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“I beg your pardon! But could you help it? Hawksloy! Why, he has more than one Log in the grave, and is as false as one of the models at Madam Tussaud’s‘; His wig and teeth and enameled complexion used to be the joke when I first came to town! And he proposed to you 1 Of course. you gave him a speedy answer, Blanche?” “Don’t, then; tell mo toâ€" morrow,” he said, gravely, and alâ€" most, so Floris fancied, with an air of relief. Lady Blanche sighed. “No, I must tell you now, Bruce I Tovmorrow may be too late I” and she glanced up at; him piteously. “Bruce, Lord Hawksley called this afternoon. I was out, here, at the fair, but he came to dinner and -â€"-he came to see me!” Lord Norman did not. start, but he looked surprised and indignant. “He did i” Then he laughed, and at the laugh Lady Blanche’s faca went deathly white, as if he had struck her. Floris, trying not to listen, heard every word, saw the upward glance, heard the tender, pleading little sigh, and appreciated them as on- ly a, woman could. “What have you been doing, Blanche? Overdrawing your ac- count? Laming my lord’s favorite mare? Or what?” “Ah, if it were only a little trouble like that, Bruce, I could laugh at It as easily as you doâ€"â€"-â€"” “I wasn’t laughing, Blanche.” “Bub~â€"but this a greater one“ Bruce, I find it hard to tell youâ€"~" Her voice sank, and her hand closed nervously on his arm. “Did he?” He remarked, careâ€" lessly. “What did the 01d ante~ diluvian want?” “Bruce I” in a, low, thrilling tone. “He came to ask me to be his w1fe.” “Forgive me, Blanche. But Hawksley! Why, great heavens, he is as old as Mothusalehl Why, he was an old man when I was a. boy! He must be eightyâ€"more I” “And you laugh!” murmured Lady Blanche between her closed lips. r He was silent a moment, during which Floris, with an aching at her heart, expected to see him put his arm round the slim waist. and draw the beautiful woman to him with murmured wards of endearment! But instead, he said with a half smile: Surely not even Lord Norman could withstand them! it. “He might have been of your grandfather’s,” retortde Lord Nor» man. “Andâ€"and»â€"” “He is the richest; and best parti in London. I know .all that, Blanche, but, all the same, I don’t suppose you said anything but 1N0.) J) “No, Bruce. Iâ€"Lord Hawksley is an old friend of my fathey’s.” Floris could see that she was try- ing him; (my one but a man would have understood the trap she was setting for him, but, Lord Norman was a man and altogether unconâ€" scious. Floris heart beat fast. How would it end ‘3 Would the beautiful siren, with her piteaus tale, win the day? “No, Bruce,” she faltered. “Oh, don’t be angry with me! You don’t understand how we worn-en are placed l” “No, I don’t,” he reborted “But I do understand that when a girl is asked by a. man who is old enough to be her grandfather, to be his wife, that the sooner she sends him about his busines the better.” "Ah, it is so easy for you to say that i” she murmured. “You are a man, and your master? You can pick and choose where you will 1 But I am a woman, Bruce, and am not my own mlstress. .Zruce, my father really wuhes me to marry!” “He is anxious that I should marry, Bruce, and Lord Hawkslcy is an old friend of his! And-and â€"â€"there is no one else.” Now, thought; Floris, he will take bar in his arms and bell hm that “n.3, my V, , “But noL Lord Hawkslcy?“ he said. She glanced up at him, and open- ed and shut her fun again. She dpened her fan and looked at Fighting Life’s Battle; CHAPTER IX.â€"â€"(Cont’d.) 0R, LADY BLANCHE’S BITTER PUNISHMENT ‘ HFlOrlS saw him start, saw him turn pale. Was he angry with Lady Betty for interrupting them? Why should he not? A f-ew monthsâ€"a few weeksâ€"ago he was quite ready; was on the verge of doing so. Why should he not now? She was supremely beautiful, of high rankwhis equal~a peerless creaâ€" ture, fit to adorn a court! 'Great heavens, what more, or higher, dld he need to expect? He asked himself the question, half angrilyâ€"impatient with himâ€"‘ selfâ€"inwardly raging at; his want of firmness, at his incapacity of forcing himself to do it. Then, suppressing his angry air, he did turn to her and say: “Blancheâ€"â€"” But before you could get any further, before the glad, expectant light had scare-er time to come to her eyes, a voiceâ€"«'1, clear, thin voice, the unmistakable treble of Lady Bettyâ€"chimed in between them. “1‘101'is1 Floris, my dear; where are you?" , , . ~ . v” . y As if the» name “Floris” had fallen from the lips of his guardian angel, Lord Norman stopped short, and, with a sudden start, turned toward her. “Blanche here am I! Will you choose me 2” And what on earth should she, Floris do? She could not possibly come out now ! lnwardly (chafing at her situation, she had borne it, best she could, and she must bear it. a little longer. "That’s nonsense, Blanche! There. are a dozen some one else! 1 could count up a dozen men who are head over heels, dying in love, and any one of whom would go half out of their mind with delight if you threw the handkerchief to them l” She crimsoned, then turned pale. “But~but Bruce! I don’t care for any one of them,” she murmurâ€" ed. “And certainly you don’t care for old Hawkslcy!” he said, quickly. “So why ."hoosc him?” “He is my father’s choice, not mine!” she said turning her head away. “Oh, Bruce! Here you are How do you do my dear Blanch-07’ The two women shook hands coldA ly, and if a glance from one woâ€" man’s eyes could kill another, then Lady Blanche’s would have slain Lady Betty on the, spot. “So provoking!” said Lady Betty. “I’ve lost, Miss Carlisle! I‘ve been looking for her every» where. Of course it doesn't matter But Lord Norman did nothing of the kind. â€"-I mean I don’t suppose she has disappeared for good, but all the men she has promised dances to are bothering me abouh her.” there is some one else, that there 1s Lord Norman! “I dida‘t know Miss Carlisle was here,” said Lord Norman. and his voice seemed suddenly Vlightened. Lady Blanche loaned upon his arm, with a, silent, haughtin preâ€" occupied air, as if the absolute murâ€" d-er of Miss Carlisle‘ could not affect her. “Oh, yes, she is here; and has. made quite a, success!” said Lady Betty, glancing with pretty spite- fulness at Lady Blanche. “That is just it! Another girl would not he missed, but the men are plaguing my life out, and 1 must- find her." “She cannot be far off,” he said, looking round. Floris drew still closer under her ambush. “She was dancing with Bertie, and I think they waikod off in this direction. Good gracious! I never thought of! You know how dread fully reckless Bertie is! Do you think he can have persuaded her to â€"â€"â€"to go off with him anywhere ‘2” “Where did you see her last, Betty 2” “Nonsense. I” said Lord Bruce, 211â€" morc fiercely. “Where can they go Q" Lord Norman's face darkenvd. “I think I should like to go into the room again, Bruce; this place strikes me rather chilly, does it not?" murmuer Lady Blanche, with haughty languor‘ He started. "I dwn‘t know,” said Lady Deny, with Chill‘ilCtCI‘iSliU \'agu(‘i']oss_ “He has certainly disappeared also 1” “But, gracious mc‘ 0mx doesn‘t, come to a ball to sit in a. conservaâ€" tm-y I" exclaimed Lady Betty, romonstrating1y. “I have danced 1L great deal to- night. Please Let me stay!” she pleaded, feeling that she would do anything rather than whirl round the garish room after all that had happened between poor Bertie and her. “Oh, very well, my dear. Well, stay here for half an hour, an dthen I’ll come for you. You do look pale and tired, and it has been a hard day. It is beautifully quiet- lmw, certainly. I’ll come back in half an hour. “Ah, well, come back now, dear, will you? The man you have promised are going about in the most wretched state of mindâ€"â€"” “I don’t think I will dance again toâ€"niglit, Lady Pendleton,” said Floris, quietly, “I have rather a headache, and I would like to stay hereâ€"M” “Thank you,” said Floris, grate- fully, and she went back to her secluded corner. Lady Betty looked at her rather curiously. H There she sat for some moments, wondering whether Lady Blanche had gained her Victory, 01‘ Whether Lord Norman had not yet said the words which would make him hers And why, $110 asked herself, angrily, should she. trouble herself about; Lord Norman and Lady Blanche! What could it posihly matter to her whether Lady Blanche won or lost him! Vl'ith an impatient ges» Lure she picked up her fan, resolved to go back into the ballroom and waltz Lord Norman out of her thoughts, when suddenly she heard his step-she knew it so well a1â€" mady*close beside her, and the next moment he put aside the fern leaves and was looking down at her. There was a. look of. glad surprise in his face, a flash of light, in his eyes, as the! rested on her, that went straight to Floris’ heart, so that, instead of looking up at him with cold, haughty indifference, her eyes dropped with a strange heaviâ€" ness ,and flinched before him. “Eh? Oh, yes! Cortairfly. Look in the anterooms, Betty,” he said, over his shoulder, as he led Lady Blanche away. They had no sooner got clear away than Floris stepped from her nook so suddenly as to make Lady Betty jump. “Good gracious, my dear] You nearly frightened me out of my life! In your white dress you look like a ghost!” “I might say like the burglar who was discovered underneath the bed by the lady; I don’t see why I should frighten you, seeing that, you have been looking for me so longl” said Floris, with a very quiet smile. Lady Betty laughed. “Now that is just like you! In- stead of apologizing for all the trouble you have given me, you make me laugh l” “1 am very sorry,” said Floris. “So you might be, my dear. But what are you doing here? And where is Bertie?y “Yes, but Lord Cliffordo left me some time ago,” said Floris, struggling hard to keep the color from her face. “I was resting," said Floris; “and it was so qulet and cool that I remained longer than I expect- ed.” “And Bertieahe was with you, wasn’t he?” asked Lady Betty. “At last!” ha said, in a low voice. “Where have you been hidâ€" ing? or rather, seeing that you are hem, why have you been hiding, Miss Carlislel” “I have not been hiding,” she answered, trying to speak coldly. "I have been resting here.” “I have been looking for you all over the place,” he said, the happy lightness of his voioo contrasting strangely with the grimnes of a few minutes ago “I am sorry. I will go back now,” she sald, rislng. a... ., “Oh! but is that fair?” he said, expostulatingly. “Just as I have found you, and in such a delicious little nook, you want to leave it. Please forget that though you are rested, I am not. You don’t know how many miles I have walked in search of you 1” AS he spoke she felt rather than saw the dark eyes traveling over hvr; felt rather than saw the in- tense admiration he bestowed upon “You shall not do that I” he said, with a sigh; “if you will go. But. will you not stay {Wokâ€"only five minutes longer? You looked quite contented, and as if you meant growing here, until I came up. 1 am afraid I disturde you. Perhaps her “There is no reason Why you should not remain, Lord Norman," 5110 said. gathering up the trail of 1.191” drvss; “I can find my way back 1110 7Tb? H+‘¥+++++§§§§f#f§f*f¢ff “What a. delightful retran you have discovered,” he said, slowly. “No wonder you were reluctant b0 leave it! And yet you have made a. ‘succcss,’ as Lady BMLy would say. Do you know that your absenoe is causing quite a. commoâ€" tion among the dancing men?" Floris smiled. “They can easily be consoled, my lord,” she said. Rut yOu reâ€" mind me of my broken engagements; I will go and save sumo Of them.” Floris started and looked up at him with a sudden glance 0f ahu'm ; but he was flaring moodin at, the floor and did not even see it. (To be continued.) There was silence for (L moment, then, lookmg down on the ground, he sand: “I am glad that I have found you here; it gives me an opportunity of suymg goodiw I” This disease is iraiismissabl; from one cow to another. The first symptoms is a very slight, fever, which is very often overlookwl until‘ the disease has sommvhat further developed, the first notice~ able Sign being tender teats. Upon examining the teats it, will be found that there is 21 [nor in same, when at the end of the secâ€" ond or third day, small pale rod patches appear which increase. in size until they may be an inch in diameter. “Nof yet," he said, curtly. “My five minutes are not up yet, But I will release you, if you give me the In III‘XL dance: £¢:G¢-0+++++++4§+§0+0+++t COW BOX. From th-c seventh to the tenth day those eruptions form into blisters. The blister is divided inâ€" to several pockets and each pocket must be opt/rind separately in orâ€" der to relicre them of the contents which have accumulated therein. An animal thus afflicted gives 11 (increased flow of milk and is caus~ (rd to suffer intensely owing to the fact that the scabs are cracked and broken open by the hands of the milker. I had better go!" and he let the ferns fall from his hand. Floris did not speak. “Then I may stay 1” he said, and taking her silence as an affirmative, he sat down on a clump of rustic work at; her elbow, and looke :1 down at her. Floris’ heart beat fast. She rackâ€" ed her brain for some Ccmmom place remark to hide h-e confusion, and to make him' think that his presence was of no consequence to hm‘; but she could find nothingâ€"â€" nothing~t0 say. “My card is full,” she sail, firmlv. "Then I will take the remainder of my time,” he l‘ctiOI‘tC‘d. To overcome this difficulty the animal should be given a tonic to tone up the blood and system in general. The teats and udder should be thoroughly cleansed with an anti-septic after which a healing ointment should be apâ€" pliodrâ€"Dr. David Roberts. Failure to breed is oftentimes termed barreness in cows (11' heifers and is usually due to one of three causes, namely, an acid secretion of the genital organs, the. germs of contagious abortion; or retention of the afterbirth. He was silent for some minutes, then he looked round. The acid secretion of the genital organs prevents ccnception by deâ€" stroying the) semen of the male; the germs of contagious abortion sets up a catarrhal inflammation and discharge which also prevents conception; retention of the aft-crâ€" birth, Whether it be removed by force or permitted to slough away usually leures the womb in a. dis- eased and catarrahal condition, effecting a discharge. The discharge irritates and scalds the mouth of the womb heals and it is impossible to make a. cow broed without mechanical jute)" ference, such as insortlng into the, mouth of the womb a womb sound then following same with a womb dilator at the time that the animal is in heat. In this way a large pm‘ cent, of ban-en cows :an be mad-e to breed that; would othcrmsc have to be sacrificed on the butcher‘s block. It is advisahlc to give all valuable cows an opportunity to brood. It is :1 gnod plan never to Limo a healthy barge. All he nerds is Mam” the Farm FAILURE TO BREED LIVE STOCK NOTES There is. a good field for any in- telligent man to make a gond liv- ing; out of some one certain branch of farming. such as poultry raisâ€" ing, specializing on some branch of gardening. or, perhaps, a, small dairy, with the additinn of some hog?» There is a good field for making money out Of berries of difâ€" ferent kinds, and the cost of pro-l dilution is not. great. Of course, this kind of farming will require the help of several hands just at gathering time, but, outside of that, there will not be very much but what one man can do on a. small farm. Writer (‘matrimls (‘zar with Kaiser “'illmlm. In an article in the Loud-on Ex- pr-css‘ a writer signing himself “A Russian Diplomat,” gives a View zit close rarge of the Czar of All the Russias. Contrasting him with Kaiser Wilhelm, the writer :M To the world the Kaiser’s perâ€" sonality is familiar. There are twa kinds of men who may occupy thrones and be happy. The first are the tactful, admirably informed, kni<l~hearted diplomats, of whom King Edward is the typical exam- ple. The second are the masterful, determined, able HIGH. stubborn, tireless, with unconquerable self- (ionfidence. Alexander 1.11., the Czar’s father, was such a man. The Kaiser is another. Nicholas II. is a man of another type. When he was called to his high office by the death of his faâ€" ther, in 1894, he was twenty-six, inexperienced and (I say it with all respect) appalled by the load thrown upon his shoulders. Great as were the difficulties then, they have become greater with every year. \Var, defeat, intrigue, conâ€" spiracy, revolution, a nation in the melting pot, a people rushing hith- (‘-1‘ and thither in pursuit of they know not what. Those who have. not observed closely may, perhaps. he unaware of of the fact that tha white-faced hornet is the worst, enemy of the horse fly. Also, the smaller flies that, worry horws and cattle go in- to the diet of this friend of the farmer. Better explain this to the boys and ask them not to destroy the nests of these valuable and peaceful (,olubor It has been said that no man was ever less eager to be an Emperor than the present Czar of all the Russias, but, having been raised by destiny to exalted responsibility" hef has never wavered in his deberminaâ€"E tion to do his duty as he under-f stands it, and, in so far as it lies with him, to work for the best in-g terasts of his country and his peo- p19 In appearance the Czar is the very antithesis of his herculean fa- thcrishort, oddly like the Prince of Wales, with rather sad eyes. His face is the ind-ext of his character. He is intellectually alert, widely sympathetic, almost phenomenally industrious, and for all his instinc- tive, shy timidity, persistent and determined. good care and good feed. The good care! includ‘es, of coursex, regular exercise. It is just as Dad for a: horse to be all the time takingl medicine as it is for a man. Experience horse own-an appreci- ate the value of handling, loading and controlling the foals from an early age, while others have the handling of colts to the day when breaking is commenced. A moment's consideration will Show which is the better course. In the one case confidence has long been established between horse and man. The horse, while recognizing that he must submit to control, knows that the new experience-s which come his way are not, likely to do him any harm. 1n the other case, the horse knows nothing. His natural tendency is to regard any measures taken for his control as so many elements of danger to he avoided as far as possible, and to he resisted strenuously. “Bridget.” said the mistress of the house, “some of the bedcloth- ing is missing. Was any of it left on the line?” “O mamma,” cried little Willie, “Bridget dnesn’t know anything about it. I know where it, is. Papa’s got it.” “What do you mean, child '2” “Well. mamma, I heard some of the neighbors saying this morning that. they saw pupa last night with three sheets in the wind.” For young ducks place fine, clean grit, into the drinking water, and they love to fish it out. Then, when mixing a large quantity of bran and cornmeal together, add about 30 per cent, of fine sharp sand, and sprinkle a liberal quantity over it, after it is made into a mash‘ They are fed five times a (lay at first. (VA?! 01'" ALL- THE RETSSIAS. FARM NOTES. PAPA KNEW.