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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Herald, 1915-01-08, Page 2TT, 41.01205156•1110,7•111=01.1.111015116600,4300..0111121. the Belle oftheS-lson • CHAPTER The ball which Lady Clensford alivays gave aboet the middle of the seaeon was generally a, very beillia,nt affair; but thia Year it was more brilliant and. alas. 1110,111 exceeded th an us eat ; f or Lard Clanefoed we:3 connected as everybody knows, with the greet Trees-Aisle:an Compeny, ead, •as Mo everybody knowe, that company had recovered from tem blow dealt it by. this rieieg of the nativee, and was now flour. ishing beyond the eutret eangeine, exlece atione of its owners; therefoie, the M14 - offer, not to mention theee of 233any other person, were, overflowing, and Lord Clanefore coned, agerd A some- what magnificent hospita1ii3e ; Howard, ais he made hiss way up the lettere, smiled cynteally , to himeell as he eaught eight of a little knot of financiere • . who steed Just oatsele the 'rent doors of the 6A10A ' They were all there -Griffon - berg, Wirsch. the Beltons, Eger& and Fitzharferd; and they were all emiling and in the beet of humore, presenting by •-their appeartince a eteiking contrast to that whice they had wore when he had eeen them on the eight when the ruin of the company had. been conveyed in thet fatal cableeram. Having sueeeeded 'hest le foroing an entrance, and bowing over the hand of his noble hostess, walla must have :sadly ached, and returned her meolutnical words of welcome, with a smile as galvanic as her own, How.ard .sid- led hie way along the wall -a waltz was in progress -and collided again4st the "beautiful and bounteous" Beetle, who was naepeing his brow and looking round despairingly tor his partner ':Halloo, Howard!" he exclaimede"Pretty 61d serimmage, isn't it? Should have thought your lauguid grace would have kept it of this sight I've given a dance • to a girl, but dash my neektie if 1 oan find ).er; might se well look for a needle in a bottle of hey -a6 if any fellow would be such a fool as to put a needle in such place! I'm jolly mad at toeing her., can tell you, for she's the prettiest girl • in the room, and I had to fight like a ootiehearer to get a dance from her. And Z ow I can't find her; just my luck!" "What is the name of the prettieet girl in the room?' asked Howard, laeguidly. "Oh it's the new beauty, of coulee," re. plied Bettie, with a superior little shrug at Hevrard's ignorance. "It's Mise Heron, of Herondale, the great heiress Howard pricked up his ears, but main- tained his languid and half -indifferent manner. "Miss Heron of Herondale," •he saki ill his slow eoice. "Don't think I've ;net her.' 'No? Dessay not. She doesn't gc out anuola, and Lady Clansi-ord thinks it's ra- • ther a feather in lies rap getting here to- • night. , 'When you see ear you won't seY • I've ;Ter -praised her. She's mere than • pretty, and she'd be the bright and par. tioular star of the, season if she didn't' • keep in Ler shell /So ,much." • •• • ' "Herondele." said Howard, musingly. "That's the place near the Ville at BrY11- • dermere, isn't it? I don't reanember any- • one of her name as having been amongst the corpany there." "No,' said the omniecient Bettie. "She was living in retirement witk hex father then; but Stalfordemust ha-ve known her --made Ler acquaintance. Dont yen re- member that she was present -when -peer bolt off to.A.ustralles again •directly after the funerae? And why is it that she keeps as all at arm's, length, even that con. feud-de:I Glare?" • Howaede eyes grew sharp; but he smil- ed languidly. re he, said; "Yeti ought to edit 0. riddle book, Bertle, my SOIL I think we oould get, across the room now, I :should be greatly obliged if you would introdnce me to Miss Heron." "All right," said 13ertie. "'come along! But I warn you, you'll only meet with a sold reception; just a snails and a word and then she'll look away as it oho's' for- gotten your existence, and had not tha leaet deisire to remember it." "Oh, I'm used to that," estid Howard, "Lead en." As they excesed the room. Haivard'S• acute brain was hard at work. There was something in Stafford's conduet, a tone In hie letters which Howard could never undsgstand; but now, in the light of Bei: - tie's mysterious communication, he thought be discerned a :solution of the Problem ovex which he had pondered for many an hour. Stafford had been un. happy during the whole of his engage- ment to poor Maude; he had exiled him- self again immediately after her death, tlaough as Howard knew, he was well enough' off uow to return to England and to live at any rate, in a quiet way. If there was anything in Bertie's sugge:stion Howeed pureed his line with an air of detemnination. If there was anything, the he would find it out and.act accord- ingly. Stafford'e happinees was very ,pre. clone to Howard, and in,the quiet, reso- lute, cynical way oharaeterietic of him, he resolved that if that hap'piness lay in the heeds of this beautifal girl. with the sad eyes and lips, he. Howard, would do his beet to persuade her to yield it UP. Hes reception was certainly not encour- aging Ida glanced at him, and return- ed his bow with a slight inclination of Iter head, and then looked away as if she herr done ell that could be demanded of her; and it was with faint surprise, perceptible in her face, that she heard Howard say,. in hie slow.: and rather drawling yoice: "There is a conservatory behind that. glass door, Miro Heron; it is not very fax from the madding orowd,• but it must be cooler than here. Will you let Me take you to it?" She hesitated for a moment, but some- thing in the steadessegerd of Howard's oalm and sleepy eyes im,preesed her. "Very well,' she eaddi "but I think I'm engaged for this next dance, and I must not go fax away. I have already broken two or three ertgagemente." ' "In that case you can come without hesitation," he said. "It is the first crime that coets a pang'; bit -ring passed that, the downward dourse is eaay And pain- less." .leeded her to a seat, and with the 000l determination waijch Stafford always ad- mired in him, began at once; felehe. did: not wish to give her time to slip on her woman's armor; he intended -th :Bailee" quickly, unexpectedly, so that She eimeed. not be able t,o conceal the effect •Sil the' !blew. • S'Alesost ae.leat. as in Austriefia" he said, langseidly, but -Watching her out oS the Itai5l. of his eye; 1, suppose you everenever here, Mise Heron? Nor have .1. -been; but 113.50 Felamer met with her fatal twee Isa. got a lettar in my,. p.oc e , 'Seam a dent? , rst triertd.tet niitae.'Aville leer tmeherig -, • . How ;lad- remembered very wale but he 11,iiott.attls-rtnrrafid ho.'llad'so;often dei ealst "Ale yeet" 'as if the fact had just sorthedetheosetteere to 1110, thilit 1 20142105.4 been lc -Relied, to him. feel.,,a0;ef L. know Its, He ie mg- dearest' Her •father died and left her a heeled and ealoeset friend -Stafford Orme, as of ationey--that's ever so many nionthis alwaye call him and think of him; of age -,end now. she's come up to London,- emarse 1 am epeaking '<i:r Lord Higholiffe. sad I tell you. Howard, that it ie with -Mc problem was, :solved; • he saw her her as it was with the friend of our pale face suddenly flash, and then as eud- echoolboy days: 'I came, "I was seen." I denlei grow. pale. So sharp,,leed been the ,00nquered!' EverYbeder is mad about hex, bloev, its effect so oemserhelining, that her She is staying with some country people fan fell from her hand. Howard, 'as he called the Vaynes, people who would have restore:1,1e ti her, seized the eepertheity Passed, like a third entree, unnotieed; 'of looking her 111/1 in ,the And see - but they are deluged with invitation, .,sera.nee was made doubly sure. Thie and 'All on accountbold hie friend Stafford'i ;happiness "Do not be 'vulgar, Beetle," said How- in her hand. Ida was silent feeet Moment ard, rebuicingly,because she know she cortlel net control Well, it was vulgar " admitted 13ertio, her voiceecmild -eat-Skeet .it' sceedy; then, "especially applied to such an exquisite with a realeiteeed breath, She "JAM: oreature eie Mis:s Rexene-- Ole there sho " is with young GlerneeThesy say that Ire Yes, I knee' Mr. Orane-tebeed „High - ;is more than ready to 'lee his ducal eor.• t h"I in'itr be .seide onet at feet-confThen,lipped -sou liked h feet -confound the .young beg- eleeeeeeety; tosx tee" wee see thee -, fee gaxl-but she doesn't give him the least mercy; soine idiot of a difuaing-man enceuragement to do so. Look! ehe would C,01110 toad take ,her from him the doeen't appear to be listening to him,' next Minute, texpress the loilpe, bet:rinse' hough hes talking for all he's worth; I myself like and adinire hine very: Much Avd Ws the sante with all of us; w,e're indeed,. He is A, splendid fellose, and Mee all deing -with here for her; and for ell . of those instatees. of a good -anan istrug- she cares, we anay jolly well diel" Howard looked .across the nerd one piing with advereity. Are net: fend of caught a glimpse of a tall, slim figura a poetry, Miss Heron?" i! - Pale, ivory -tinted face -with soft and silkyIdeSe bosom was heassing, remoras' fight - black hair, dressed in the simplest silky- gor ealan.. ,Sho-knew new who it was . fashion, and dark, violeteeyee. halt hidden With Whom she .avars Speaking, it was the by -their long-111611es, /t Wael a lorely face friend; the oynical Mr. Howard, of whom and something more -an impre.ssive one; Stafford had.teld her; she bad, eot oa.ught it was a face, once seen, not; easily for- his mono' ;at the 'ntrocluotion. he re - gotten Perhaps it was not jt e beauty, garded him with intenee interest, and lie but a certain preoccupied expression, a alined her head by way of assent. eaeoe,se in the eyes end el the curve of "I never think of my- friend Lord High. the expressive lips, which made it 150 haunting a, one. She -was exquisitelY dressed. with a suggestion of mourning in the absence of dia.mends and e touch ot pale violet in the black lace /rook. "She is tray beautiful," -said HoWated; "and I can condole with. you sineeeely on the loss of your dance." "Yes. nearly over now," said Bettie, with a sigh. "Talking of Stafford," be Heel, after a minute, "when did yee hear Iran; hini,last?" " 'One boon of fortune I implore, With one petition kneel: "To -day," replied ward, "I lieve his At least careee rae not before letter in any. pocket" "Still out in the etrkwoodeP" aeked Thou break me on thy -wheel]. " Bertie. "Poor old chap! awful piece of luck tor him! If his father had only gone Hee. lip quiveacd and her long lashes on living and waited until that blessed concealed her eyes. company had come right :side uppermost, "They are flee lilies,' she said, lied have been a :millionaire. Look at "They fit my friend, Lord Higholiffe's Origenberg and the rest of 'em!" he node *nee to a T. He Ivas for a time the alien- ded towards the group at financiexe; ed darling of fortune; elie caxessed eteovee sonply rolliug money, rolling a6 she eaTesses few men -and. now :she 'is breaking him on her wheel; and the early 'erce, Imes still. in the letchwoode, as cereeses, of course, make the limiting all pee call it," reeperteled Homed; -and , tee harder to bear. He writes anost Inter - from what he says T :should think hoe; I esting letters -I don't know whether you having a pretty baTil time of it; though, taro abolit !peening wed cattlareising and of' (curse, he doesn't eomplain- there are that kind of thing; for any own part I nen settio men still left who don't complain." Thpvl wee a. Deism- during which he had broil Illieking deeply, than he said: "So Seafront knew Heron, del he?" Bertie iodised Mersteriotes and lowered le edeo. "Yes: Tools here, old elia.p, I elionlibet ay the to anyone but you; but you are tallerd'e great and only *ham, and I lame I eau eevalt stefelY; to tell you the .,• ere ei4 Wall of YOres llittseum, The Museum of Ypres has hoen entirely destroyed. One of the *walls of the famous , structure shows ' what the bombardinent did. "Did you say that Mr. Orme - •Lord Higle • eliffe its well?" , "Oh, Yes; is all right now," eeplied Howard; "he hae been . fever of' some kind or other, I believe -but he has recovered; he is a, moneter, of, strength.' as you may have heave, But I am afraid hhee ieseavieeryhieunmhainedleeY'h.esoimseenhoitng4-eornyeiehylitealt; mrtstee-. se:H. ethwearxecipitaeegyothhinegehymtgivlon;;et ,kynooz: lectual, you know-" Ida. shot. an: fudie- wini°111' neint glance at him which made Hoivietrci "With the greateat pleasure, nry dear chteekle inevarelly.-"But the beet, the no. lady," responded Howard; "but on two blest, of good fellow6, I tternere iron. Mies conditions.; one, that you don't .take mY Heron, rd give 'anything to see hina opinion: the other, that, you leave me happy. Ah, here comes a geuelenaan -with alone with Mi eiS Heron, directly elle. comes hurried geit. and distsaoted countenance; for a quarter of All hour." bit Id looking .for Lis partner; alasl it is Lady Fitzha.rford etaTed at him. • you! We meet, then, at Lady Fitzhar- pc'hseeringe..y, ou going to propose to her?" she leeter: but I do sincexele- hope .it won't "No," he replied; "1 nen tired of pro - bore you I" ford's to -morrow. I 'will bring nay friend's asked, with a smile. He bowed his adieux and Ieft, her, and "Well, I don'e think she would a,eeopt lat. the house; for eth,e haill had, no ' fur. you," saki Lady Fitahaalord, "ehe has .had ther extereet for' him. All the Weeehome the most wonderful offers; she bee refus- he pondered over the ease. -That she joy- ed. Lord Edwin the Bannerealese son and ed Stafford, he had ...not. the, very least heir, and, I believe, the Duke of Gleen-" doubt; her eyes, 'her sudden blushes and "I know, I know!" said Howard, more color, 'her .voicee had be tray.ed her.,, quickly than usual. "I can hear her on , "He has loved her all the, timerend I the statis. Oh, vanish, my deer lady. an ana 21% grablatla ' 'IVA to h4v016eF1,1.; 111" 701.1. 10178 Ole 1'; he seeidetoshianself, with. esmieel ;self- Lady Fitzlhaeford hed starcely left the. conterrape 'a's he clinebed"riPto.,etislebeines. 'roctiesileughifig and not a -little puzzled,. modest ' hut!' .00niftletaible . before the sermet ,ecianitted Ida. She was .rooms stiteak a Pale and the look of; eadnete, in her eyes. Malta before he epened'the'doere it was even morefealamble thapeon the Free -1V1t11$.11.0t necessary:. foiehim ,to have got a ceding night. She blushed Inc aneinstant ligee, for these was ode in the irotx/a. ad- as she, gave her hand. t� ilesetard.IS ' ready, and..bY itshe same, leng-linthed.fig "Lady Pita:milord has gene to Set: her .nre which had bean sitting ein etea. ey, tMiets .3Yerotee. ;Le •areitd; 'labs bade eheirebut xieee and eisOlarMerd, "114viierdie,' ; 'memattke, her exeeesese ehe will be hexe: eo..E.,yerae-e-.hele bluer& fOrr a Moment .nPliene4e.bietareYeiirrItapipgo.' i8n0tant°ezoiciti (gEWhye6n11 itoe-asn- re •witla exaggerated ealin: tOthink,it over, was quite ashamed; elo "Ien • glad. you ,found, the cigar's, ater the you know, ett the ebtrusrve way in which -whisky, Stafferd, lea:Ve you 'been waiting loaxeseed the subJect of my tiord very long: Seery. to:keep you." • Righelege'e contlit,ion upon 11.7onud.'But Howard laughed es, he. nfrinig though I do think you would feel friende: hand ' , • interested in hie lettek. Be 'has a. knack, .thought elioeld ,surprise: you, old. unintelleotual as he is"--Idit rose read - Min; but I flattered 'Myself," seed stee. -ily to the; ily again and „flashed '''a nece ford, '• on'eneary glance of indignation, At him 'Nothing suoprises me; but I'll admit . at. her- violet . eyes -"a Wel ef to.'heing rather 'pleased et'ideeing you" . describing scenes and iucedents idea kind drerwled lloyeare. peehing him:gently back of graphic style whichWhatan .$4,10t ill the &lair. "Have you--exe-wallked fee& ,I sante emelarolee -off teeeeelttem, be had Australia,' or 110110,1?' I bee.n feeling iniris pocket; "Y have actee Stafford attired. ' , left the-detter et homer Please for, •"01. r see! "You ineane Seine- ,quick- give ane. But. perhaps you voill xegard my ly on my leeter? P started clirectly atteis iodise of meniory as affording. you a 4ap• I potted it, bite Idet the Mill at South. pe escape." • timpeen, yeetlese fit, and was Idaes lips tresiabled and her 'eyes.,became obliged' toe'cosee''' ' . .deyneast. Desappeintanent, ,Was elognehtly "Got it acee?''' drawled- Howard. ef.)r elep,ioted on her face. • ' ' 'perhape the ideate -ley has cooled you down.. .- "No, I erm'edrey," She said, , "P-T,setoula -Have' you oaten? '1 .ean get edmething-", lia,ye liked to lia.ye seen ties,,le. htee.' , "Vas -yee," said Stafford, rather imps, "Would yon r6141Y?" he Purred, Peim .tiently. "Got dinner at the hotel. I cued tently, as she turned away to tihe wee on here at once; heard you'd gone to a dorm "Then, I 'will go and get it; my dance. and thought I'd wait. I went you rooms are only a short distance" to do something for me. Howerd-I'll "Oh, Pray, don't trou;ble," she said, so you all my news same other time -not fitintly that Howard found, ie diffieult net that there's much fo, tell: I'an and to emilee iiOnrithillg, as - you ;Gee. I want you to "Ncrt at all, he said, p,olitely, and Tait go down to Ba..yudermore, I dare not go the room. mysel f --not yet. I want you to get alb' 'As . he wene down the. stairs he glanced the information you can about -about a -at h s wats m lady; MOB' Heron of Ilerondale—" :eget w, 116,Atn1+011Ailit idiot ien't up to "How very steaege!" said llowaed .511110- einue—" cent:1y. "Do ,you know-, I have just had' At that moment there was knock at. the pleasate of meeting Miss Heron of the hell -door, the servant opened it, end Herondate---" cleft% without recalling these signifloa.nt Stafford :sprang to hie feet. Gtafford entered *with a gloomy counten- her, and be le.seitl teat his eyes were fine ' "At Dada' Cla,nsford'ehall liner; of William Watson's," ITe leeked at I "'Where?" be deinanded how.t1hylch 1 hexe,. ,n:lt;IhSTee'leheaghTledoImadeo,Y'h.'61,thaecktnaseenalvd,gwIrilat'ytheryealth wiscAshi:ullYld; and impeessive onee when he showed thean Just left. May tiek you why you are so -heve insieted up.on my cloieg so -or what plainly "These.. are the lines: . . Interested in Mies XTeron as to . send me good it, will do me to hese about etiiey teeitiow," he ' 'I do notsesk to have my fill "I love her," eatil Stafford bile:fly. "1 the seTviannt ulio)wthle'°i:t4iarr. on suoh a ralersioe?' added, Of wine, of love, or fame, I cannot live without heer-dve tried., and, dot:sr:town% st4),alislh:ed the hendle of the T do net for le little ill cannot live without her -I've 'tried, end Ageinet ,the gods exclaim. Inc failed. Inc loved her sinte-ole "GO In, my dear, fellow; I've left my can't tell you! I Want to knoev .wha,t sbe pockethandkerchief in my avevoeat 50 is doing. event to know if she has for. ' ihe hall: 'emelt in a moment." '011• , I'm se glad you've come,' ehe "I -T did not know whether you would seed: everybody was pleased to see How- :some, But I have been waiting; I should ard; you are juot the man I want Mat: have vraited all my life. But the tone has sweet creature, Mies Heron, is coming been very long, Stafford!" here directly to try over some songs with me -In, going to sieg at that bazaar, you Ignow-and as you know something of mil- for t wthhieehenHiliewofertdheh aciduahreterry noire wan, Lady Fitzharford opened the doer of the inner room softly, eo zoftly, that seeing Mise Heron in the arms of a, stalwart young m ' en and apparently quite oontent there, her ladyship discreetly closed th.e door again, a•nd going round by the inner room found Mr. Howard .seated on the etadre. She looked at him with aanazement, well. nigh bewilder.meut. "Now e -ea are freirlg to tell me anything tt the teethe tiflirrnered Howard, with sigh of rPOIrturiteort. TOrt note' retorted Bettie, 'What there 3t, of it la the truth A.Ild AO, ning hot ihe trettle It isn't muole Brit Idlld of Idea. that Slagetel knew eener; beauty better than wo yntl rm”arolboa llow 110 USAd LO loam) to eerier nue set off by hinhielt? Not frowd. that,' WAti it? Arid PAO Ott' IF'llo,NS remarked to rep Owl, one day reafford riding with it iftay. Ile swear to hira, but,-welL statc; 1r1 to Mistake. Then again, hoW 1;4, nd Mire Iferofi were in at death; and why did he eviblianely ignorant of such matters. I can lay any hand upon my heart and say I know a cow from it horse, but nothing ellen induce me to go feather. If yon are interested. I would ventute to offer to how you orte of hie letters; there le nettling in teem of a private eleeracter." llor heart, beat still more quickly; he saw the eageflight flash in her eyes; end hie band went to his breast coatepocket; then lie seld, blandly; "I v ill bring one taext time we meet. Are you gotng—arkere are you going to. tnotiroarr Mies Heron? I too, shall be go- ing there probably?" She put her heed to her lips with a. lit, tie nervotis gestures; slid was eiesepoiet. ed, she thought he 'was going to 61104V her it letter, titan and there. "I sin going. to Lady ritzharterd's to. morrolt afternoon to try over :some netelie With ehe said, hesitatingly. "Ali. yes; Lady Pitzharford is A good friend of mine." he field, "Shall you be there et, say, four?" said Ma, in it low vrie. Ilie color Tose to her face, and she N.C. toyed.: I gotten nae; if there is any hope for inel" Howard looked at him compuesionately, and wheeled softly. "My dear old man," he fetid, with an a•lr of reluctance, "yen ily rather highl T.ho lady you spotlit of is the belle lee the pre sent iseaeon; she is the admired of all ad. mirers; belted etials, to say nothing or noble dukes,are at her feet She wae the star or the ball which I home just left. If I may say so, I think you were very ute • With it frown of annoyance, Stafford hesitated and looked atter him; then, with a shrug of his ehouldere, theyed ate entered the roora. They uttered no exy or surprise, of joy. They stood for a moment looking at each other with t eir hearts in their eyes. It was the moment that bridged over till the weary months of waiting, of lett:lege of doubts and fears, of hope thee seemed too wise to leave eueli it peerierse Peaxi to be sp,tir. faint for bope 'and but a mockery' of da . , enapped -up-- - her it she loved Stafford turned away Nom him end I 'line. hba'aer nfa%onewealsthl "k stifled a groan. • ex glien i of the truth, belle of the eeason I Well, why not? 1 ilfoilele hle it I. , iheeliehwaditgoitialadoinadraowthheirielfe. ailed "I might have known it," he said. "The end her eyes reflected the love that glow. Mere is 110 one more beautiful, eo one 1 hoz end, utterly regardlees of the fact more sweets Who ern I that elle ebthat lie in strange house, ould that they malemb" ' ale? What 15111I----' might be interrupted arty moment, he "Rather a ' foolish young man, if eon el oa 1,v,'patssiotately with all the pas - was a ask me' esed Howard 11 I'd been in love with such a, peerlese ereature, I shouldn'thave left her to go tramping tie ter mettle in Australia," Iii011 that ead been reeved. up for so long ewes:: ]e seed, as he bent over' her and weesed her to him, "I limo come baeli- "Are you mad?" site exe.laimed. in a whisper. Howard smiled at her blandly. "No," he said, -with a bier:lc:ward jerk of his hea,c1, "but they are. Ten told it's a delicious kind of anatinese worth all your sanity. Do not let us disturb them. Come a.nd sit down beside me until the time is up," lit glanced at hc3 watch: "they have stil ealreenwiinn.lieteseee.d" Witis laugh she at down b'e"afidoeuloitaraght to be ashaaned of yourself," she said, "10elay ant such a trick. But, oh, .how happy they look!" "f aan !aal4arnaa of nayrielf, any. deer lady," he said; 'emit I should have been more ,aelhaaneel of mysellf if 'I hadn't. -Do they look happy? We will go in and Agee' presently. It will be Mg, Y.. ,reat arewaed. eaut ,should like to give them another five minutes, dear lady, for I assuTe you, on my -maid 0± honey, 'that I was onee young...my., eye. ".7SIOTHER" ON FIRING LINE. She's a. [fig British Howitzer Who • Pounds "Black Dlaria." A British -officer sends from the . front -a 'grimly humorpus descrip- tion of the recent additions to the 'artillery' arm of the expeditionary force. '•. . .."Our artillery," he writes, being gradually reinforced and we are able now to reply to the Ger- man heavy howitzers with shell that is 'eve -ii weightier than their 'mach - vaunted `Bleck Marias.' The how- itzers I refer to is `Mother.' She has been so christened by the r.Dom- pales, and the name is not inappro- priate. She is of matronly dimen- sions, but comely withal, .and has done e.w xcellent ork-'While he has been -with nis' and more than one of her family offield hatterie,s scatter- ed round the front owes its exis- tence to the attention `Mother' has devoted to the German eight -inch heavy howitzers. 'Mother s' shell weighs 300 pounds. She ranges most u accrately, and, indeed, she has had four direct hits on • German guns in the past fortnight. A direct bit is only- recorded ,by the airman' when the shell actually strikes the enemy's gun. 'Mother' is usually accompanied by 'Archi- bald,' which is one of the new anti - aeroplane guns. 'Archie' is mount- ed on a motor lorry , and yesterday brought down a Taube aeroplane, much to our delight,. He firee a thirteen pound shrapnel shell and is daily becoming more expert in his attention to hostile aircraft. Our five -inch batteryis still doing it .good 'work and s ,constantly keep- ing hostile' i batterios quiet. After a, hostile battery had been shelled o. short time -ago our air- man reported nekt cloy that only four of the six 'German guns Lad been moved to a new position, so ntletowittibyereiViit labollrteesp that it appeared that the other two "What else could I do?" exelaimed Staf- iltneeiawnrthtati,iyvconwlic Which had been left behind were of. ford, sternly. "Have you forgotten thet I wee not free, that when -when death - "No; It is not too Itite, she It Is 'not too late?" whespet ed. no further use.'' hie voice drormed-"eet, Me free, it WitO 110 time to speolt of love to a 'notes r woman? =tee eerie obliged to go; but rye come back --too late, suppose! Don't say any '"n iliSTEIVIPER SHIPPING FEVER) PINK EYEv EPIZOOTIC mere; let us talk of sotneehing else: you and OATAPIeliel. FEVEill axe looking well, ltowarae "Yee, it's: no Use crying over spilt nape Seid Howard, With. it sigh, 'Oh, I'm all righ. Leek here, rn out you on to-nightt we've got it, spare room, Now, mix yourself another drink and light tie another cigar -not bad, are they -end 0 told trie yoreve been doing," * * At a quarter to four the following day uolvard put in his appeaxanee at Lady Yitzhertord'a house le Eaton Square. 0-%"wevya..sa,..4464P.„-.1b- ^31, 0 ticFarm ,41041 V.1fireifieViVIAltoViritio-414111,,Vi • Blein ish .04 ,Pleasare „Horses. There are • Many blenixishes itt horses that do ‘nob theY: ueefulness, but practically render thorn unfit for the pleasure vehicle A horse with. sprung knee ean do honest label. on the farm; and he will do many sorts of work in the city, but he earl never add to -the appearance of the pleasure equip, age. There are blemishes to numerous to mention that procticallY unfit a horse for the purposes above men- tioned. 'Cocked paSterns,..capped hocks, seraggy manes and tails, sprun knees, spavin -S, bog Or bone, loss o one.eye scarred ,koees (a uresigx of the stuinbler);• splints, ringbone sweeney or atrophy of the shoulde Muscles,- the natural carriage of a low head and interfering, These are some of the apparently insignificant blemishes , that too many horses suffer from and any one of them will render him unfit for the plea,sure vehicle. - • Do net listen to_ dealers, or even to your best . friend -and::: buy a hose that has blemishes On him if you :want • him for' pleasure pur- poses. •• Notes of the Sh• eepfold. Sheep feeding is a business in which the hope of profit and the cer- tainty of making the land more fer- tile should add zest ter the venture. Sheep respond to good care. The better the care the more they re- spond. • Ws need more small flocks on 'well -tilled farms. Such a Combina- tion rarely disappoints its owner. The fairs supply a, splendid op- portunity for beginners to find out for themselves what constitutes mutton form aiad excellence. The lamb that cashes in the roost money in the fall is nottheproduct of poverty he is a. delicately mod- eled and inished creattfre:- of af- fluence. • Dairy Suggestiou• m. Cream left on the miik'rtoo long get bitter and rancicl."2', • As a rale, Churning is Pitt off to long in tlie !winter ;time. . perfeet 'creamery; the am, inal neat and odor are gotten rid o as soOn as possible. Milk pans arid pails are all to better for a good sun bath in sweet, airy place after having bee washed, scalded and dried. The sooner 'milk is set in a, eoo place, reaiiy for the crea5n to vise the Mere eam .there will be. . tTso only salt that is gni! IV and :grain •for butter •The Beal Farmer; , • Whet ie a real farmert We as this e-mpreasion, • a real], farmei often, anddesire to define' what w mean. A real farmer perso who .makes his living by th land and who lives on the land h works. Men who own Saran land and live in towns or cities, rend their property, or leasing it on Shares, are not larmer,s, even when they claim to be ;farmers. The test is not.a.sentimental one, but econo- mic. Real 'farmers live by work alone on the land!. The Ring's Record. It is characteristic of the keen interest that King George is taking in the men who are fighting for Bri- tain. against the Kaissr and hiS Huns that he has ordered ,a record to be kept at Buckingham Palace ott the names of all those serving in any capacity who have been killed during the war. When the proper time arrives, it is his Majesty's in- tention to place a suitable tablet to their memory, either in the private chapel at his Lonckm residence or in the Chapel Royal, St. James. When the sad list is completed, it will be handsomely bound and placed iii the royal archives at Windsor Castle; close to where a similar list of the African War is kept.' . • --------- .Tieeping 'Her 4if tionie. , Wife—"Don't you think you might manage to keep house alone for a week, while I go on a visit?" Husband—"I guess so; yes, of tongue, mote oti the Illood and Glands, era" a t o poisoneul COUrse," But you won't, be lonely and sum ouro mna positive preyontivo, Uo matter 310Air honied mIserarble V gollros 'ram tho body. a.tres Distompor ill Doge and Sheep. "Huh! Then I won , , and Choke:), in Pettitree Largeet gelling liVe stook remedy, _ t go " cam In, Creme among human beings and is Define kidooy, remedy, Cot. thts out, 1Coskp ft, Mow it to your druggist, who will eget lb for yOlt. FrOO Booklet, "Destemeer. Cmino4 •And you say you ate horse steak rand ourpo,4 - during the siege of Paris? How was 1 at any ago axe infeeted or "expeeed." Liq4d, given on the "(Noe a bit." oiSlItioUTOPS-ALL WHOLESALE DRUOGISTS_ it served?" "A fa carte, of SPORN WitikeiOAL chemists and nastoriefth ;ogists, oas's, ltd., U.S.A. eeepeeo, a pi ib< aS si re 5 a a4 li re Th en, or: eei 110 jam ti 0 th 215 0111 rant 11111 We; Co 1 16 ell ibn't Y < 5 • 0 37‹ 'eke n 1 th t?" 15 the her ic Ines