakeney, Ont., says: "I have used Baby's Own Tablets, and loive found deem the best medicine I have ever had for the cure of the ailments from 'which young children suffer. I shall always keep a box of Tablets in the house." Sold by medicine dealers everywhere, or sent by mail at 25 cents a box by writing the Dr. Williams' Medicine Co., Brockville, Ont. She -It must be awful to be burled alive-- ..., squeezed in a coffin and unable to move. There is generally an opening in a He -Yes, Indeed; ): tell you, Jane, there are hos ital for the owns man who hi!s worse places than this flat, 11 you only stop P y a to think ahaut it aoDendaeitis.