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"But, you must, Caryl. You won’t ’l‘efu‘se to help an old friend out of a‘ 'scrape, now, will you?” "Do'n’t talk in that pathetic way. Algy, Or you will make me weep. I cannot go down, and it will only rend my heart, to persist in refusing you. If‘ I- were here it would be difâ€" ferent, you know; but being away, I must refuse to do anything so utter- ly impossible." "But Carylm" I '_’But, Algy, think of What you or doing Why don’t you consider that this Juliet?” "Miss Hartleigli,‘ Sir Richard’s daughter.’ ’ ' "Didn’t know he had such a thing.” ' “Oh, it’s a long story; but she’s beautiful, and I am certain she can act.” . He opened the door, and as he did so a burst of applause came floating up the hall. He turned eagerly to Caryl: "Did you hear that? ’The Hunchâ€" back’ is being done now." - CHAPTERSâ€"Guy Hartleigh leaves England to find his long lost cousin in San Francisco. Mania. Carring~ ford, an actress in that city, is pes- tered by genteel loafers amongst whom is Caryl Wilton who proposes and is rejected. She learns the story of her mother’s betrayal by (Sir Richard Hartleigh. Sir Richâ€" urd’s child, Constance. whom Guy is seeking, dies, and Maida. im- personates her and is tak- en to IIartleigh Hall, where she be- comes the idol of the household. A fete is given in her honor at, Vyner Castle during which it is suggested that, she take part in some amateur theatricals. Mildred Thorpe, an un- employed American girl in London is exhausted by her fruitless eflorts to obtain work. After securing en- gagement as country church organ- ist she is about to faint when she is assisted by Carl Wilton who is struck assisted by Caryl Wilton who is s’cruck by her likeness to Maida. Car- ringford. i'Simmons told me you were here. I never was so gland in my life to see .you. You are' coming down, of course.” ‘ -’ “Tired? Algy, you don’t know the meaning of the word. I am so tired that if you were to oITer me a handâ€" ful of diamonds for every step toâ€" ward the door, I wouldn’t; be able to stir a step. Go, Algyâ€"leave me to my fate. You are very kind, but it must not be. Farewell! Do not let me detain you. You must be needed down stairs.” “But, Caryl, I Want you awfully; you must come down, and»? "I told Monsieur Pm‘terre that it was for you,” he said "and he took especial pains. I hope it will be to your satisfaction.” "Come in,” he called, with a sort of irritation at being disturbed again. Lord Algy, panting from his unâ€" usual 'exertion, hastened across the room to his side, holding out his hand and crying: "Is it really you, Caryl?” "Hello, Algy, old man! How are you? Who the deuce betrayed me?” “Never!” answered Caryl, with a mock tragic air. "I am not here, and I cannot come down.” Mrs. Parker had not been gone long when Francois, followed by Dawkins, returned. As an indication of the extreme respect in which the latter bore Mr. Wilton, he carried with his own hands a. tray on which was ar- ranged a dainty little dinner. “Thank you, Dawkins. And now, if you will renew your promise not to reveal the fact of my presence, I shall eat and sleep in happiness." Dawkins promised and Went his way, while Caryl sat down and be- gan to enjoy his dinner with an easy mind. His horror of private" thea- tricals was not at all feigned, though his expression of his feeling was somewhat exaggerated. Still he was really overjoyed at the thought of having escaped the boredom of having to sit through a dreary perâ€" formance such as his experience had taught, him was likely to be given. As soon as Francois was gone Caryl truned again to his dimfir, but with a distaste for it now; for when he consciously set himself to think of Maida Carringford, he felt himself bound 'to check the tendency and to do that put him out of tune with himself and everything else. He threw himself back in his chair. pushed the table from him and lightâ€" ed a cigar. .A hurried rap fell upon the‘ door. "Nothing of the sort. I had no business to come Without giving you warning, and so I am going to do pennance by going to bed as soon as I finish this cigar. Now, don’t say a. word. I am determined to deny myself the pleasure. As a matter of fact, I am not here at all; I am on my way and shall not arrive until tomorrow morning." He ate his meal with a languid satisfaction, thinking dreamin the while of the adventure he had had in the park that morning, and from that passing to the far West of the American continent, and going over again the details of his meeting with that fair creature who had spurned his suit so scornfully, and whose imâ€" age he could not drive from his mind. He could not bear any sort of human companionship when he was in the midst of such thoughts, and he now turned to his valet and told him he might go (30an and look at the performance. taking care that no one who knew him should see him and so betray the presence of his master there. "What nonsense?!” answered Algy, laughing. “What, does it matter? ’ I say, Caryl, are you very tired?” ' Secret 000000000 6oOoooooo 0000000 000009. 006.000 ~o o.eq.«.oo.u.o¢.« O0..0.90.0..0..00..0.0...0.09.“'N.O0.0Q.Q¢.O 9,00.99.06“?o.».”.¢0.«.«.«.¢6:06.».60‘40.u.n.«.«39.v OOQOOQOOOOOOOOO OOO.”.N.~.N'O0.00'”."‘90.«.Q0.0 ‘00.... . SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTER XII.-â€"Continued. Maida’s “No, Algy; I will be more merciful sthan you. I will not do this thing. ‘Away, away! I would sleep. As'k |me anything in "the morning.” “What a stroke of luck it Was that you came here so opportunely. Now, we will have a Romeoâ€"a Romeo fit for the Juliet. I am crazy to see you two together." “For gooaness’ sake, Algy, who is this Juliet?” I am not here in the first place, and if I were here I would be too tired, too weary to move. Now, Algy be a nice boy, and go away.” _ “Well, if you must spend the night with me, sit down and have the ap- pearance of being comfortable Take a. cigar. No? 011, I forgot; you don’t smoke. Glad of it, Algy, for it is a. bad habit.” "What! I take the part? Algy, my child, you are losing your head. Oh, how sleepy I am! Goodâ€"night, old'mah.” ‘K'Donft I know? As if I hadnever seen the projector of amateur thea- tricals before. I tell you, Algy, it is the usual retribution. I’ll tell you What to doâ€"turn-the Whole thing into a ball." "You‘knowJ can’t do that.” “Then make a. comedy of-it, and let it go on without Romeo. Tell the audience he was offered an en- gagement by a rival manfiger. That is a. grand idea. ‘Do it, Algy.” “She is the Juliet. And a lovelier Juliet never Walked the boards. You will be inspired only to look at her. I say, you do know thé lines, don’t you?” “Now, see here Caryl; I amrin real distress, and only you can help me. It is positively unkind of you to chaff me like this When 1 Want your serious attention." “Well, go ahead,” sighed Caryl. “Now, don’t say it like that. Do be a. good fellow, Caryl. You see I am in a bad way about my play. One of my men has sprained his an- kle and can’t play.”- "Please don’t." I "An act of Providence," murmured Caryl. “Pleas? don't.” “I will try not to." "You know Manvilleâ€"Handsome Manville. He was to have been the Romeo. and now that he is laid up, there is nobody to take the part.” “The audience will be deeply disap- pointed if the play doesn’t come off. And that is Why 1 have come to you. I want you to take the part.” n “'By Jove, mg, I am a. brute! I’ll not say another Word. I’ll do it. Take me doWn. Forgive me. old fel- low.” “I knew you would. You can’t be mean even if you try. Thanks. I’ll have the make-up sent with Winkle- man. You won’t have, a thing to do. He will _do everything. And she will be so glad! Or, anyhow, 1. shall be glad for her sake. You’ll hurry, won’t you?” “You said I did yourself, only four minutes ago by the watch. and now you ask me to commit» myself."_ 7"Yeâ€"es, I guess so. But, really, I think I ought, in Common humanity to say that I forgetfj "1 czin’t go â€"awa ’ Gary“, y Wlthout you, "The audience, in their gratitude, ought to present, him with a. silver cup as a, token of their joy at the_ deliverance.’ ’ “You must play Romeo,” repeated Algy, eagerly and coaxingly. “I know you can do it. I've seen you act. Do you remember you did it at Lady Mainwaring’s two years ago? You. played Romeo there, don’t you remember?” “I was not as conscientious two years ago. I would not do murder, even on :1 Romeo now. Good- night." His bantering words and evident determination not to be noved, drove poor Algy to despair. He would not try any more, but, with a; really sorâ€" rowful uir, turned and walked toâ€" ward the door. His grief was so real that even Caryl, who was very fond of the invalid boy, was moved by it. "I say, Algy,” he cried, "don’t go away looking like that. You’ll make me feel as though 1 had done a hein- ous thing." “Please don’t Caryl. It is nothing to ‘you, but, it is everything to me. My life is not quite as full of events as yours. I suppose I am childish.” "(idod gracious, Algy! Who is she and what relation does she bear to this dreadful matter?” "Well, but you (10,7110W don’t you?” Caryl yawned behind his hand, and stretched with every indication of extreme drmvsiness. “And I know you have not forgot- ten the lines. I know what a me- mory you have. Come, Caryl." "If yoil only knew the fix I was By the Author of..." u A flipsy's Daughter," " Another Plan’s Wile," " A {Heart’s Bitterness." Etg" Etc. It was time for the curtain to rise, and the actors were only waiting for the return of Lord Algy. "I‘he scene on which Lord Algy had spent. so ' In her readiness to serve Lord Algy,.who, she knew, was feeling desperately about the mishap to 1Romeo, Maida had involuntarily un- jdertaken the role of stage manager, and had Worked with such intelliâ€" gence that .every one had readily ‘obeyed ,her.~ And for the nonoe Lady ‘Gladys forgot all about her paltry envy, and was really grateful for the ‘advice and help which were so freely ‘given her. Down the stairs they Went togethâ€" er, and Algy did not know whether to be offended or to laugh at the de- spairing remarks of his new~lound Romeo on the subject of amateur theatricals in general and of this 9110 in particular. As it was easier to laugh, he did that; and so they went toward the greenâ€"room, the one full of gibe’s and the other laughing. Was there no premonition on either side of the greenâ€"room'door of What was going to happen? me. I have carried the thing through so far, and it Won’t come to much harm it I do the rest." Algy Waited until the toilet was complate, and then, looking “at his watch, declared there was no time to lose. “Then let; us to the breach, dear f1'iend,”said Caryl, with a. suitable misquotation. "If the slaughter is ready for the lamb, the lamb is ready for the slaughter.” “Tha't’s it éXiLctlyâ€"being‘ done. And? we will do poor Romeo.” V l‘ "Good-by. That will do.‘ You may go now. Send up your man with his paints to beautify me. I will try to keep in the same mind While you are away." Algy hastened . down stairs and burst, into the green-room. All was bustle and stir: the last act, but one had just been fimshed. Lady Gladys stood in the centre of the room with flushed cheeks and flashing eyes. She had overcome her nervousness and played her best, and had been ap- plauded to the seventh heaven of deâ€" light. ’ Close beside her, arranging the flowers in her hair, stood Maida, a. placid smile pf admiration on her lovely face. 1' “How good youm‘e about it, Con- stance? Most women would have had a, tantrum, and refused to play at; all. But you don’t seem t'orhave any selfâ€"consciousiess about the matâ€" ter.” ' "0h, fie!” she answered, laughing- ly. "Do you think there is but one Way to flatter a woman, and that, by abusing the rest of her sex?” “But you are different." ’ “And you are tired_out. Do you sit ‘here and let me go superintend the last act. I fancy you can trust Lord Algywatched her as she gave directions in her composed way, and admitted that’hc could only spoil things by interfering. “By Jove!” he muttered; “she goes about it as if she knew the Whole play as well as her own. But I must go back to Caryl, or he may play me a trick yet.” He had already sent the famous Winkleman up with the costume and the cosmetics and paints, and when he entered the room he still found Caryl still keeping up his Whimsical complaints, but submitting to‘ the operations of the makeâ€"up man with a good grape. "Oh, I know What you want. You are fishing for compliments. Well, you deserve them. You are the beSt Romeo on the amateur stage I know. The audience will go wild over you.” “Did I really do it passably?” in- quired Lady Gladys, eager for mdre and yet more complimgnfts: "Tell me,” she said, hurriedly. “You seem to know all about it, though I don’t. know Why. Is there nothing I can alterâ€"nothing? Do tell me if there is." “Then it won’t make any dif- ference. I know his lines anyhow, so that if he should be a little rusty 1 can prompt him,” - ‘ ‘Beautifully! Admirably! ” mured the group, like a chorus, which Maida’s clear, bellâ€"like rose low and distinct. “You played remarkably well," she said, with genuine admiration. "I have never seen an amateur play it better. Rest a while. Go away from her please. Remember this is the trying act.” 1- “It’s all right. Such a. chance. A Romeo almost. worthy of our Jul- iet." >He smiled at Maida, who had turned to him with a look of inquiry .the moment he entered the rdogn. “He will be down in time for the play. Are you disturbed at the idea. of having to go on with a new Rom- eo, Constance?" She sat down on a bench and he took a Seat by her side. He was so flushed with excitement that she looked anxiously at him and fanned him gently with her fan. “Yes, hé plays it W611. I Hon't know but he is as good as any pro- fessionul.” “There is one thing,” she‘said. "You should not turn so much to- ward the audience when you are speaking to the other characters. Forget all about them when before the footlights.” “Oh, but that is not, so easy. You wait until you go on and you will see. The sight (it all those faces looking at one is enough to take anybody’s wits away. They fascin- ate me, and I must look at them.” "N6,_" she answered, composedly; “I fancy we shall manage §omehow. Egg-as played ithe part, you say?” Maida smiled at the eager tone, and answered: It was at this point that Lord Al- gy Purst into the room, crying: CHAPTER XIII . murâ€" irom voice Suddenly, as the orchestra began playing that vague, never-ending kind of music which they are able to leave of! at q moment’s notice, the door opened and Lord Algy came in. 7 “And here I am jilst in ‘timo and here is my Romeo.” To be Continued. You can’t crush an egg Wheri plac- ed lengthwise between your handsâ€"- that is, if the egg is sound and has the ordinary shell or a. hell’s egg. You can’t break a. match if the match is laid across the nail of the middle finger of your hand and press- ed upon by the first and third fin- gers of-the same hand, though it may seem easy at first sight. Near Wakefield, in Yorkshire, Engâ€" land, a. most comfortable cottage has been made, so far as the Walls al;e'concerned, of a. number oLgreat drainâ€"pipes left by a contractor for years, Whilst the'roof consists of the refuse of an oilcloth factory. There are in England alone half a. dozen cottages, not to speak of many sumâ€" mer houses, made wholly out of old preserved provisionâ€"cans. The house of a foreman “winder” of a, huge colliery near Barnsley contains five rooms, yét the whole of the outer Walls and roof are made of meat and other tins. THE ' GORDON COLLEGE AT , KHARTOUM. n “I don't think I am nervous, an- swered Maida. with a. faint smile, as it came over her what a. small thing it was to her' to have to face an audience. She bent her head over her bracelet, which had come un- done. Half a dozen eager hands flew to her assistance, and she was sur- rounded by tall figures in Florentine costumes of the finest materials; not cotton velvet and machine lace, such as would be found on the real stage, but silk pile and antique point; not paste jewels, but costly gems, dia- monds and rubies and emeralds, flashing on fingers and sword belts. It was a. strange scene, full of rich- ness and color; and its centre-piece the observed of all observers, the tall, graceful figure in white satin, her lovely face full of highâ€"born digâ€" nity, and yet supremely girlish and innocent. 7» ’ 7 7AM Aturned toward vfiim except Maida‘,”"x‘vho was talking to the Mer- cutio. You can’t stand at, the side of a room with both of your feet touch- ing the Wainscoting angth‘wise. The Work of civilizing the Soudan continues steadily, since the natives, freed from the necessity of self-deâ€" fence, are beginning to engage in the nobler artg of peace. The Sirdar, in; View of“the better sanitary confliâ€" tions obtainable at Khartoum, isefiâ€" couraging its trade rather than that of Omdurman, and it is probable that Khartoum will gradually beâ€" come the more important, city of the two. Our picture represents a group of men engaged in theancient art of brick-making. .Men undertake the actual manufacture, but women, as is usual in the East, perform the humbler duty,-carrying the bricks Those who stood looking at her, enjoying the beauty of the picture, marvelled at the intense calm of the girl, who, while the hearts of the rest beat against their satin and velvet covered sides, stood Waiting for thé callâ€"boy’s summons. “We are only waiting for you, Lord Algy,” said some one, as the group swayed to and fro. _ You can’t get out. of a. chair with- out bending your body forward or putting your feet, under itâ€"that 'is,‘ if you are sitting squarely on the chair and not, on the edge of it. You can’t stand for five minutes Without moving if you are blind- folded. . much of his” time and of his uncle's! money was set, and the audience; having refreshed itself at, the lunch bars which Lord Algy had set up for , its benefit, was eagerly waiting for‘ the next play, for.which they ’ had; been prepared to expect great 1;hings_1 from the encomiums of the duke up? on the new Juliet. Maida, who had retired to her dressing room after the close of the. other play, had come out again, and was now the centre of attraction. “Don’t you feel hervous?” asked Lady Gladys, eying her With a. smile of mingled admiration and envy. "I feel as though I had been through a. fiery ordeal." ' THINGS YOU CAN’T no. CURIOUS COTTAGES. Native Helpers in the Work of 'B'uilding > the Gordofi‘ Memorial at Khartoum. i ' _ i Old Ladyâ€"Oh, I don't Want. that asort; of a horse. He holds his head 3 " i Dealerâ€"Eh? * 1 01d Ladyâ€"I like a. horse that holds (his nose close to the ground, so In lcan see Wyere he’s going, NOT LOOKING F012." A” STAR! GAZER. Dealerâ€"Here, madam, ‘is a horse, 1 can recommendâ€"sound, kindâ€"v- so in nine cases out of ten the officer sells the grain and puts the money into his own pocket, While the de- serving soldier, to Whom the rice would have meant a. good deal, has to go without. Germany and Switzerland produce over 2,000,000 glass eyes in a year; and a. Paris manufacturer, with a reputation for finer Work, some 300,- 000. They are made in the shape 01 a. hollow hemisphere, and the ut- most skill isArequh-ed in forming the pupil out of the colored glass. The great majority of artificial eyes are used by workmen,'especially in iron foundries, Where many eyes are put out by sparks. It is seldom that a woman has a glass eye. those” l That no man is a hero to his valet is a. truism that has come down through a. long line of French cynics; but Lord Ripon, exâ€"Viceroy of India, ‘had occasion to demonstrate that he at least'was appreciated by a faith- ful retainer. when made to'ytli‘e‘bricklayers. It is of special interest to know thafxth’é' group We illustrate are, engaged in building the Gordon Memorial Col: lege. It will be remembered: “that, when Lord Kitchener overcame the; dervishes a solemn memorial service. was held in the city Where Gordonj’ .fell, and it was then resolved that Khartoum should have a permanent memento of the man who gave his life in its service. At Lord Kitchen- er’s suggestion it was agreed that a. college for the education of the peo- ple to whom Gordon devoted himself would be the most appropriate monâ€" ument; the building is approaching_ completion, and should soon be the means of accomplishing much benefi- cent. work. ; ‘ Soon after his return' from Calcut- ta, _ and when the criticisms of his administration were particularly fierce, Lord Ripon was met. by a member of the Liberal party, who said to him, enthusiastically: I congratulate you on your cour- age and public spirit in pursuing so large minded and liberal a policy in the East. Lord Ripon smiled, as he replied: It is good of you to say such kind things of me; but to tell you the truth, I don’t believe there was any one in India, who really approved 01 my policy except, my old Scotch gar- dener. Rewards are seldom given for pro wcss on_ the battle-field in China, but when they are the most acceptable of them all, from the private sol- dier’s poin‘txflof View, is a. sack oi commanding officer of each regiment has power to give as many sacksrras rice, valued at three tacls. The are deserved, and at the Conclusion of eVery campaign he sends in a for midable bill to the Government 'for rice. No inquiries are made, nor are the names of the recipients asked for ONE ADMIRING CONSTITUEN'L‘ The world’s strangest railways an to be found principally in India,‘ America, ' Switzerland and Ireland. The Loup at"'Agony Point,” on the Darjeeling Railway, India; is thought to be the sharpest curve in the world ; while Mount Rigi, in“ Switzerland, has no fewer than three railways to its summit. When' the Jungfrau Railway is completed it will be the most remarkable .one in the world.‘ Its highest station will be 13,668 feet above seaâ€"level, an the cost of this line will be abou $2,000,000. 0f the American rail- ways the “strangest, is the. Cripple Creek, where the great‘ timber tres- tle over which the train has to pass in crossing a chasm, is' so curved that the line is made to tip inward« ly, and the sensation is terrible to the traveller on a fast train ;while in Ireland there is a. eurious single line railway at Listowel. SUPPLY OF GLA‘SS EYES. FOR CHINESE SOLDIERS . STRANGE RAILWAYS .