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“Josine,” she said at; last, “I am sure that you are ill. Why do on not tell your mistress and ask er to let you go to bed- I will tell her if you do not like to. Go and lie down this evening and rest.” 1 “Thank you, fiiss; thank you,” Jasine murmured. “You are al- yvays good and kind-â€"â€"J' As she did so she heard Lady Betty’s voice raised oomplainingly, and glancing in at the dressing- room saw Josine standing with the hair brush in her hand a little dis- tance from the table, her face pale and troublel, while Lady Betty was holding her head as if she had been suffering untold agonies. Floris closed the door and return- ed to her room. Every now and than the girl drew a. long breath and sighed; and once or twice Floris happening to glance up at) the glass, caught the black eyes fixed upon her with an expres- sion that was almost- one of abso- lute_ piizy. __ U 7317“? this e'veuning Josine’s manner attracted her attention very much ans] puzzled heyr‘ “That is what I should like to know!” answered Lady Betty. Here has Josine been tearing my hair out by handfuls for the last quar- ter of an hour! I don’t know what has come over her! She used to be so careful; and nowâ€"J declare she seems half idiotic! She doesn’t hear oneâ€"half the words I speak to her!” Floris wanted to ask if that was the letter Josine had lost, or if there was another for Lady Betty, but thought that she would reserve the inquiry for a. more fitting time, and went to her room and began to dress herself. “A; ithere was to be a dance that evening, she selecfied‘ 01_le of her Floris had accepted her assist- ance once or twice lately, and though she had never quite liked or believed in the girl, had, from pure good natpre, grpwn to 'tolerate her. Floris glanced at the dark face, and met an appealing, pathetic look from the black eyes. tiéétieét d;ésses, and before she ad got it on, Josine came softly in boibelp hprn “What is the matter?” asked Floris, gently. “Hem!” snanmd Lady Betty. “Yes, that is the sort of work you are best fitted for. I should apply for the next pastman’s situation that may be vapant.” “Why doesn’t she say so, then 2” reborted Lady Betty. “If she isn’t well why doesn't she go and lie down! But, she says she is quite well; that there is‘nothing the mat- ter with her! I have asked her a. dozen times in the course of toâ€" day I’f Josine crimsoned, then her face went pale again. “Thank you, miss," she said. “What letter V\ that ‘1" demand- ed Lady Betty. “A letter one of the servants ask- ed me to give to Lady Seymour, milgdi,” said Jesine, glibfiy. f‘Perhaps Josine is not well,” she smdifigenply. “Well, then, if you are not ill and are not in love, what is the matâ€" ter with you '1" demanded Lady Bet- ty. not unreasonably. “I am truly sorry, mila/diâ€"~â€"’ “Sorry! So am I, and sore, too !” snapped Lady Betty, plaintively. “There, try again, and for good- ness’ sake pay some attention to our work, or I shan’t have any air left!” Floris stood for a. moment look- ing at the gi_rl. _ l “Perhaps she is afraid that Lord Norman will tell Lady Betty about the letter, and her having made her way into the conservatory,” she thought; so, as she turned to leave the room, she said, to reassure her: “Oh, Josine, Lord Norman found the letter and gave it, to Lady Sey- mour. Is that what you are uneasy about ’1” josine glanced at Floris, lowered her eyes and heayed 1} fieqp sigh. “There!” exclaimed Lady Betty, “that is how she goes on! If she were not far boo wise, and too old" â€"the latter with a fittle vixenish flash at Josineâ€"“I should say she was in love.” W gher séemgd to have something on her mind, to judge by her pale face and the anxious look in her eyps. “Oh, miladi I” murmured the girl, but loqking at Floris all the timgz Fighting Life’s Battle; CHAPTER XIV.â€"(Cont’d) 0R, LADY BLANCHE’S BITTER PUNISHMENT a, little smile; “Ah, yes, miss, but it is always that you are good and kind to me, while Iâ€"Iâ€"â€"” She stopped and turned away, taking up a neat dress and carrying it to the wardrobe. “While you, what?" asked Floris. "No matter, miss. It is not I who should speak,” said Josine, shutting her lips tightly. “No, it is not I; a servant has no business with a. heart! Ah, no, she must, use her hands and her eyes, but her heartâ€"as it is not fitting that she have one.” . . ,. But for all her amusement she found time to glance at the other two now and then and when she did so, she noticed tl’nat Lady Blanche seemed more animated than usual, and that Lord Norman appeared amused and entertained also. His devotion to Lady Blanche, as the busybodies were styling it, was noticed by every one, and certain- ly, therefore, did not escape the keen eyes 9f Lady Befity. But Floris, though she missed him sorely, did not feel iniured or com- plain; and when Lady Betty made some remarks, she defended Lady Blanche and championed Lord Nor- man quite heroicqlly. “I don’t see why a girl should think that she has a right to monoâ€" polize a man because he happens to he engaged to her,” she said, with :: Eitfle finsh~hcr face had looked Floris felt a. little pang of disap- pointmeni, for she had‘ perhaps un< reasonably, expected to have him by her sidgeverypight at dinngr. But the disappointment passed in a. few minutes, for the old 10rd, de~ hghted at having the prettiest wo- man in Ballyfloe at his side, made himself very agreeable, and kept- Floris very much amused. nu: v v vuu. ‘fI don’t understand you in the least, Josine,” said Floris. half puzzled and half amused. “If you are in any trouble, why not confide in. Lady Pendleton? I am sure she will help you.” “II No, it is not I; and miladi cannot help. No one can help!” said Josine, almost tragically, but with an air of quiet dignity that imâ€" pressed Floris, though she tried to think lightly of the matter, put~ ting the whole thing down in French sentiment. All unconscious of the plot that was thickening, happily ignorant of the subtle net which was weaving to ensnare her, Floris went down to dinner as happy and lightheart~ ed as a girl who has no trouble and a handsome sweetheart can be. on youx; own account or on any one else’s; but you must not make your- self ill.” By some chance she fell to the arm of an elderly Scotch lord this evenâ€" ing, while Lady Blanche was con- signed to_ Mrqurman. “Wéh’fi am sorry if you are in trouble, Josine,” she said, “either “Thank you, miss’.” responded Josine, gratefully, and she knelt down and arranged the folds of Floris’ dress with a careful, one would almost have said, seeing her, a. lovipg atfiention. - v 1 “Oh, you beauty!” she murmur- ed rapturously. “You beauty! And there are more coming to keep you company! More and more! And money, too! Bah! what fools these grand ladies arql And all for love l Flori= took up her fan and went downstairs with Lady Betty, and Josine stole on tiptoe to the door, and watched them as they passed below her. “So! I am too old tc be in love, miladi, am I?” she muttered, be- tween her white teeth. “Perhaps, oh, yes, perhaps! But I am not too old to spoil the love-making of your sweet Miss Floris! I am wise enough ‘or that! Wait, miladi! Wait, angrl you shflll see !" . I u», m inkling of my meaning? These English are so dull! A French- woman would have known in a, mo- ment that I had something to tell her. But she! Oh, no! It was‘ ‘Josine, you must be ill!’ I shall have to sepak plainly, after all. Bah! It is as our friend in the wig says, ‘a. pretty little com-edy!’ ” o , , , , I wonder now,” she murmured, musmgly, “whether MISS Flons got Then she stole back to the room, and taking the ring Lady Blanche had given her, held it to the candleâ€" light. “Oh, nonsense,” said Floris, with CHAPTER XV. rather pale and joyless all the dayâ€"â€" “there will be plenty_ of monopoly ried.” “Ah, no doubt,” said Lady Bet- ty, dryly. “But Blanche seems to think that she can monopolize a man because she is not engaged to him. I don’t think she has allow- ed Bruce to get away from her apronâ€"strings for more than half an hour toâ€"dayâ€"that is during the time he has been at. home; and if that isn’t monopoly I don’t know what A few minutes afterward Lord Norman came up to them. It was nearly bedtime, and the drawing-- room was thinning. A small lamp was burning on the table, and by its dim light she saw a woman kneeling beside the bed- It was Josine. The girl had her head in her arms and was apparently crying in a. subâ€" dued, pullen kind of way. Fldris was boo atartléd and sur~ prised to move for a moment, then shg_sat _up and called touhcr gofply. With this thought and the sigh it occasioned she fell asleep. How long she had slept she did not know; but she was awakened by that con- sciousness which we have all of us felt at times, that some one was in the room. “Is thit you, Josine?” Josiruxe raised her head, and showed a. face, Lady Blanche had just gone up- stairs, having kissed her hand to Lady Betty and F~loris as she pass- Floris was tired and despondent; a heavy weight seemed to hang over her, and she felt so depressed that she went straight to her own room instead of going into Lady Betty’s, and talking over the events of the evening as she usqally did. “I must have danced too much last night,” she said to herself, “and am over tired. I shall feel better and brighter in the morn- ing! But I wish Bruce was not goâ€" ing to be away for two whole days! How I shall miss him!” “Well 2” he said, dropping into a seat between them. “Are you near- ly tired? What a. long evening it seems ! I suppose it is after the ex~ er’cion of last night. Floris, I have scarcly had a. word with your all day.” he added, wistfully. Lady Betty laughed sarcastically. “Whose fault is that?” He looked at her, with a, half- puzzled smile. “We are off early in the morning, dearest,” he said, “and I shall not see you before I go. Be happy while I am away, and I will bring you a. set of antlers as a, reward!” She awoke instantly and raised herself on her elbow and looked around. “I don’t know. I don’t seem to have had a, minute to myself, which, of course, means a, minute with Floris. And now they have arrang- “Two days?” said Floris, with a little moue. “Why, Bruce 2” “Too far to get back the same night, dearest!” he said. “I used to enjoy the expedition one time, but now. this autumn, I shouldgive anything to be left at home. But that is imporsible, I am sorry to say. The prince has asked me especially to go. Sir Joseph, with his usual forethought, has arranged that some of the young fellows should remain and take you ladies to the cascades for to~morrow, so that you_wi1_l_not_miss us hunters.” ed to go to‘ Scarfrdss to-morrovi. We shall be away two days, I am sorry to sgy.”u_ She was feeling rather tired and listless, and the news that her sweetheart was going to leave her for two Whole daysâ€"after devoting himself for the two previous ones to Lady Bluncheâ€"dispirited her. “I suppose I can stay here!” “I hope you will go,” he said quickly, adding with an eagerness which, at the moment, she ascribed to his desire that she should be amused during his absence, but which afterward she read in an- other and a sadder lightâ€"“Yes, Floris, do go! I particularly wish you tol Sir Joseph has planned this little expedition mainly on your account, and would be disappoint- ed if you did not, 30! Besides, what will you do in the house all day if you remain at home? Come, dea-t‘est, promise me that you will “I will go if you wish it, Bruce, she said. dutifully; “that is, if (£4 not feel very much disinclined, with a. smile. He followed them into the hall on his way to the smokingâ€"room, and, there being no one there but themselves, took her in his arms and gave her her “good-night” kiss. “Oh, then, I am sure we shall en- ]oy it,” said Lady Betty, with fine sarcasm. “I think we had better g0__up_now, my dear.:’ “I Hon’t think I should care much about tha cascades,” said Floris. He took her hand and kissed lovingly. “You will enjoy it, I am sure, he said. “Blanche is goingr!”fl go!” sidee ajftet ‘they' are mar- pale and tearâ€"bedewed, and fixed her black eyes with a piteous ex- pression on Floris. “What is the matter? What are you doing here?" “There is something on my con- science, something that lies so heavy that, I cannot rest night or day. Ah! mademoiselle, I would tel} you hot that I know you would Josine dropped her head in her banglg again {ind gmjfcted 1:, low sob: “Oh, mademoiselle, I cannot sleep! I cannot rest!” murmured Josine, with a. little sob and gasp. “1 am so _very unhappy. a good catch may be expected. may not make much headway while the corn is shading the ground, but it progresses rapidly when the corn has completed growth during the cool autumn days. So far as the effect on the ground is concerned, in other words, considered from the cover crop viewpoint. clover would be much the best. For pasturage use e‘ther rape or rye. Rye should not- b\ sown as early as clover. An extremely high temperature for a living human body was report- ed at a Belfast (Ireland) inquest. A boy of fourteen had his foot badly scalded through a kettle of boiling water overturning, and the lad died from blood poisoning. A doctor stated that when he first attended the boy his temperature was 105 de- grees, and the following day it was 109.5 degrees. Death occurred half an hour after the temperature was taken. The coroner commented on the extraordinary figures, and the doctor said that he believed it was the highest temperature at which anyone had lived. crimson clover or mammoth red in the corn field at the time of the last cultivating is an entirely pracâ€" tical plan. If the ground has been well cultiva_bed duying the season, ruln ‘7Then madembiselle is lost!” ex- claimed Josine, tragically, “and Lady Blagqhe will win, the day.” “I ruin you! What on earth do you mean 2” said Floris. “Stop! [do not Wish to hear anything you may have to sayTâ€"j" “Ah, mad-emoiselle takes it as I expected ! It is hard to believe that a. grand lady like Lady Blanche should descend so low as to try and steal another woman's lover! That is done often enough by people of a lower class, ah, yes! But by so grandelaldy as ‘Lady Blan4‘3_heâ€"‘â€"a.h, Flvoris did not start or wine-(e, as Josine had expected; she even smil- 7 “Are you quite out of your mind, Josine ‘2” she then asked, with calm stern dignity. I said that I was in her confi- denceâ€"â€"â€"” “In Lady Blanche’s confidence-2” “Yes, mad-emoiselle. It is not un- common. I am the useful slave that acts as go-between for her lady‘ship and milord.” “It is indeed I” said Flori-s, gravely, “and if it is only to vent this piece of spiteful impertinence you have intruded my room at this hour, J0»s_ineâ€"â€"_â€"- no it is impossible, ft is ridiculous; ls If. not ‘2” sarcastlcally._ 7 me go to bed and sleep. It is for~ tunate for you that I have promie ed not to repeat this farrago of non- sense, or you would have received your dismissal to-morrow morning. As it is, I must ask you not to ap- proach or address me again, un- less it is absolutely necessary. G0, now, if you please.” Josine sprang to her feet. “Mademoiselle believes that I lie ! That I am deceiving her. Good! Mademoiselle shall seel Give me till to-morrowâ€"no, toâ€"day, and I will prove to her that Lord Norman is false to her! That it is Lady Blanche Whom he loves and would wish to make his wife! Yes, made- moiselle shall see, shall hear for herself what I, Josine, already know. Mademoiselle thinks I lie! Yes, truly. and mademoisclle would tell me again that I lie if I say that Milord Norman and Lady Blanche arergoing to elope this very dav I” “Stbpimademoiselle! I am no fool! I did not expect you to be- lieve me! Ah, no, not _even thn “My Vlrord!” said Floris, white to the lips with anger. “Do you dareâ€"â€"” H It wag hard to breed suspicion in that sweet, pure mind, but Josine did not despair. w""Ah, but yes, mademoiaelle, I mean Milord Norman!” 7 W'Fioris stared at her for a mo- ment, then she sank on to a chair and laughedfâ€"‘actju‘ally lagghed. Thve blbw was- struck, afind we“ struck, considering. (To be continued.) M‘V‘ersiné, i am npw sure-that 'you are out of your mmd,” sald Floris, at last. “Pleaseng away_ apd_1et 1;. strong suit to play, and had not, played her best cagdg yet. w-’.fi)s_ivi'1reu watched hex: sullénly, but with a. close keenrness.‘ The saying of a, cover crqp likq me!” HIGH TEMPERATURE. Plant food is the united action 0 three substances , nitrogen potas and phosphoric acid. Notice that it is their united action which con-i stitutes plant food. Nitrogen along1 cannot grow crops nor can nitrogery and potash or nitrogen and phos-y phorio acidâ€"~all three are needed,' working together. Further, these three substances must be soluble in the moisture of file soil. Q+++ o+++~+++++++++++++g + About the Farm Q~M++++++++¢++++§+ +++£ SPRAY PUMP FOR FRUIT« GROWING. There was a time when the most beautiful specimens of apples, pears, peaches and other fruits could be grown with but little cultivation or attention of any kind. In those days, about forty years ago, no one had heard of a spray pump or the spraying of trees, plants and vines in order to destroy injurious insects. All the orcharden gardener or farmer had to do was to plant his trees or vines and nature would do the rest in the fertile soil of those earlier days. At that time-it was difficult to find a wormy apple, of late years insect posts have multiplied. The fcrests and bushy places have been cleared up, thus the natural food supply of the insects has been re. moved, and they naturally find a new supply in the orchards and Vineyards which new cover so many of our healthful hillsides” The wholesale and unrestrained destruction of birds has had its effect, for many of the birds thriv- ed on insects and larvae. Thus at this date no well-informed fruit. grower feels that he can get along without a spray pump and cans or barrels of spray mixture. ‘ ed in growing fairly good Speci-i mens. There are sections of the, country. where trees are not seâ€"’ riously insected. But the truth reJ mains, the nearesa perfect yield is.' on the spray-ed trees. It is found that, apple trees needg more attention than cherry, plum‘ and pear trees. Often the cherry; does not need any spraying. Grape-‘ vines growing about your buildings or in your gardens may not be seriâ€", ously attacked by insects, but they' should be watched. Late potatoes will need carefuh cultivation and regular spraying now to keep down weeds, oonserva“ moisture and head off bli ht. Re-' member it is too late to begin sprawl ing after blight is started. Th - only safe thing is to keep the {Olin age covered with Bordeaux fro " start to finish. ' The fruit grower watches his fruit trees, vines and plants through the Winter months. When the branches are bare of leaves he. can find the eggs of insects more readily and can destroy them more easily than at any other time. With one snip of his gloved hand he can destroy the eggs that would soon hatch into thousands of cater~ pillars. During winter he sprays his trees with lime and sulphur mixture or’soluble oil solution to exterminate the San Jose scale it affected. ‘ It is hoped that these instruc- tions will not frikhten the reader who has not had much experience in fruit; growing. There are thou- sands of people in every country who grow fruits on their home grounds who have never used any; spraying device or spray solutions and»yet theee p-eqpie have s‘ucceeds The active season for spraying begins in the spring just after the buds begin to swell, using the Bordeaux Mixture to destroy fun- gous germs upon the branches which, if the spraying was not done, might affect the 'fruit and the foliage. The next spraying on apple trees is given immediately after the trees have leafed out. Anâ€" other poison spray is usually giv- en two weeks later. If the trees are sprayed when in full blossom, myri- ads of honey bees will be destroyed and possibly some injury will be done to the fruit crop. The first spraying after growth begins in the spring is given to the current and gooseberry, which are often attacked by the current worm, a. pest about one-half inch long. Th-ese bushes must be watch- ed carefully, for if not sprayed with a. solution of Paris green and. water, or dusted with powdered hel- lebore when the dew ,is on the leaves thse worms will consume every leaf Upon the bushes, destroying all hopes of fruit this season. These worms are easily killed if attacked when they first make their appearâ€" ance. FARM NOTES.