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"Well," asked lli‘l‘ cozimrmimi at length, "wlizu do you son there? To me it is noâ€" “)ng more 01' l(‘\S than a wary lovely white hand, but you appear :0 look grave ovor it.” “And \wll l may,"~i‘(\iurm\d the other, slowly. "I have i‘minl ilm lines of life on many hands, but I novvr saw ihmn so strangely marked as tin-y are in {111%. Do you «00 that line?" she said. pointing: to a (l(‘ll(‘2ll(‘ liim that was like :1 will on :1 rose-leaf. “That is :1 fatal lino; i1, is an abrupt (ending of the marriage line. 1119 same one, mind, grow on to the otlivi‘ 0nd Both had tl’mir banks turned Toward him. consequently nvithm‘ saw him. “We will not disturb 1201'," whispered one of the nursvs; “\vixilo she vim-m; I will make an examination of this little white hand whit'l) lies likn :1 snow-flake on the covm'lot. Much of 0119's life and tempora- ment can be glvunod from the hand." Some littlv time elapsed, sill] H10 nurse was studying: 1110 wliitt‘, slim, mallow hand * 0 hold, intmxtly. ‘ ., "w mu guar, nHu»L‘JuuHr. One day as the doctor rammed the sick room quite unoxportedly, his footfalls making no noise on the thick velvet car- pet. he found both of the Y)’l1fԤ'H bonding ovgr thu pgtionp with rapt attmztzml. He was just ébmftfiu')‘ 51>)1*.Lx‘1‘{w\‘villel'lnt)1e words that fell from their lips held him tran fiqu )vitl} (-uriosity. “Such odd notions as the poor young lady has,” the 1111mm; would oxvlnim, laughineg to each other, "she is always crying out about some dark, rnwmgoful face which she fancies has suddcnly come between 1101‘ and her young husband, shut,- tirlg him out from her gaze, forevm‘mm'e.“ The next few days were painful onog in- deed to Esmond, for Irene had grown much worse. Dr. Rienzi and two experi- enced nurses were in constant attvndanco now. Brain fever had set, in and her life was despaier of. Esmond scarcely ale or slept, his soul was in sin-h a tumult of agony. Hour after hour the doctor would sit quietly at, his palient’s bedside, listening nbsll'aoiodly 10 the senseless babblings that fI‘ll from her lips. "Depression!" echoed Eamond, “why you must be mistaken. doctor. What in How ven’s name is there to depress her spirits? We have been married but a short time: and since he have boen married, she has never known onn wish unfulfilled, we have been exceptionally happy, I thought.” The sage old doctor made no reply; but his face grew gi‘m‘or, more thoughtful. l‘hat some great, hidden sorrow DI‘ayf‘d upon her mind, which lwr young husband knew not of. he firmly believed. "No," responded tho dootor, shortly. "no- thing of that kind; the mind is disuased rather than the body. She has sufl'm‘cd a. mental strain which has ovox‘poworod her at Last; I helinve she has been fight- ing: hard against this inniduous fan for long months Han you any claw to the cause of her deep depression?" he asked. turning to the wondering young husband. The doctor shook his head thoughtful- ly to and fro, he was not a man “m an- swer rashly; and 1hore was something about this fair young woman, stricken down so suddenly, who lay before him that warned him hpr's was no common ill- ness. When he had administered restor' ~ fives, and the dark eyes had flashed sud- denly open, there was a look in them' he did not quite like, he read in them acute “terror. Esmond touched his arm with a trmnb- ling hand. “You do not answer me, dnc- 101‘," he said “is it a malignant fevernu fatal discas ’ It seemed to Frederick the phvzzician was an age in coming, and as he bent over the still form his face grow grave; 1hc1‘c was a 100k on it that. S'LI‘UK'k terror to Esmond's heart. “Is she in danger. doctor?” he m‘iod; "tell me at onceâ€"I cannot boar sus« pense." His order was executed at once. The young; Englishman had plenty of gold, and was lavish in "giving tins" as the w-t'vuvmn phrased it, and they hastened 'Lo ubuy his command. “Le: the doctor be summoned at once," said Esmond, distractedly, looking in alarm at the grayish puller stealing slow- ly over the lovely fave lying 50 still and white, against the pillow. There is no class of women who have stronger nerves than English women. this one seems in be an exception, however, she thought. “Thu Signor-21‘ is very delicate," she said, in her mellow Italian voice, as she bent sympathizingly over her; “but this is some- thing more than a more fainting fit, I feel sure; you see the maids cannot bring her to.” 'The story had made a (16017 impression upon Irene, especially 1he closing words. “It was a dastardly crime," commented Frederick, “it might all have been avoid- ed if, as the old lord said, there had bet‘n no secrets: between them; yes, trouble comes of it sooner or later.” Happening to glance casually at Irone's face, he saw that it was white as death. In a single instant great, dark circles 11an crept beneath her large, dark eyes and her hands were trembling like aspen leaves. Esmond bare hm‘ quickly to hnr apart. ments; the FighOl‘a who had related the 519 to Ithcm, fpllowiqg in upprorhenrsion. “His romorscful cries were terrible to hear in those last days:-‘She should have told me the man was her brother,’ he would cry, as he paced the floor night and day. ‘When there are vital secrets be- tween man and wife, trouble comes of it spenengr later, as sure as 1119 sun day. tween sooner shines. Before he could take one step forward. she had dl‘oppod at his feet in a deep swoon. It will benefit your children or your invalid. Gives Stamina. CHAPTER XX. OR, THE DUEL IN THE GLEN. E-2-12 "But I do," persisted 1he girl; "I could easily convince Mr. Esmond that it was a very dark secret, too. If you want it kept from him, you must pay me two hundred pounds for it.” “You have taken leave of your senses, _ .NV. UV“, ~VV. Irene recoiled with a startled, terrified cry; for one moment the room seemed to whirl around her; she recovered herself by a violent effort, she turned slowly and faced the girl, and no one who witness- ed her calm face would have dreamed that her heart was beating in great, strangling throbs. "You can know no secret of mine,” she returned. bravely, but the shrewd maid detected the terror in her voice. “How (la 0, you in imam: such a thing!" “You must listen to me, Mrs. Esmond. whether it pleases you to do so or not," {4119 said. inmr‘l'tinontly, continuing in a shrill whispvl‘ri‘q hold a smret of yours signora. and it is not woll for you to make an enemy of mo. Lintendod to leave your service long ago, but I shall not go away empty handedravou must pay me wgll if I REACDAYOUI.‘ secret!”r Irene glam-vd up with haughty dis- pkanuro. “You behave very strangleiv,“ 9110 said, “I do not 111w it,“ and Rho looked fixedly at. the gifl whose face was not 1)](‘1153111 to sea. There was a lurid light in her ayes, an air of cringing, yet of de- “drive in hor whole manner. “Why do you do that?" 9.5,:ka Irene, in- dignuntlyA “Because I have Lhnl' to my 10 you which 1D11::f, be said-mud livu-Usd “Lo without in- terruption.” Marie Munrnlii rmx-ivcd hm‘ dismi. with a snem‘iug smile. “I have something: to say which may change your vivvw. signora,” she said, and Irene was mom than surprigod to {we the girl glide swiftly arrow the room and turn the 1 av in the lock. Marie wa: no longer doiorcntial to her wishes: ThL‘l‘O was a look in her black Gym-1 that, Irene could not comprehend, and tllm'e were occasional hints of sec-mus she lmd disooverrd in the lives of many of the dainty ladies who had employed her, and her words were always acrom- panivd by a (sunning smile and a peculiar nod that almost made Irene“; blood turn cold as ice. “Can she snmwct? Ah, no, surely not,” Irene assured lwrsvlf over and over again; the wry thought tm’riflvd her. The gil‘l‘s' manner was becoming into) crablu to hm‘, and Fhfl mm-luded to (115 1101150 with her sorx‘u‘os at once. gnnt town 1101150 in London. There was 01m thing. however. that puz- zled and annode Irene, and that was the great, chungv in the demeanor of the maid she had brought with her from Imly. From Italy, they jmn‘ncyed back to Eng- land. and took up Lhr‘jr «bode in lhcir (:10 gth town 1101150 in Lopdon. ‘You exaggerate it. I am sure, dear," said Irene, laughingly. “If a woman is no longer quite young or pretty, men see all her faults and but fvw of her virtues; Nmumbor sho suvnd my lifewr rather helped in save it fithat alone should be a dvep claim on your gratitude." “So it is, Irene,“ returned her husband -~â€"(-nntinuing‘. “If you wish in engage her, I shall ofi'or no objections. And so Marie Montalti mm engaged as maid, and Irene had cause to rue it all 1110, years of her after life: for as the Rf‘Y‘pOIIt crept into the garden of Eden, so bitter won entorod the hmmvlmld as this woman crossed the threshold. “Of course you shall have your own way about it. my dear," said Esmoud. some weeks later, as they were about to take their departure; “you always 11mm that. But in this (case. I hope you will stop and (tonsidm‘ a little. I cannot say that I am favorably impressed with her. I do not like thogo low-browod women who creep about stvalthily, casting: furtive glmu-es about under their laRlJL'F‘. Many a time when I have supposed we were alone to gather, happening to turn abruptly around. I have found that Woman sland- iug at my elbow.” "IL is an ill wind which hlown nobody good,” she muttered, when she found her- self alnne; "why slmuldn‘tlmake Capital out of wle l have heard, if if, can only he t'un.- I lmve naming to lose anyhow; 1 may as “'0” try." She sol lmr wits clev- erly»to;_:other planning fm‘fihis one enfl. “She is just rolling in add,” she wnuld often muftm‘ as she paced ihe floor of 1101‘ 1‘00m~~"‘why shouldn't she divide with me. if it be true that she has a secrnt to keep. If I could but stumble on the truth by some lucky chance.” She was a diplomatic woman; she hont all her arts 10 one aimvto ingratiatc herself so completely in young Mrs. Es- mond's favor, that when she left Italy. she 'ShOIlId accompany her as her maid. and AthiS object 511;: "Adin accomplished. The dflutm‘ bMinvcd ho 110k! her fatal illness at last; but far from helping: ho: as; evm‘. of her life wvre her own; no righb 10 pry into them. Long afufearnr-stly one of 11m 1111mm pondered over what her compamon had told her. The doctor quietly retreated; he did not ‘um to have the nurses know that he had ovvr‘heui'd their remarks»: He pared up: and down the corridor some minutrs. his brown knit in (100p timught. and 213 be sot paced the strange notion that, appvaredi to haunt his beautiful pationt's brain rt» (-m‘rcd in him; of the dark. rmw‘nzvhli‘ face that firmtvd before her, sth“ ‘nm‘ ,v m: hi: mtl's t' 1‘ m 1 forevcruml‘u as the sun shines, it will and in n 11*ugorly. Those peculiar points at ilm 0nd of The finger tips indicate it. llnaven forle that many people should have such marks on their hand. “Anne Boloyn, the ill-{211ml (neon. had them; and one day. when 51m was 1» very voung girl, a sll'olling phrmmlngint saw them and predivted when her luluro would be. She threw her pretty head back and laughed aloud; but. when the hour came when she was led forth to the gaze of the breathless mulzitudo, and that beautiful head laid on the blovk, she thuught of the 01d pln'enologist's prudil-limL The liner; on mm‘s hand foretell the future as sure as fale; and 1 find plainly enough just what i have told you wriLtcn on this one.” of the hand which means the end of life; and what; puzzles me “(he most, is follow- ing: close beside it is another marriage line when there is no line of death acror‘n 1.1m first marriage line. As both lines are well to the left of the hand, that, indicates the marriages will take place early in life. I should imagine the events had al- ready taken place. 11' she has remarried. and the first husband is not dead. than tlmre is but one conclusion, “the poor girl has had recourse m the, divorce court “Mind. this is not mere fancy; it is read- ing aright the llnos of true science as I find than] here. As some people make a- study of human faces, so I have made a study of human hands. She will not have a hamw life of it. There is dark and bitter trouble ahead of her; and as sure as the sun shines, it will end in n 11*ugody. Those peculiar points at 1110 0nd of The finger tips indicate it. llnaven forbid that manyrpoople should have such marks on CHAPTER XXI the kpy to he was as The sot-net's one had a According to her promise, on the mor- row Irene grave the maid the money which was to purchase the girl's silence forev- ermore. as she believed. and on the same day. much 1.0 Irene's relief the girl took passage on an out-going steamer bound forflltaly." “Farewell for a time, miladi," the girl muttered, as the blue line of shore» fad- ed»from her view in the distance. “you think you have looked your last unnu Marie Montalti; all, so you have while the gold lasts: after that. you shall see me soon enough." For manv a‘rlonz day after her depar- ture. Irmw 11ml boon haunted by the ap- prehension that the girl might return; Better. far, better, had she told Fred- .m'ick all then; and if he had not loved her sufficinntly to have wedded her in 111:: face of it allâ€"~to have parted from him then and there even though her heart broke. And now, the sin of secret from him had all. And now, it would all come to light. if she made an enemy of this girl; her fate was in the maid's hands; hereafier she .would never know one happy hour; she would feel as though a sword hung over her head. suspended by a ihrcad, expect- ing it to fall any dayvany hourâ€"and slay her. If Frederick ever found out that past, in that moment she would lose him for- ever; his love for her would die, then and there. And Mending there. in the drifting sunlight, the memory of the night when Frederick Esmond had asked her hand in marriage, came vividly back to her. and how, standing there by the foun- tain she had debated with herself whe- ther she should tell him or not; when, he, himself, had seizled the mater by saying.' if she had ever had any other lover~~even though he had died. he (Fred- erick) would never have asked her to marry him; believing, though that other lover lay in his grave his memory would always come between themi Ah, how in- deed could she have told him the fatal truth, afier heariiw that; and when she was so sure, too. That dark past which had always seemed to her like some hideous dream, was buried in Leon For- restor’ grave. It, was a bold move on the part of the maid; true she had heard her patient murmur of some secret, which must be : kopt forever locked in her own breast and of the fame that haunted her and had ‘wrt'cked ‘lhe past. and when the other inurse related the incident of the two lines, meaning two husbands, discornahle won the pink palyr with clover strutegy fishn 7: '1 put and that 1 her, lv 1:1) quite a little mystery about What a savory morscl Um scandal mon- gcrs would make of it! But for this she cared little, her solo thought was of Frederickwhis horror and amazement and the verv natural question that would spring 10 his lips: “Why in Heaven‘s name have you kept this from me?’ eHow could she answer him; what could she say. that would Dani-Mo what she had done? "Let me try to realize what has hap- pened to me," she gasped. “While I‘rest- ed secure~believed myself safeâ€"my fate was silently tracking me down; my doom was sciiug darkly around me. like a funeral pall. Let me try to thin clear- ly :hat ha}: happened to me. “The world will soon knov. My hus- band will soon know that I am not what I Seemed,vt,hat I have been acting a liv- ing lio~tlm<; before I wedle Frederick, I wasA-a convicts bridcliandâ€"andâ€"hism widow!” “not because there is anything that I have ever done that the world could ac- cuse me for: Iivlmdo not admit that there is a secret: but I do not wish such an absurd story circulated. You may re- main until toannrrow,” she said: "I will giv you what yon, ask for. then." “You are wise, miladi: I knew you would take a sensible View of the matter," re- turnpd the girl, and the covert meaning in her words made Ireno's eyes flash and 1191‘ checks glow with hot angqr. The golden sunshine in all its rounds since first; the flight of time began. surely never fell upon a sadder sight lll'dt the beautiful woman, standing along in that luxurious room. She poiuto'd to thvéidbyovr,"gag-without another word the maul glided from the room, satisfied with her work. “Stop!” cried Irene. again. though this time there was the recklessness of despair in her tone. She felt that she must tem- pgrigc with Athis girliat whatever cost. Irene would hEUZé have acknowlvdgcd girl had stated. "I know you would rather that I should come to you first,” the girl went on. ‘Alr. Esmond would haveâ€"” “Stop!” The voice that broke the sunlit silence was like nothing human, more like the moan that one sometimes hears among the trees. If there was anything to it, she would show terror at once, and would accede 10 any terms. The terror plainly disrernable on Irene's face had bvtrayed her. Marie knew, though she had shot at random, she had hit the right mark; this: dainty lady was henceforth and forever in her power. Irene would have died before she would 11;:‘z‘acknowlvdgcd the truth of what; the “I~Iiwi11 igiéemyo‘h-Ht‘llgvmr‘éméy if)“ \ask' [013? ._she said, ‘5};oak‘ing with 5111 effort. If she accused Mrs. Esmond ing a- mystm‘ious secret and nothing tn it. she could but be and she was sick and tired anyway. She had fancied that story of the past so sufvly secln‘E, and now, oh, Heaven 1101)) her! "Micro is no use in repeating all,” con- tinued the girl, actually, “suffice i: to say. I know all, and a pretty scandal it would make to be sureriMr. Esmond would feel it so keenly. I do not wish any harm to (some to you, Mra Esmond,” 91:0 added, (xuirkly; “give me the money 1 ask for and I will go quietly away. Not a word of it shall ever pass my lips. You '11 trust me.” Irene uttered no cry.ino moan fell from her [when lips.~but the desperate horror on the white fave looking up at the maid was pitiful to see. ways moud The maid rose from her chair an g id- ed up to her. “I made the discovery of your secret when I was nursing you in Italy. Big-nova; when one is delirious they babble many things that they would give their life almost to recall. It is not al- ways nonsense they talk, but of things uppermost, and that which weighs most ligavily on their minds.” Irene leaned heavily against, the cold marble and looked at her. Had this girl found out, in any way, the terrible secret that was wearing her life out; that secret of the past which she could never sum- mon sufficient courage to reveal to Freder- ick'Esmond, but which seemed to have been eating her heart out ever since like blighting canker at the heart of a rose. Ah. no! surely not! she had been too care- ful; too guarded for that. ' “I suppose I must listen,” said Irene, “hilt let what you have to say be said quickly. that this very unpleamnt inzer- V 13v may‘pe overras speedily as p083ibl_(_e._” girl!" cried Irene, clutching norvously at the marble m_ante], he?!“ lovely face paling; “v... , :11 ,- WW “MA, Hanna. "You will firhrdlfldnwfile coxltxjary that I was never more same in my hie. Mrs. E5< mon’d. Let me tell you what I have to say. ’ game between >you and Mr. 7 Es- CHAPTER XXII 13d Mrs. Eamond of conceal- ious secret and there was Rho could but be discharged, sick and tired of England in of keeping this dread had found her out after On the morning when this, the second part of our s;0ry opens, Irene was sitting alone in the apartment known a: the oak roomâ€">3 largo, aqunre, oak panelled room with an immense window which occupied one entire side of it. that looked out on the lawn. theré was hardly such another window in England; round it grew white Every one who went {0 Rose Lawn, as their beautiful place was called, and who saw or knew Frederick Esmond and his young wife. laughingly declared that theirs was one of the happiest marriagoa in the world. They had been married five, years and were lovers still; and Freder- ick Esmond declared they should always be lovers. The years fimt have passed have touch- ed Irene but ligh’dy. adding to her bounty: to the depth and lustre of her (wowâ€"to the perfection and grace of her figure. They have crowned her with magnificent womanhood, for Irene is Lhree-andmwen- ty now. A lovely romping child of four, with a morrv laughing roguish face, eyes like blue pansios, and a head tumbled over with short, fluffy flaxen curls, calls Irene mamma, now, and Frederick Esmoml, papa. Little Ruby is 1110 darling and the pride of the entire household, and the de- Livht of both her father and mother's eart. Those years which had drifted by had brought great changes to 'Lhe Esmond household. The spacious rooms echo9d with the sound of childish laughter, and the spacious corridors with dancing child- ish feet. but when weeks lengthened into mouths and months stretched out into years and she did not hear from her. fear at last died out of her heart. 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REFINING COMPANY, LIMITED, MONTREAL. “I don‘t want to see Humptv Dummy, I want to 2'0 riding with mamma.” sob- bod the spoiled baby. stamping her foot. “But vou don't know how nice it. i3 93n- im: to 130‘” persistml Nanette: “lots of lit- tle monkeys. riding on the backs of trained dogs: parrots saying the oddest. things; and oh. so manv wonderful fumw men. New, Ruby. do be reasonable, you (:an't gm riding with your mmn‘na: there‘s no room in the Victoria. I heard her my only a little while since that it. would b0 quite impossible to take you with her today.” Little Rubyih a spoiled darling of the householdrwwas sitting on one of the gar- den chairs beneath a blossoming lime tree, her chubby. dimpled fists dug deep into her eyes “doing her best," as nurse Nannotte often phrased it, “to get 117) a good cry." Nanette stood some little dis- tance from the child doing her utmost to max her into good humor. "Now. Miss Ruby." she said. L-oaxingly. "if you are a very good child. this afternoon perhapsx your mnmmn will let me take you to see_ llumpty Dummy.” Irene was Fittihfl‘, so lost in thought. in the deep recess of the 01d mullinnod win- dow, watching 11m wind-stirred jasmim’, that she did not hear her 111mbde as he entered. 1101' eyes had travelled out on the lawn: no wonder the picture she saw there caught and held them. To Hit in the deep recess of that grand window was always a pleasure to Irene. She liked to watch Ruby at play on Um lawn with 'ihe tame doves and the pea- cocks: she iikod m watt'h the sun shining over the tree: and the flowers. jasmine and white rost‘s, with the purple Wisteria. (To 30 continued.) love};