The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

ni‘ CHAPTER XXVIII.--Continued. She heard people speak of her up- a preaching marriage as ‘a grand match"â€"-she heard him spoken of as a wealthy Southerner, and she laughâ€" ed a proud. happy, rippling laugh. She was marrying Rex for love; she had given him the deepest truest love of her heart. Aroun-d abend in the. terrace she heard approaching foot. steps and the rippling of girlish laughter. “I cannot have five minutes to my- aslf to think." she said to herself, llrawing hastily back behind the thick screen of . leaves? until they should pass. She did not feel in the humor just then to‘ listen to Miss Raynor's chatter or pretty Grace Allen's gos- sip. . "Of course every one has, a right to their own opinion,” Grace was saying, with a toss; of her pretty-nut-brown curls, "and I, for one, do not believe he cares for her one whit." "It is certainly very strange," rc- sponded Miss Raynor. thoughtfully. "Every one can see she is certainly in love with Rex; but I am afraid it is quite a oneâ€"sided affair." , “Yes,” said Grace, laughing shyly, "a very oneâ€"sided affair. \Vhy, have you ever noticed them togetherâ€"how Pluma watches his face and seems to live on his smiles? And as for Rex, the always seems to be looking over [her head into the distance, as] though 'he saw something there far more inâ€" teresting than the face of his; bride- to-be. That doesn't look much like love or a contented lover." “If you had seen him this mornâ€" ing you might well say he did not look contented," replied llIissI Raynor, mysteriously. "I was out for a morn- ing ramble, and, feeling a little tired, I sat down on a mossâ€"covered stone to rest. Hearing the approaching clatâ€" ter of horse's hoofs, I looked up and saw Rex Lyom coming leisurely down the road. I could not tell you what prompted me to do it, but I drew quietly back behind the overhangâ€" ing alder branches that skirted the brook, admiring him all unseen.“ l "Oh, dear!” cried Grace, merrily, f’t‘his is almost too good to keep. \Vho would imagine dignified Miss. Raynor peeping admiringly at handsome lRGX, screened by the shadows of the alders !" “Now don‘t be ridiculous, Grace, or ,1 shall be tempted not to tell you the most interesting part,” returned Miss Raynor, flushing hotly. "Oh, that would be too cruel," cried Grace, who delighted in anything bordering on mystery. "Do tell it." ' "\Vell," continued Miss; Raynor, dropping her voice to a lower key, "when he was quite opposite me, he suddenly stopped short and quickly dismounted from his horse, and picked up from the roadside a handful of wild flowers. I "\\’hat in the world could he want with them?" cried Grace, incredulous- f 1y. - , "\Vant with them!" echoed Miss Raynor. “\Vhy, he pressed them to his lips”, murmuring passionate, lovâ€" ing words over them. For one brief instant his face was turned toward me, and I saw there were tears stand- ing in his eyes, and there was alook on his face 1 Shilil never forget to my dying day. There was such hope- less woe upon itâ€"indced one might have almost supposed by the expres- sion of his face, he was waiting for his deathâ€"sentence to be pronounced instead of a marriage ceremony. which was to give him the queenly heiress of Whitestone Hall for a '. bride." "Perhaps there is some hidden ro- mance in the life of handsome Rex the world does not know of." suggest- ed Grace, sngely. "I hope not," replied Miss Raynor. "I would illilit‘ to bi a rival of l’luma Hurlhurst’s. I have. often thought, as I watcth her with Rex. it must be terrible to worship one person so mad- ly. I have often thought Pluma's a perilous love." “Do not speak so." cried Grace. “You horrify me. \Vlie-never Isee lzer face I am afraid those words will be ringing in my earsâ€"a perilous love." Miss Raynor made some laughing rejoinder which Pluma ,whitc and trembling behind the ivy vines, did not catch, and still discussing the af- fair, they moved on, leaving Pluma Hurlhurst standing alone, face to face with the truth, which she had hoped against hope was false. Rex, 'who was so soon to be her husband, was certainly not thI‘ lover. Her keen judgment: had told her long ago all this had come about through his mother's influence. Every word those careless lips had littered came back to her heart with a cruel stab. "Even my guests. are noticing his coldness." she cried, with a hysteri- cal littlc sob. "They are saying to each other, ‘He does not love me'â€"I, who have counted my triumphs by the score. I have revealed my love. in -every word, tone. and glance, but I 1 l l t l can not awaken one sentiment in his, proud. cold heart." “'hen she remembered the words, "He press‘ed them to his lips, mur- muring passionate, loving words over them," she almost cried aloud in her fierce, angry passion. She knew just as well as‘ though she had witnessed him herself, that thos‘e wild flowers were daisies, and she knew, too, why he had kissed them so passionately. She saw the sun shining on the trees. the flowerâ€"beds were great squares and circles of color, the fountains sparkled in the sunlight, and restless butterflies flitted hither and thither. For Pluma Hurlhurst, after that hour, the sunshine never had the same light. the flowers the same color, her face the (same smile, or her heart the same joyousness. Never did "good and evil” fight for a human heart as they struggled in that hour in the heart of the beauti- ful, willful heiress. All the fire, the passion, and recklessness of her naâ€" ture were aroused. “I will make him love me or I will die!" she cried, vehemently. “The love I long for shall be mine. I swear it, cost what it may!” She was almost terribly beautiful to behold, as that war of passion raged within her. She Saw a cloud of dust arising in the distance. She knew it was. Rex returning, but no bright flush rose to her cheek as she remembered what Miss‘ Raynor had said of the. wild flowers he had so rapturously caress- edâ€"hc had given a few rank wild flowers the depths of a passionate love which he had never shown to her, whom he had asked to be his wife. She watched him as he approached nearer and nearer, so handsome, so graceful, so winning, one of his' white hands carelessly resting on the spirit- ed animal's proudly arched. glossy neck, and with the other raising his hat from his brown curls in true courtly cavalier fashion to her, as he saw her standing there, apparently awaiting him on the rose-covered ter- race. He looked so handsome and lovable Pluma might have forgotten her grievance had she not at that mom- ent espied, fastened to the lapel of his coat, a cluster of goldenâ€"headed daisies. That sight froze the light in her dark, passionate eyes and the welcome that trembled on her scarlet lips. He leaped lightly from the saddle, and came quickly forward to meet her, and then drew back with a start. "\Vhat’. is the matter, Pluma ?” he asked, in wonder. CHARAQTER \.-»~)r. .....- l ICINE. The lofty upright character of Dr. Chase shown in the true worth of his famous home treatments --=Dr. Chase’s Nerve Food. In medicine, as in every other sphere of human action, it is character that Chase tells. Every prescription that Dr. A. RV. Chase gave to his fellowmen is full of character, full of the honest, sterling character which made the grand old doctor respected, admired and loved by all who knew him. No preparation has ever been put to such 80er tests as has Dr. Chase's Nerve Food, and yet it stands alone toâ€"day as a wonderfully effective cure for ‘all diseases resulting from thin blood, Ewcak nerves and a run-down condi- tion of the system. I There is character in Dr. Chase's lNervo Food or it would never be known to-day throughout this contiâ€" l‘nont and Europe as the standard spring medicine of the world and as a tonic and restorative of surpassing virtue. Knowing that every man. revitalize the wasted nerve cells, Dr. determined to formulate the preparation no \v known as Dr. Chase's Nerve Food. Dr. Chase put charac« ter in this medieine. It stands as a monument to his memoryâ€"the. most successful spring medicine that money can buy. Dr. Chase’s Nerve Food has been en- dorsed and recommended by more medical men and reputable people than any similar remedy. 503. a box, 6 boxes for 82.50. All dealers, or Ed. manson. Beta; 8:. Co., Toronto. Dr. Chase’s last and complete Re- ceipt Book gives in plain, simple lan- guage tlm cause, symptoms and treat- ment for nearly every disease known to suffering man, and contains over 3,000 of the most valuable receipts and prescriptions ever collected. If ,Nnoman and child needs a restorative ,you want a single copy or desire to and reconstructant in the spring to ibccome an agent write for circulars : purity and enrich the blood and to_'and full particulars "Nothing." she replied, keeping her eyes fastened as if fascinated on the offending daisies he wore on his breast. "I left you an hour ago smiling and happy. i find you white and worn. There are strange lights; in your eyes like the FillllllJI‘OIlS fire of a volcano; even your voice seems, to have. lost its tenderness. \leat is it, l‘luma?" She raised her dark, proud face to his; There was a strange story writ- ten on it. but he. could not tell what it was. "llâ€"it is nothing. The. day is warm, anl I am tired, that is all.“ "You are not like the camp l’luma who kissed me when l was going away." he persisted. “Since I left this house something has come be- tween you and me. \N'hat is it, I'luma?" She looked up to him with aproud gesture that was; infinitely charm- mg. "Is anything likely to tween us?" she asked. “No; not that I know of," he ans- wered, growing more and more puzâ€" zlcd. “Then why imagine it?" she asked. "Because you are so changed, l‘luâ€" ma,” he said. “I shall never perhaps know the cause of your strange manâ€" ner toward me, but I shall always feel sure it is! something which con- cerns myself. You look at me as though you were questioning me.” he said. "I wish you would tell me what is on your mind?" "I do not suppose it could make the least difference," she answered, pas- sionately. "Yes, I will tell you, what you must have been bling not to no- tice long ago. Have you not noticed how every one watches us with 11 peâ€" culiar smile on their lips: as we come among them; and how their voices sink to a whisper lest we should over- hear what they say? \Vhat is! comâ€" mented upon by my very guests. and the people all about us? Listen, then, it is this; Rex Lyon does not love the woman he has asked to be his wife. The. frosts of Iceland could not be colder than his manner toward her; They say, too, that I have. given you the truest and deepest love of my heart, and have received nothing in return. Tell fine that it is all false, my darling, You do care for me, do you not, Rex? Tell me," she im< plored. "Good heavens!” cried Rex, almost. 'spcechless in consternation; "do they dare say such things? I never thought my conduct could give rise to one reproach, one unkind thought." “Tell me you do care for me, Rex," she cried. "I have been almost mad with doubt." There was something in the lovely face, in the tender, pleading eyes, and quivering, scarlet mouth, that looked as if it were made for kissesâ€"that Rex would have had to have been something more than mortal man to have resisted her pleading with sighs and tears for his love, and refuse it, especially as; she. had every reason to expect it, as he had asked her to be his wife. There was’ such a look of unuttcrable love on her face it fairly bewildered him. The passion in her voice startled him. "What was he to do. with this impetuous' girl? Rex looked as if he felt exceedingly un- comfortable. He took her in his arms? and kissed her mechanically; he knew that was what she wanted and what she ex- pected him to do. come be- . “This must be my answer, dear," he. said, holding her in a close embrace. In that brief instant she had torn the daisies from the lapel of his coat with her white, jeweled fingers, toss- cd them to the earth, and stamped her dainty feet upon them, wishing in the depths of her soul she could crush out all remembrance from his heart of the young girl for whose memory this handsome lover of hersl wore these wild blossoms on his breast. As Rex looked down into her face he missed them, and quickly unclasped his arms; from around her with a little cry. ‘ Stooping down he instantly re- covered his crushed treasure and liftâ€" ed them reverently in his hand with' a sigh. “I cannot say that I admire your taste, Rex," she said, with a short, hard laugh, that somehow grated harshly on her lover's ears. “The conservatories arc blooming with rare and odorous flowers, yet you choose these obnoxious] plants; they are no more or less than a species of weeds. Never wear them again, Rexâ€"I de- spise themâ€"throw them away, and I will gather you a rare bouquet of white. hyacinths and starry jasmine and golden-rod bells." The intense quiver in her voice pain- ed him, and he saw her face wore the palor m death, and her eyes were gleaming like restless fire. “I will not wear them certainly if you dislike them, 'I’luma,” he said, gravely. “but I do not care to replace them by any others; daisies are the sweetest flowers on earth for me." He did not fasten them on his coat again, but transferred them to his breast-pocket. Sh: bit her scarlet lips in impotent rage. In the very moment of her supreme triumph and happiness he had un- claspcd his, arms from about her to pick up the daisies she had crushed with her tiny heelâ€"those daisies which reminded him of that other love that still reigned in his: heart a bar- rier behveen them. CHAPTER XXIX. "I do think it is a perfect shame those. horrid Glenn girls are to be in- vited up here to Rex's wedding," cried little Birdie Lyon, hobbling into the room where Mrs. Corliss sat, busily engaged in hemming some new table, linen, and throwing herself down on a low hassock. at her feet, and laying down her crutch beside her~“it IS perfectly awful." "\Vhy." said Mrs. Corliss, smoothing the nutâ€"brovrn curls back from the. child’s flushed face, "I should think would be very were your neighbors when you wore down in Florida, were they not?" you pleased. l‘hey "Yes." replied the little girl, frownâ€" ing. “but ldon't like. them one bit. lless‘ and Gertieâ€"that's the two old- est ones, make me think of those stiff pictures in the gay trailing dresses in the magazines. Java 151 nice, but she's a 'i‘oni-lioy.” "A whâ€"al. 1" cried Mrs. Corliss. "She‘s a Tom-boy, momma always said ', she ramps, and has no ma nners." "They will be your neighbors when you go South againâ€"so I suppose your brother thought of that when he inâ€" vited them." "He never dreamed of it." cried Bir- die; "it was Miss Pluma's doings." "Hush child, don’t talk so loud." onâ€" treated the. old houseâ€"keeper; “she might hear you." “I don't care," cried Birdie. 'I don't like. her anyhow, and sh.) knows, it. \\'l‘.en Rex is around she, is as sweet as honey to me. and calls" me 'prctly little dear,‘ but when Rex isn‘t around she. scarcely notices me,and I hate herâ€"yes. I do." Birdie clinched her little. hands toâ€" gether venomously. crying out the words in a shrill scream. "Birdie," cried Mrs. Corliss, "you must. not say such hard, cruel things. I have heard you say. over and over again, you liked Mr. Hurlhurst, and you must remember Pluma is his daughter, and she is‘ to be your broâ€" ther‘s wife. You must learn to speak and think kindly of her." "I never shall like her," cried Birdie, defiantly. "and I am sure Mr. Hurl- hurst don’t.” "Birdie!" ejaculated the. good lady in a fright, dropping her scissors and spools: in consternation; "let me warn you not to talk so again; if Mists Pluma was to once hear you, you would have a sorry enough time of it all your af- ter life. \Vhat put it into your head Mr. Hurlhurst did not like his own daughter 'l" "0h, lots of things," answered Bir- die. "\\'hen I tell every one says she is, he groans, and says strange things about fatal beauty, which marred all his young life, and ever so many things I can't understand, and his face grows so hard and so stern I am almost afraid of him." To Be Continued. (- 4 ‘, 'r' . W FRIENDLY W'ARNING 1A popular doctor tells this story of a bright boy, his own, who has reach; eld the mature age of nine, after an early career marked by many wild and mischievous pranks. lHis restless nature has made him something of a torment ltO his teach- cr at times, and one afternoon not long ago she kept Ihim after the oth- ers were dismissed, and had a seri- ous talk with him. Perhaps she was a little afraid that her admonitions were falling on iitony ground. Any- way, she finally said: I certainly will have to ask your father to come and see me. lDon’t you do it, said the boy. i The teacher thought she had made an impression. Yes, she repeated, I must send for your father: You better not, \said the boy. RVhy not? inquired the teacher. 'Cause he charges $2 avisit. said the scamp. â€"-_.._._ A REGICIDE’S PUNISHMENT. The abolition of capital punishment has certainly in Italy given place to an alternative that might well act as a more powerful deterrent against the assassin‘s knife. What could be more appalling than the account of the prison at Bagno, to which the murderer of King Humbert has just been moved? The prison is a fearâ€" ful place. It is built on a steep rock jutting out into the sea, and gloomy walls that inclose the solitary cells are like those that shut in tombs. Only a small strip of sky can be seen through the skylight, rwhich is the only window of the cell, fast sealed as it is by iron-bound door and grille. Through this the sentinel watches the prisoner. Food is passed through the grille, but no word is ever exchanged with the prisoner, who is doomed for life to be silently watched in this ter- rible confinement, , v THEN HE HURRIED 1UP. [He was too modest to be a successâ€" ful lover, and the had let forty years of his life go by without ever coming to an emotional point. He was in love with‘ a fair being of suitable age, but ‘he would not tell her so, and though she knew it, she could not very well give 'him ahint on the situation. Sic was willing, because she had arrived at that time of life when a woman is not nearly so ‘hard to please as‘ she might have been at some oth- er time, but. he was stupid and went away without a word. He was gone a. long, long time, and when he came back he found her still ready. I have come back after many years, he said to her, as he took her hand in greeting. She had learned something in the years since she had seen him last. '\\'ell, for goodness' sake. Henry. she exclaimed fervidly, why don’t you take them? ’I‘m 33 now. How many more years do you want? Then a great light ishcne upon him, and he did not wait for any more. + London, whose population was not more than 1,500,000 when Queen Vic- toria came to the throne. has now as large an aggregation of human be- ings within its boundaries as the whole of Ireland. him he w pretty‘ A MESSAGE 0F HOPE TO THE WEAK _ AND DEPRESSED. .l Grilcrul “'cmnu'l‘ells of Her Release Froln the Agoules That Aime! ller Sex After Tin-co Doctors Had trailer! to Help Her. The amount of suffering borne by women throughout the country. can never be estimated. Silently, almost hopelessly, they endure from day to day afflictions that can only fall to the lot; of women. The following story of the suffering and release of Mrs. Charles) lIoeg. of Southampton, N.S., ought to bring hope and health and happiness to other sufferers. Mrs. Hocg sayszâ€"“I’m‘ nine out of the thirtyâ€"two years of my life I have" suffered as no woman, unless she has been similarly afflicted, can imagine I could suffer and yet have lived. Three weeks out of four Iwould be unable to move about and, indeed, at no time was really fit to attend to my household duties; I consulted physi- ciansâ€"three of the most skilful doc- tors in the county of Cumberland at different times had charge of my, case. These all agreed in their diag- nosis‘, but the treatment varied, and while at times I would experience some relief, at no time was there any hope given me of a permanent cure. Many a night when I went to bed I would have been glad if death had come before morning. I never had much faith in proprietary medicines, but at one time Itook a half dozen bottles of a bloodâ€"making compound that was highly recommended. This, like anything else, failed to help me, There seemed to be not a particle of blood in my body. My face was ob- solutely colorless, and my appetite almost entirely deserted me. I often saw in the newspapers letters testifying to the merits] of Dr. “'illiams' Pink Pills‘, but nine years of suffering and discourage- ment had made me too sceptical to see any hope of relief, when doctors had failed to effect a cure. But at lastI came across the story of a cure near homeâ€"that of Mr. Moses Boss, of Rodney. I knew that at one time he had been regarded as a hope- less consumptive, and his cure through Dr. M‘illiarns' Pink I’illt', de- termined me to try them. I had not taken two boxes before I began to feel better, and grew confident of a cure. I kept on taking the pills, all the time feeling new blood in my veins, activity returning to my limbs, and the feeling of depression graduâ€" ally wearing away. To many women it may seem incredible that the mere making of new blood in my veins could restore to a healthy condition misplaced internal orga‘s', but this has been my happy experience: My pains have all left me, and I am now: as healthy a. woman as there is in this place. This“, health I owe to Dr. \Villiams' Pink Pills, which have res- cued mc from a life of suffering, if not from the grave." Dr. \Villiams' Pink Pills are especi- ally valuable to women. They build up the blood, restore the nerves, and eradicate those troubles which make the lives of so many women, old and young, a burden. Palpitation of the heart, nervous headache and nervous prostration speedily yield to this wonderful medicine. These pills are sold only in boxes), the trade mark and wrapper printed in red ink, at 50 cents a box, or six boxes for $2.50, and may be had of druggists, or direct by mail from Dr. \Villiams' Medicine Company, Brockvillc, Ont. . *4... INFORMATION W ANTED. A man who contemplated buying a bicycle wrote this letter to a manu- facturer says an exchange: My nef- few but hisself a new bissicklc and sent me his old one by fratc, and I‘ve learned to ride HUlllP. It‘s a pile of fun, but my bissickle jolts consider- able. A fuller cum along day before yesterday with a bissirzkle that had hollerâ€"injun rubber tires stuffed with wind. He let. me try hissen, and mi, it run like a kushen. He told me you Sell injun rubber just the same as hissen. Mine is all iron wheels. Do you punch the holler hole, through the injun rubber oer will I have to do it myself? How do you stick the ends together after you get it done. If your injun rubber is all ready will it come any cheaper empty? I can get all the wind I want hare. _+__ There is a curious little anecdote told of Victoria when about 12 years of age. It. was on the occasion of a. visit to “'entworth Hon-'0, the seat of Earl- 1"it7.willi:im. One morning after a rainy night she was running about the grounds. when an old gardener who saw her about to de- scend a sloping piece of lawn called (mt, “Be careful, Miss, Its slaps!" “What’sslape?” said the Princess. and the next moment measured her full length on the damp gras". The old gardener hastened to help her up and remarked, "That's slape, MLss."